140 grs at 2650 is no problems in a 6,5x55. In a 6,5-06, 3000 f/s is standard.

If you want a larger caliber bullet, any cartridge on the .308/30-06 family will do. Any magnum will kick to hard in the light rifle preferred for real mountain hunting, thus making it harder to shoot well.

But do not think a 7-08 will do something your 6,5x55 will not.

6,5x284 anyone?

Rich
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by akrange:
Fred
At times Life is a Spectator Sport.. And the
reality is the velocity king {when we compared the 7mm Rem Mag. and the 280 Rem.} is in fact the 7mm Rem Mag.. Of course if you like primers that fall out when You beat the bolt handle open you could match the 7mm Rem Mag..Spectator Sport.. No
AK

Reallity check ak. The 7rm pushing a 150gr SPBT @ 3100fps (handloaded), sighted in @ 250yds leaves you -14" @ 400 & -32" @ 500. The same bullet out of the .280 @ 2850fps (handloaded but factory eq. vel.), w/o bending anything, leaves you -17" @ 400 & -37" @ 500. That whopping diff. is about 25yds. At 300 they are so close it doesn't matter. Sooooo in the real, NOT spectator world, there is very little diff. in trajectory but you will pay a price in recoil from a 7# "mountain rifle" in the magnum. I like the 7mags, but they aren't the death ray most owners think they are, especially w/ factory ammo.
Read the posts before you reply. I never said the .280 was equal, what I said is you give up less than 50yds. I was wrong though , you give up less than 30yds. All this in a rifle that weighs 7# & can be shot all day from any position. THings will get better when it thaws up there.

Fred,
Time of flight is in the 7mm Rem Mag Favor..In the Mountains and on the Plains Mother Nature plays less with the round who's got the speed.. As Range increase the 7mm Rem Mag. is the better choice then the .280 Rem..
AK

Can't fault you on that, but it's really a measure of how much better. What's the diff. in TOF, 0.0001sec? Over the years I find that the extra vel. is a bit over rated in actual hunting situations. Better choice, again, there are trade offs. For a true mountain humper, I'll take the lighter rifle & get 25yds closer. BTW, if you are shooting factory 7rm, you are hard pressed to even get 150gr @ 3000fps from a 24"bbl. My 23"bbl. .280 will do 2850fps w/ the Fed. factory load. That's just way too close to call.

Hunts, rifles for hunt and reloads are my only addiction in my last 26 years! (and other guns too, revolvers, pistols and shotguns!!).
In the past I used for hunt in the mountain rifles in the following calibers: 6,5 x 55; .7 Rem Mgm, .308 (3 rifles); .30-06 (two rifles); .300 H&H, .338 Win Mgm (maybe the best answer to today) and perhaps other cartridges that I not remember yet.
Now beggining to reload and hunt with the 6,5-06 but it's not very light.
I wish to build another rifle with a Mauser 1909 action: very, very light, no more of 6 to 7 pounds with scope (similar to your U.L.A., who not sell in Argentina).
It's for this last wish who I need find the addecuate caliber.
I'm sorry for my bud English.
Hector

If you are building on a 1909, the 7x57 or 7x57AI or .284win. would all build into a nice 7# rifle w/ the ability to launch 160gr bullets @ 2800fps from a 23"bbl. Enough for any 400# animal you may encounter.

Long ago i built myself a light weight mountain rifle. I chose the 280 Rem. and if i was doing it all over again, i'd still choose the 280...

I've put a LOT of meat in my freezer with my 280 from caribou, blk bear to blk tailed and white tailed deer ect... It's a great round!

DM

Fred/DM
We have one thing in common here we like .284 Bullets..I just like mine to get there quicker..
AK

quote:

Originally posted by akrange:
Fred/DM
We have one thing in common here we like .284 Bullets..I just like mine to get there quicker..
AK

I hear that! It's one reason I rechambered my 7remmag to 7mm Dakota. It's no light wt. rifle for sure, but 160gr @ 3250fps is long range elk medicen for sure.

270 Win? It does everyting pretty well, and with minimal recoil.
7-08 if you want a short action. 280 Rem if you want 284 cal without magnum recoil in a light rifle.
So many good choices out there. The trick will be to find the one you like.

6.5wsm .......... just because!

quote:

Fred/DM
We have one thing in common here we like .284 Bullets..I just like mine to get there quicker..
AK

In a light rifle, 7mm's have been working for me for a looooooong time now!

I chose the 7mm over the 270 because i like the option of heavier bullets being available if i needed them.

