All purpose cartridge for restrictive state

[Dubbodiver]

so the questions first and the why to follow up.

I want to drive a 130gn copper mono 3100-3200fps with the intent to retain terminal velocity above 2000fps as far as I can and I want to do it out of a 18-20" barrel.
do I pick a 277, 7mm or 30 bullet and what cartridges are going to get me there?

OK now the why?

I Live in NSW Australia Which has just passed some ridiculous gun laws which have made me rethink my firearms battery entirely.

licensed firearms owners have bee restricted to 4 firearms for recreational hunters and 10 firearms for target shooters or landowners/rural workers.
bolt action, lever action and break action firearms are the remaining legal options.

One of my target species (sambar deer) has caliber and bullet weight restrictions of .277 min and 130gn min. although there is not yet copper only restrictions it is coming sooner rather than later.

My need and intention is to build a rifle that meets these criteria but will also double as a ranch rifle- carried on horseback and motorbike, quad, sxs, ute and on foot hence the max 20" barrel.

will it be easier to get a 277/7mm or a 30 cal 130gn copper up to speed and which cartridges will be the best to get it there?

I will probably be building on a tikka t3x, they are available, are available as left handed and they are a fantastic action.

those are my restrictions. other than those limitations I am seeking the rokslide community wisdom, any suggestions, advise or better ideas I am all ears! I fall very much on the side of the smaller cartridges are easier to shoot debate but I am open to hear all ideas.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bnewt3]

The easy button is to go with something known like 300WM.

However, my mind goes toward efficiency.....what meets your needs with the least amount of overkill(and recoil).....no need for 300WM if less can do the job.

270 WIN can do what you are looking for. 130gr in the 3100 range can be found on shelves here, im not sure about in AUS. But thats generally out of a 24" barrel. So a bit less out of 20".....still right around 3000 though.


If you want to stick around 130gr, the smaller the caliber, the better the BC(in general), therefore the flatter the trajectory and carrying more velocity further. If so, then .277 is where you want to be.

If your are looking at 130gr as just being your bottom limit by law, and open to heavier, then lots of things become possible. 7BC, 7RM, 7PRC, 300WM, 300WSM, 6.8W, 280AI, 270WSM, or bigger.

270 does have the distinct advantage of being the lowest recoil out of your options, which in a short(likely fairly light) rifle will be a big advantage.

 

[steelheadmike]

I think 7PRC is the answer. There’s a number of light .284 monos out there and they should be screaming out of the PRC.

Remember that driving a light bullet fast doesn’t always mean longer range. The low BC of those light bullets makes them shed a lot of speed at distance. Run some calcs on a few different bullets and you might be surprised.

 

[Dubbodiver]

thanks for the response guys,
Efficiency is certainly a consideration as it needs to be an all purpose rifle, we have a big feral hog problem here so affordable effective ammunition that is easy to shoot in volume is a consideration.
the 270 is a very realistic option, I already load it for a couple of mates so it would not be a big imposition and factory ammo is very available.
the 7PRC looks amazing and if I had the option of having a special purpose sambar/longer range hunter as well as a farm gun then I think the 7 PRC would be it.

if I could ask anyones thoughts on the 308? could I get close to what want out of the Monos and then run cheaper cup and core for farm duties?
Regards.

 

[Bratch]

Barnes has a factory loaded 130gr TTSX that they advertise at 3125 FPS. I’ve been meaning to order some but haven’t gotten around to it. I have seen great reviews but have not personally used it.

 

[PNWTO]

308 is boring in all the best ways and ammo variety is bountiful (at least in NA).

I self-limit, within reason, to 300yds and I can’t get all jazzed up about any cartridges besides 308 for that role. The post above mentioned the Barnes load and I’d trust that, although I’ve found Barnes to be a little iffy on primer QC.

To meet your desired stats you can definitely load 308 but factory loads in that flavor are not too common.

(I’d like a 6mm build but not a priority.)

To your original post: Personally, I’d leave the sex appeal and FOMO out of the decision making and go with a cartridge in the “boring and bountiful” category. 6.5CM, 308, -06, 300WM.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

ADG brass has headstamped brass for 7-300prc. It is simply 300prc necked down to 7mm with no fireforming required. That'll launch a light copper at Mach Jesus in a short barrel

 

[JFK]

Look at the Barnes load data and it will give you a good idea of what’s possible. That’s all out of 24” barrels though. In general if you just want the speed and not shooting much past 400 yards it won’t make a big difference what you choose…however bullet availability in some of the larger 7mm and 30 cals won’t be as good in the 130gr class bullets as it is for .277.

You’ll get a better bc out of the .277 bullet assuming you stay in the 130 bullet weight. You won’t get 3200fps out of a 20” barrel. Probably 3050fps or a bit better if you want to load a double base powder. There are wildcat cartridges but probably more trouble than they are worth. A 270 ackley could be neat and might net you a few more fps. People say the 270 isn’t good to ackley but somehow the 280 and 25-06 is? I don’t buy that.

I’ve killed deer, elk, antelope and pigs with a plain 270 and copper bullet. They work just fine.

