Alright guys need some help narrowing down this choice. I'm currently running a 6.5x284 in a remmy 700 LA. Love the caliber and let's be honest is one that's hard to beat for performance. But it does have crap barrel life. My funds are tight and its going to limit me to one rig right now so I'm thinking switch barrel. I need so me caliber choices. Again its a long action standard bolt face. I don't want to run two different bolts so magnums are out. I'm looking for. A good all around caliber out to 800 yds. I do handload but would like to have off the shelf ammo available. I was thinking 308 even with the long action maybe 30-06, or 280ai. Give me options and why thanks.
switch barrel caliber selection
- Thread starter NY700
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Re: switch barrel caliber selection
What about a 260 or a 260 AI. You would be able to use the same bullets and powder as your 6.5x284. The 260 may be hard to find factory shells at this point, but I think Black Hills is doing 260's now.
What about a 260 or a 260 AI. You would be able to use the same bullets and powder as your 6.5x284. The 260 may be hard to find factory shells at this point, but I think Black Hills is doing 260's now.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
I was in a similar dilemma. You can buy a magnum bolt and switch between the two but you probably know that. For long action standard bolt my money would be on the 280AI. Good barrel life. Good ballistics. Pre-formed factory brass. Could hunt or compete with it. It would be cool to switch from 6.5x284 for comp to 280AI for hunting. I was thinking of the Seekins long action bottom metal and using 2 bolts, the standard face and the Lapua face. I was going to compete with the 280AI and switch barrels and bolts and shoot the .338Lapua for the LR hunting stuff. I think Seekins DBM feeds both.
I was in a similar dilemma. You can buy a magnum bolt and switch between the two but you probably know that. For long action standard bolt my money would be on the 280AI. Good barrel life. Good ballistics. Pre-formed factory brass. Could hunt or compete with it. It would be cool to switch from 6.5x284 for comp to 280AI for hunting. I was thinking of the Seekins long action bottom metal and using 2 bolts, the standard face and the Lapua face. I was going to compete with the 280AI and switch barrels and bolts and shoot the .338Lapua for the LR hunting stuff. I think Seekins DBM feeds both.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
Then again i'm building a 6.5wsm so you probably shouldn't listen to the barrel life advice from me
Barrels are like bullets to me...consumables. .02
Then again i'm building a 6.5wsm so you probably shouldn't listen to the barrel life advice from me
Barrels are like bullets to me...consumables. .02
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
30-06 would seem to be an obvious choice. 308WIN if you want to moderate the recoil.
30-06 would seem to be an obvious choice. 308WIN if you want to moderate the recoil.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
How about a standard .284 Winchester. Barrel life is way better, and you all ready have the brass just neck it up with a mandrel expander. The bullets also have more bc.
How about a standard .284 Winchester. Barrel life is way better, and you all ready have the brass just neck it up with a mandrel expander. The bullets also have more bc.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tbrewer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How about a standard .284 Winchester. </div></div>
I was thinking the same thing. More and more quality projectiles are available for it now.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tbrewer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How about a standard .284 Winchester. </div></div>
I was thinking the same thing. More and more quality projectiles are available for it now.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
I love the Berger VLDS extremely accurate. Alot of people don't like them because of the length but in a long action its not an issue.
I love the Berger VLDS extremely accurate. Alot of people don't like them because of the length but in a long action its not an issue.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
Go with the something in the .284 boolits. BC's are way the hell up there.
Go with the something in the .284 boolits. BC's are way the hell up there.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
i like the idea of the .260, but i never heard of a .260 being run out of a long action. I had been thinking about a 280ai build for a long time now, however fireforming brass or paying for the preformed stuff never excited me. not to open up an age old debate but is the real world comparison between a 30-06 and the 308?? i kinda like the idea of doing it up as a 308 for all the usual reason and i know that a good smith can make the 308 run smooth out of the long action but obviously the 30-06 would be easier and potentially less temperamental.
i like the idea of the .260, but i never heard of a .260 being run out of a long action. I had been thinking about a 280ai build for a long time now, however fireforming brass or paying for the preformed stuff never excited me. not to open up an age old debate but is the real world comparison between a 30-06 and the 308?? i kinda like the idea of doing it up as a 308 for all the usual reason and i know that a good smith can make the 308 run smooth out of the long action but obviously the 30-06 would be easier and potentially less temperamental.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
From what I understand the 30-06 will run alittel faster than the 308, expecialy with the heavies.
From what I understand the 30-06 will run alittel faster than the 308, expecialy with the heavies.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
NY700:
The 308 vs. 30-06 debate is old and hashed, but here's the finer points that I continue to "copy paste" as a response.
Given equal barrel lengths, the 30-06 will run 250-300 fps faster for damn near everything on the 308. My dad and I have matching rifles, matching parts, everything, except he built his in 308 instead of 30-06. Across the board I get 250 fps or more on his, and I worked the loads for both rifles.
110 Vmax 3600 vs. 3275
150 FMJ 3150 vs. 2850
178 Amax 3000 vs. 2725
208 Amax 2885 vs. ???
That heavy 208 Amax load runs almost neck and neck with a 300 WM.
