Need help choosing a caliber

[half]

I have been guiding hunters for 10ish years. Mule deer, whitetail, antelope, etc. For the first time ever, I lost a deer. Long story short, bad shot from a great proned out spot at about 200 yards. We tracked/spotted/stalked the deer for the next 2 days, and finally lost him. If I had a rifle, I could have ended it twice. I am sick/mad about it, so I need to make sure it doesn't ever happen again. I usually never carry a rifle while hunting, I don't want the people I guide to feel like I don't trust their skill. But with that being said, I am going to build a rifle just to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I want to build an 18 to 20 inch barreled rifle capable of taking an animal down at 600 yards tops. Most shots would be far less than that. I will be building on a 700 SA std boltface. The reason for the short barrel is, I will be using a suppressor. I do a lot of spot and stalk hunting, walking miles every day. So I need to keep everything as light as possible.

This is where the wealth of knowledge around here comes in. I am open to any and all suggestions. I would like actual numbers from rifles you have built. Velocity doesn't matter as much as accuracy, but it would be nice to stay around the 2900fps mark if I can. I'm sure I've missed some details, but its a start. Thank you all for your input.

 

[effendude]

Based on a SA, 308 Winchester comes to mind first. You can shoot a heavy bullet for penetration as your shots may be at bad angles. Accuracy is great, but you won't get 2900 fps. Your experience echoes a friend of mine who guides oryx in New Mexico. He uses a 325 WSM because as he puts it, any hole you can put in a wounded animal helps, but big holes help more. I have a few 284 Winchesters and a 284 Shehane that would fit your parameters nicely but they are all built on long actions to take advantage of the heavier bullets.

Scott

 

[half]

I do have an extra LA, I just have a lot more parts laying around for a SA. I will be using a stock and dbm or a chassis so I can use magazines. I already have a few 5rd AICS pattern mags. I would love to use one of my match rifles, but I don't want to pack a 14lb rifle all day. Guess I'm getting weak in my old age!

 

[wupterchook]

with an 18" barrel, on a short action and standard bolt face.... 7mm-08

 

[Lone Hunter]

Waiting on some one to say Creedmore...LOL.. You could run some 130 gr mono Bullets and get close to your velocity in the .308 win.

 

[243winxb]

stay around the 2900fps mark

To get this velocity in a 18" barrel a 300 Win short Mag is needed. (150 gr bullets)

18"/20" barrels and 600 yards do not work well together. Imo.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Based on a SA, 308 Winchester comes to mind first. You can shoot a heavy bullet for penetration as your shots may be at bad angles. Accuracy is great, but you won't get 2900 fps. Your experience echoes a friend of mine who guides oryx in New Mexico. He uses a 325 WSM because as he puts it, any hole you can put in a wounded animal helps, but big holes help more. I have a few 284 Winchesters and a 284 Shehane that would fit your parameters nicely but they are all built on long actions to take advantage of the heavier bullets.

Scott

I agree with Scott on the .308 for a short barrel back up rifle. If your wanting that speed load the 125 grain accubond Nosler, it should work nicely.

 

[243winxb]

Mule deer,

300 pounds at 600 yds with a 125 gr bullet?

 

[half]

Waiting on some one to say Creedmore...LOL..

Me too!

Maybe 2900 is unrealistic? Maybe 2750 is more doable? My 6.5x47's both run about 2900 out of 24" barrels with 4350. If I switched to Varget or R15 maybe I could push a 140 to 2750? Just looking for options and opinions. I do know I don't want more than 20" of barrel, and I do want to stop what I shoot at.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

300 pounds at 600 yds with a 125 gr bullet?

No Sir
I was just pairing it with the short barrel, and “Most shots would be far less than that.”

 

[6MMsteve]

3006

 

[linebaugh]

Just curious on if your idea is even legal? Not sure what state you are in but in many states your shooting another persons deer is going to be considered poaching unless you have a valid tag for the season and plan to tag and keep the animal for yourself.

As for your question on caliber given standard bolt head, short action, 18-20" bbl and 2900 fps with solid kills to 600 yards. Standard 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm with higher BC bullets. Forget about 2900 fps happening and stick with hitting your target in firld conditions.

