If you could have Just one caliber...

[jonbearman]

I would stay with the 30-06 most notably because of its commonality in north america.You can buy it anywhere including cvs pharmacys in outlying areas.It will kill any game in north america and there are so many guns chambered for it,it is almost endless.You can use it for vermin to big game and competition.

 

[Stormbringer]

What would it be? Something that would do well on steel target to 1000m + and something that would take up to deer sized game. Something with a good barrel life (3000+). Something light enough to carry on a hunting trip yet stable/ heavy enough for target shooting.
My thought is a 6.5x47 Lapua with a 26-28" fluted varmint profile barrel. Savage action make rebarrels a breeze, mcmillan A5 stock does all roles well. Initial thoughts for a scope would be a Sightron sIII 8-32x. Please share your thoughts as I am looking to start a new build for a practical match rifle that will double as a hunting rifle.

How heavy is light enough to carry on a hunting trip? Your proposed rifle sounds like 11-13l bs to me (to heavy for me to pack in the mountains all day).

For weight savings go with a titanuim reciever (700 or browning) or super light receiver New Ultra Light Arms. Flute the bolt and possibly the handle. I would likely go with something lighter than an A5 also.
That might get you closer to 9.5-10lbs. I think your choice in caliber 6.5 something is what I would go with.

Mike.

 

[Dgd6mm]

A 6CM (Competition Match) 26-28", barrel contour up to you. Put it together accordingly for the weight your trying to get to. There are plenty of options out there. A 115 DTAC will lay the smack down on Deer size game.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I guess I'll cast my vote here. 308 with a 20" barrel varmint contour in a laminate hunting style stock medium to heavy profile on but and forearm. Threaded for my can and built on a FN winchester M70 action new type with detachable box magazines. No sling swivels but I would like flush cups instead. Scope would be my nightforce 2.5-10x32 mildot. Accurate light and dependable as well as inconspicuous compared to some other practical/tactical rifles out there.

 

[XTR]

One day I'm going to have to go out and experiment with long seated 162s in my 7-08 just so I can answer these questions when they come up. I've read that you can get the 162s up to the 2700 range. At 2700 the ballistics are as good as 185 Bergers out of a 308 at 2800FPS. Much will depend on your barrel length and how hard you want to push.

I've got a 7-08 with a fluted #4 24" Rock Creek button rifled barrel. I can push 140s in the 2900 to 3000 FPS range. I've only done one session with the 162s and I started very low with H4350 and never got them up to speed. (my reamer has a throat that will accommodate them) Later decided that I was never going to target shoot with this rifle, and seated long they have to be single loaded, so I abandoned the endeavor. I'm very happy with the 140 Accubond at over 2900FPS.

If you are looking for an alternative to the 308 with good barrel life, lots of available bullet choices, and tons of parts support I'd build a 7-08 on a Rem700.

 

[sjc]

One caliber: 30-06

 

[people]

Just one caliber? That would be a hard call. I would go for the 260. It is hard to beat a 308 or 30-06 for tube life.

 

[mao0720]

Ok, so I am debating between two cartridges now. 6.5x47 and 7mm-08. Most of what I have read says I can shoot 140s from the 6.5x47 at around 2800fps. Anyone here have experience shooting 162-168gr match bullets at mag length from a 7mm-08? What kind of velocity can you get with bullets loaded at mag length?

 

[Gary in MD]

One rifle?.....Thats like a golfer playing a round of golf with one club!
Make mine a 30-06
Gary

 

[dannyjbiggs]

What would it be? Something that would do well on steel target to 1000m + and something that would take up to deer sized game. Something with a good barrel life (3000+). Something light enough to carry on a hunting trip yet stable/ heavy enough for target shooting.
My thought is a 6.5x47 Lapua with a 26-28" fluted varmint profile barrel. Savage action make rebarrels a breeze, mcmillan A5 stock does all roles well. Initial thoughts for a scope would be a Sightron sIII 8-32x. Please share your thoughts as I am looking to start a new build for a practical match rifle that will double as a hunting rifle.

Definitely a Winchester .284 cartridge!! It can be used as close as 6 inches and on out to 1,200 yards in the right configuration...barrel life just a tad short of 3K though; but what you get for it!

 

[Ringostar]

This fall I put together what I call my antelope rifle. Rem 700, Brux #5 contour 26" fluted in 260 Rem, Bell & Carlson varmint stock w/ alum bedding block, Vortex Viper HS 2.5x10 BDC. It shoots 3/8 moa at 200yds. It will double as a silhouette rifle. I also hunt with a Weatherby Mark V ultralight weight 30.06. If I could only have one, it would be inbetween them. A 7mm, either 7-08, 284, or 280.

