Has to be low in recoil (in a 10# rifle),have "varmint" bullets avaliable,be able to reach 800 yards(longest target range in this area) without too much trouble and fit a .473" boltface.I have a long action push-feed Model 70 I can use or maybe one of my long action 700's.I'm thinking about something like the 6.5-06 imporoved,maybe a a 6.5-284(no OAL problems with a long action) or maybe a 25-06 AI.What would you pick and why?

I would go with the 6.5-06, in either version, simply for the bullet choices. 25-06/AI is a great cartridge, but for long range shooting bullet selection is of primary concern, and the 25's just don't have the selection of the 6.5's for that purpose. If however, your going to mostly use the rifle on varmints, the 25 has lighter bullets available. It all depends where the rifle is going to see the most use. FWIW - Dan

Thanks Dan, I knew that's what I was going to hear,the 6.5's are better for long range shooting.Now, I may just do this.Who would you recommend in the Edmonton area to do the work? A lot of guys from this area are having rifles built in BC, Calgary etc.What's up with our Edmonton gunsmiths?

I would build a .270win if you don't want a wildcat. 6.5-06 if you want a wildcat.

well Rembo, it's like this; the only really good gunsmiths in Edmonton are Karl Schmidt and the brothers storoschuk over at Premier. Karl has gone back to working for the oil industry (hard to turn down the coin, although I hear he still does the occasional piece for friends) and Bill at Premier is pretty backed up. I mean their work is quite good, but man it's slow. I used to know a fellow who did some work down Calgary way, but he passed on recently. There are a couple of gents who advertise in the Canadian Access to Firearms between Edmonton and Calgary (Blackfalds, I forget the other)but I haven't tried their work as of yet. Ron Smith is still kicking around, I've used a couple of his gain twist barrels, and couldn't be happier. There are two fellows in Saskatchewan that I know about, one is a barrel maker (Ted Guillard[sp?])but I believe the best 'smith on the prairies is in Winnipeg. His name is Ross Spagrud and his outfit is Prairie Gun Works. Hope this helps. - Dan

longrange - 6.5x06AI 1/7 twist
varmint - 25/06AI

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Death Before Dishonor

THe 6.5-284 is a potent long range caliber with a proven track record in benchrest competion. Another really good alternative is a 22-6mm AI. With a 1:7 twist barrel you can launch the 80 gr Berger VLD's at 3800 FPS and have nearly the BC of a 220 gr .30 caliber bullet. I have one of these things built on a trued Rem 700 SA ( a long will work just fine) and a shilen #8 contour barrel with a Nightforce NXS scope. It has shot 4 inch groups at 800 yrds and in the 5's at 1000. I think the 6.5 will require less wind correction if you can drive it fast enough, but the 22-6mm AI is a really interesting piece that you should not overlook.-Rob

6.5-06

Precision shooting had an article a few months ago about a fellow testing both rounds(6.5-06 and 6.5-.284 at 1K Meters) and they both hot amazingly well! You also have the Lapua brass available in 30.06 that can be necked down for really good stuff.

mike

rembo, If you are gonna use the long action, use the whole thing. Fill that sucker to the max with the 6.5-06 Improved, you have the room for it so get as much power behind those 140grn bullets as you can. Thats the logic I used, since I have the short action, I went the 6.5-284, I love it, but if I had more room I would go for the extra velocity of the 6.5-06 Imp.

Ready, Lapua just started selling 6.5-284 brass in North America, so I am quite happy.