First and Last Rifle - New Hunter

[TaperPin]

just backorder the swfa, they've basically been out of stock for about 3 years, backorders get filled eventually and there's seldom enough left over to go "in stock"

I’m sure glad you mentioned this - I had no idea, but it makes sense.

 

[Vern400]

You mentioned a lightweight rifle. I know some hunters carry a 300 Winchester magnum in a lightweight rifle. But I haven't heard of anyone that shoots theirs much because it hurts.

The lightweight rifle is going to get a little punchy or perhaps uncomfortable in a 308, then start to hurt with 270 then 30-06 then 280AI and so on.

Shoot a round of 100 sporting clays with a double. Use 1 1/4 - 3 3/4-7.5s. that'll be roughly equal to 20 shots out of a lightweight 308.

Seriously, go to a club or a friend and see if you can borrow a rifle and shoot it a little bit. From what you're talking about the 6.5 or the 7-08 don't sound far off the mark. They also happen to be fairly tame on The recoil end.

 

[AlpineCarpetbagger]

Another vote for the Tikka in 6.5 CM. No worries, no fuss, works for everything . If you ever feel like you want more velocity, the Tikka chamber is very accommodating for reloads, so you can easily get another 200 fps with the same bullet over factory. So you are very near factory 6.5 PRC speeds at that point (within 50-75 fps safely.)

Do you happen to know how accommodating they are, i.e. where you’ll start bumping into the lands with any of the hunting (match) bullets that are popular on here? I’d like to know if there’s one that can be loaded really long, like > 3.1”, without jamming.

*Edit - my understanding from reloading forums is that I may need to use Lee Factory Crimp Die to maintain concentricity in this case:

 

[aftriathlete]

Do you happen to know how accommodating they are, i.e. where you’ll start bumping into the lands with any of the hunting (match) bullets that are popular on here? I’d like to know if there’s one that can be loaded really long, like > 3.1”, without jamming.

*Edit - my understanding from reloading forums is that I may need to use Lee Factory Crimp Die to maintain concentricity in this case:

I've only shot factory ammo with it, have never loaded my own, so I can't help with that, sorry man.

 

[terryda]

7MM-08 shoots an approx 140 gr bullet without a lot of recoil. Just a suggestion.