Ok! I think I have it down to just a few choices here.....

1. 240 Wby - with 100gr bullets it has 20" drop at 500yds and is "deer" capable to 535 (2000fps or above, 1000 ftlbs or more) as a side note, the 257 Roy with 100s only gains me 30 yards exactly, 565 and does it with more powder and a bigger case. I can either pick up a stevens 200 for 299, a Marlin 7 (m70 clone) for 349 or I can use my 1903 action. 26" #5 barrel.

2. 7mm WSM - not sure on the terminals as I'm at work and my "shots on game" books at home. Cool book btw, has lots of factory carts with drop, max deer/elk/moose range plus max effective range, parameters being 2000fps min and 1000/1500/2000ft lbs (deer/elk/moose). Has drop at several ranges and what animals would look like in the scope at those ranges and where to hold, plus a big target with marked lines as to where your bullet should hit at certain ranges with a 200 yard zero. Cool book. ANYWAYS! M70 classic shadow in 7mmwsm is on clearance for 449$, 24" barrel and M70s have a longer box in the wsms, 3.1" so I have plenty of room for heavy bullets if needed, but likely stay in the 120-140gr range for speed and flat trrajectory. I had a 7wsm I ended up selling (doh!) So I have brass and I had a variety of 7mm bullets alreadyfrom 100-150gr. I also have a bunch of 300wsm brass that could be reformed, I think, for 7wsm as it has a longer case body and shorter neck (like the 280rem vs 270 win) there is also a used savage w/accutrigger for 450 used, it would need a new barrel but its the long shank wsm short action, and we all know they're shooters.

3. 284 Win - not as fast, but not far behind. Still capable for 500 yard shots, very accurate. I saw load data that's about 350fps the wsm, with about 25% less powder. There's is a stevens 200 in 7-08 that would just need a rechamber and possibly a tiny bit of feed rail work. Stocks ugly, but those are an easy fix. 24" barrel, and a match trigger is 74$ Be a lil different, and classic at the same time. Only source of proper brass is Win, like the 7wsm.

4. 280 Rem AI - again, could do this on the same actions as the 240 Wby. I THINK my 1903 already had rail work to feed the 35 BW, so its likely set up to feed a sharp shoulder, straight cased round already. Sits juuuuust behind the 7 rem mag, and behind the 7wsm by a bit more, but ahead of the 284. Proper cases are expensive, but of the highest quality (nosler) this goes the same for the 240 (norma or wby...same thing) or there is fireforming 280 cases. 26" #3 barrel I think.

So that's what I am thinking right now, based on suggestions, gathered data, and available cheap actions. Not to mention components on hand (7mm and 6mm bullets with no guns for em, 7wsm and 300wsm brass).

I have thought of what I would build as a pure 'Turbo Goat' rifle in the past. For mine I think I would chose a long Krieger barreled single shot, in a custom Winchester or Browning 1885 high wall action, chambered in .270 WSM.
Cheers.

Might want to take a look at the 284/6.5 cartridge. Excellent long range ability and good load data out there for long range useage.
Not necessarily for antelope/game, but 1000yd range well within reach.

martin

DW,

Man id LOVE an 1885 in 7wsm. But I don't feel like parting with 1500$+ at one time lol. The smith is a friend of mine so I get to build projects in pieces, and more importantly, in payments lol.

I had considered the 6.5-284, but I narrowed it down to the choices above for the reasons listed. I have lots of 6mm and 7mm bullets to play with, and in the wsm's case...brass.

Of the choices you listed, I'd go with the 240 Weatherby. A bigger bullet isn't needed for antelope. My personal choice is 6mm Remington. 6mm bullets are just the ticket for antelope.

Go with option 2, that would be my choice.

Heck I'll make you a deal on a 7STW Laredo. 120s at 3600 and 140s at 3400.

If I had the money, I'd hit you up Ramrod! But, my guns all get built in "stages" which means, stages of time when I have money lol!! My 'smith is a friend, and he works on my guns in steps and I can pay him in steps as well. of course that means my rifles are often last to be worked on but hey I'm not paying anywhere close to retail. You have me intrigued however...details?

Buy a 25-06 put a fix 6power scope on it and just go hunting.

7mm WSM more versatile better wind fighting characteristics

.270 Weatherby .
3280 ft/sec with 150 grainers.
3400s with 130 grainers.
Get 27-28" barrel to get the edge of this cartridge.

270 Bee!

7mm Rem. Mag. or 300 Win. Mag.

I wouldn't buy a 7mm WSM.

257 weatherby you can get one at the walmart.
i use a 25-06 but i don't like to shoot over 400 yds.

