I need your input on cartridge selection.

K

kwmkoester

Guest
This is my first post. I am new to the world of precision shooting and have a decision to make. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a rifle, but, currently own a Rem 700 LA barreled action chambered in .270. So I am going to buy a new barrel and want to know: what are my cartridge options for this setup? Should I re-barrel in .270 or can I go with something that, in your opinions, would be a better option without having to modify my bolt. Please let me know your opinions and I look forward to reading them.
 
For what purpose are you going to use this rifle ?
I for one would not have a clue to suggest what cal. without this information.

Dick
 
Dick Grosbier said:
For what purpose are you going to use this rifle ?
I for one would not have a clue to suggest what cal. without this information.

Dick
Click to expand...

I guess that is a pretty important question. I am not a hunter, I want to shoot paper. I want the best long-range(300, 600, 1000+, whatever) cartridge that offers me the most options for the future. I'm planning on reloading and want to have as many options as possible. Is that broad enough for you?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well your .473 bolt face is good for a large number of cartridges. If you are wanting to shoot for maximum accuracy the .270 would probably not be your best choice if for no other reason than although it is a great hunting cartridge the supply of suitable match quality bullets is very limited
A 6 BR 6x47 or 6.5x47 has enormous accuracy potential but would probably be better built on a short action.

Dick
 
Dick Grosbier said:
Well your .473 bolt face is good for a large number of cartridges. If you are wanting to shoot for maximum accuracy the .270 would probably not be your best choice if for no other reason than although it is a great hunting cartridge the supply of suitable match quality bullets is very limited
A 6 BR 6x47 or 6.5x47 has enormous accuracy potential but would probably be better built on a short action.

Dick
Click to expand...

That's interesting what you said about a short action. I was assuming that there were LA cartridges and SA cartridges, but, I now realize that it's just bolt travel. I can shoot any cartridge, the important thing is the bolt face diameter and chambering dimensions. I've been putting little pieces together and building a big picture and it's little pieces of info like this that make things a lot more clear. Am I correct in over-simplifying this or is there something that I am missing?
 
Nope, you are correct.

It has further long been "a given" that long actions are less accurate due to them having "more action flex"..... a recent article in Precision Shooting concerns itself entirely with how one person made a long action "shoot as well as one would expect of a short action."

N'athless, were I you I'd get an 8" twist 6BR barrel in about a #6 or #7 taper (something around .800 muzzle diameter) finished out at 26" long.

al
 
Cartridge selection

I agree with ainwa about selecting the 1:8 6BR. I think that if there was a match where one would have to shoot one cartridge at all the ranges 100-200-300-600-1000 for a combined result I would choose 1:8 6BR.

Not wanting too steel the tread but the article you alinwa mention about using a long Rem 700 action to built Benchrest rifle on, is it awailable on the net ? Alinwa what is your opinion I have a Rem 700 long action trued and sleewed with Davidson sleeve in a laminated stock built after McMillan benchrest stock and a Basix 2-5 oz trigger, can I built competitive 30BR on it for score shooting ? My email is bergur@lsh.is
 
Just good comfortable with a good tube action and pick your passion of clone Remington actions 700's, lots of picking chamberings and barrels to pick from, hey you can even have a magazine with the tube still acting like a sleeve action for you. Talk about getting lots of mileage , and have lots of different barrels, the most for the least in the long run.
 
.25shooter said:
Not wanting too steel the tread but the article you alinwa mention about using a long Rem 700 action to built Benchrest rifle on, is it awailable on the net ?

No, it's from Precision Shooting magazine.


Alinwa what is your opinion I have a Rem 700 long action trued and sleewed with Davidson sleeve in a laminated stock built after McMillan benchrest stock and a Basix 2-5 oz trigger, can I built competitive 30BR on it for score shooting ? My email is bergur@lsh.is


Yes, maybe.
Click to expand...

It sounds as though you will be doing the work yourself??? not too many custom BR gunsmith's in your area... :)

It then becomes dependent on your abilities. YES the platform can be made to be competitive.

al
 
local gunsmithing

Well there are two gunsmiths here that I wouldnt trust to remoove a beyonet from WWI Mauser. On the other hand a friend of mine does an excellent work on chambering and squaring actions. I have a Benchrest rifle chambered by him that is prooven to hold its own against USA smithed Panda and other rifles so that is not a problem. Anyway as I already have this action I think I will give it a go as I can olways have the barrel rechambered on my Wichita as a switch barrel if it doesnt work out.
 
If I was wanting to punch holes in paper, I would not use a long action and I would not use a repeater.

6BR will make a great paper puncher but I think you're going to be giving up some with the LA and the magazine cut in the bottom.

I would lean toward the 6.5x55
 
Thanks guys, this is exactly the info that I need. Can anyone put a value on how much accuracy I give away by having an LA? How much accuracy do I lose with a magazine cut? As a beginner, I think hitting anything will make me happy.
 
If you're getting the work done locally or by self....... I would use your long action, WITH the magazine cut, and just bed the first 3-4" of the barrel along with the front screw. Use AL pillar. Now the rear screw and action are essentially taking zero weight.

Of course you now have a single-barrel setup and when you buy another barrel you'll hog it out and rebed.

al
 
I just put together a 6.5-06 on a remington long action, 26" Shilen 1:8 twist, pillar bedded into a Richards Micro fit stock. I added a Callahan .300 recoil lug, trued the action and sleeved the bolt, the gun shoots in the mid .3's, so it can be made accurate as mentioned above. I don't shoot Benchrest, but do enjoy accurate rifles. Not trying to sway your caliber choice, as the above mentioned cartridges are excellent, but the 6.5-06 will feed in the action you have if needed considering the amount of freebore.

Al,

Do you need to hog out the entire bedding surface, or just the bedding in front of the recoil lug? The barrel I used is 1.200, so I bedded about 2" in front of the recoil lug and wasn't sure what I was going to do when I re-barreled.

Med.
 
Last edited:
ultramagmed said:
Al,

Do you need to hog out the entire bedding surface, or just the bedding in front of the recoil lug? The barrel I used is 1.200, so I bedded about 2" in front of the recoil lug and wasn't sure what I was going to do when I re-barreled.

Med.
Click to expand...

I don't.

I just hog out enough to give a good bond for the new coat of epoxy and rebed the new barrel. I dye all of my bedding epoxy so I can hide anything...... lately I've been doing a nice dark dye mix and then using a toothpick to swirl in some color like McMillan does on their gelcoats........ looks good, covers good.

hth

al
 
I Would sell the long action and by a short action and build a 6br you will have a lot fun shooting the 6br I Have three of them.
 
missing part

A key question that must be answer is if you are willing to reload. My guess is that you don't currently. The 6BR, 6.5 x 47 L, 6.5 x 55 Sweede, and most of the other options given have very few options for factory available ammo. If you want to shoot factory stuff, get a 243, 260, or the universal 308W.

My money would be on the 6BR and learning to reload.... :D

Just my 2 cents, Tim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top