What caliber do you recommend for a fun custom????

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14 July 2023, 01:49

dogcat

What caliber do you recommend for a fun custom????

Assuming a hunter has a variety of the "normal" calibers ( 7mm Rem mag, 300 WM and HH, .270, 7x57, .375 HH, .223,)
What caliber would you build towards?

Caveats - needs to "fun" (whatever that means)
- needs to be able to take mid sized or
larger game
- needs a "gosh, I wished I had thought of that" factor as well.

Cover me up with ideas please!

14 July 2023, 02:19

Gundog 64

9.3 x 62 or 64

14 July 2023, 02:32

dogcat

You dog! On my list for sure. Keep ideas coming!

14 July 2023, 05:53

swm

love my 6.5-06 because it's a wildcat, but absolutely no problem to load. would probably not be my first choice for large game but anything up to and including kudu would not bother me at all. I shoot mostly 140 gr Nosler Partitions but also 120-140 gr bonded and monometal from various bullet makers.

14 July 2023, 06:27

mlfguns

.338-06 A Square

14 July 2023, 07:19

BaxterB

350 Rigby or the American equivalent 35 Whelen. Use a 25" barrel and rock on.

14 July 2023, 07:22

rcraig

6.5x55.

14 July 2023, 07:34

Sabretooth

quote:
Originally posted by rcraig:
6.5x55.

that is my next build! currently gathering parts as we speak...

14 July 2023, 07:39

Timan

25 Creedmoor built on one of my titanium K actions with 21 to 23 inch barrel with 1-7 twist. Nice wood of course. weighing in at about 6-1/2 to 7lbs with a 1.0 diameter scope, probably a Z5. Skeleton butt plate and grip cap. Just a real sweet stalking rifle that's light, looks great and drives tacks. Run the heavy for cal. 25's, there's getting to be a few more available.

Next step up same rifle in a 7mm SAUM or 7mm Sherman short. Probably the Sherman short just because the case design is better than the SAUM.

14 July 2023, 21:06

dogcat

Timan,
Where do you get the brass for the 25 Creed??

14 July 2023, 23:08

Sabretooth

Dogcat, PM sent...

15 July 2023, 01:50

hogfarmer

9X57 Mauser.

15 July 2023, 02:09

Michael Robinson

Ross, if we're talking about a bolt action, and given what you already have, I would suggest the .257 Roberts.

A classic small bore that is easy to feed and a lot of fun to shoot.

Doesn't need a 24 or 26 inch barrel and fits in any standard Mauser M98 or short Winchester M70 action.

Makes for a light, handy rifle.

And shoots well besides.

Little noise, no recoil, yet plenty accurate and powerful enough for deer and antelope-sized animals and can do double duty for predators and varmints as well.

Of course, I am old-fashioned, and will generally go for a classic these days.

15 July 2023, 02:55

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

quote:
Originally posted by Gundog 64:
9.3 x 62 or 64

That's a BIG difference!

15 July 2023, 03:07

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

When a client orders a 30-06...I probably wopn't see him again....unless he needs a 375 H&H the 06 covers just about anything you'd bother to hunt.

Reasonable recoil,. plenty of punch ,ammo availability. world wide...wide range of bullet weights...what's not to like?

Run out of or loose ammo for your 7mm Lazaroni ? Tough shit...30-06? no problem ...even in Arusha.

15 July 2023, 03:14

gunmaker

223
222
22LR

Just like cheap beer, quantity has a quality all it's own.

222 maybe not so much as it's harder to find, but you can shoot it ALL DAY LONG.

15 July 2023, 03:16

crbutler

Fun?

318 Westly Richards.

I’ve also wondered what a .416 RUM would be like… kinda reinventing the .404 Jeff.

15 July 2023, 05:30

Gundog 64

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
quote:
Originally posted by Gundog 64:
9.3 x 62 or 64

That's a BIG difference!

Only 2 mm LOL

15 July 2023, 06:33

Biebs

quote:
Only 2 mm LOL

But check the ballistics.

15 July 2023, 07:25

307RIFLE

I have always wanted to do a Custom 257 Roberts. I know that a 25-06 has better balistics and is more avaliable but the Roberts just has something about it that says,classic. Like rust blue and fine walnut.

15 July 2023, 07:29

Kevin Gullette

dogcat......

A 250AI on a Sako L579 would nicely fill a hole in your line-up.

Then add a classic 17-222 on a Sako L461 or AI.....for p-dogs or yotes. Hey.....you DO live in Texas!!

Kevin

15 July 2023, 07:55

Timan

quote:
Originally posted by Kevin Gullette:
dogcat......

A 250AI on a Sako L579 would nicely fill a hole in your line-up.

Then add a classic 17-222 on a Sako L461 or AI.....for p-dogs or yotes. Hey.....you DO live in Texas!!

Kevin

The 25 Creedmoor is a modern day 250Ai, Peterson's makes brass for it. No fireforming for the same performance, No hydro forming, No forming brass in a slave barrel to keep the round count down on your for real barrel. It's just way more efficient in every way possible.

15 July 2023, 10:03

WVFred

I agree with Duane a 30-06 is one of the best rounds for all non dangerous game but I'll admit boring.So how about an 8x68?

