What am I missing - New Cartridge

[stagpanther]

Because no one sits around the campfire at deer camp and brags about plastic stocks and matte black painted rifles.

You obviously haven't spent time with the ultralight carbon fiber crowd.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Shadow9mm

You know my vote is 30-06 with an good bc bullet...........Personally not a fan of magnum length actions or belted cartridges so no 7mm or 300 mags. But thats just me.

.30-06 is a good cartridge, but it isn't going to be a significant improvement over what the OP has in .270 and .308 Win when it comes to elk hunting. All three cartridges work really well for elk.

What modern rifle uses a "magnum length" action? They're all SA or LA, the M70, M700, Savage 110, and Ruger 77 use the same action for the .30-06 is the same length as the .375 H&H and other long magnum cartridges. Bolt stops and magazines are different and some other differences, but the action is the same footprint. .300 Win Mag and 7mm Rem Mag were designed to work in the same length magazine as the .30-06 cartridge, as well as alot of the other magnum cartridges. Can't help you with your belt phobia, get suspenders!

Originally Posted by jetinteriorguy

I’d look at it like this, whatever you decide get it based on a caliber that has a base compatible with a common caliber so the bolt will work with it.

That's the beauty of most hunting rifles and cartridges suitable for hunting. They most commonly come in one of three bolt faces, .384, .473, and .532. This covers the majority of the rim diameters found on current cartridges. This covers .223, .30-06/308, and .375 H&H/.300 Win rim diameters and a plethora of others.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by taylorce1

.30-06 is a good cartridge, but it isn't going to be a significant improvement over what the OP has in .270 and .308 Win when it comes to elk hunting. All three cartridges work really well for elk.

What modern rifle uses a "magnum length" action? They're all SA or LA, the M70, M700, Savage 110, and Ruger 77 use the same action for the .30-06 is the same length as the .375 H&H and other long magnum cartridges. Bolt stops and magazines are different and some other differences, but the action is the same footprint. .300 Win Mag and 7mm Rem Mag were designed to work in the same length magazine as the .30-06 cartridge, as well as alot of the other magnum cartridges. Can't help you with your belt phobia, get suspenders!



That's the beauty of most hunting rifles and cartridges suitable for hunting. They most commonly come in one of three bolt faces, .384, .473, and .532. This covers the majority of the rim diameters found on current cartridges. This covers .223, .30-06/308, and .375 H&H/.300 Win rim diameters and a plethora of others.

Not afraid of belted cartridges, no phobia here, just not a fan especially as a reloader when i have so many other good options. I do want to add 375 h&h and 460 weatherby to my collection some day, but its a ways off. Was thinking more like 300rum or 7mm ultra mag for the magnum length actions. I like long action. But short action does save some weight and space.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Shadow9mm

Was thinking more like 300rum or 7mm ultra mag

Still fit in the same length action as a .30-06. Only a .26" difference in cartridge length.

[stagpanther]

I do want to add 375 h&h and 460 weatherby

Ooooooo--a 460 weatherby! Now there's a big bang (4 tons of kinetic)! I've fired the 416--very impressive (and surprsingly accurate).

[Paul B.]

".30-06 is a good cartridge, but it isn't going to be a significant improvement over what the OP has in .270 and .308 Win when it comes to elk hunting. All three cartridges work really well for elk.

What modern rifle uses a "magnum length" action? They're all SA or LA, the M70, M700, Savage 110, and Ruger 77 use the same action for the .30-06 is the same length as the .375 H&H and other long magnum cartridges. Bolt stops and magazines are different and some other differences, but the action is the same footprint. .300 Win Mag and 7mm Rem Mag were designed to work in the same length magazine as the .30-06 cartridge, as well as alot of the other magnum cartridges. Can't help you with your belt phobia, get suspenders!"

I have to disagree with you on a point, or maybe two.

The Remington M700 action is a long action that is long enough for the .375 H&H and similar round without any alteration of the action To prove my point, take .375 H&H cartridge and place it in the magazine. It fits. Place two more with it and they'll fit as well. That goes for any M700 chambered for 30-06 length cartridges. I'm basing this on three M700, a BDL and Classic chambered to the 30-06 and another Classic chambered to the .35 Whelen. Change the barrel to .375 H&H and replace the bolt and you have a ready to .375 H&H for all practical purposes. You might have to change a magazine box and follower as well but that's just small stuff.

