Custom rifle caliber

[Wolfdog2314]

Ok guys. Need some help deciding on a caliber for a custom rifle I’d like to have build. Go easy on me as this is my first time really diving deeper  in to calibers and custom stuff. I’m going for a lightweight mountain style gun that I can shoot effectively 5,6, maybe 700 yards. And would like to practice at further.

-majority of my hunting is deer. But I still do rifle elk hunt also. This year is three deer hunts to one elk hunt. I have a 300wsm and a 30-06 that I can use for elk.
-originally I was thinking of the 260 rem or 6.5 CM build. I Know this would make it a mainly deer rifle. Which is fine, but I love how my 180grain accubonds out of my 300 have destroyed every deer I’ve shot. I’ve read up a lot on this .264 and it sounds like there’s plenty of people killing deer with this round.
-one thought I have along with this smaller round, which can equal a smaller barrel, I’d like to possibly to a suppressor down the road. These other bigger calibers need longer barrels which would make adding a 7-9 inch superessor a real long gun.
-I don’t reload, yet. By next year I will be diving in to that. Likely I’d be starting with a factory round and then move in to hand loads. Either way, I’d like something that has readily available rounds.
-the thought of having a do it all caliber still appeals though too. But again, bigger gun. More recoil. But I’m spending the cash on it, it would be nice to use it for everything.

I shot a buddy’s custom 260 rem the other day and was killing steel at 600. Never attempted to tried that before, and now I’m hooked.

I’ve been researching like crazy and I know theres a million configurations. Looking for some thoughts from the HuntWa crew, thanks!

[h20hunter]

Brace yourself! So many options.  You handload? I went 7mm rem mag. Not exotic but gets er done. You csn look up my "with all this custom rifle talk " to check it out. 100% happy.

[bobcat]

270 Winchester. Plenty of factory loads available, loaded to their full potential. And when you begin reloading, Reloder 26 will get you 3100 fps with 150 grain bullets out of a 22 inch barrel.

[ellensburgpo]

Brace yourself! So many options.  You handload? I went 7mm rem mag. Not exotic but gets er done. You csn look up my "with all this custom rifle talk " to check it out. 100% happy.

I ended up going 7RM when I had the same decision to make. More then enough gun for anything I ever plan on hunting on this continent and most of the stuff on the other. Boring choice maybe, but for me it was the right choice and one I'm still happy with.

[jasnt]

Being as you don’t reload(yet) I too would recommend the 7rem mag. With a fast twist for heavies.

[Wolfdog2314]

The 7rem mag is at the top of my list at the moment. You’re all pushing me further in that direction.

A lot of the information on the web says for the 7rem mag to at least be in the 23-24 inch barrel length.

I’d like to maybe run a suppressor someday on this rifle. (I’d like to save some hearing).

What’s the thoughts on a 22 inch barrel on a 7mag? One of my big reasons for wanting a smaller caliber was to be able to go with the shorter barrel. But if I can still achieve 3100 with a 22” barrel that’d b great.

[superdown]

What about the 6.5 PRC? Seems like it would fit your application.

[BULLBLASTER]

7 mag is a great choice for factory ammo choices and a killer round.
Take a gander at the 6.5 prc also. Hornady is pushing it do factory ammo will be around.

[BULLBLASTER]

What about the 6.5 PRC? Seems like it would fit your application.

Great minds think alike?

[Timberstalker]

6.5 x 284
Or
26 Nosler

Have fun.

[jrebel]

6.5 creed, 308 win, 270 win, 7mm-08, etc......Why go with another magnum in the 7mm when you already have 300 wsm? 

My vote would be .270 and 6.5 creed as they are two of my favorite chamberings. 

[h20hunter]

As much as we joke about 6.5 it is a great round.

[carpsniperg2]

264 win or 7stw. Would probably hit a sweet spot for ya.

[yorketransport]

As much as we joke about 6.5 it is a great round.

I don’t think I’d say that in a public place!

I think either the 260 or 6.5 CM would be good options just to fill the “void” in your collection. The 6.5 CM has great selection of factory ammo so that’s probably the best choice between the two.

[aaronoto]

Since you've got a larger caliber elk gun I'd go 16.5" 308 and run your suppressor on it, no reason you couldn't shoot elk with it either for that matter.  Factory match grade 308 ammo is ridiculously cheap these days, heck everything 308 is cheap and readily available since the 6.5 took the world by storm.  1,000 yard target shooting would be easily doable with that setup.  I know some guys are running the 6.5 in a 16.5" barrel suppressed and they've been pretty happy with it as well for what it's worth.