Short Action Rifle Build

[OpsMan]

Looking for suggestions on which short action caliber to build my next rifle.

Rifle will be used for whitetail and elk. Longest shot will be 400-500 yards. Will be hunting suppressed so will likely go with a 20-21” barrel.

First thought was to go with a 270WSM with a 1-8” twist barrel. Shoot 130 grain for whitetail and 165 ablr for elk.

Problem is brass availability. I’ve thought about 7 saum also. 6.8 western being supported by Browning/Winchester throws it out as I’m not big on Winchester ammo.

I have a dream about Hornady introducing a true short action cartridge that will shoot medium to heavy for caliber 270/7mm cartridges that would have components readily available.

Any suggestions?

 

[PNWGATOR]

108 ELDM out of a 6CM for everything.

 

[OpsMan]

As a follow up, I currently have a 22 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.5 Creedmoor in the arsenal for hunting.

 

[fatbacks]

I really like my 7 SAUM... light on recoil, good ballistics

 

[MThuntr]

EDIT: the page refreshed when I was posting so editing my response....6 ARC, 6GT, 22GT, 7mm08,

 

[OpsMan]

I really like my 7 SAUM... light on recoil, good ballistics

Where do you source your brass?

 

[TaperPin]

A fun old school short action 7mm would be a 284 - brass is still available. New school cool 7mm is the 6.5 PRC necked up to 7mm - it’s becoming more popular as the f class and 1000 yard bench rest crowd are experimenting with the more modern case with roughly the same capacity as the 284.

 

[TaperPin]

I really like my 7 SAUM... light on recoil, good ballistics

That is a great cartridge - it must be very similar to the 6.5 prc necked up to 7mm.

 

[PotatoHunter]

280AI is quite good for a SA. 6.5PRC is also wicked accurate, and plenty of energy for elk at 500 yards and in.

 

[B23]

280AI is quite good for a SA. 6.5PRC is also wicked accurate, and plenty of energy for elk at 500 yards and in.

Both the straight 280 or Ackley Improved version is wayyyyy to long for a short or even a medium action.

300 WSM or 300 SAUM would be my first choices followed by the same case/s but in their 7mm versions. Make sure to use at least a 3.00 mag box and better yet would be 3.100 Baney box.

 

[PotatoHunter]

Both the straight 280 or Ackley Improved version is wayyyyy to long for a short or even a medium action.

300 WSM or 300 SAUM would be my first choices followed by the same case/s but in their 7mm versions. Make sure to use at least a 3.00 mag box and better yet would be 3.100 Baney box.

You’re absolutely right. I’m on no sleep and didn’t even read correctly and have no business posting right now. Appreciate the correction and I’ll see myself out

 

[cjcavinaw]

Im doing the same exact thing right now and wanted to go 7 saum but as youre saying its hard to find brass. I ended up going with a 7 Sherman short mag. Sherman has added brass available right now and in stock. Another big plus is the shoulder sits a bit further back so you can fit the heavies seated out to the lands and fit in a short action no problem. I spoke with rich and he said out of a 22in barrel he's regularly seeing 180 burgers at 2900fps

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[SDHNTR]

You don’t need anything new. But if you must, a .308 is enough without being too much.

 

[rootacres]

Another vote for the 7 SAUM.

22" Proof
168 VLDs at ~2830 fps
143 Hammers at ~3030 fps

From deer to elk nothing has made it more than a few steps.

During all the covid madness sourcing ADG brass was tricky. Just buy what you need when it's available. I have been using Bertram brass the last year. Seems to be working just fine thus far.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I love my Remington Model Seven SS in 7 SAUM with a factory 22” barrel. I shoot 160 grain Accubonds @ 2950 fps loaded 2.815” in the factory magazine box.

 

[Longleaf]

I went with 300wsm and a 20" proof, 180 accubonds going about 2900fps. Nosler brass is pretty easy to come by.

Easy enough to find ammo for when traveling if need be.

 

[jzeblaz]

I love my Remington Model Seven SS in 7 SAUM with a factory 22” barrel. I shoot 160 grain Accubonds @ 2950 fps loaded 2.815” in the factory magazine box.

Not much that 160 AB cruising that speed couldn't handle. I have a hankering for 7 SAUM. I've got a 7mm-08 and 280 Remington, which makes it kinda "unnecessary", but still interesting and fun to dream about. Thinking a light mountain rifle will a bit more zip than the 7-08 and a LOT lighter than my 280 Rem.

 

[BLJ]

You don’t need anything new. But if you must, a .308 is enough without being too much.

Yes.

 

[SloppyJ]

I went with 300wsm and a 20" proof, 180 accubonds going about 2900fps. Nosler brass is pretty easy to come by.

Easy enough to find ammo for when traveling if need be.

Man I was dead set on a 300prc but the more and more I think about it, this would be a great setup for me.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

My Tikka 7 SAUM is too much fun lately with 175 ELDX. SWFA 3-9.

Old reliable is Tikka .260 shooting 129 SSTs. That rifle has been a deer/elk/coyote machine since I built it. SWFA fixed 6.

Built your rifle off a Tikka and throw a SWFA on there and you can’t go wrong on chambering.