 

[joejo]

if its a 6.5 you want
then go with the 6.5x55 or the .260
both of these in my opinion outperform the 6.5x47

A buddy of mine just had to chamber his rifle in 6.5x47 when we were building out f-class rifles. I went with the .260. after moaning about the cost of his dies compared to mine, the cost of his brass, and the fact he couldn't push a bullet as fast as me for the long shots, he rechambered to .260

I am not saying I don't like the 6.5x47, just not as much as the two I mentioned.

 

[BigDMT]

if its a 6.5 you want
then go with the 6.5x55 or the .260
both of these in my opinion outperform the 6.5x47

A buddy of mine just had to chamber his rifle in 6.5x47 when we were building out f-class rifles. I went with the .260. after moaning about the cost of his dies compared to mine, the cost of his brass, and the fact he couldn't push a bullet as fast as me for the long shots, he rechambered to .260

I am not saying I don't like the 6.5x47, just not as much as the two I mentioned.

Faster bullets = less barrel life

And that Lapua brass may cost twice as much, but it will also last twice as long, or longer! Plus make better ammo

 

[joejo]

Faster bullets = less barrel life

And that Lapua brass may cost twice as much, but it will also last twice as long, or longer! Plus make better ammo

Its still 10 $ more per hundred.
also you don't have to push it, but its nice to be able to if you need to squeeze out more performance.

 

[mao0720]

Joe- interesting that you say that about the 260 vs the 6.5x47. Most of the time I hear just the opposite. "Anything a 260 can do a 6.5x47 can do with less powder." If I go with a 6.5 I will probably still go 6.5x47 since I want to feed from a magazine, and I can load the bullets out of the neck shoulder junction. Something I may have problems with, with the 260 in a SA.

 

[boltfluter]

Here is my version of the only rifle and caliber if I had to have one. I just put this together for myself. It is a 6.5x47 Lapua. ;D

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[lhead71]

I already have it, I own light and medium weight rifles chambered in 308, 260, 280Ai, but my absolute go to rifle is my Tikka 6.5x55 swede. I can shoot the heavy 140 to 160 class bullets because it is twisted right. It feeds from a magazine, I can seat the bullets out as far as I want, the action is slicker than goose crap on wet grass, I did restock it with a MCM mountain stock. On top sits a Zeiss 5-20 with a Rapid 1000 reticle. On a good day I have shot in the .1's and .2's with 140 Amax and 139 Scenars.(2900 fps velocity) It also loves the 95 gr Varmint bullets as well. Trigger is perfect at 3 lbs. My deer hunting load of either a 130gr Berger or the 125 gr Partition are over 3000 fps. These loads are not hot-roded, all under 58000psi which is where the 308 typically operates and why it has such long barrel life.

 

[Romulus]

Survival: 22 LR no doubt

Daily Driver: 308 Win (resisted the urge for the slicker 260 Rem since you can load up a 308 so heavy if need be)

Daily Driver If I lived in CO, NM, etc: I'd be fine with just a .284 win

If I had to choose one cartridge and had no issues getting brass/bullets I'd settle on the 284 Win. Ample Power for long shots. Can shoot past 1760 for fun. Mild and easy to load for.

 

[DRNewcomb]

What would it be? Something that would do well on steel target to 1000m + and something that would take up to deer sized game. Something with a good barrel life (3000+). Something light enough to carry on a hunting trip yet stable/ heavy enough for target shooting.

First you say "If you could have Just one caliber...What would it be?" Then you add a bunch of qualifications. I have my own qualifications. Am I living in a vacuum where this is the only caliber in the world or do I have to live in the world as it is? In a vacuum I might go for something 6.5 mm. Maybe 6.5 x 47 or 6.5 Swede. In the real world, it would have to be .308. Not the best at any one thing but very good all the way 'round. Also, I can shoot F-TR with it, which is one of my qualifications and part of that "real world" business.

 

[yukonal]

What would it be? Something that would do well on steel target to 1000m + and something that would take up to deer sized game. Something with a good barrel life (3000+). Something light enough to carry on a hunting trip yet stable/ heavy enough for target shooting.
My thought is a 6.5x47 Lapua with a 26-28" fluted varmint profile barrel. Savage action make rebarrels a breeze, mcmillan A5 stock does all roles well. Initial thoughts for a scope would be a Sightron sIII 8-32x. Please share your thoughts as I am looking to start a new build for a practical match rifle that will double as a hunting rifle.

Definitely a Winchester .284 cartridge!! It can be used as close as 6 inches and on out to 1,200 yards in the right configuration...barrel life just a tad short of 3K though; but what you get for it!

Here it is...