Building a rifle-need suggestions

mainehunt · 02-12-2004, 07:53 AM

OK, here it goes.

I have this old Remington (Enfield design) 1917 bolt action, 30-06. The bore is junk, so I'm going to build a new rifle with a little help from a gunsmith friend. I'm going to by a sporter weight barrel for it. I do NOT need another rifle, I have pretty much everything I need and then some for what I hunt. (This rifle is not complete, so don't say "sell the enfield and buy a new one,", it's only worth about a hundred bucks the way it is)

I have a ;
300 Win.Mag, bolt
.308, bolt
7.62x39, semi-auto
.243, bolt
.223 AR15
.223 single action
several .22 rim fire and shotguns of assorted gauges.

So.....I want something in between the .300 mag and .243 besides the .308. I don't want anything bigger caliber than .308. I need to stick with brass that will fit the bolt face of the 30-06 size. So 30-06, .280, .270, etc......

I wouldn't mind something A LITTLE BIT exotic, but not too much. I want to be able to get brass/bullets without spending a fortune or being a pain.

So, what are you all going to talk me into??

swampdog_ · 02-12-2004, 08:02 AM

how about a 6.5-06? Seems like I heard that people were having good ultra-long range success with this.I may be wrong ( If I am i am sure somebody will let me know

)You could opt for a 25-06.Have the need for speed? 6mm-06 .Is there such a round?It appears that like you said have everything you .So just have a ball with it.

mainehunt · 02-12-2004, 08:06 AM

That's what I want, Fun that is. I just don't want a lot of trouble when it comes to getting ammo/brass/bullets/ etc.

edited to add- What about the 6.5 x 55?? Will this cartridge fit the -06 bolt face??

Zeak · 02-12-2004, 08:20 AM

I'd go with the 270 or the 280. Zeak

mainehunt · 02-12-2004, 09:13 AM

.270 Winchester, you know, I think that's leading the pack right now. Anybody going to try to talk me out of the .270??

thndrchiken · 02-12-2004, 09:16 AM

257 Roberts on an enfield action would be pretty exotic, or how about a 264 Winchester magnum, or even a 7x57 or 6.5x55. All quite capable of taking anything up to and including elk.

diyj98 · 02-12-2004, 11:09 AM

Since you don't have a 30-06, why not stick with the origional caliber? It's a great hunting round and you can find cheap blasting ammo easy enough.

mainehunt · 02-12-2004, 12:01 PM

thndrchiken,
Would all four of those cartridges fit that bolt face on the Enfield?

mainehunt · 02-12-2004, 12:05 PM

diyj98,
I guess I don't want to go with a 30-06 because I have a .308 already, and there just isn't that much difference. And, the 300 mag will out do both in the same caliber.

diyj98 · 02-12-2004, 01:09 PM

Mainehunt, give me one more shot. How about a 35 Whelen? It's based on the 30-06 necked up. Your bolt won't need to be altered and brass is readily obtainable. You could design the rifle around a bear/medium African game type rifle. I think the 1917 has a classic look that would be right at home in Africa or at least give you the feeling of hunting lions right in your own living room.