which one?

[ncpreacherboy1]

gonna build my first custom rifle. what caliber would you build around if it were you? 7mm-08, 243, 270, 280 or 25-06. would like to keep it to factory cartridges but would consider a wildcat. any not listed give opinions.

[stubblejumper]

What game are you going to hunt and what will your shot distances be?For deer sized gameonly, the 25-06 is a great choice.It shoots as flat or flatter than a 270win with less recoil,and has plenty of power for any deer.If elk or moose are on the menu,the 280rem or 7mmremmag are great choices.For short to medium distances,the 7mm-08 is a good choice.

[Chris W.]

For an all around cartridge, I like the .280 Remington.

[ShatoDavis]

6.5 mm bulletsare killing machines. I would consider it very hard. I just built a 6.5-284 and love it. Its a wildcat but you can buy all the components for it easily. Even the brass is headstamped correctly. The accuracy is legendary. The 6.5-284 is the cartridge of choice for long range benchresters.I'm pushing a 140 gr. bullet at approx. 2850fps out of a 26 in tube. With the ballistic coefficient of these bullets that makes for a very good long range weapon. Also the sectional density of the 6.5mm bullet is extraordinary making it a hard hitting & deep penetrating. If you build the 6.5-284 you will want to build it on a long action eventhough its a short action cartridge. To take advantage of the cartridge you need to shoot the 140's and let them out to the lands orvery close to the lands. If you do this with a short action you won't be able to load the magazine. So the solution is to use a long action.

If you are not interested in that, consider the 6.5-06, 260 rem, or 264 win mag. Otherwise, from the list you included I would pick the 280 rem, but would also consider the 280 ackley

[Deleted User]

[Deleted by Admins]

[ncpreacherboy1]

what about a 6.5 rem mag?

[handloader1]

.280 Rem. Good luck.

[saladin]

ORIGINAL: ShatoDavis

6.5 mm bulletsare killing machines. I would consider it very hard. I just built a 6.5-284 and love it. Its a wildcat but you can buy all the components for it easily. Even the brass is headstamped correctly. The accuracy is legendary. The 6.5-284 is the cartridge of choice for long range benchresters.I'm pushing a 140 gr. bullet at approx. 2850fps out of a 26 in tube. With the ballistic coefficient of these bullets that makes for a very good long range weapon. Also the sectional density of the 6.5mm bullet is extraordinary making it a hard hitting & deep penetrating. If you build the 6.5-284 you will want to build it on a long action eventhough its a short action cartridge. To take advantage of the cartridge you need to shoot the 140's and let them out to the lands orvery close to the lands. If you do this with a short action you won't be able to load the magazine. So the solution is to use a long action.

If you are not interested in that, consider the 6.5-06, 260 rem, or 264 win mag. Otherwise, from the list you included I would pick the 280 rem, but would also consider the 280 ackley

the 6.5-284 is an outstanding cartridge here for metallic silhouette. has enough residual energy to knock down the "rams" reliably, without punishing the shooter by days end- but like shato said, it'sreally onlya handloaders round. if you want to be able to walk in to a store and buy some ammo, how about the 6.5 swedish? a very under-rated hunting cartridge, and should be available in most places. the 6.5's sectional density provides 308-like killing energy.handloading will get better results than factory rounds though, because the factories are wary of running high pressures in a lot of antique firearms. or another classic - the 7X57 mauser ( .275 rigby to some). Karamojo Bell killed most of his elephants with the 7mm - and even some with a .256 ( 6.5x54 mannlicher). for him, correct bullet placementwas everything.

whatever you end up choosing, i'd recommend something that does what you want it too, and that you enjoy shooting. otherwise, it's a waste.

[ncpreacherboy1]

as of right now i am leaning towards the 280 rem.

[uncballers45]

.270 Win