 

[half]

Do and will continue to have a valid license. I will use the tag if I finish the animal. My main concern is not letting a wounded animal suffer, and not chasing them all over hell to get the job done.

 

[effendude]

To get this velocity in a 18" barrel a 300 Win short Mag is needed. (150 gr bullets)

18"/20" barrels and 600 yards do not work well together. Imo.

Tell that to a generation of A2 service rifle shooters who use a 20" barreled AR-15 rifles quite effectively at 600 yards! Shorter barrel length doesn't mean less accurate, but usually less velocity.
Scott

 

[WSMNUT]

I will say it because it needs to be said. 6.5 Creedmoor. Ammo is readily available now so if you don't hand load you can still easily buy them off of the shelf. Easy to build, little to no recoil, very accurate.
Shoot 143 ELD-X and have More energy than a 308 with 150 Nosler BT's running 2800 FPS (which is not likely out of an 18" barrel)
143 = 1105 ft-lbs using 2600 fps figuring short barrel.
150 = 1018 ft-lbs using 2820 FPS

Shoot 120 Nosler BT's at 2850 FPS (20" barrel) with RL26 = 820 ft-lbs at 600 yards.

Sorry to be the Creedmoor guy. I don't even own one. I have a 6x47 for my SA std BF rifle. I think the 47 case is much better but if you are not loading them yourself its hard to argue against the 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor

 

[effendude]

I envision Half's shot opportunities to be at wounded, fleeing game or game in thick cover in less than ideal circumstances. Hard quartering away or even texas heart shot shooting will be the norm. I base this on 40+ years of real world hunting all over. Lightweight and or quick expanding bullets are not the answer when you are the guy with the back up gun. This is where Partitions, A-frames and Barnes bullets really shine. 2-3' or more of penetration, breaking anything in the path is what is needed in situations like this. I am a Berger guy, last having used them on a 8.5' grizzly and a 7' black bear in August. But, I also had Barnes bullets as the third shell in the magazine just in case things got interesting.
Scott

 

[half]

Thanks for the input WSMNUT, I have been thinking about a Creedmoor, and thanks for the real numbers.
Effendude is right, part of the terrain is big open river breaks and part is thick brushy wooded creek bottoms. Most shots will happen fast and wil not be easy, recoil management is a must.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

6.5x47, creed, or 7mm08. I've been using Lehigh controlled chaos bullets this year. Hammers game better than any other bullet I've tried. And this is from short barrels. Doesn't destroy a bunch of meat like a Berger will. The shank of the bullet went lengthways though a mountain goat. 600 and short barrels is doable. All you give up with the short barrel is speed.

 

[WSMNUT]

I have been using Barnes LRX for elk and Nosler BT’s or the Accubond LR for deer size game. I’ve recovered several bullets. Here’s a 145 Barnes LRX Shot from a 284 Win recovered from a 6x6 bull elk. The other is a 150 Nosler Accubond LR recovered from a WV Whitetail. I was happy to see the Accubond LR jacket still bonded to the lead core. I was concerned it would separate but it held together and the expansion was great. Both the Nosler and Barnes Bullets are expensive and you typically only get 50 in a box but well worth the price
Good luck on finding the perfect do all caliber/rifle.
I’m sure you’ll be happy with your choice and it’s nice to get info from so many shooters and hunters on this forum.
It’s a great forum full of free info that’s hard to beat. Life lessons and experiences can be costly but thanks to people sharing them it helps us all out

 

[Sniper338]

One thing that hasnt been considered or brought up is big caliber or big bullet still recoils less in a shorter barrel and is still affective. I shoot a .284 in a 14 inch barrel a lot... purrs like a kitten.

Your main focus should be weight imo... 7mm08 kills just as good as a 300 wim mag, but carrying a rifle for miles and miles is a whole nother animal. At the point of fatigue, caliber matters less than a good second shot.

Buying light weight rifle parts to be more comfortable would help greatly imo...

In a short action 7mm08 shoots flatter than a 308... way better imo...