Hello to everyone

I'm going to have Dakota make a new traveler for me. However, I can't make up my mind on which calibers to get. This rifle will be for medium game and varmints. I was thinking 7mm-08 & 220 swift. But possibly 30-06 springfield & 25-06 rem or 308 win & 243 win. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I was hoping for at least 100 grains bullet weight difference in the 2 calibers.

BTW I already have two .338 win mags so I would really like a SA to vary my battery some.

06 & 22/250

to avoid the rifle feeling a bit different in balance i would change that to 308 and 22-250

How about a 6mm Remington and 7x57?

quote:

Originally posted by CARLOSTHEJACKAL:
Hello to everyone

I'm going to have Dakota make a new traveler for me. However, I can't make up my mind on which calibers to get. This rifle will be for medium game and varmints. ------------- I was thinking --308 win & 243 win. -------------

If, Traveler is the operative word,
.308 and .243
as these calibres of ammunition are available almost any where over the globe. (As are 30-06 and 22-250, to only a slightly lesser degree )

243 and 308 would be my pick.

you could use lighter bullets in the 243 for varmints and 100gr bullets for deer sized game.

The 308 with 180gr bullets would work for the big game.

I would want QD scope mounts and a scope for each barrel.

7mm-08 & .22-250

260 and 220 swift will be more complimentary to your other rifles as a set

Long action: 35 Whelen, 25-06

Short Action: 358 Win, 243

Agree
25-06 and 35 Whelen

6mm remington and 7x57 was the first to come to my mind also.
another would be 257 roberts and 7x57. actually 4 guns with two barels.
the .257 is, of course, a suberb varmint round with light bullets and still entirely adequite for deer sized game as well and the 7x57 is of course a superb deer sized game round and entirely adequite for elk with heavier loads. both calibers are true classics and classicly suberb in thier own niche, plus both are fully capable of stepping outside thier "box" and do similar justice.

The advantage of the 243 and the 308 is that you can find ammo in most gunstores, even today.

These are great suggestions. However, Dakota has some pretty strict guidlines in which calibers they will make the traveler in. Here is the link. http://dakotaarms.com/cgi-bin/..._id=&exact_match=yes

I noticed that Dakota has the 6mm Remington and the 7x57 in different families of cartridges and they say that two barrels can't be from different families. The 6mm and 7x57 are in exactly in the same family of cartridges.

I think they did that because they think the 6mm would go in a short action. I'm sure Dakota would allow these two cartridges to be paired up if you spoke with the gunsmith.

quote:

Originally posted by duckboat:
I noticed that Dakota has the 6mm Remington and the 7x57 in different families of cartridges and they say that two barrels can't be from different families. The 6mm and 7x57 are in exactly in the same family of cartridges.

I think they did that because they think the 6mm would go in a short action. I'm sure Dakota would allow these two cartridges to be paired up if you spoke with the gunsmith.

Actually, I did speak with the main salesperson Richard. He in turn spoke with one of their smiths. Originally, I wanted the 7x57 and 220 swift. He said eventhough they are on the same exact case, the swift would be considered a short action and the 7x57 would be a standard action. This unfortnatly, would be the same problem with the 6mm and 7x57.

I truly want a 7x57 (I know the 7mm-08 has the same ballistics), but cannot think of a second barrel that would truly make sense to have. Would shooting a 7x57 in say a 160 or 170 grain bullet and maybe a 257 roberts with 100 grains make sense?

Thanks for the replies.

quote:

Originally, I wanted the 7x57 and 220 swift. He said even though they are on the same exact case, the swift would be considered a short action and the 7x57 would be a standard action. This unfortnately, would be the same problem with the 6mm and 7x57.

???
6mm rem is of the 7x57 last I heard

and 220 Swift (as commercialized by Winchester)was off the 6mm Lee Navy

ME NO Comprende

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:

quote:

Originally, I wanted the 7x57 and 220 swift. He said even though they are on the same exact case, the swift would be considered a short action and the 7x57 would be a standard action. This unfortnately, would be the same problem with the 6mm and 7x57.

