New cartridge selection

[TimberHunter13]

Hello, new member here. I am wanting to start the process of customizing my savage 116 and decided I would like to chamber it in a different caliber. It was formerly a 30/06 but I would like something a little flatter shooting. Rifle will be deer/elk rifle out to 500yds. Currently considering 6.5/284 Norma, 280 AI, 300 Winchester magnum, and 308 Norma magnum.
What else is available? I do not currently handload.

 

[Rifles And More]

Since it was a 30-06 stay in your bolt face/cartridge head size if you want to make it easy.

Since you have a long action, I would look at cartridges that would allow you to maximize that space for longer bullets and a fast twist barrel. In addition, I would look for something readily available - factory ammo or components. Make a trip to the store and look at the shelves.

Any of the popular 6mm / 6.5 may fit the bill.
Boring 'ol 260 or 243
.308 with big bullets is fun if built right.
A little odd, but the 6.5x55 is an intermediate cartridge.

For me, the bottom line is if you are going to rebarrel, fast twist with the right bullets.

You might as well get the reloading stuff too...

 

[Rifles And More]

In fact, the more I think about it, a reloading setup could breathe new life into your 30-06 and give you a chance to really hone your skills before you jump into the custom rifle world.

Knowing nothing about you, that is my Dad advice.

 

[hodgeman]

I'd agree with the previous poster... reloading gear and breathe new life into your 30-06. It's easily capable to 500 or more.

It's easy to change bolt faces on a Savage, if you don't plan on reloading a 300WM or 7mm RM makes a lot of sense as does the 270, 280AI, or 6.5 SWEDE.

 

[TimberHunter13]

I have thought about staying with 30/06, since I have saved all the brass. I have always shot 180gr accubonds, but would the 168gr shoot a little flatter? 260 is also interesting, what would be the best weight for elk?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Is keep it as a 30-06.

 

[Rifles And More]

I've shot 200, 185, 180, 165 and 155 in my 30-06. They'll all do the job out to 500yds.

140s in the 260 would do the job - or a 120 or a 130.

 

[TimberHunter13]

Thanks for the input. Going to stick with the 30/06. As far as barrels go is there much difference between 22” and 24”?

 

[wildwilderness]

I have thought about staying with 30/06, since I have saved all the brass. I have always shot 180gr accubonds, but would the 168gr shoot a little flatter? 260 is also interesting, what would be the best weight for elk?

No way you should change a long action 30-06 to a short action 260. That makes absolutely no sense

Switch to 150 gr monos like a Barnes TTSX and it will be really flat!

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Thanks for the input. Going to stick with the 30/06. As far as barrels go is there much difference between 22” and 24”?

Rough estimate is 25 FPS per inch. But each rifle and associated cartridge is different. This is not that big of an issue on a 30-06 and is even less of an issue if your develop hand loads for it.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

No way you should change a long action 30-06 to a short action 260. That make absolutely no sense

Switch to 150 gr monos like a Barnes TTSX and it will be really flat!

But the commercial monos run out of steam quickly. Another recent thread showed a 168 gr TTSX not expanding at 300 yards (estimated just under 2200 FPS).

 

[grappling_hook]

For something very similar to 30/06 but flatter shooting, there's always the .270 win. But nowadays there are a lot of great scopes with elevation turrets that dial reliably, laser rangefinders, and easily accessible/free ballistics calculators that make flat shooting factor much less emphasized (to me, anyway) in cartridge selection. I see you already settled on staying with the '06 rather than re-chambering, and while spending money on reloading stuff is an option (if you can find components), another option is to put the money toward a solid dialing scope and rangefinder. Then 500 and longer is totally doable (and lots of fun even if you won't actually hunt long range).

 

[3325]

Switch to 150 gr monos like a Barnes TTSX and it will be really flat!

That there is good advice.

Barnes recomends stepping down a bullet weight or two from what you would normally use anyway, since copper retains most of its weight and expands better with a little more velocity. So with copper, 150s will be fine for elk.

Keep her as '06 and see if she likes 150 TTSX before you think about a rebarrel.

 

[wildwilderness]

But the commercial monos run out of steam quickly. Another recent thread showed a 168 gr TTSX not expanding at 300 yards (estimated just under 2200 FPS).

I have shot the 168TTSX pretty far with impact velocities down to 1800 fps and still had it expand enough to kill… I do like aiming for the shoulder and busting bone.

The 150 ttsx out of a 30-06 will still be about 1900fps at 500yds

 

[Hornpout]

For 500 yard deer and elk, the 30/06 is a good choice.

 

[MHWASH]

30~06 is never a bad choice, neither is the 270. The 270 will offer a little flatter shooting and less recoil with pretty much the same terminal effect.

If your a Reloader I’d go 280AI and never look back. Then when your ready for game out to 800, you already have a cartridge capable of those shots.

 

[3325]

30~06 is never a bad choice, neither is the 270. The 270 will offer a little flatter shooting and less recoil with pretty much the same terminal effect.

Agreed.

I’ve become a dedicated .270 Winchester man but I have an ‘06 on the rack that I killed my first five elk with - including my best bull with a 165 Barnes TSX.

As much as I love .270, I wouldn’t advise the OP to rebarrel an ‘06 to .270 as long as the ‘06 was a good shooter with 150 TTSX. That will give him something a little flatter shooting, which is his stated goal.

 

[AKredneck63]

I went 35 whelen with mine couldn’t be happier

 

[2five7]

24-26" 9 twist 280 AI, 168 Bergers.

 

[MHWASH]

Agreed.

I’ve become a dedicated .270 Winchester man but I have an ‘06 on the rack that I killed my first five elk with - including my best bull with a 165 Barnes TSX.

As much as I love .270, I wouldn’t advise the OP to rebarrel an ‘06 to .270 as long as the ‘06 was a good shooter with 150 TTSX. That will give him something a little flatter shooting, which is his stated goal.

I’m not a fan of monos, so substitute the 150 TTSX for a 150 AB and I’d be happy.