What hunting rifle would you build on a Pre64 action?

[walt willis]

Looking for thoughts here. If you were to build a hunting rifle on a pre-64 Win action, (assume a 30-06 bolt face), what would you build?

Something light enough to carry on non-flat ground, and enough gun for game up to elk.

My thoughts are leaning toward a 280 or an AI even. Before someone says 30-06, my thought is that if you build it in '06 then you can just buy one rather than build one, and I really can't think of anything else that will give the performance of the 280 or 280AI with the 30-06 boltface.


Just pondering the idea on a bored Monday night.

The first question would be is to ask your mission plan for the weapon?
Then to check to wear would help me choose the other parts.
I did notice you left out the .308?
Classic guns should be respected for what they represent as a piece of history just like the guys that owned them?

 

[XTR]

With regard to Nosler 280AI brass:

If one planed to use it, is it different dimensionally from brass formed from 30-06 brass? In particular would you need to get a reamer spec'd for it?

If you did use a reamer spec'd for the Nosler brass can you still use 30-06 brass?

Could the Nosler 280AI brass be used to make 338-06 brass or would you be stretching the neck too far?

 

[unclefudd]

Nuts. he beat me to it.
But read what freda had to say. I would build the 264 WM in a hot new york second. period. Good choice of pills, brass, etc and will work up or down from prairie dawgs to Moose and all in between. Fun to shoot light to mod recoil what more good a guy ask for.
But in the end, I think you already knew what ya wiz gonna build.
Don't keep us a wondering, let us no what ya do.

Wow, what a great dilemma to have.

UF

 

[Tommie]

Nuts. he beat me to it.
But read what freda had to say. I would build the 264 WM in a hot new york second. period. Good choice of pills, brass, etc and will work up or down from prairie dawgs to Moose and all in between. Fun to shoot light to mod recoil what more good a guy ask for.
But in the end, I think you already knew what ya wiz gonna build.
Don't keep us a wondering, let us no what ya do.

Wow, what a great dilemma to have.

UF

On a .473" boltface?

 

[nvbroncrider]

No sir can't use 280AI brass. The way ackleys are made is be setting the headspace .004" back from the standard chambering which allows you to chamber the parent cartridge with a slight crush fit.

The .280 is a member of the 06 clan but it's different than the rest. Rem took and shoved the shoulder .050" forward from a standard 06 so a 280 couldn't be chambered in a 270 which would be very dangerous. A 280 can't be chambered in a 270 or 06. But by doing so they created an even more dangerous situation in which you can chamber a 270 in a 280 chamber with excessive headspace by around .050" if you get one of those to light off it will be a grenade.

Now you could spec a reamer using the 280AI and make a 338-280AI no problem. You could neck it up in 2-3 steps and make sure you use a tapered expanded when doing so works the brass less. But you couldn't use 06 brass as a parent for the reasons stated above. You could use standard 280 brass neck up and fireform though.

 

[fredo]

On a .473" boltface?

That's why I listed .264WinMag as an option, behind the .280AI. I simply assumed that the collective knowledge here would know, by default, what would be required to do it...

For me, the "cool factor" of a classic Pre'64 in a classic chambering like the .264WinMag would be worth the extra 'smithing fees to open the bolt face & make it work. Heck, 'smith's gotta cut threads & a chamber already, what's a couple thou. off the face & some extractor mods added in???

Just food for thought...

Good luck with your build, OP!

 

[K9I449]

300 Win Mag Hart 26" barrel likes 168gr Berger and IMR 4350.

 

[nakneker]

I grew up shooting a Pre64 270, loved the rifle and sold it went the groups went south after hundreds of rounds. At the time re barreling a rifle was knowledge I didn't have. That rifle took lots of game and validated the .270 personally. Since then I've had lots of 30-06 based cartridges and have fell in love with 280AI. My current 280AI is built on a Deviant ultra light with a 1in9, however if I had a pre64 action it would be a hard choice. 270s are capable rifles, there's something cool about even saying 338-06 another very capable round. However for me it would be the 280AI, its so close to a 7 rem mag, it's not belted, bullet selection is huge, you can get factory brass or fire form your own easily and its one of those cartridges that when it hits big game it's like they've been electrocuted. I shoot both 150 partitions and 168 Bergers depending on the need.

 

[oldhoward]

Classic action deserves a classic cartridge. 375 H&H, it can do anything needed.

 

[tydaws]

6.5x280 AI

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

spend a bit more and have a 6,5x68S built. Think 264WM velocities, but without the belt.

Be the only one on the range...

Rich

 

[CTK]

Looking for thoughts here. If you were to build a hunting rifle on a pre-64 Win action, (assume a 30-06 bolt face), what would you build?

Something light enough to carry on non-flat ground, and enough gun for game up to elk.

My thoughts are leaning toward a 280 or an AI even. Before someone says 30-06, my thought is that if you build it in '06 then you can just buy one rather than build one, and I really can't think of anything else that will give the performance of the 280 or 280AI with the 30-06 boltface.


Just pondering the idea on a bored Monday night.

If I had even a mildly legitimate need, I would build a 35 Whelen on a Pre-64 70 action. I hunt with a 280ai almost exclusively and it is more gun than I really need. I would think that a 35 Whelen would be excellent for elk out to 3 or 400 yards.

 

[XTR]

I've narrowed this idea down to a 35 Whelen or a 338-06.

 

[effendude]

I really like the 35 Whelen. I have owned several and still have a couple. Old school cartridge developed in 1922, still does the job. The 338 has a bigger selection of bullets, but in the words of Hillary, "What difference does it make?". Either one will do the job equally well, but the Whelen has more class and style IMHO.
Good Luck,
Scott

 

[nvbroncrider]

Good choices bud don't forget the 9.3X62.