On belted cartridges, I just ignore the belt. A properly set up set of dies and you can forget about the belt. Set the resizing die so that the cartridges headspace on the shoulder and not the belt. It's not all that easy to measure the belt but they do a pretty sloppy job of headspacing. I have some .300 Win. Mag brass that for all practical purposes, the belt might just as well not be there. They're well out of specs.
Paul B.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Paul B.

I have to disagree with you on a point, or maybe two.

The Remington M700 action is a long action that is long enough for the .375 H&H and similar round without any alteration of the action To prove my point, take .375 H&H cartridge and place it in the magazine. It fits. Place two more with it and they'll fit as well. That goes for any M700 chambered for 30-06 length cartridges. I'm basing this on three M700, a BDL and Classic chambered to the 30-06 and another Classic chambered to the .35 Whelen. Change the barrel to .375 H&H and replace the bolt and you have a ready to .375 H&H for all practical purposes. You might have to change a magazine box and follower as well but that's just small stuff.

So where did you disagree? My point was the commercial builders don't make multiple length actions between long action or magnum action. It isn't cost effective to do so. You have mini actions being currently produced commercially, but I can't think of a commercially built rifle on a true "Magnum" action.

[USAF Ret]

Maybe I will just use my 6.5 Grendel for elk and call it a day. Haha.

Great input from everyone. Good PM from someone asking the why? Rifle therapy mostly to get me through a rough patch. Hobbies I used to enjoy with someone special left this earth with him. The Good Lord has been my rock, but I like to play with rifles in my off time to keep my mind occupied. Plus the dream of doing one elk hunt that I had planned and my son would want me to do it.

BLUF (for those with military experience), I just need load a good 308 and 270 round for what I have. Working on that.

I would still get a BAR Safari Boss in 7MM REM Mag if the option were available at a reasonable price. Went to my gunsmith and he had one in for some work and it had a beautiful laminate gray stock. About lost my faculties.

[Pathfinder45]

Between the 30-'06 based calibers versus the fatter Magnum calibers, I'm not willing to sacrifice magazine capacity for a dubious increase in performance. I don't believe that a 7mm Remington Magnum will give you anything substantially more than an otherwise similar 270 Winchester or 30-'06 Springfield with decent handloads except for the fact that it shoots 7mm bullets. A 280 Ackley makes more sense to me if I had to have a 7mm rifle. But I'm a 270 guy.... A 270 with a 24" barrel using optimal powders is capable of launching 150 grain Partition bullets at 3,000 fps.
The 30-'06 in a modern rifle, (not a questionable old Springfield or M1 Garand), has the most to gain from handloading when using optimal powders and loaded to the same operating pressures as the 308 Winchester or 7mm Magnum. And, when loaded with 220 grain bullets, the '06 is well regarded as a dangerous-game-rifle in Alaska.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Ooooooo--a 460 weatherby! Now there's a big bang (4 tons of kinetic)! I've fired the 416--very impressive (and surprsingly accurate).

My step grandfather had one i think. Have a couple distant relatives that worked for weatherby. Last time I saw him before he passed i think i was around 8. Other side of his family got all his gear. Last year my grandmother gave me a dummy round he had, un primed 460 soft point. Only thing i have from him. Decided i would get a mk V in 460 that day, on my bucket list

[USAF Ret]

I am reloading, but have bought several boxes of premium ammo just in case I get to elk hunt one of these years.

308 165 Grain Nosler Accubond
308 Norma 170 Grain Tipstrike
270 Norma 140 Grain Tipstrike

Although, between now and then, plan on rolling some of my own with Nosler Partitions.

[USAF Ret]

Dream Rifle

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/946799127

[stagpanther]

My step grandfather had one i think. Have a couple distant relatives that worked for weatherby. Last time I saw him before he passed i think i was around 8. Other side of his family got all his gear. Last year my grandmother gave me a dummy round he had, un primed 460 soft point. Only thing i have from him. Decided i would get a mk V in 460 that day, on my bucket list

I love weatherbys and I've seen an improvement in their quality with the opening of their new factory. I have a soft spot for their older featherweight MK 5's and the gorgeous wood stocks. The 460 is I think their ultimate cruise missile for big 5 dangerous game--though from what I've heard the 416 is more than enough for the big 5. Friend has taken a rhino and elephant with the 416.