DM

Definition of mnt rifle means short action. I'm building one myself right now, sub 6 lbs. loaded w/brake, 7mm-08. M.H.

It's really a question of distance. Most of the calibers mentioned are up for the job. I would say, go with a magnum: 7mm Rem Mag, 8x68S, .300 Win Mag, .300 Weatherby, 7mm Weatherby, .270 WSM, .300 WSM.

But I wouldn't rule out a .280 Rem or a .270 Win even if they are not magnums.

Marlin 336 30-30 with 170 SJFP. the original lightweight, durable, compact do all combo.

the otherside of the coin is a Steyr scout or forster mountain in 7mm-08.

quote:

Originally posted by giladad1:
Definition of mnt rifle means short action. I'm building one myself right now, sub 6 lbs. loaded w/brake, 7mm-08. M.H.

Why?? The SA only save you 1/2" & maybe 3oz. Regardless of action length, it's all about the weight. if you you want the uber lt.wt. rifle, then a M700 or M7 action is the best place to start, they are one of the lightest of the factory produce actions. A ft.wt. bbl. & light comp. stock, light rings & bases & compact scope.
My own is a M70 (action is a bit heavy) w/ 23" ft.wt. bbl. in a slim wood stock, no recoil pad, S&K rings/bases & a Leup. 3-9 compact. The whole thing comes in just over 7 1/4# ready to hunt. Not the ulimate lt.wt., more classic style, but it does shoot & carry like a dream.

Of my rifles, I would pick my 30-06 for that job. It is very light weight and powerful enough for the game. Other files that I have that I would also consider would be a 280, 270, and a 7x57. I suspect any of those would work OK. But for me, the 30-06, probably with 150 or 165 grain premium bullets that shot well. (My 06 shoots less than .5 moa with many hunting loads.)

Lite Mt. rifle? 7mm X 57mm

Mod. 98 action

original military stock whittled down and skelitalized.

19" lite sporter barrel

small muzzle brake

forward mounted lite pistol scope ( scout style)

Sling of choice to fit.

Got TWO!!! roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

quote:

Originally posted by Skidly:
6.5wsm .......... just because!

There's an idea, why hasn't anyone tried this, it seems like an obvious evolution unless 270 is the limit for the WSM case (they had to go to a different case for .25 caliber bullets), so you might have to neck UP the WSSM case, either way you get a short (or very short) 6.5, any way to shave weight off a mountain rifle, I'm all for it.

Well, if I had to choose a caliber fitting what you've described, the order would go something like this:

1. 270 win
2. 280 reminton
3. 257wby or 270wby
4. 270 or 7mm WSM

Any one of those would do the job VERY well, and they can all be had in relatively light, compact packages for mountain hunting.

Baron
Welcome to the Forum.. VonBigmeat.. What can you tell us about Your Family Name.. Your undoubtedly of a Proud Norwegian Blood Line..Any Festivals Named in Your Family Honor..
AK

280 or if you handload and are familiar with fireforming, the 280 AI. This is one of, if not THEE best calibers based on the 30/06 family. Good bullet selection, very flat shooting and doesn't kick your arse in a light rifle. I have used a Weatherby UL in 280 for 2 western US hunts and took antelope and mulies out to 350 yds....one shot, one kill....except for the one antelope I shot overtop of....oops....got him on the next shot, tho'.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI

I'll take my m-70 FWT 25 WSSM. Perfect handling, light and handy. Loaded with 115 T.B.B.C.'s at 3065 fps. 1 moa consistently!!!

A quote from Boddington, FWIW -

"I have gone through phases with a number of .270s, 7mms and .30s and probably will go through some more. So if the knees and lungs hold for another 20 years, please don't hold me to this, but right now I think the .270 WSM may just be the most ideal mountain cartridge to come down the pike. What I like about it is that it delivers considerably more energy [than the .270] --which you don't necessarily need on sheep or goats but you might need on larger game encountered in the same mountains--and I like very much the short actions it can be packaged in."

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
6.5 X 55 with at least 140 gr. bullets. roger

Good choice, Roger. However, I might opt for the 7X57? 154 grain Hornady?

Winchester SS SA
Featherweight contour barrel SS @22"
7X57 caliber
MicMillan edge stock or even featherweight with edge technology
.8" KickEze pad
Sunny Hill bottom metal - Williams exractor
Leupold dual dovetail rings/mounts
Sightron 2.5X10 compact scope
Butler Creek neoprene sling

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
6,5x284 anyone?

Rich
DRSS

Good one! And the brass has proper headstamping!