Thanks for the non-listed suggestions, but, not what I'm looking for. You guys must have missed my last thread when calibers other then those I had narrowed down were options

So far looks like the 7wsm is the most popular on this and my other shooting board. I read with 120's I should be able to push past 3500+ with no issues, that should give me QUITE the flat trajectory.

I'd do a hot 6mm, but not a 240 Weatherby. 6mm Remington with 95 grain Bergers at 3250 fps is mighty good for small deer.

120 grn TTSX from my 7mm Rem mag at 3500+ fps sounds good to me but 140's or 139's are probably what I'll shoot at them next fall.

MY choice for a dedicated lope rifle would be a med. heavy 26"bbl. 25-06 running 110grNABs @ 3300fps+. SD is higher than the 100gr/240wby & drops less @ any range. Of the carts you list, I would go 280ai w/ 140grNABs @ 3150fps+. Good scope & bipod, you should be good to 500 if you can handle the wind.
I have a heavy 27" bbl 260ai that I want to take for goats someday. Running 130grNAB @ 3000fps, should be decisive.

Insofar as money IS a consideration, and you already have an '03 action, of the cartridges you list, I'd recommend you use that Springfield action and go with the .280 AI.

Though the .240 Weatherby is adequate 90% of the time, you may run into circumstances when you wish you had more...particularly more bullet weight.

At least in my own deliberations, I don't have a whole lot of faith in kinetic energy comparisons being truly indicative of relative killing power....especially at long ranges.

I also note that the anti-gun folk are after us hunters in every way they can be. That means prices of components will keep rising and the variety of available components will eventually start to diminish. Although the cases are not perfect, it is very easy to form "useable" .280 AI cases from GI surplus and fired commercial .30-06 cases. There are oodles of those still around, and likely will be until all of us "seasoned" shooters finish dying off.

There's not too much you can EASILY make WSM cases or .284 cases from, which you can always count on as being available in the future.

And, of course, the money you save by not buying yet another rifle will be about adequate to pay for half to all of the new barrel for your Springfield. Depends on the grade of barrel you elect to buy. For a hunting rifle, there are lots of fully adequate, inexpensive, makes out there.

For myself, I'd just build a nice .270 Winchester on the Springfield, but of the choices you list, it would be the .280-AI.

Best wishes, and good hunting.

AC

I really don't see the WSM's or their components going anywhere anytime soon. It would be a shame, but to see them go would likely mean all kinds of other "traditional" stuff would be gone, because that would me we lost the battle and the anti's won. People didn't think they would last more then 5 years....10 years ago lol. Even stuff thats extremely older then that and was never very popular is still around, sure you might have to pay more but its there.

Cost is not a huge issue, gunsmiths a friend, I don't pay his top dollar prices, and I don't pay "retail" for components either. So anything built would be barreled with Shilen match, Krieger, Lilja...you get the drift. I just don't know if thats what I want to do with that 1903. Hell I may just end up selling the stupid thing cause I can never decide what to do with it. My biggest problem right now with the 1903 is I do not like the available stocks. I'm not the biggest wood fan, and from what I gather a lot of the "custom" laminated stock makers are shaky on reliability at best. Know one guy who has been waiting almost a year for one from a popular company that supposedly had it "in stock". The Bell & Carlson available for the 1903 doesn't look ANYTHING close to being as good as in the pics, that is whats on the 270 AI. Cheap.

If I went with the 280, most likely I am not going to form cases and I would use the Nosler stuff. My brother has a 270 AI on a 1903 and he sometimes uses various cases for forming...and we live together and reload from the same bench. Even being as careful as possible the invitation for a hazardous mistake far outweighs paying 1$ per case.

Also forgot, buying a good stash of brass now, makes market reliability a moot point in the future anyways.

I think your 7 WSM would be fine. The 6.5 x 284 is an awesome lope rig, but if mag capacity is an issue you lose one to the '06 parent case rounds. Going with what you have, the 7 WSM sounds really good.

Mile-High,

I hope you are right about component availability in the future. The "antis" ARE going to win eventually, though. You must know that?...No?

When I was in my late '30s, early 40s, no one would have believed that some day we'd have to ship guns to each other through dealers...we could buy direct from factories (or each other) in those days. Even the American Rifleman carried used gun clasified ads,and so did Guns magazine, Shooting Times magazine, and many more....1968 changed all that.

When I was even younger, no one would have believed the government would ever give a damn if we bought a "Tommy Gun" down at the local hardware store. In 1934 that freedom came to an end.

Fifteen years ago, who would have believed we couldn't be "permitted" to use lead bullets to hunt things in much of California?

For that matter, how many even now don't believe that the interests of illegal aliens are more important to Congress than the interests of you, I, and other long-term taxpayers who OBEY the laws of our country?

