Hello: I posted a similar question a couple weeks ago about advice for a new deer rifle for my son. One very clever member probably hit the nail on the head. He said "who are you trying to fool, your buying this rifle for you and are just going to let your son hold it." Probably a heck of a lot of truth to that!!! Anyway, I think I have with your help decided to build this rifle on a Reminton M700 action. I'm still not sure of the caliber I want to use. There are many 6mm and 6.5mm calibers that are interesting. I also am interested in the .243AI. Two things that I favor. This is going to be a custom rifle and I want to use a caliber that is not found just anywhere. If I can go to Wallmart or similar stores and buy it I don't want it. Also, I have Ackley Improved rifles and favor them greatly. I'm familiar with what this improvement offers the reloader and like it a lot. Whatever caliber I choose will get this consideration. If you have a favorite caliber or some advice I would really appreciate the help. I certainly thank you for your consideration. Thank You, Jim Lawrence

You might be interested in Bob Jourdan's 6.5 X 55 BJ AI. It is a Ackley style case with a 40 deg. shoulder and less body taper. Bob says it increased case capacity by roughly 10%.

As long as you are opening the door for a nonstandard" caliber check out the 257DGR at www.duanesguns.com I think it will fit your needs to a T.

Jim,
I was the wiseass who 'busted' you

I have a tight-neck .243AI, and except for the neck turning required, it is a fabulous round.

Little recoil with 95gr. BTs (for prognhorns) and flat trajectory (six antelope at over 300yds., each with one shot). No recoil with the 70gr. BTs.

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

How about a 250 savage improved? A great dual purpose round and not very standard.

I own both a 243AI and 7mm08AI in custom Rem 700s. Either one is great but I prefer the 7mm08 for muleys with 120gr or 140gr bullets out of an 11 twist barrel.

sure-shot

Hello

I'd be inclined towards the 243 Ackley; I had a 6mm-284 built awhile back and like it, but would have given a lot of thought to the 243AI if I'd known about it at the time. You always have the option of shooting a box of Walmart fodder if you run out of handloads, not possible with 6mm-284.

Not that I'm complaining; the 6mm-284 has been a hoot, much more enteraining than the stock market.

Tom

Jim

If you want a good deer cartridge to match a Rem 700 short action take a look at a 260 Rem. or a 6.5-08. Granted it is not the barn burner like the 6.5-284 but it is a great round. What is nice about the 6.5 is that the bullets work exceptionally well on game. Reason being is they are designed to be used in cartridges like the 6.5x55 et al. A 120 grainer will work great. Get a match grade stainless barrel and a min spec'd chamber and make your rounds on Lapua 308 brass and you son will have a rifle for a life time.

One other suggestion is to set up a 308 Win on a Obermeyer chamber and shoot 125-150 grian bullets in it. With 130's you can easily get over 3000 in a 22-23" barrel and boy are they accurate. 14 twist barrel should work fine. I use a 15 in mine but it is a target rifle for Hunter Benchrest and is built on a Rem 722 action.

Hope this helps and have fun.

Mike

If you like the Ackley Improved route, then blowing out and sharpening the shoulder on the 7 X 57 case offers much more improvement than on the 7.62 Nato (.308 Win) case. Check out these possibilities:

6mm Remington AI
.257 Improved
6.5 x 57 Improved
7 x 57 Improved
or even 5.6 (.224) x 57 Improved with a fast twist barrel for heavy game bullets.

The 57 mm case is the longest practical in the short 700 action, and your overall length will limit seating depth a bit with heavier bullets in a given caliber.

The 57 mm improved case will give performance very similar to a wildcat built on the .284 Winchester case, but will give you one more round in the magazine, fewer action modifications, and a cheaper source of brass.