a good barrel life???

I dunno but something just bugs me about having the barrel shot out too quickly...

I'm playing with the idea of getting a long range rifle.

.25+ caliber (preferably .30-.35 cal)

Any out there with a good combination of:

Efficiency

Power (for at least deer sized game)

Accuracy potential

Just overall good case design.

Any recommendations?

Thanks a lot!

There are rarely any surprises with the 6.5 Swede, 280/284/7x64, 270, 308 or 30-06. Cheap, accurate ammo for the last three is everywhere, with the 6.5 not far behind. Recoil with all is mild enough that you can still see to drive home from the range after a long practice session. Those things are important because of all the practice it takes to be a good long-range shot. Hope this helps, Okie John.

270 win

.270 Win.

AD

The 308?

The really long range guys are pretty well settled upon using the 6.5x284 for long range shooting, but up through about 600 yards, the 308 isn't that far behind, and the barrel will last almost twice as long. HTH, Dutch.

Barrel life can be characterized by dividing powder charge weight in grains by the square of the bullet diameter. Above 900 is a yellow light and above 1100 is a red light.

To stay out of the yellow, here are some max charge weights:
.243 < 53.1grs
.257 < 59.4
.264 < 62.7
.277 < 69.1
.284 < 72.5
.308 < 85.3
.338 < 102.8
.358 < 115.3
.375 < 125.6

Multiply these charge weights by 1.222 to get the red light threshold.

Some rounds considered "hot", are actually not hard on bbls...the 270 Win comes in around 800 well behind the 300 Win Mag and .243. The 7MM Mag is over 900 and the 264 Mag is over 1100, along with the 300 and 7MM RUM.

The 308Win of course is what your looking for.



So are you saying a 42gr powder change 22-250 40gr bullet going >4000fps is easier on a barrel than my 99gr 300RUM 180g bullet going at 3300fps? Maybe, but find that surprising.

I found that article too by Bart. I just don't see much science or metalurgy to his basis. Maybe I am wrong.

338/378 Wby Mag. Barrel life is plenty long enough for me. 2000+ rds. if you take care of it. 2nd choice would be either a 300 or 338 RUM.

Maybe it's just because I had a great range session this weekend, but I LOVE my 300WinMag. Don't let anyone tell you it's hard to load for, or that the neck is too short. It's been so easy to find good loads that I might be spoiled for other cartridges.

Someone else will have to run the numbers, but I believe the 168gr MatchKing gets enough bump to cruise to 1,000 yards at good speed. The 190gr MK shoots very well in my A-Bolt too.

I realize this isn't what you asked about, but on the other end I have a SUPER SOFT load: 150gr ProHunter w/ 28gr SR4759 for about 2000fps. Still shoots MOA at 100 yards. I used it this weekend to practice standing and seated positions.

You can bust a barrel with almost any cartridge if you shoot up a whole box as fast as you can. Of course some are worse than others. It helps to keep that urge under control if you have two or three rifles at the range. This weekend I brought along the little 22 to fire between double taps of the WinMag.

I read it right. What do you think I'm using it for?

Honestly, my 338/378 is my primary gun, for deer and everything else.

Johan didn't mean it about "god forsakened", just a little salty. Just got back from Martlesham, in the UK. Sleeted everyday.

My choices would be:

a) 6.5 x 55 Swedish
b) 7.5 x 55 Swiss
c) .308 Winchester or .30-06

I see no need for magnums or anything over .308 calibre.

I have played at long range shooting for years and my personal favorite has become the 300 Win.

The 300 Win. combines great accuracy with reasonable recoil, decent barrel life, and great down range power.

A lot of guys are using the 6.5's for long range target work and I have to admit that they are very well suited to this purpose. It takes a better shooter to control the .300 mags. The .300 magnums (and larger) will give you "magnum shots" (12 o'clock high etc.) if the rifle is held differently from shot to shot. The 6.5's are more forgiving.