And, even apart from politics, I was a double rifle collector when all of a sudden the big double gun brass disappeared from all the manufacturers' lists (about 1960). Sure, I could still get some at a price, but it was a hassle to find, and at a price I definitely did not enjoy. That shortage is sort of over now, for a while, IF you don't mind paying $5 per round and up for some of it. But now that I am on a fixed retirement income, I DO mind personally....

Anyway, it appears there was litle point in having the .280-AI on your list. Seems you already had a rag list of reasons why you wouldn't select it.

Have fun with whatever you DO select.

I wouldn't say a rag list against the 280 per say...more the action I currently have. Its still an option, and I know it comes highly recommended. If thats what I decided I wanted to use, I would likely just use a different action for better parts availability...like this Marlin 7 sitting on the used rack...Heck originally my plan for that rifle was a standard 280 to use a general back up rifle for my 300 Wby, but, some plans changed and now I have an ultralight 308 Win on the way. Don't like overlapping way too much, it wouldn't give me excuses for new guns haha.

I'm going to have the 'smith take a look at the action, if it already has feed work done to make the 35 BW work...then it might be ripe for a 280.

You will find at the end of your project the 280 ai will be faster than the 7mmwsm and more accurate at top vel.I have asorted custom rifles and not recoil sensitive this is the cal.you will go to.100 gr. to 150 gr. krieger barrel composite stock powder h 4831sc good scope if your gun smith is good the rifle will out shoot the shooter.150 gr. schricco by swift make mine .45 200 yds

I've taken goats with 243 (460 yards), 7 Mag (150 yards), 308 (340 yards) and 6.5x284 (260 yards). You don't need a lot of speed to shoot long, you just need to be accurate and judge the conditions well.

Fjold,

The speed is more for a flat trajectory. I want to eliminate as much drop as I feasibly can from the equation.

Wolf,

Please do explain how a 7wsm is going to be outpaced by the 280 AI? Same bullets, but less powder.....7wsm loads can sometimes beat 7 Rem Mag loads, so I just don't see how this is possible unless you just don't like short mags.

7WSM gets my vote. For the Model 70 at $500, it will give you all the performance you need for the lopes.

I went to Wyo. this year and took a doe at 325 yds with my 6.5-06, and witnessed 4 others being taken with .270s and a 7mm-08. Pick a bullet with a high BC and practice practice practice.

Though I know it's not a direct answer but I bought the 257 Wby just for antelope hunting. I know it doesn't gain you much over the 240 in distance but it is simply an outstanding round.

Ken....

I don't think the caliber choice is all that important. Any of those you've listed will do the job well enough. The weakest link in the chain at the distances you're talking is the portion behind the stock and trigger. All of them will take lopes at far distances, but none of them will if you:
don't know the distance of the shot
haven't practiced sufficiently at the ranges in question
and can't read the wind

My pick would be the .284 because I love the 7mm's but don't like the WSM's. With the smaller .240 the wind will come into play more. I say go with whichever, and then practice a whole bunch.

If you load for accurace 1st max vel.2nd a must for long range shooting the two 7mm mag i loaded for were not any faster than the 280 ai and look at how many rounds you get in your rifle.In the end you have to point it were it needs to go know your trajectory and you will get em.

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:
Fjold,

The speed is more for a flat trajectory. I want to eliminate as much drop as I feasibly can from the equation.

Wolf,

Please do explain how a 7wsm is going to be outpaced by the 280 AI? Same bullets, but less powder.....7wsm loads can sometimes beat 7 Rem Mag loads, so I just don't see how this is possible unless you just don't like short mags.

The extra vel. doesn't help you that muchfor drop. It will help you more for wind. The wind beyond 300yds is why I would not want a 6mm.

I have a Howa 1500 in 7mm WSM, brass was the only thing that looked a bit chancey , but I had a friend neck size a load of 300 WSM for me, should be enough here to last out the barrel & probably me too!

Since you are trying to use up old bullets I'd go 7mm anything. If you have room in the budget for some 85 grain TSXs the 240wby is awesome. Nearly 3600fps from a 24" bbl with pressure to spare, just about 1/2" groups on cool days, and cats to yotes to pigs to all the deer I've shot to include 2 over 225 lbs dead in less than 40 yards. And so far anything that wasn't aleady in motion when it was shot has only gone into downward motion. Brass is about as easy to find as 7wsm, but it is expensive. PS - 6mmREm and 243Win will give the same results with those bullets.

If I were going Lope hunting I would pick my .257 Wby or one of my two .270 WSM's. The former shoots 115 grain Nosler Partitions in insanely small groups, the later sends three 130 grain Nosler Solidbase's at 3462 fps into one hole at 100 yards when I do my part. Good shooting.