[USAF Ret]

Just want to give a big THANK YOU to taylorce1 and Shadow9mm for helping an old guy out on reloading and hunting opportunities. It has truly been a blessing when a blessing was needed. Thank you gents! God bless both of you!

[jackstrawIII]

I have a 6.5 PRC I'm working to develop a load for. Seems like a great deer cartridge if I can bring the group size down a bit.

With that said, I wouldn't have bought it as an elk gun. If I was looking at your arsenal (which is a nice, sensible roundup of deer calibers) looking to go up to elk, I'd be going "farther up" to something like a 300 WSM or similar. You already have a 270 and a 308. The 270 is very similar to the 6.5 PRC for up to 400 yards (the distance you mentioned) and the 308 is a great option too.

So, if you're looking for more than those... you're going to have to go heavier to get it. Hence the 300 WSM.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by jackstrawIII

I have a 6.5 PRC I'm working to develop a load for. Seems like a great deer cartridge if I can bring the group size down a bit.

With that said, I wouldn't have bought it as an elk gun. If I was looking at your arsenal (which is a nice, sensible roundup of deer calibers) looking to go up to elk, I'd be going "farther up" to something like a 300 WSM or similar. You already have a 270 and a 308. The 270 is very similar to the 6.5 PRC for up to 400 yards (the distance you mentioned) and the 308 is a great option too.

So, if you're looking for more than those... you're going to have to go heavier to get it. Hence the 300 WSM.

Ain't looking anymore. Got all the info I needed to stick with what I have and load for accuracy and knock-down power. Thanks.

[taylorce1]

I know things have been decided, but thought this was relevant to the topic. My buddies daughter had a cow hunt, opening day was yesterday. She took a mature cow elk at 281 yards with a Tikka T3 Superlight in .308 Win. She's a little recoil sensitive yet so Dad loaded up 125 grain Accubonds, and was very happy with the results. Quartering to shot presentation, cut the recovered bullet out of the liver.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by taylorce1

I know things have been decided, but thought this was relevant to the topic. My buddies daughter had a cow hunt, opening day was yesterday. She took a mature cow elk at 281 yards with a Tikka T3 Superlight in .308 Win. She's a little recoil sensitive yet so Dad loaded up 125 grain Accubonds, and was very happy with the results. Quartering to shot presentation, cut the recovered bullet out of the liver.

That's awesome! I am really wanting to use the 270, but the 308 is not out of the question. Got plenty of time to work up loads and check accuracy.

I can see where that Tikka would have a thump.

[JustJake]

6.5 ManBuns aren’t out-performing existing cartridges.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by JustJake

6.5 ManBuns aren’t out-performing existing cartridges.

I shot my manbun with my reloads on Sunday and I can tell you, love the low recoil.

[Jack O'Conner]

I've only downed three elk and one was a female so I'm no expert. My longest shot was about 225 yards or so while hunting within the Bear Lodge Mountains of Wyoming. My .308 Savage lever gun works well for me shooting plain but effective 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Good hunting to you! - Jack

[stagpanther]

Dream Rifle

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/946799127

next best thing maybe--BLR

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by Jack O'Conner

I've only downed three elk and one was a female so I'm no expert. My longest shot was about 225 yards or so while hunting within the Bear Lodge Mountains of Wyoming. My .308 Savage lever gun works well for me shooting plain but effective 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Good hunting to you! - Jack

Thanks Jack.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by stagpanther

next best thing maybe--BLR

I love the BLR as well. I got one of my dream rifles (Ruger No. 1A in 270 Win), so need to stop for a while or sell some of what I have.

[Right to bear arms]

You probably already bought your new rifle. I know what it's like having cash to buy a gun burning in your pocket . . but if I had $900 plus a few more I'd pick up a Ruger Marlin Mayodan 45-70 and tuck it away. Probably be worth more in 20 years!