Ammo for either caliber is in every backwater hardware store, grocery store shelf, etc. If you get out on a hunt and somehow ruin or forget your ammo you can walk into just about anywhere in this country and get 308 or 30-06 ammo.
The 260 running in a LA will do just fine and it will allow you to mag feed even the longest rounds you can put together.
The 280 AI as well as the 284 Win are probably going to need some massaging to make them reliably feed from a standard action.
The 280 Rem is not as prevalent over the 30-06 but it isn't unheard of. I'd vote for you to keep a 7mm round if you don't already have one. If you're going to hunt with the rifle a lot though, the 30-06 will probably suit you the best, especially in the "oh shit" situation where something is lost/forgotten/ruined.
I have shot my 30-06 to 1400 yards so far, I'm hoping to make it to a mile this summer.
NY700:
The 308 vs. 30-06 debate is old and hashed, but here's the finer points that I continue to "copy paste" as a response.
Given equal barrel lengths, the 30-06 will run 250-300 fps faster for damn near everything on the 308. My dad and I have matching rifles, matching parts, everything, except he built his in 308 instead of 30-06. Across the board I get 250 fps or more on his, and I worked the loads for both rifles.
110 Vmax 3600 vs. 3275
150 FMJ 3150 vs. 2850
178 Amax 3000 vs. 2725
208 Amax 2885 vs. ???
That heavy 208 Amax load runs almost neck and neck with a 300 WM.
Ammo for either caliber is in every backwater hardware store, grocery store shelf, etc. If you get out on a hunt and somehow ruin or forget your ammo you can walk into just about anywhere in this country and get 308 or 30-06 ammo.
The 260 running in a LA will do just fine and it will allow you to mag feed even the longest rounds you can put together.
The 280 AI as well as the 284 Win are probably going to need some massaging to make them reliably feed from a standard action.
The 280 Rem is not as prevalent over the 30-06 but it isn't unheard of. I'd vote for you to keep a 7mm round if you don't already have one. If you're going to hunt with the rifle a lot though, the 30-06 will probably suit you the best, especially in the "oh shit" situation where something is lost/forgotten/ruined.
I have shot my 30-06 to 1400 yards so far, I'm hoping to make it to a mile this summer.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
++++++++++++++++1 on what bohem says; 30-06. Factory or reloads, you are GTG for everything that walks in NA except the large bears and if one of those is poking his head through your door, it works for them too because there was a hunter who killed one in Alaska with a shot to the mouth that way. When the world ends, long after all the zombies are gone, there will be three things left in the world: Cockroaches, Cher, and 30-06 ammo.
++++++++++++++++1 on what bohem says; 30-06. Factory or reloads, you are GTG for everything that walks in NA except the large bears and if one of those is poking his head through your door, it works for them too because there was a hunter who killed one in Alaska with a shot to the mouth that way. When the world ends, long after all the zombies are gone, there will be three things left in the world: Cockroaches, Cher, and 30-06 ammo.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
This should be easy but there are just too many good options out there. So if you had to narrow it down, mostly target shooting out to 800yds and some hunting, and you already have a 6.5... Would you go 7mm or 30 cal. We will start there
This should be easy but there are just too many good options out there. So if you had to narrow it down, mostly target shooting out to 800yds and some hunting, and you already have a 6.5... Would you go 7mm or 30 cal. We will start there
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
308 chambered with a throat that lets you seat the 210's out all the way would be interesting...
Do you shot competitions, or plan to? I think the 308 gives you more options in what you can do with the rifle. In any competition that allows 30-06, you're better off using the 6.5-284.
308 chambered with a throat that lets you seat the 210's out all the way would be interesting...
Do you shot competitions, or plan to? I think the 308 gives you more options in what you can do with the rifle. In any competition that allows 30-06, you're better off using the 6.5-284.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NY700</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This should be easy but there are just too many good options out there. So if you had to narrow it down, mostly target shooting out to 800yds and some hunting, and you already have a 6.5... Would you go 7mm or 30 cal. We will start there </div></div>
I'd go with a 7 for the ballistics. Specifically a 280 or 284 in a long action if I had a LA with a standard bolt face.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NY700</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This should be easy but there are just too many good options out there. So if you had to narrow it down, mostly target shooting out to 800yds and some hunting, and you already have a 6.5... Would you go 7mm or 30 cal. We will start there </div></div>
I'd go with a 7 for the ballistics. Specifically a 280 or 284 in a long action if I had a LA with a standard bolt face.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
There are no feeding problems out of a 30-06 box so far that i have seen or heard of with the .284 win.
There are no feeding problems out of a 30-06 box so far that i have seen or heard of with the .284 win.
Re: switch barrel caliber selection
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kombayotch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> In any competition that allows 30-06, you're better off using the 6.5-284. </div></div>
Except for that whole burning out a barrel in 800 round thing...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kombayotch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> In any competition that allows 30-06, you're better off using the 6.5-284. </div></div>
Except for that whole burning out a barrel in 800 round thing...
