Hello All, I'm not a wildcatter per se, but interested none-the-less. Anyway, after a disappointing day at the range with my 300WSM, I have decided that I would like to convert my Savage Short-action into an antelope gun. I am thinking something in the line of a .257 or 6mm bullet.

What do you got that would fit the bill? Please include some general info about the cartridge (parent case, expected velocities, etc)

I neglected to say that I would be interested also in factory chambered short action cartrides as well.

Well since the rifle is set up for the WSM I would simply go with a 257WSM. Would be real close the the 257Wby in a short action rifle. To me is you are going to go to the 6mm the wsm case has too much capacity.

Other options the 270 or 7mmWsm

I wouldn't give up after one disapointing day at the range.

That said, if you're just itching to put a custom tube on it for a long range lope gun, I'd also concur with the 257 WSM. It's a wicked flat shooter.

I built a 257wsm... in fact, it was my first wildcat (reamer cut the DAY winchester released print) .. while not a 257 webby, it was certainly stepping in it's back pockets... on a thumbhole lam stock at that...

fast, accurate, and, sadly, amazingly boring to shoot

sold the stock on ebay, have the barrel sitting right here.. the action?

oh, that's my 416 ar springfield!!

seat the bullets .030 off the lands, start with middle loads, and go from there

jeffe

Scroll down here

They have 25 and 6.5 WSM

Thanks for the ideas guys, the 300WSM isn't on its way out, its just not my cup-o-tea, and it does solve a caliber gap in my arsenal. A quarter bore does also.

My next "project" Stevens rifle is going to be a long action elk, moose, bear, plains game rifle so the 300WSM will have a small place between a 338 caliber and my existing 7mmRemMag.

Is the 25-300WSM a barrel burner?

quote:

Is the 25-300WSM a barrel burner?

Well it would be less than a 257Wby in capacity. More like a 257-7mmmag. Or the same as a 264Wmag except .257. I've read a lot of crap about the 264Wmag being hard on barrels. My buddy has a 264Wmag M700. Last bunch of reloads I did for him added up to close to 2000 over the last 25yrs. That doesn't count factory. I have over 1000 on my 7STW. If you don't overheat it I would guess it would last for a lot of shooting.

Taking action length and bolt face into consideration and with ecconomic considerations with regard to dies ,cases and such, perhaps the 6.5 Rem would be a great choice.Good energy level, plenty of distance, modest recoil in a light rifle----etc. roger

I'm hoping to build a .25 SAUM in the near future. Near Weatherby speed in a very efficient case. Reports indicate that it needs less barrel length (<23") and chambers rounds without problems.

iirc (and I could be wrong) the saum is more like a 25-06 than a 257 webby

Well using the capacity of a 300Wsm & 300Rsum and lowering the capacity the same as the difference between the 30-06 and 25-06 I get these capacities.

25-06 67grs
257Wsm 80grs
257Rsum 71grs
257Wby 89grs

That makes the rsum only 78% the capacity of the Wby. That would put it 175-200fps short of the Wby.

The 25-06AI is 71.5 by comparison. The 257rsum would give you a short action 25-06AI.

jeffeosso & ramrod340,
I stand corrected. Thanks for defining the case capacity. It’s not a Wby., but still it should perform well in a light rifle and be big medicine for speed goats.

Wow, Looking at dies on the web makes me rethink trying to go to 25WSM. $136 for the set of dies is a bit much in my books.

I think Bartsche might be right. Bang for my buck speaks louder than ultra-velocity, although a 25/280 isn't all that out of line.

quote:

although a 25/280

Do you mean a 25/284? You will not gain any real space in a 25/280 vs a 25-06? The 25/284 will give you 25-06 capacity however the base will be smaller than your bolt face. So that would need replacing.

Argali just didn't want you to have your expectations to high spend the money only to be disappointed. Only speaking from my own experiences.

quote:

Wow, Looking at dies on the web makes me rethink trying to go to 25WSM. $136 for the set of dies is a bit much in my books

If you go with the 25Wsm or another wildcat.

Last set of full wildcat dies I had made by Hornady were right at $100 Might contact them:

Hornady MFG. Co.
PO Box 1848
Grand Island, NE 68802

Attention: Lonnie Hummel

If you want to do a 25 WSM, contact me. I have a set of redding bushing 300 wsm with the correct bushing i'd sell

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Taking action length and bolt face into consideration and with ecconomic considerations with regard to dies ,cases and such, perhaps the 6.5 Rem would be a great choice.Good energy level, plenty of distance, modest recoil in a light rifle----etc. roger

I agree 6.5 rem mag would be a great choice. I think the dies and brass would cheaper than the wildcat. Just my two cents.