The 338 Ultra and its larger kin provide awesome long range power and accuracy but they are much more difficult to master and the accuracy can be a bit more elusive. The .338 bore is a little short on bullet selection compared to the others.

This means very little inside 300 yards but in the long range hunting world I think a 30 cal. 200 grain bullet is a better choice than a 140 grainer out of a 6.5, and far better than a 130 gr. out of a 270. The longer the range the better the .300 looks.


But that is my opinion!

Jamie

Well, how d'yer define "good barrel life"? And what kinder care are y'plannin' givin' the barrel? If the barrel was chrome lined, I'd expect that you could wearoutcher shoulder before y'd wear out the barrel. If I'm right about that, and I'll allow as long range deer snipin' don't appeal to me much so I don't claim to know, then a chrome-lined .300 Wby (shudder at the thought) should be near the ideal. Otherwise, a good 25/06 should do whatcher want, though a wildcat 6.5/06 would give yer a better choice o' bullets.

6.5 x 55

What about a 280 Rem? As a long range cartridge I would have thought it would have been better than the 06 although only marginally so.

For me - my new 300wsm - its awesome!!

okie john's recommendations are right on! I'd add that the .270 Win., a classic long-range medium game round, is never a mistake for your proposed purposes!

Johan, I spend enough time on that god forsakened continent (about 3 months/year) to know that no yank I have seen will spell caliber "calibre", and probably fiber, "fibre", and probably neighbor, "neighbre.

Then to add to that his list of suggested cartidges, I bet I am "spot on".

Would go with a 6.5x55 swede...Mild recoil yet great performance...not the hottest girl on the block...only the most accurate. Great selection of bullet weights available...from varmints to elk...it will do the job. Won their share of 1000 yard matches too.

swede

The .270 and 06 are the standard by which all long range hunting rifles are gaged by and compared to...there is a reason for that!!

I have used them all but when it comes down to the wire and I get serious about shooting a big old buck mule deer I will drag that horrible looking worn, no blue left, driftwood looking custom stock I made in the 50s in 300 H&H, pre 64 M-70 out..With a 165 gr. GS Custom bullet or a 200 gr. Nosler it never fails, besides its my lucky rifle, but Lord it has aged worst than me, and thats not good...I have even been acused of having one of those crappy stainless steel rifles, but upon close inspection they back off of that slander...

Custom rifle, .30-338WM!
Factory rifle, .280 Rem

For deer .270, 7x57, .280

barrels are sacrificial components,..get used to that.

My theroy is this,....when you buy a set of tires,..you know they will wear out,..so when you buy a barrel,..you are buying tires. Use it up,...then shorten it and fit it to another action in a different caliber of the same bore,.and then buy another tube to be finished at the length you wanted for the original action. I like power combined with accuracy,...so I buy good barrels,.and chamber them in whatever loudenboomer I want to shoot.

There ain't no free lunch in this game, and cheaper lunches don't taste as good.

Humm... the 30-06 sounds really good... I checked out one-a winchester featherweight today...

Or maybe a 300 win mag...

Please tell me about the 338 win mag. How does it stack up as a long range cartridge?

Thanks!

Cool Guy, accept what JustC posted as solid truth. I am well into my 2nd barrel on my .300WSM and you are likely aware how long since the introduction of the cartridge.

There is more info we all need. Do you handload? What is long range for you? Will you have a rifle built or buy a factory rig and hope for the best? Even without all that I can make some very general suggestions.

For bore go with .264, .284, or .308 because of selection of bullets with good BC.

If you do not handload and plan to use a factory rifle then the .308Win is for you. Varmint rifles are available from several manufactures and Federal GMM and Black Hills loads with the 175 gr Sierra Match King will satisfy your need for accuracy. You will have to decide if the Match King suits your purposes.

