I want to build a long range hunting rifle, most for lopes, but possibly mulies and calf elk as well. But what I can decide is not really caliber, but general idea....

I have broken it down into 3 choices, light and fast smaller caliber (257 Wby for example) larger caliber with smaller bullets (300wby with 130ttsx or what have you) and in the middle using standard weights (7stw, 7.21 firebird with 140-160s)

Each has their merrits, lazer trajectory like the 257, balance of speed, trajectory and BC/SD in the 6.5/7mm's and high velocity and more wind stability of the fast 30's. Each also has its downfalls....lower energy in the 257s, low SD and velocity loss over distance in the 30's and.....well, just not sure what the downfalls may be in the 6.5/7's. Thing is I already have the 300wby but I'm developing that to be more of a heavier game hiking rifle with 180-200gr bullets to compliment my ultralight 300wsm with 130-165gr bullets for mulies and cow/calf elk (wby would be for bulls, moose, bison)

Heavy, stable long range capable rifle, but not varmint heavy persay, like a Sendero or XCR for examples.

What do you guys think? I reload and have my rifles built, so avalability of ammo and such is a moot point. All choices will be pricey either way

In 2010 Savage is coming out with a long range hunter in 6.5 Lapua. There is an article in the current "Shooting Times" featuring this rifle. I would certainly give it a look before getting involved with a custom.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

How do you define long range and in what way do your other rifles fail to measure up?

Have a look at the charts for the 140 grain 6.5s when started in a longer barreled 264 Winchester, 6.5x284, or 6.5'06.

i have a 6.5x.270 improved(essentially a 6.5-06 imp.) built on an fn 24/30 with a 1-in-9 shaw #5 taper (.710) at the muzzle. a bit hefty,... 9 lbs. naked..., but i don't mind it at all. i had it built for reaching out across the potatoe fields around where i hunt....it does that good. it likes the horn.129gr. flatbases but it will shoot heavier almost as good, so it would work on small elk just fine i think.
as much as i am tired of hearing about .5 MOA hunting guns, this one is.
i haven't loaded a round for it in about 6 yrs, but decided to use it this year. i sqeezed some '06 necks down and loaded some 129 horn. fb's over just 49 gr. of h4831just last night. well, i just got back from the range and it shot a .485"(as well as i can measure it) three shot group... with fireforming loads!! my daughter is going to help me post some pics of the gun and group later tonight because i also just got done putting a new stock on it and wanted to show it off a bit.

quote:

I want to build a long range hunting rifle, most for lopes, but possibly mulies and calf elk as well...

Just remember,
that bullets of equal BC & Vel., have the same drift & drop- regardless of cal.
So decide how much bullet you need for the creatures in question, no use suffering more recoil than necessary.
This video shows the effectivness of different cartridges at "long Ranges".

Exactly the kind of discussion I'm lookin for! Thanks guys.

I'm open minded as far as this goes so keep em coming.

I forgot to mention 1 of the downfalls on the medium and larger claibers is definetly increased recoil. This gun will sport a removable muzzla brake, or I may leave it on because long range shooting usually involves unaware animals so I have time to put on protection and take my time with shots.

I want something capable to 500, without having to calculate lots of bullet drop, hence the thoughts of powder keg overbores. Most likely 350-500 range will be where this gun lives. I know there are many lesser calbiers that will get the job done, but with more bullet drop or just the fact its not what tickles my feathers. Why have a 25-06 when I can have a 257 wby, ya know? Cost of components isn't a concern, which is why even lazzeronis are in mind. To give every advantage I can to myself, it will be a custom job, or at least improved factory (crowns, triggers, action squaring etc) to edge every possible bit of accuracy I can out of the gun.

Two choices that would get my top consideration are the .338 Lapua and the 378 Weatherby.

I would probably go with the .378 Weatherby.

If I was pushing past 500 to the 700 mark lol I think those may work but seems a bit excessive for my needs. The lapua IS interesting however, very impressive ballistics.

Ya know I HAVE always kinda wanted a 6.5-284...I do have a spare 1903 action that might work out in but I am not finding the stlye of stocks id like to use. Hmm.

Nothing is excessive in the hunting world. When you're getting more than you bargained for, it's nice to know you're getting what you paid for.

YOU had BETTER look at energy tables and the size of game you are considering at 500 yards!!!! Go big or go home!!!!!!

I have done this...

going with a Savage Action..

picking up a stock like I want..

then there are either take off barrels or get the barrel you want, from the maker you want, chambered in the caliber you want..

that way it is not hard to duplicate the Savage 11 and 111 Hunter they are coming out with next year...

from what you post as game criteria..
I'd be looking in the 25/06, 270, 280 rounds in a long action

or 260, 7/08 in the short action...

with my Savage, so far tho, I have a 7/08,m 25/06 and a 22.250 barrel for the same action..

not pretty but highly functional.. and some of us find beauty in that alone..

When the highly eroded barrel in my Remington 700 .30-06 needs to be replaced I plan on going with an 6.5-06, or maybe the AI version.

HS Precision makes an ADL stock I like and I'll probably top it with a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-12x42 like I have on my .25-06.

.25-06 plus a little more!

A savage isn't a bad place to start at, but only if I can find one used. I want more oopmh then the '06 based cases can safely give, so for this particular application they're taking a seat on the bench. Its not a matter of "need" as much as "want" otherwise I'd call my 300 Wby good for everthing that doesn't want to kill me when I shoot it.

Buli - I have taken retained energy and animal size at distance into consideration...antelope and mulies aren't THAT big lol. Playing that game however, the 7.21 Firebird still has enough energy and velocity to put an elk down at over 900 yards. Even with a brake I think I would likely not enjoy shooting a 378.

I build a lot of long range rifles. The best one IMO is the .338 Edge. One I built just took an Elk at 1330 yards. One shot DRT. If you are going to hunt 300 lb. plus game with it at distance, you want something that has some punch out there. This gun must have a brake to shoot it accurately....Tom

Based on what you'll be hunting, I don't think you need a caliber any larger than 270. Anything more would just be more recoil and the animals wouldn't be killed any more dead. I'd go for a 270 Weatherby or a 264 WM. There is no need to use a muzzle break with either of these and they will shoot flat like you want.

i've always liked the guns with a slightly heavier than sporter barrel. that barrel on my 6.5 is just right, heavyenough to just give you a bump and then lays down, yet not too heavy to carry around all day.
if you like the 6.5-.284, i say go for it! if i'm not mistaken, it's one of the players in the 1000yd. game, so it's a known long distance round, for sure and the heavier end of bullet wieght are certainly adequite for elk.