15 July 2023, 16:27

Lester Brooks

You have a load of heavy calibers and not a good light caliber for fun and P dogs. I like the 20 cal. rifles and you can have a range out to 400 yards and not burn so much powder with a 40 gr bullet. I hate to shoot the large caliber rifles for the customer going to Africa and check for the functions. Bench shooting a .458 Win isn't my type of fun.

15 July 2023, 17:50

Timan

quote:
Originally posted by Timan:
quote:
Originally posted by Timan:
quote:
Originally posted by Lester Brooks:
You have a load of heavy calibers and not a good light caliber for fun and P dogs. I like the 20 cal. rifles and you can have a range out to 400 yards and not burn so much powder with a 40 gr bullet. I hate to shoot the large caliber rifles for the customer going to Africa and check for the functions. Bench shooting a .458 Win isn't my type of fun.

I agree, the 20's a hands down the best cal. for dog town shooting. I really like 204 Ruger with a 1-9tw shooting 40gr Bergers. Low to no recoil, especially when suppressed. This one is a #1 I put together on a in 204 with a Macbros 30 cal can on it. So much fun to shoot!

15 July 2023, 18:46

surefire7

9.3x66

Or if you prefer it’s other name, the 370 Sako. It’s a 9.3x62 whose case is lengthened 4mm.

286 gr. bullet at 2,550fps. Very close to a 375H&H ballistically, but in a rifle that weighs about 1.5 lbs. lighter than a 375.

I own one, and am taking it to Zambia next month; an AHR CZ 550 by Wayne in a #3 package. Gorgeous rifle.

15 July 2023, 18:50

jeffeosso

cool factor? 358 winchester or 7x64 with a proper faster twist rifle to shoot heavy bullets

opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com

15 July 2023, 19:01

dogcat

Super ideas from everyone.

Jeffosso - is the 7x64 the same as a Brenneke???

Michael - 257 Roberts - I had not thought of that one

358 Win vs 93x62 ??? thought???

Duane - I agree on the 30-06.... boring but a superb cartridge...

Thanks for the help.

15 July 2023, 19:04

surefire7

If not the 9.3x66 I mentioned above, then I agree with the the 338-06 mentioned earlier.

I just had one made for me by Parkwest (Dakota) along with a 404 Jeffery in a pair of rifles, which by the way, makes a nice 2-rifle African battery, just like a 404 Jeffery & 9.3x66!

The 338-06 has a case colored receiver, trigger guard, & floor plate. Very nicely done I might add, in their Custom Deluxe model with open sights, black fore end tip, etc. This rifle goes with me to Africa next year (along with the 404 Jeffery).

15 July 2023, 20:49

jeffeosso

DC,
yes. the full name is 7x64 brenneke -- i mean, honestly it's not really better than a 30-06 but it's COOL -- the 280 was designed for lighter bullets, btw

15 July 2023, 21:29

Wstrnhuntr

45-70 or 450 Marlin, just for fun.

16 July 2023, 02:32

custombolt

A '338 Federal sounds like fun with a max bullet of 200 grains and about 700 pounds more energy than the .308W.

16 July 2023, 02:43

metal

7.65x53 Arg.

16 July 2023, 03:26

Rick R

After assembling two AR-15ish rifles around it, I want a bolt action “Express” rifle built around the .300HAM’R.

https://wilsoncombat.com/long-...ibers/300-ham-r.html

130gr .308 bullets going 2,500fps using a pinch of powder. Accuracy is great, recoil is almost non-existent. In a bolt gun you could use longer (cheaper) bullets for practice. The whitetail buck I shot last year didn’t know what hit him.

16 July 2023, 07:42

loud-n-boomer

.400 Whelen on a 1903 Springfield action.

16 July 2023, 07:45

Kevin Gullette

quote:
Originally posted by Lester Brooks:
You have a load of heavy calibers and not a good light caliber for fun and P dogs. I like the 20 cal. rifles and you can have a range out to 400 yards and not burn so much powder with a 40 gr bullet. I hate to shoot the large caliber rifles for the customer going to Africa and check for the functions. Bench shooting a .458 Win isn't my type of fun.

Les.....you make a good point about the 20 caliber.

My 20BR is used mostly for longer range pds........best connect....792 yards.
(edit: A while back, a good friend sold me his nice Cooper M21 20VT.......which should work well for somewhat shorter range pds.)

Kevin

16 July 2023, 09:01

Norman Conquest

22-250 AI (40 degree) with a 1/6 twist to stabilize the 80G. Sierra.

16 July 2023, 21:57

custombolt

But, of course! There is that. My first rifle was a 1891 Argentine. No soft recoil pad, plastic. Black & blue pretty quick. Quite a thumper.

quote:
Originally posted by metal:
7.65x53 Arg.

16 July 2023, 22:47

dpcd

I wouldn't carry a 30-06 into the woods; way too common.
Go with 338-06. 35 Whelen. 400 Whelen.
Brass is easy to get; you make it from all those 30-06s left over.
9.3s in all cases are good.
257 Roberts is good.
Nothing that will fit into an AR; Yuck. Let the young guys use the black guns with their suppressors. Most common here in an AR is 350 Legend; no recoil, and it will kill a deer. Modern hunters are weak, spoiled and untrained on their equipment. From the ones I see here where I live.

17 July 2023, 00:11

TC1

When I had mine built I wanted fun to shoot, cheap to shoot with affordable, easily accessible ammunition. The older I get, the less I enjoy reloading. I went with a plain vanilla. 223 with a 1 in 8" twist and haven't regretted my choice yet.