Middleweight Caliber Recommendation

[bobcat]

One of the benefits of the wsm's or other short mags is a shorter action, resulting in a more compact, lighter rifle.  Also a shorter action is inherently more accurate because the action is less susceptible to "flexing" and other harmonics when the round is fired.  Less felt recoil, and generally a more efficient round.

About 12 years ago I had decided to purchase a Browning A-Bolt. I was having trouble deciding between the 7mm/08 and the 270 Win. I finally went with the 270 because the 7/08 was too light.

On the theory of short actions being more accurate, I doubt you'd ever see any difference whatsoever between long actions and short actions in a hunting rifle. In a rifle built for benchrest shooting that is capable of putting 10 shots in the same hole at 500 yards, sure there may be a discernible difference between a short and a long action, but not in a rifle made for hunting that at best only needs to shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards.  JMO

[Cascade_Sherpa]

On the theory of short actions being more accurate, I doubt you'd ever see any difference whatsoever between long actions and short actions in a hunting rifle. In a rifle built for benchrest shooting that is capable of putting 10 shots in the same hole at 500 yards, sure there may be a discernible difference between a short and a long action, but not in a rifle made for hunting that at best only needs to shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards.  JMO
[/quote]

I mostly agree with you; by far the biggest factor in accuracy is the person squeezing the trigger.  Its the most common fail-point and the hardest thing to keep consistant.  But not all hunting rifles are created equal.  Some hunters are satisfied with hitting a paper plate at 200 yards, and every factory rifle will do that.  Others want their hunting rifles to shoot like full blown benchrest rifles; sub moa.  And thats when everything must be taken into account and the factors have to narrowed down to be consistant.

[Da stump]

I think that instead of buying a new gun. It is time to learn how to hand load.  Invest in some good simple equipment and learn to use it well.  Take your time to smell the roses and you will enjoy shooting all that much more.

[Cascade_Sherpa]

With the cost of reloading components these days.... if you can even get the stuff you need, its probably cheaper to shoot factory rolled ammo.

[whacker1]

.270 or 25-06 would be my two choise if you are replacing the 30-06. 

[Da stump]

I can't argue about how hard it is to buy components anymore.  I'm down to a couple of thousand primers and feel almost frantic. Maybe with the 250.00 that we are getting from O obama i'll see about a little more powder, bullets, primers and brass. Can't have too much.