New Build

[Wazukie]

Ok, so if you were to build a long range rifle, out to 1500 yards, and had to choose from 300wsm, 7mm wsm or 6.5x284 what caliber would you choose and why.  Also, Remington 700 or savage and why?

[Biggerhammer]

If your going to be shooting 1500 yards, your going to need to shoot the heavies for which ever bullet diameter you choose. 6.5-284 is out given the distance you want to get to, not that it can't be done. It's just at the bottom of the list out of the 3 cartridges you have listed. 7mm WSM with the heavier VLD bullets is very capable of doing what you would like. Again given the distance, the .300 WSM would be my choice, right in the ball park with .300 Win Mag and a huge bullets selection for the long stuff. Now cartridge over all length becomes a issue in these short action magnum cartridges due to the length of the heavier bullets needed to get you to 1500. If you were doing a custom you may want to do one of the WSM's on a long action. That's what I built my 7mm WSM on and had it throated for the VLD's , so I could load them longer and keep the bullet out of the powder column and still shoot it as a repeater with out issues that would be caused by using a short action for the heavies such as the 190 Matrix and the Cauterucio 177& 189's.

Two excellent combos.

.300 WSM 190gr Berger VLD

7mm WSM 180gr Berger VLD

Both will get you there with a short action, I guess it's all personal preference on the bullet diameter.

[rbros]

Some of your decision will also depend on what your intentions are.  Paper and steel  at 1500 or are you going for the ultimate long range hunt at 1500?

The 7mm's will outrun the 300's for the most part.  Obviously a 300 Ultra with a 215 Hybrid will outrun a 7mm 180, but comparing apples to apples...ie, 7WSM vs 300 WSM, the 7 will shoot flatter and buck wind better.  If you are going to run a long action, either run a straight 7RM or 300WM.  Both will slightly out perform their WSM sibblings and do it with less pressure.  For a pure long range rifle that is still plenty portable, run a 28" barrel.  If recoil is a concern, then brake it.  With the 7's, a brake isn't needed, but makes it about like a 243 to shoot.  The 30's have to push a heavier bullet to get a good BC, so they will recoil more, plain and simple. 

The 6.5-284 would work, but you will be needing to dope the wind more.  Lots of guys have shot p-dogs at a mile with them, and they are accurate as hell.  The magnums will just push the bullet faster is all.  If a guy wanted a low recoil 6.5mm, I would build a 6.5-06AI with a 28" barrel.  They will run 140's at 3150-3200 in a 28" barrel with a minimal amount of recoil.

Now if you are wanting to hunt critters at that range.........welcome to the world of 338's.  The smaller bores will do it, but just not as easily.

[bobcat]

What about a 7mm Ultra Mag? Seems if you're wanting to shoot to 1500 yards, I'd want all the muzzle velocity I could get. Plus with a muzzle brake on it, recoil shouldn't be a concern.

[addicted]

I dont see how a 300wsm 190grn could keep up with a 180grn7wsm. BC is off the chart.


7WSM on a long savage action kinda like what biggerhammer just put together.  I keep reading it again and again, savage's need less truing.

[carpsniperg2]

If you are wanting a paper puncher at that range I would go with the 7wsm over the ones you listed. If you have any intenstions of every shooting a animal that far none of those are very good pick's. You really need to jump up to the 300 ultra/338 ultra/338 lapua/340 wby/ 338 edge etc. To really get the numbers to make clean kills out that far. There will be a lot more recoil but for hunting its the way to go. 7wsm will do just fine at that range but the killing power is far less then with the mags.

[Wazukie]

Nope, wont be for hunting, just for punching paper and steel.  I already have a .243 AI, 24" shilen #7 on it, just want something more to push myself beyond 1000 yrds.  I need to spend more time looking at the ballistics.  I reload but I want to build something that gives me the biggest bang for the buck, like powder usage and such.  It is going to be a budget build also, and no I dont know what the budget will be other than as little as possible, lol  As for hunting, I already have a Browning Micro hunter 300wsm for that purpose.

[Fowlweather25]

7wsm flat shooter with the Berger vld, rem 700 cause it's just a bullet proof action, drop a jewel or a timney in it.

[addicted]

you can replace the bolt hand  on a savage a lot more easily than the remington and it's 2 tiny soldier points.

[dscubame]

Consider working over a 30-378, perhaps the out the door rifle would make a good base for the project.

[carpsniperg2]

Yeah it it's a budget build I would for sure look into buying a stock rifle like a 700 xcr and working it up from there. I was at a gun show yesterday and saw a lot of really good deals. I had my grendel money in my pocket and was not planning on spending it but something caught my eye that I have always wanted and now I have another personal collection gun There was a lot of good buys like normal if a guy knows what to look for. A lot of the stuff on the tabels by dealers are way to high and over priced. Some of the avg joe tabels and walkers can have some killer deals!!!

a couple I alomst bought to flip was a older model 70 300 wsm. Perfect bore shot very little not a nick on it for 500.00

A 700 t/c pro hunter with a 300 win mag barrel camo and stainless like new 525.00

Then there was a colt anaconda I would have bought it in a heart beat but would have had to go threw a ffl and the guy was wanting some quick cash and I didn't like the story with it. It was a hell of a gun very clean and very nice but the price was to good and the story was off. He only wanted 600.00 for it talk about a wet dream. Just threw me off a little and he did not like me asking if we could go threw a ffl and that made me walk away. hell of a buy gun was worth 1k pretty easy. I am still looking for a like new king cobra to add to my collection. Thought I had one a little bit ago but didnt work out

[Jim the Plumber]

Paper and steel on a budget, I'd look at the 6.5x284.
A whole stack of bullets to choose from. Very easy to load for. Still super sonic with the right set up/ loads. Managble recoil, same barrel life as the magnums, maybe a touch more.
 The Hornady 140 BTHP match at 3000 will get you to 1650+, ss.

[coachcw]

i'm going with the 6.5 x284 , nothing over 1200 for me (lol). for strickly long range it would be tough to beat the 30-378 for knock down power.

[Biggerhammer]

I'm going a different direction, I'll sell my like new custom barreled action in 7mm WSM for 1300.00, just had a 32 inch .338 Obermeyer barrel show up, need to get it put together and it sure ISN'T going to be a Lapua.

[carpsniperg2]

I'm going a different direction, I'll sell my like new custom barreled action in 7mm WSM for 1300.00, just had a 32 inch .338 Obermeyer barrel show up, need to get it put together and it sure ISN'T going to be a Lapua.

Someone who goes threw more guns and projects then I do. It must be a miracle