Caliber Selection

[Bib3773]

I have been looking for about a year at different rifles. So far my favorite is the remingtons, but the one want is $1200, they have the same version in a shorter barrel for about 799 but I want the longer one. Funy they add the name tactical to it and suddenly the cost shoots up. I am also looking at a Savage but it has no Magizine, just top load and Im not a big fan of top load guns. Anyway the only thing I know is that it will be bolt action and have a bull barrel.

The biggest problem I am having is selecting a caliber.

My first pick is a 22-250 Ammo is a tad pricey, and around here at times its hard to get.

My second pick is a 7mm-08 Everything I have read about so far has sounded really good. My boss actually turned me onto this round and I started doing a little reading on it. On the flip side I have also tried to find ammo for it and its a hard find. I would hope that it would get easier as time went on but I think its a little risky to chance it.

223- I have read where alot of people use these for shooting competitions and so forth, I really don't know enough about at range. Ammo is plentiful, and affordable.

243- This would be higher on my list if I didn't already have one. Good gun but if I ever start hunting this is what I would use so I would like to keep it as is and really don't want another one right now.

270- Alot of people talk highly of this round, basically the 7mm-08 is the same thing but from what I have read the 08 shoots further and flatter. Pretty much my last choice.

If this is a success then in the (likely very distant) future I would like to do it with a larger caliber like the 308 and also do something similar with a 22lr or a .17 Still got alot of research to do on the guns and scopes but if I could narrow down it would at least be a legit start instead of the constant back and forth..

thoughts?

Sorry can't do cliffs on this one

[JaxChris]

Only real match ammo in 223 is in the 75-80gr range. The max size used in a factory barrel is 75gr. The 80gr round requires the chamber to be throated specifically for the 80gr round.

Now the accuracy of these rounds is impressive, but I'd still rather have 22-250. =)

[Slowbra01]

why not just jump to a 308 from the start. ammo can be found and is one hell of a versatile round. A large array of loadings are available.

[Bib3773]

I like the smaller calibers. Honestly I haven't looked into a 308, range, cost, or anything in between. To be completely honest I know nothing about a 308 at all. I figured this would be a good start and fun. My wife would like to get into some long range shooting and the Hawking association she is in has alot of events in north west Texas and they have some shooting competitions as will as some prarie dog towns around there

In short other than choice, right now its also ignorance and usibility (not sure if thats a real word) although I am open to options, suggestions, and most importatnly learning more.

[Satan_3pc]

I suggest a .50cal for your wife. It is necessary.

[M@D-M@X]

why not just jump to a 308 from the start. ammo can be found and is one hell of a versatile round. A large array of loadings are available.

I'm with Slowbra on the caliber.
The .308 caliber is a good consistent and predictable round

If you have the time, look into Remi's 700 XCR line.
I got one and I can say that this thing is impressive out of the box. 11 and some change is within your $1200 budget too.

A few specs are:
Black SS, heavy, fluted barrel.
Bell & Carlson stock, floating barrel W/aluminum bedding.
Remington's X-Mark Pro™ Adjustable trigger (which can be taken down to 2lbs. if you want to).

If you want I can post some pics of her....

[JaxChris]

If you want I can post some pics of her....

This never needs to be asked... pics are always wanted.

[M@D-M@X]

K. I'll take a picture of her tomorrow afternoon and post it

[Bib3773]

I did do a little researh into the 308, and it is alot smaller than I thought it was. It goes ahead of the 270 for sure and right now is right below the 7mm-08 although it is winning out in availibility and options.

[mrosbro]

i just started building an ar-10.going to go with .308 first then get a .338 ultra.already have one biult ar-15 in 223 and building two other complete ar-15s. .223 is great but so is .308 for just about everything else. .338 will be for elk and bear.

[Chris]

Bib,
Well have to get together and shoot my 223 varmint. Would at least give you an idea of relative accuracy of factory loads.
Really though the question hasnt been asked

What is the gun for?

For small game I would say 22-250 or 223
Plinking as well

If you want to reach out past 300 or so yards I would recommend a higher caliber, though the above mentined calibers will do this for sure you start losing alot of punch down range if you planning on using these for game.

If your planning on having a do it all rifle I would lean towards the 308. Bullet wieght and different loads can carry you well into the 1000 yard arena with still relatively lethal punch on target. For many many years and still to this day this is the military sniper cartridge give or take symantics. Basically a necked down 30-06 with slightly less recoil.

Application is really what will dictate. Without that I cant really advise

[M@D-M@X]

This never needs to be asked... pics are always wanted.

Bib,
Here's my Remi 700 XCR, SA in .308. with some work done to it. This was a budget build. Under 2 G's. This is the rifle cost just a bit over 11 hundred. You may see additional pictures and specs here http://tacticaladv.com/album.php?albumid=25&pictureid=301

If you have some questions about her, just ask away.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz278/MAD-MAX-D-1/guns%20misc/Remi700XCR007b.jpg

[Bib3773]

Thats a very nice looking gun. Those are basically the same remingtons I have looked at minus the add ons and pretty much the direction I am wanting to go in.

Chris, The gun is basically for the wife. She has some interest in getting into some long range shooting. I do want versitility though, if something ever changed then I could use it for pretty much all general purpose hunting ( at least in this area). From what i have seen and read the 308 is a popular round and has alot of positives. I have not looked at all the data on it like some of the others but in comparing it to some of the other rounds it looks like it should easily work for her.

I looked up some long range stuff and came across a blog or forum post and most of what it showed them using was 223, 243, and the 22-250 seemed to be the most popular round. Doubt we will do alot of plinking with it, but in the future it may be used for hunting so versitility is very important to me although with her wanting to shoot at some range, being competitive is also important.

Hope all that makes sense, been on the road for about 13+ hours today so I am probably not my best attempt at staying on point..lol

[ss1]

The .308 Win round is a great all purose round. Too much for coyote, but great for most North American big game. There are pictures of my stick (Remy 700 .308) in my album on the forum.