any help
 

i plan on getting a job here in a month or so...first i want to set up a bow i have in the garage..thats maybe 200 bux with a 3d target and arrows...so thats a pay check or so....then i want the gun of my dreams...i want a small caliber centerfire that i can shoot all day and not get sore...and i want a tack driver...first i want to decide on a caliber....i duno where to start? i want something accurate out to like 300+yards...something small but packs a big punch even at far ranges...what caliber do you suggest? any factory guns to start looking at thats is pretty accurate with some minor things like a trigger job and a good scope? maybe an older gun i can put a new stock on? i would really like a thumbhole laminated stock in my choice of colors but thatd be stupid to do to a brand new rifle....thanx...

RE: any help
 

I would suggest a 25-06 as recoil is mild and it has plenty of power for deer.There are a fair number of used remington 700's around and most shoot quite well.

RE: any help
 

is the 25-06 an accurate bullet? it would be nice to have a longrange rifle for deer and such...it looks to be pretty flat shooting...and 100gr bullets wont beat me up to bad but it looks like it carrys a good punch....is it accurate though? you think i could find an old 700 and put a nice stock and a trigger job and a leupold and a harris bipod and have me a great shooting rifle?? thanx...

mauser06

RE: any help
 

Accuracy depends more on the rifle and load than on the cartridge so a 25-06 can be very accurate or not so accurate just like any other cartridge.The 25-06's I have shot(remington 700's) would easily group under 1" with proper handloads.

Edited by - stubblejumper on 11/11/2002 13:33:18

RE: any help
 

The .25/'06 is certainl;y accurate. for your use, I would suggest the 6.5X55, chambered in a high-quality target-grade barrel on a Mauser M98 action. This is a target and hunting round of international reknown, and has won its' share of gold in international competition. It has less recoil then a great meeany rounds.....

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: any help
 

eldeguello..i thought about building off a mauser action many times....i always come out paying like 1000 for just the gun..i know it will be a great gun but i dont have that kind of money..i actually am getting the job to save for a truck....so spending tons is out of the question...maybe i should wait until i buy the truck so then i can spend what i want and build my real dream rifle...i think thats what i will do...no sense in spending a grand and not having what i want....thanx guys..when i build it i will look at them calibers....

mauser06

RE: any help
 

you must be a lil' man if your scared of rifle recoil.i would go with a 7mm rem ultra mag/25-06/7mm stw/270win/ and the great 270 wsm the wsm dont kick at all and is a very very flat shooter

RE: any help
 

im not too little for my age...im 5'9" 190 or so....been shooting since i could hold a gun so i can take recoil...i can shoot 20rds from my 3006 and be fine...and shot my friends 300weatherby 5 times and it wasnt terrible..i mean it was a good kick being in a mod70 featherweight but i took it ok...i just dont need the snot beat out of me when i feel like sitting down and shooting 50rds at diffrent ranges with my "target" rifle..i really dont need a magnum for my jobs...sure they pack the punch way out there and drop a bit less...but you pay for it and barrels go bad quicker...im going to look at the 6.5 and the 25.06...i know guys that love both...maybe in a ruger no1 or a tc...i dont know why but i want something small now too lol...

RE: any help
 

Don't be afraid toss a .243 into the mix. They are a good shooting gun with plenty of power for deer. recoil is very low.

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im going to reccomend the 25-06 as well. though the .243 would also work but with a little less power

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

RE: any help
 

i would still go with a 270wsm they are great and its like shooting a pellet gun.and they shoot very flat.good for along range to

RE: any help
 

To me small caliber centerfire means 22. Have you looked at the 22-250, or 220 swift? Nothing wrong with the accuracy out of either, possibly even cheaper to shoot than the 25-06, with less recoil. If you are not really looking for another deer gun, think 22. I also think the 243, 257 roberts and the 6mm might do the trick.

RE: any help
 

i really dont know what i want now..i want something accurate to a good range that shoots fairly flat and doesnt have much recoil so shooting 50rds in a sitting wont kill me..i dont know if i want a target gun or a long range deer rifle(useless i sit in the heart of a thicket..) or what...i guess i have to do more thinking...

RE: any help
 

For your purpose, I would have to concur with eldeguello that it is hard to argue against the international reputation established by the 6.5x55mm. And don't count it out because I think there are a few factory rifles out there that are chambered for it. In fact, I am having my "rifle of a lifetime" built on a Mauser '98 action in this caliber. I have a bad shoulder and this should fill the bill perfectly for my needs.

When it comes down to the most accurate rifles I have ever seen, ironically, all three have been chambered for various 6.5mm cartridges. One Swede, one 6.5mm/.284 wildcat and one 6.5mm/.308 wildcat (now factory loaded as the .260 Rem). There are also plenty of factory rifles available in .260 Rem and you may want to give this round serious consideration, as well.

Two other contenders I would also make note of are the .257 Roberts and the 7x57mm Mauser. With factory ammo both are all-day shooters and both respond very well to handloading. In fact, a properly loaded 7x57 is suitable for all hooved game animals in North America.

If I were buying a factory rifle to suit your needs, I would get either the Winchester Classic Featherweight in 6.5x55 Swedish or the Ruger M77RFP MkII in .260 Rem. If you want a wood stock, go with the Winny, synthetic stock, go with the Ruger. Get the barrel recrowned and a trigger job and you've got your mild-recoiling tack driver. <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: any help
 

I have seen some great responses here and I would agree with what everyone else says,25 calibers are great in that they pack a punch shooting a 117grain bullet and have a very mild recoil.Besides the 25-06,the 250-3000 savage the 243,I would like to suggest maybe the 257 Roberts,I know that Ruger still makes one and you may be able to find a old Remington 722 out there.Anyway whatever you decide on,good luck.

It's the operator that messes up....not the equipment.Have confidence in yourself and shoot straight.

RE: any help
 

I agree with the above posts. The .25-06 is a great long range rifle. I love the 6.5 x 55 but think your rifle choices and ammo will be somewhat limited if you go this route. I can not speak for other areas, but there is only one sporting goods store in a 100 mile radius that has 6.5x55 hunting ammunition and it's Remington Core Lokt (not my favorite ammo). Something to ponder.