???
6mm rem is of the 7x57 last I heard

and 220 Swift (as commercialized by Winchester)was off the 6mm Lee Navy

ME NO Comprende

I didn't really understand it either. But, the two different calibers must be from the same "family". I guess "their" family is a little different.

go with the 7&8 mausers then
they do make some nice varmint bullets in 7mm.
now hwere is the nice part you can get real worl velocities of 2800 fps with the 100 139 150 from the 7mm.
and 150,170 and near so from the 200 in the 8mm.
wide range and extremely similar ballistics.
one scope setting to cover the board there.

6mm Remington and 8x57 Mauser.

Rich
Buff Killer...the trophies are enroute.

Carlos, I think there might be some miscommunication at Dakota. There is absolutely no reason that you couldn't have any cartridge based on the x57 case feed through the same action. 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57 all will feed the same way. The 220 Swift isn't a x57 based case, but it is similar too.

If you are going to pay good money for an expensive rifle, you should be able to get exactly what you want as long as there isn't a good reason why you couldn't do it or it wouldn't feed well. In this tough economy, most companies aren't as hard-headed as they used to be. If you insist on what you want and it can be practically done, I bet Dakota will do what you want.

quote:

Originally posted by duckboat:
Carlos, I think there might be some miscommunication at Dakota. There is absolutely no reason that you couldn't have any cartridge based on the x57 case feed through the same action. 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57 all will feed the same way. The 220 Swift isn't a x57 based case, but it is similar too.

If you are going to pay good money for an expensive rifle, you should be able to get exactly what you want as long as there isn't a good reason why you couldn't do it or it wouldn't feed well. In this tough economy, most companies aren't as hard-headed as they used to be. If you insist on what you want and it can be practically done, I bet Dakota will do what you want.

I pretty sure all the above calibers mentioned will work except the 6mm and 220 swift. The explanation I got from Richard was that these were short action calibers and the 7x57 etc were standard action calibers. I guess maybe too much space in the mag box when the smaller calibers were being used.
What does everyone think of getting the 7x57 shooting maybe a 160 barnes tsx and 257 roberts shooting the 80 grain barnes tipped tsx. Is there enough of a difference in those two to justify a two barrel set?

Thanks

They must be defining the 6MM and 7x57 as different due to the max length of the 7x57 loaded with heavy bullets. Probably a feeding issue rather than technical definition.

Since their definition is a bit arbitrary, maybe a way to get around it is the 6.5 x 57 and 220 Swift. The 6.5 x 57 will do anything the 7 x 57 can do.

i had for a short time, a 6mm rem on a short action. boy was it accurate,with bullets seated out so it wouldn't feed them from the magazine.
i'll never have another one on a short action again.
the 257 is good on a long action too, especially with 120 gr bullets.
if you are gonna be specific about your loads and bullet weights i would look at ordering with specific twist rates in the bbls too.

lamar basicly hit it on the head there.
i guess i didn't catch the "short action" criteria, is the traveler made only on a short action?...i didn't know this
the problem there is that while a 6mm.rem will work fine with the bullets set back to fit in a short mag ( primarily because the smaller dia. bullets also mean leass length at the heavier end of thier range), the 7mm. and for that matter the roberts also, really needs to have the heavier bullets seated out where the OAL won't fit into a short magazine. appearently, dakota won't sell you a set where one load's performance will be compromised for sake of the above conditions. evidently thier "family" extends into the loaded performance arena as well as basic case parenthood. in hindsight, knowing this means they are watching out for a guy's enjoyment of his purchase from them as well as watching out for thier own reputation.
ie.... a guy might get a combination of 6mm.rem. and 7x57, only to have someone wonder, "why the heck they would chamber a 7x57 on a short action, cripes everyone knows a 7x57 needs to be in a std.length action......don't those guys at dakota know what they're doing?"..... surely not a good situation for both parties.
my apologies for not noticing the short action crireria....too bad, that combination would be a nice one!...two of my personal all time favorites and presently my two "go-to" loads between coyote and deer.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by merlinron:
lamar basicly hit it on the head there.
i guess i didn't catch the "short action" criteria, is the traveler made only on a short action?