 

[Wolfshead]

I have a Tikka T3X in 308 Winchester with a 20” barrel.
My rifle is the compact model and is a total length of 39”. It is one inch less than my model 94 that I love to still hunt with, but is not as good as a ag field, longer distance rifle.
The Tikka is a good still hunting rifle, and a good field rifle.
I shoot the Barnes 130 grain ttsx out of it with an average muzzle velocity of approximately 3170 fps.
I choose them because N.Y. is probably going to go non lead on public and state lands sooner than later.
I took a nice Buck this past season at 270 yards, ranged.
One shot and he dropped in his tracks.

 

[Tom-D]

Its only recommended caliber in nsw not a regulation. I know its regulation in vic but. Copper bullets was taken out of the last time they changed the rules i dont think its coming at all now

 

[Deere_Man]

I’d go with a 270 Win, all day, everyday, and twice on Sundays!

 

[Dubbodiver]

Thanks again for all the responses, it seems like there is a good case to be made for efficient standard cases like the 308 and 270, both of which I like a lot.
I do have a leaning towards fast cartridges, I learned reloading with a 220 swift in a ruger 77 tang safety and on more than one occasion had to hammer the bolt open! If I had the option of a single purpose rifle I'm quite sure it would be something like the 7prc or that 7-300prc sound like fun also! If 7BC ammunition ever becomes available here in a reasonable supply I think it would be a good choice also.

 

[Dubbodiver]

hi Tom-D, sounds like you are in OZ? Im looking to make some cross border incursions to Vic in the coming years hence trying to meet the requirements. that is good news about the no copper req, but it wouldn't surprise me if it raises its head again sometime.

 

[Cherokeeguide]

Yeah. I know. It ain't "cool." Too much polished, blued ferrous metal and wood for modern taste.

But, that 26" barrel chambered in .270 Winchester would get over 3,100 fps with 130 grain Barnes X over the full dose of IMR 4350. No problem.


The overall length is short, because of the lack of repeating action. It isn't much longer, overall, than a Marlin 336 with a 20" barrel is. A Winchester / Browning falling-block single-shot would be similar and get you a long barrel with compact overall dimensions.

 

[43.6N]

so the questions first and the why to follow up.

I want to drive a 130gn copper mono 3100-3200fps with the intent to retain terminal velocity above 2000fps as far as I can and I want to do it out of a 18-20" barrel.
do I pick a 277, 7mm or 30 bullet and what cartridges are going to get me there?

OK now the why?

I Live in NSW Australia Which has just passed some ridiculous gun laws which have made me rethink my firearms battery entirely.

licensed firearms owners have bee restricted to 4 firearms for recreational hunters and 10 firearms for target shooters or landowners/rural workers.
bolt action, lever action and break action firearms are the remaining legal options.

One of my target species (sambar deer) has caliber and bullet weight restrictions of .277 min and 130gn min. although there is not yet copper only restrictions it is coming sooner rather than later.

My need and intention is to build a rifle that meets these criteria but will also double as a ranch rifle- carried on horseback and motorbike, quad, sxs, ute and on foot hence the max 20" barrel.

will it be easier to get a 277/7mm or a 30 cal 130gn copper up to speed and which cartridges will be the best to get it there?

I will probably be building on a tikka t3x, they are available, are available as left handed and they are a fantastic action.

those are my restrictions. other than those limitations I am seeking the rokslide community wisdom, any suggestions, advise or better ideas I am all ears! I fall very much on the side of the smaller cartridges are easier to shoot debate but I am open to hear all ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Suppressor or No-Suppressor?

This dictates barrel length, which ultimately will dictate cartridge choice to achieve your goal velocity.

 

[Marbles]

7mm, it will hold speed longer, copper already suffers from low BC.

That is the short answer. The long answer is to compare individual 30s and 7mms. If you can get by with a barrel burner, something like a 7mm-300 PRC perhaps. There does appear to be a point of diminishing returns with pushing the powder column up in size. I personally do not know how a 7 PRC compares to a 7-300 PRC. You also have to consider recoil. A 280 AI might be a better choice.

270, if that works, the smaller the diameter, the better the BC at a given weight.

Consider a break action to allow a longer barrel without giving up handling.

 

[Bluefish]

Take a look at the Barnes data for the 100ttsx in 25-06. The 80’s will easily do 3500+.

 

[Tom-D]

hi Tom-D, sounds like you are in OZ? Im looking to make some cross border incursions to Vic in the coming years hence trying to meet the requirements. that is good news about the no copper req, but it wouldn't surprise me if it raises its head again sometime.

Yeah down south of sydney. I assumed your would be going vic too. There was pretty strong backlash against it when they removed it i really don't think it will get looked at again now. I def wouldn't be going copper now just incase they maybe make it a rule later unless you just want to ofcourse.

 

[Dubbodiver]

hi cherokeeguide, maybe not "on trend" right now but that is a beautiful rifle, and great to see it being used.
I have certainly considered single shot rifles for the increased barrel to OAL length ratio but as an all purpose rifle I really need a repeater.

 

[Dubbodiver]

hi 43.6N, no suppressors allowed down here, just another one of our pointless laws.
I have been running a Blaser R8 (which is now illegal for me to own) with the unconventional action design the standard 22" barrel it is about 3" shorter than a 22" barreled tikka. I find those 3" make a noticeable difference on bikes in Utes and on horseback. that is how I have come to the 20" barrel number, if suppressors were a option I would probably be asking about a 16" barrel.