Hunting Rifle Build Advice

[Wwhite]

I’ve been seriously contemplating building a rifle platform, potentially modular for barrel swaps, that I can use as a primarily for hunting large game in open mountain terrain, but possibly for whitetail in Iowa where 0.35 caliber or larger can be used.

I’m most interested in is if my expectation of precision realistic or not (legitimate 0.5 MOA or less). If not, what is a realistic expectation? My thought is that I have to have precision before I can reach my max desired range. Inherently a 0.5 MOA rifle on an 8” target should be able to do that all day, however that does not account for factors such as wind, mirage, variation in velocity.

I would like you hear your input on my goals and if my expectations are not realistic.

Goals:

Purpose – Solid platform, potentially modular, for Mountain hunting primarily for mule deer. I may choose to swap barrels but on the fence.

Terrain – 90% grass/sage, 10% trees

Desired Range – 200-800 yards first round impact on 8” target

Precision – 0.5 MOA (legitimate) or less, legitimate meaning that over a 30 shot cold bore string the overall group size is at 0.5 MOA or less. (Is this even a realistic goal/expectation?)

Barrel life – 2000 rounds or more (understanding there are a lot of factors that go into barrel life), but as an example 6.5 Creedmoor is typically touted to have 3000 round barrel life.

Caliber – 6.5mm OR 7mm (.284) OR ??

Action – ?

Barrel – ?

Barrel length – leaning towards 24” to maximize powder burn resulting in increased velocity, but not too long for brake added

Other notes –

• Possibly would like to switch out barrel to another cartridge for Iowa hunting that will be 0.35 caliber or larger
• Relatively easy cartridge to tune (wide nodes)
• Recoil - Moderate (currently enjoy the light/moderate recoil of my 6.5 CM)

 

[Shawnba67]

Be completely honest with yourself on what you want/need. It's super easy to overthink all the available options.

 

[CJ6]

I believe Ia. is limited to straightwall cases 35 cal. and larger. From my understanding quite a few are using the AR or Ruger in 450 Bushmaster. Not what you'd consider a "long range" caliber. I'd get 2 seperate rigs, 1 set-up for Iowa and the other for out west with a 284 setup.

 

[Wwhite]

I believe Ia. is limited to straightwall cases 35 cal. and larger. From my understanding quite a few are using the AR or Ruger in 450 Bushmaster. Not what you'd consider a "long range" caliber.

CJ6, Iowa just revised their regulations this year to allow for bottleneck style cartridges like 35 Whelan as an example.

 

[CJ6]

CJ6, Iowa just revised their regulations this year to allow for bottleneck style cartridges like 35 Whelan as an example.

I did not know that. Thank you for that up date. My cousin is going to be pissed as he just bought a Ruger in 450 Bushmaster to hunt (he lives in Iowa). I'm sure if he'd looked/checked the new regs . he'd have gone a different route.

 

[CharlieNC]

Regarding your criteria, firstly I would not consider a shot over 500yd unless you practice the longer ranges frequently and become confident in your skill to do so. On that basis a 308 would fulfill the objectives including low recoil. Don't expect 30 shot .5 moa at those distances as this is rare to nonexistent for 20 shots in fclass. If you really want a barrel swap option then move up the recoil ladder to 30-06 and 35 Whelen.

 

[Wwhite]

Regarding your criteria, firstly I would not consider a shot over 500yd unless you practice the longer ranges frequently and become confident in your skill to do so. On that basis a 308 would fulfill the objectives including low recoil. Don't expect 30 shot .5 moa at those distances as this is rare to nonexistent for 20 shots in fclass. If you really want a barrel swap option then move up the recoil ladder to 30-06 and 35 Whelen.

CharlieNC thank you for your candid response. You are most certainly correct I need to practice at those longer distances to have confidence in shot placement. I am one that will not send anything downrange if I don't have the confidence in my equipment and skillset to make an ethical harvest.

 

[SBS]

Might also consider that rifle accuracy (meaning what the rifle/ammo is capable of) and accuracy in the field is altogether different. No benchrest table, front rest and sandbags in field shooting, may be shooting on an up slope or down slope, wind estimations are never on the dime (particularly shooting over uneven terrain). IF you have the opportunity to do some longer range shooting at targets in the same terrain as you will be hunting, with the same equipment you will be hunting with, it will tell you a lot about what is possible.