They do make long and magnum length actions as well. I have a 458 win and 338 win in the "African" traveler.
I think I might go with the 30-06 shooting 18- barnes tsx and the 25-06 shooting the 80 grain tipped tsx. That way I have medium heavy game covered and varmints as well.

quote:

220 swift. He said eventhough they are on the same exact case

The Swift is actually a "semi rimmed" cartridge.
Not the same case as a 7x57.

My thoughts - .308 and .243 or 30-06 and 22/250.

Larry Sellers
SCi Life Member

It's fun to ponder which cartridges to choose but the more important question is, "Will Dakota will be in business long enough to complete the project?"

Personally, I wouldn't give Dakota a nickel so long as Kokesh is involved. Regardless of your feelings one way or the other about Kokesh, the company's longevity is in serious doubt right now.

Also, Take a look at the Blaser R 93.

Make the caliber chioce you want!
This is a great gunmaker

http://www.vovapen.com/

9,3x62 and 30-06....



Going outside the box for a minute...think of the 30-06 as your varmint rifle. Use 286 grain 9,3 bullets for buffalo and even elephant, 232 grain bullets when you want something flatter shooting for say plains game or elk in slightly thicker cover. Then shoot 220 or 200 grian bullets in the '06 for open country medium game and use all the way down to 110 grian bullets on NA or African varmints. With this combo, you have two calibres in the same action to cover any hunting on the planet. Yes, you could do the same thing with a .375/.300 H&H combo but not as cost effectively and with higher levels of recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
9,3x62 and 30-06....

Good thought,
or .270 (or .280, etc) and .400 Whelen (.411 Hawk, etc) in the "Standard" length ( though not as "standard" as your thought as concerned to ammo availability.


Aren't all the choices fun, not like it was when I was a kid, new gun inventory in most stores --- 270's, 06's and 30-30's, if you were lucky a .243 or a .308 might show up .
One of the reasons I learned to assemble my own.

Carlos, good luck with your choice, in a custom/semi- custom, such as a Traveler you should obviously get what you want.

Were it my money I go with a 22-250 and 260 unless I was worried about being able to buy ammo off the shelf in out of the way places; then a 243 and 308 would get the nod. Get the 22-250 with a quick enough twist to reliably spin up a 60 game bullet just in case you decide to chase smaller deer and antelope with it. $0.02

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:

though not as "standard" as your thought as concerned to ammo availability.

Exactly! If a shooter were so inclined, he could buy 1000 rounds of 30-06 from CMP and 1000 rounds of 9,3 from Grafs for around $1500 total. That ought to keep a guy shooting and reloading for a while! Try doing that with .400 Whelen!

What about a Blaser R93? Then you can pretty much have what you want.

You want a rifle for traveling? Multiple calibers? Why not consider this system?
Mauser Model 03
Probably too radical a design. No lack of calibers. Take down rifle that you can change calibers in a couple of minutes or less. I wish I owned one! And lots of barrels!

quote:

Originally posted by caorach:
What about a Blaser R93? Then you can pretty much have what you want.

Great rifles.

Have them and love them, that said there looks aren't classic and to many, not even pretty.

Blaser barrels and conversion bolts etc are not cheap at all, and still going up.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Long action: 35 Whelen, 25-06

Short Action: 358 Win, 243

Nice choices! +1

A fun combination would be a 6.5x68S and a 9.3x64 Brenneke.

I'd get the 6.5 with a 26 inch #5 barrel and a round but not quite beaver tail forened, and the 9.3 with a fluted or octagonal #4 25 inches with sights and a schnabel forend.

A 25-06 and 9.3x62/338-06/35 Whelan would be excellent too.

A guy could do a 358 Norma and 257 Weatherby as well.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
It's fun to ponder which cartridges to choose but the more important question is, "Will Dakota will be in business long enough to complete the project?"

Personally, I wouldn't give Dakota a nickel so long as Kokesh is involved. Regardless of your feelings one way or the other about Kokesh, the company's longevity is in serious doubt right now.

I do agree, I talked to them a few weeks ago and they were scared shitless!