If you are having a rifle built, any competent riflesmith will deliver a product in any caliber that will allow a bullet to start straight down the bore and any of the premium barrels are capable of extreme accuracy. Mike Rock guarantees sub .25 moa from his barrels. If you handload your caliber choices are many in the bore sizes suggested. If you will use factory ammo then 3 calibers are good candidates: .308Win with loads already suggested, .300WSM with match loads from The Hunting Shack or Black Hills Ammo, .300WinMag with match loads from Black Hills or Federal.

I guess I will start handloading later... I would really try to take care of the barrel-letting it cool sufficiently between shots and stuff.



I think a factory rifle will suit my budget better right now. Glass bedding, recrowning and other small things might be considered.



I'm really eyeing a cz 550 in 30-06 right now. I wish CZ would make one in 300 win mag with a straight stock so I could just painlessly convert it to 338...



But I will consider a ruger or winchester too if I saw one chambered for a good round at the store.



I think Rugers are stronger actions, but not as refined in trigger and stuff??



I guess I don't like replacing barrels because I would have to find favorite loads and stuff all over again..



Thanks!

Cool Guy,
The 338 is one of the finest cartridges in the world..I have shot whitetail, duiker and Cape Buffalo with mine..It is my hands down choice for elk...I like the 300 gr. woodleigh in the black timber of Idaho where I live as it will shoot through an elk lengthwise or almost...

For long distance shooting the 210 Nosler is a dandy at 3008 FPS on my chrongraph and 24" barrel with case full of H4831..and that bullet will kill anything on this continent I assure you...It shoots as flat as my 300 and has a lot more authority way out yonder IMO...

You could NEVER go wrong with a 338, it will carry the mail anywhere you go...I have shot more game with my 338 than any rifle I own and that is a considerable number..

Were I limited to one caliber to hunt the world over that would probably be my choice...

Consider the fact that it will shoot as flat as a 270 or 300 for all practical purposes, and with a heavy bullet it will fully equal the great .375 but with better sectional density and penitration, how can it be beat...

For the record the only reason the 375 is the minimum caliber legal in some African countries is because the .338 was not around when the laws were made....

I am gratified to hear Ray heap such praise on the 338, which is my favorite cartridge as well. While I have nothing like Ray's experience with it it hasn't let me down yet. In fact I have two of them because all my cheapskate relatives like them as much as I do.

TCG

Get a M700 PSS in .308 and don't look back. This will cover 95% of most anyone's shooting out to 4-500 yards and you can practice enough with it to get good without breaking the bank or your body. Most of these rifles shoot .5-.75 moa out of the box with good factory ammo.

I assume you will spend as much on the scope as on the rifle? Ooops, gonna start an argument with that one



Tim

Don't get a .338 unless you already have a .30. The heavier calibers kick way too much to practice with and the ammo costs a fortune.



For now get a 30-06. That and the .308 Win are the standard of the world and the barrel will last for decades.

After all the wish list stuff, Savage99 comes down with the answer. A plus is the 30-06 is one easy rifle to reload for and is an excellant beginning reloaders choice. 1000 yard matches are routinely shot by gi shooting teams using the .308.

FYI: just because your tires are gonna wear out doesn't mean you have to smoke 'em leaving every stop light.

Another vote for the 338 Win Mag. Only exception is for game under 400 lbs, where you are probably better off with the 270.

beemanbeme said, "1000 yard matches are routinely shot by gi shooting teams using the .308."

While that's true, the reason is that .308 (service rifle cartridge) is the only cartridge allowed to be used in those special purpose matches, except the .223 is allowed in some matches.

I don't shoot 1000 yard any more but I shoot a lot of 600 yard matches with .308, 30-06, and .223. For hunting I would get a 30-06. The .308 is sometimes slightly more accurate, but not enough to make any difference.

With deference to Mr. Atkinson's experience, I think the .338 kicks too much for most people, nullifying it's higher striking poser. Mr. Atkinson is a more experienced shot than most people.

For practice, when you start handloading, a 30-06 with 125 or 130 grain bullets loaded light is a good load.