What caliber to go with for hunting?

[WyleWD]

+1 on what RonAKA said in his post. He's obviously checked out RETAINED energy on his ballistics programs.

If you're possibly going to take a good, disiplined, responible shot at 400yds you NEED accuracy and RETAINED energy. WD

 

[camac]

Sorry, saw one reference for a 284 but can' see reasons for rejecting it on quick skim through. The 284 is same shell length a 6.5*55 but a lot more retained energy. A bigger bullet so also has a lot more retained momentum (and penetration). The extra grunt will get you out to 500 easily and a good ELK rifle. Not the only choice but got to be ooooone of the best.

 

[zorak]

here are some good option for you. 270wby mag,264win mag,or any of the 300's wsm,win mag.wby mag or the RUM. Not to harsh on the meat of a deer if load and hit in the right spot but plenty of juice for an elk. Just my opinion.

 

[Kenny474]

7mm-08AI. If you are willing to go the AI route, you will have an excellent rifle. The newer 7mm bullets have some crazy BC and the 7-08AI will have plenty of boiler room to get them up to speed for at least 500yds. Where as it will be a .308 based round, you have excellent brass available and it's made by many different manufacturers and can be made from 7.62x51 military brass should there ever be a shortage and brass becomes hard to find.

If you wanted to push the envelope a bit further, you could move the shoulder forward a bit more and gain even more powder capacity, kinda like the old Gibbs wildcats. It would eliminate the ability to use factory ammo and you would either have to create a false shoulder or jam bullets hard to fire form, but I don't think it would be too hard. You would be about as close to .284 velocities as possible using the .308 case, and not have the issues associated with the rebated rim.

With the options you have stated, I think this will be the best of the bunch by far, especially if you blow the shoulder forward beyond the standard AI configuration and minimize body taper. If you can reach 2840fps with a 140gr Accu-Bond (as stated in the 7mm cartridge guide) with a standard 7-08, and you gain 100fps with an AI that will put you at 2940fps.
Now blow the shoulder forward .100", or even a bit more to .120" or .150", and you may gain 80fps over even the AI. Possibly more, as I am no ballistician by any stretch and don't have access to QuickLoad or I would try to figure out what would happen as I am curious myself. The only downside would be the shorter neck. But I don't think it would be that detrimental as long as you could get the rifle to feed smooth and eliminate the chance of stuffing the bullet back into the case. If you were to crimp the bullets in place with a Lee FCD I doubt there would be any issue with bullets moving anyway.

If you know how to figure it out, I would see how much extra case capacity you could gain by moving the shoulder forward on the 7-08 by .100" and even .120" and .150" and see if you can figure velocity gain as well. I think you would have a hell of a little round that may even rival the .284 to a degree. It would definitely be a heck of a deer dropper and a fun gun to rip up the range with. And it sure would be different to boot.

 

[oldroper]

Sorry, saw one reference for a 284 but can' see reasons for rejecting it on quick skim through. The 284 is same shell length a 6.5*55 but a lot more retained energy. A bigger bullet so also has a lot more retained momentum (and penetration). The extra grunt will get you out to 500 easily and a good ELK rifle. Not the only choice but got to be ooooone of the best.

Here an article on getting the 284 to feed http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek095.html.

Browing,Ruger and Forbes (Ultra light Arms) all made the 284 in bolt action rifles and never had problems feeding.

You are right if you can get the 6.5x55 to feed the 284 is the same case length. Ruger used that follower with the 284 case. Mike Bryant build my 6.5x284 on a Win model 70 action just need a good gunsmith.

I've never shot an elk with a 7mm 140gr bullets did use the Hornady 154gr acouple times but use 160gr or 175gr. I plan on using a 160gr bullet this year in the 284 for elk and I might use it on a buck hunt also.

I use the same loading data in the article I posted 2900fps plus with R-17 and 160gr bullets is a real velocity and good powder for the 284. I'm also shooting that powder in a 280AI.

 

[bozo699]

Hack,
I can almost feel your pain,you laid out three options you feel will work for you and your action.I think any of the three would work. I don't have a 6.5*55,wish I did it's a great round. I do agree with others 500 yards for elk is a bit much for any of them,but if you could follow Kenny474's advice(The best way to put an elk down is to blow out both front shoulders on the spot.) since non of the choices you have will do that even @ close range, then shot placement will have to do. With that said I have killed a couple of elk with a .308 @ over 300yards and one with a 7mm-08 @ a little over 200 yards with no problems. Just close your eyes Hack and pick one I don't think you can go wrong with any of your choices, all three are great rounds. Have fun with your new build let us know how she does.
Wayne.