Short action long range cartridge

[bgblue1978]

I've done some searching and found some information but some of it seems dated so I was hoping you guys could help me decide on what cartridge to go with.

I'm going to rebarrel my Savage Stealth (short action) and plan to use it for long range. I have regularly shot 308s on steel at 1k so I am not totally new to long range but this is strictly shooting with friends not competition. I shoot mainly off a Harris bipod and rear bag either prone or bench. We are planning to take a few trips to a place where we will have access to about 1 mile. I load all of my rifle ammo so factory ammo is not a concern.

So the question is for long range plinking fun what is going to be the best cartridge in a short action. I was considering 7 saum but also looking at the 6.5 PRC.

Just to clarify I know nothing in this setup will be the ideal 1 mile gun. I'm just asking if I'm rebarrelling anyway what is the best short action long range. It will normally be used for slow fire plinking at 1k but an occasional trip to even longer range is a possibility that's why I mentioned it.

 

[46and2]

Number one, if you're going with a mag bolt face cartridge on a 308win action, get a PTG short action magnum bolt face. Then a WSM magazine.

I love my 6.5wsm but 6.5 PRC will probably do.

If you want to keep your bolt face and mag try 260 Remington.

 

[Terry]

The 7 SAUM with 180's or 184's will easily fit your needs. Easy to tune and works well in a short action. You will need to remove the bolt to eject a loaded round.

 

[69mach]

I don’t think you can go wrong with 300wsm. I’ve had several over the years and I will probably never be without one. They are more than capable at 1 mile. I can get 1400yds at my own personal place I shoot but you’d be surprised how it can do at that range.

 

[bgblue1978]

I don't mind changing bolt face does not need to fit in 308 face or magazine. I will buy magazines for whatever cartridge I end up choosing (wsm, saum, etc).

 

[ben_g]

300WSM or a 7mm SAUM

 

[R.Morehouse]

Another vote for the 300WSM..........

 

[MikeMcCasland]

300WSM.

 

[284winner]

Another option is the 284. Wouldn't be able to run the 180s but 160-168s would work great at 3000 fps. Pretty efficient cartridge. Will not get the velocity of the 7wsm or short action ultra Mag. For the one mile on a short action cartridge my vote would be the 300 WSM with a 230 or 250 atip bullet. Only problem with that is the overall cartridge length won't function in a short action unless you single feed it and remove the bolt to remove a loaded round.

 

[Terry]

Another option is the 284. Wouldn't be able to run the 180s but 160-168s would work great at 3000 fps. Pretty efficient cartridge. Will not get the velocity of the 7wsm or short action ultra Mag. For the one mile on a short action cartridge my vote would be the 300 WSM with a 230 or 250 atip bullet. Only problem with that is the overall cartridge length won't function in a short action unless you single feed it and remove the bolt to remove a loaded round.

Could you run the 284 with 180's the same way?

 

[hunter67]

look at 7 Sherman ss. If for fun the 6.5 creed or 6.5 sherman ss

 

[284winner]

Could you run the 284 with 180's the same way?

Yes I suppose you could. If you didn't mind single feeding and extracting a loaded round by removing the bolt

 

[natdscott]

The .284 is a short action cartridge.

When set up for Long Range, the .284 is a long action cartridge.

-Nate

 

[284winner]

The .284 is a short action cartridge.

When set up for Long Range, the .284 is a long action cartridge.

-Nate

Fortunately you can have the best of both worlds in a short action platform. I run the 162s at about 3,000 or so feet per second at an overall length of 2.980 that feed from magazines. My long action 284 is built just for 180 to 184s.

 

[GSPV]

Tracking is going to be difficult with that setup...

 

[lawman29]

6.5x284

 

[mike a]

The .284 is a short action cartridge.

When set up for Long Range, the .284 is a long action cartridge.

-Nate

What is the length when setup long with heavies?

 

[Dud]

If I did my math right, a 284 with a Berger 184 is about 3.2" COAL.

For the OP, once you are thinking about ELR distances, a short action is going to make things a lot more complicated. If you are going to rebarrel and change bolt heads, you might be better off selling and going to a used "budget" rifle that you can upgrade.

For me that is a $250 30-06 Savage Axis II that I have rebarreled to a 31" 284 Winchester, faced the receiver for a 110 style recoil lug, put it in a clearance priced Gen 1 MDT LSS chassis and I'm making an extended forend.

The chassis uses an oddball 3.56" magazine length but it should be plenty of room to feed anything 284. It has an X-Caliber Pre-fit barrel which I'm hoping is as good as something like a Shillen Pre-fit (it was on sale and delivered right at the 8 week lead time).

I'm sure there are long action chamberings that will do better at a mile+ but I'm trying for something that doesn't need a brake so it's not annoying at the range and just easy.

 

[284winner]

What is the length when setup long with heavies?

Right around 3.25

 

[284winner]

The 6.5-284 definitely needs a LA for the 140 weight class to make around 3000 fps +/-