thinking about building.

[jkononen]

I don't really need another gun. I've got all the calibers that i need for hunting. 22-250, 243, 7mm mag, and 30-06.  But i've got a mod 700 .308 action that i've been thinking about building off of. I do have access to a reloader and reload for my other guns already. But i don't want to have to go through the hassle of fireforming brass or anything too outstanding. What would you guys build considering my circumstances.  I don't want to be spending thousands of dollars just for the gun.  I will put good optics on it though. Lets keep it legal for deer.

[X-Force]

Give the action to me... you wont have to spend a dime 
With the calibers you already have its hard to say what you should build... I really hope to build a 7mm saum or a 6.5 something sometime in the not so distant future. It really depends. What do you want to use the gun for?

[Curly]

How about a 6.5x47 Lapua? 
Link

[jkononen]

6.5 caliber would fill the biggest gap for me. How hard would it be to get that brass?

[jkononen]

Oh and I'd say deer hunting and long range shooting.

[Curly]

You can find brass easily online (little bit spendy since it is Lapua):  Grafs

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/6-5x47-lapua/

[Blacklab]

Brass and ammmo are pretty easy to come by now a days for the 6.5. A little spendy, if you reload than it's not bad at all.

[wapiti22]

300 H&H magnum ... you could get rid of the 7MM mag and the '-06

[BOWHUNTER45]

get rid of them all and get a real gun ...A .270  jUST SAYING 

[coachcw]

6.5x284

[Kioti]

7x57 would be my choice...
I have a two of them and they have both taken a lot of elk and deer.

[brokenvet]

Both 6.5X284 & 7X57 are great choices, you also have 6.5X55 Swede, 260Rem.

The 7X57 is the longest, if this is your choice make sure that the cartridge Over All length will fit the magazine so you not need to spend more for opening up the magazine.

[CAMPMEAT]

6.5 caliber would fill the biggest gap for me. How hard would it be to get that brass?

I've got a 6.5 Creedmoor and Hornady has brass. I bought loaded ammo to reload after I shot them up.

[Skillet]

If your 7mm is set up for the 300+ yard ranges, given your current stable I'd go for more bore and less range.  Build a 19- 20" barrel woods rifle in 338 Federal or 358 Winchester.  Top it off with a nice lightweight 1.5x6-ish scope.   , anyway.

[JLS]

A 6.5 Swede would make a great kids gun if you have the need. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Funny that there are responses for long action cartridges.
 
6.5mm-08 Ackley Improved would be my choice if I felt I wanted to play with another caliber. But fireforming brass is a necessity. There's also the 260rem that would be nice for some long range shooting and is a very good deer round.  Just rebarreling to a target/heavy barrel in 308win could still be something to play with.   I also like the 358win short barrel suggestion.
 
-Steve

[b23]

IMO, the 260Remington would be the best choice. 

It may not be as fast as some of the other 6.5's but if you have someone that's built a lot of 260Rem's like Travis W/RBros or Shawn Carlock W/Defensive Edge build it you will have yourself a fine shooting rifle that will last forever, be easy to load for, and won't cost you much to shoot.  Put a good brake on it and it will be like shooting a pop gun.

[drysideshooter]

7x57 would be my choice...
I have a two of them and they have both taken a lot of elk and deer.

Amen!  I think this is especially true if there may be youngsters in your life that you may be introducing to shooting/hunting.  7x57 is extremely versatile and with mild recoiling loads capable of taking a lot of game.  I grew up in Alaska and my first big game rifle was a 7x57 given to me by my dad and I still own it and I have used it to start both of my kids on larger rifles.   The first animal I took with mine was a mountain goat, and it was used on almost countless moose, sheep and caribou hunts after that.

Though I am a huge 30-06 advocate, the 7x57 will always be another favorite, and like the 06 is rarely a bad choice.

[MountainWalk]

Iv'e always wanted a trim little 7 Mauser, loaded with 175gr partitions.

[ribka]

I have a6.5 swede and love it

Pondering a build in 6.5 AI and this cartridge caught my attention. And no fire forming brass

http://6mmar.com/65_SuperLR.php

[Simcoe hunter]

All I want for Christmas is a .250 Savage.  You want want to shoot another rifle in your life.  The performance from this one is a great bang for the buck.

[high country]

You need to decide what you want to do with it, what it shall weigh and your budget.

[YellowDog]

I'm impressed with the good suggestions given so far.  I like the 260 Remington, 358 Winchester, and 7x57 the best out of the options given but that may have something to do with the fact that I want the first two and my dad just built me a 7x57 on an onld Springfield action I had that needed a new barrel and I wanted something a little different. 

[Biggerhammer]

I'm very fond of the 7x57, my father handed one down to me that he recieved as a Christmas gift from his father when he was 15 in 1957. I have taken my share of game with it and it has always performed well. Recoil is mild and I have always kept it in its original condition other than swapping out optics.

[coachcw]

If your gonna stay with your short action I'd go with the .260 . if you build a 6.5x284 it would essentally be a single shot. A good bet would be to sell the308 and pick up a long action , just a better platform if your looking for a hot rod.

[rbros]

Keep the short action, have it trued up and turn it into a .260 and run a 24"-26" 8 twist barrel.  Extremely easy to load for and very accurate if built correctly.  Brass is plentiful and inexpensive as well.  H4350 works the best with the 130-142gr bullets. Recoil isn't bad without a brake, but with a brake its like shooting a 22LR.