New rifle what caliber should I choose?

[z987k]

But brass.....if it doesn't survive.......

You just buy a barrel worth of brass. Since peterson makes it, it's good brass. I'd imagine a box of 250 would cover it.
If I do a cartridge that isn't insanely well supported, I do that. Then it's never an issue.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

6.5-284 super easy to load for, accurate, low recoil, feeds like butter in LA,
Long brass life. Several powders work well.
Love’s the 140 Berger’s. Absolute Joy to shoot.

 

[HandgunHTR]

In my opinion, no matter what you go with, you are going to have more cartridge than you need, even if shooting monos. Heck, my 7-08 will keep the 130 class monos over 2000 fps at 400 yards.

But, since you have a long action, my recommendations are the following, in order of my preference

7X57AI
7X57
284 Win
6.5-06
6.5-284
6mm Rem AI
280 Rem (but have the barrel marked 7mm Express because that was too cool of a name to give up on)

 

[wind gypsy]

On a long action, in 7mm, 284win thoated long.

To really use that long action, the new 25 rpm has a lot to like above and beyond what a 25-06 can do.

This.

My only hesitation would be to research how to ensure those rebated rim cartridges feed well. I've never shot one of the 284 based cartridges but people seem to occasionally have trouble with feeding. Never had any issues with WSM/SAUM rebated cartridges feeding but they are typically in magazines designed for them.

On the brass front, its not like a 25 RPM is going to last for 4000 rounds. You could probably kill a barrel with 100 peices of brass if the brass isn't junk and you dont run it too hot.

Fast twist 25/06 would be cool and 270 would work too.

 

[dmm08300]

Always thought a 338-06 would be cool

 

[UnckleBob]

A 270 or 280AI will feed easily in the long action. Either will kill just about anything that needs killing. Neither will punish you with recoil.

 

[Judd]

I'd do the 280AI or neck it down to the 6.5. A buddy had one of those that McWhorter had built and it was legit. Good luck, half the fun is picking.

 

[Maverick1]

Q: “How did you end up with that caliber?”
A: “Popularity contest with input from a bunch of random forum users.”

Years later, fondling yet another safe queen….
Q: “Do you ever shoot it?”
A: “Nah, I built it and then moved on to the next project.”
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[Caseknife]

257AI, 90 Absolute Hammer at 3400fps.

 

[tim tarras]

Yup!
If I had access to any halfway decent brass, it would be THE gun for me.

I just got my new 257 Roberts AI barrel. Nosler does make 257 +p brass.

 

[freezer003]

If you're already partial to the 7mm, 7x57 would be a cool classic build. 7mm-08 in that long action would do some pretty fantastic things. But a 257 Roberts would be a pretty cool one too, especially with the newer 257 pills coming out.
At least let us know which you picked at the end!

 

[Pharmseller]

I would go with the 280I for all around rifle, you have the choice of a lot of premium bullets in the 140-160 grain and even the 175 grain Nosler Partition if grizzly or moose is on the agenda

This

 

[ResearchinStuff]

25/06 ai or 257 weatherby, any x284 variant, or any creedmoor variant if you don't mind the excess length

 

[Castle Rock]

6mm/06

 

[Deere_Man]

6mm/06

I came here to say 6mm/o6

But if you’re not a believer in the 6, go 7x57 or 280 Rem. I don’t see a need to AI anything; I much prefer the smooth feeding characteristics of a less sharp shoulder. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Treelineasassin]

For a 7mm I'd want to be in the 67+gr capacity case range to the most velocity possible at medium psi loads from the short barrel. That'd leave 284 win, 280, 280ai, or a wildcat based up the weatherby RPM case. I have a Christensen 65x284 and it's feeds great from the bdl setup. Hawkins offers a long action magazine setup for the x284 family as well that offers 3.77 loaded coal.

 

[TradLife406]

Man I'd honestly sell the Remington Clone action and just buy a Tikka 6 Creed.

I've personally had a Rem clone fail multiple times hunting. The slightest bit of dust in that trigger will shut it down. Turns a $300 Remmy Triggertech into just a fancy looking gadget. Nothing worse than taking a shot on an animal and the gun goes click. I thought it was just my gun. But apparently this is completely normal for these clones.

Then being inside 400 you don't need a lot of gun. That 6 milly is perfect. Unless you can legally use a 224 cal. Then a 22 Creed or a 223 AI. Honestly I've got a 6 UM. But I'm fully set on using my 223 AI for elk this fall. I've got 1300 rounds on it so far this year. It's just so easy to shoot well even for a bad shooter. Then those 88 tmks going a tad over 2700fps don't hit 1800 until 660 yards. Probably 700 at elevation. So 400 isn't a stretch if the wind isn't bad. You can just simply shoot better with less recoil. Which means better shot placement under stress.

 

[Old3Toe]

7x57 fan/addict checking in... Were I in your spot the 7x57 cartridge with a long throat and faster twist would be a foregone conclusion as would be the 162 eldm bullet loaded at a modest ~2600fps. Done. Personally I'd spend way more thought on what 20-23" barrel length I'd really want, who could make me a handsome wood stock for it, and finding a nonprentitous scope with rings/bases that don't look like tactical Lego blocks. Good luck!

 

[MarkOrtiz]

Fun cartridges that I would like these days.

7mm SAW, 25 PRC, 280AI, 6.5 PRC, 6UM

 

[CBB15]

If you are a loader, the standard 280 Remington is a sweetheart of a cartridge, especially if you take advantage of a 3.8" magazine. Same for the Ackley but I never found the Ackley worth the squeeze personally.