One caliber away from contentment... who else?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen this thread is quickly going from content to contempt if he does not have a purchase order.

But with free dies coming and cases available it makes the .243 look like a viable option for a "Family Rifle".

@CBH Australia
And you could donate cases and projectiles and we could start a good fund me page and get him a nice little tikka.
My local gun shop had a nice good condition 243( if there's such a thing as a good 243) Remington 788 for 450 dollars.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hi Velo Dog.

I've owned a couple of sporterised 6.5x55's - they were popular in Australia in the 90's.

A company in Oz bought a heap of them and Lee Enfield's and fitted them with bridge mounts, synthetic stocks and I believe Tasco scopes and sold them through the shooting mags. @CBH Australia and @Bob Nelson 35Whelen will remember...

I bought one in 6.5x55 and it was a nice accurate rifle - especially considering it was essentially an ex-military sporter. I think it cost me $400 with 100 rounds of ammo.
But I never shot any game with it so can't comment on it's performance - but I'm sure it would've been great on Deer sized game.

But when it comes to the .264" bore there is only one for me... the .264 Win Mag.
I have always wanted one and a .264 Win Mag in a nice Wood stocked Winchester M70 with a 26" barrel is one of my bucket-list rifles...
I know ballistically it maybe didn't deliver what it promised - and it can be hard on barrels (from what the hater's tell me) but I don't care, still want one!

Russ

@Badboymelvin
Russ the 264 win mag is the pick of the 6.5s in my book. Gunwriters and naysayers said it was a barrel burner but how many actually used one. The 7mmRM uses the same powders and charges but no one complains about barrel life with that. Maybe the extra 0.5mm makes a real difference but only in your dreams. There's a bloke at our local range uses a custom 264 and loves it.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

As posted, nirvana for me may be a 22 Hornet, carbine or rifle, with the correct barrel, an accurate 17 Fireball might come close … realizing of course, all 17s have their own set of idiosyncrasies.

@fourfive8
I have a beautiful little custom 1885 lowall in 22K Hornet.
Loaded with 40gn V Max and 12gns of 2205/H110 it will group 3 hots at a hundred yard that can be easily covered by the base of a hornet case and puts them out at over 2,900fps. What more can a man ask.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

@CBH Australia
And you could donate cases and projectiles and we could start a good fund me page and get him a nice little tikka.
My local gun shop had a nice good condition 243( if there's such a thing as a good 243) Remington 788 for 450 dollars.
Bob

I shared a link with 2 good .243's, the Tikka sold quickly thought you must have snapped it up for yourself.
I have some brass if he gets a .243

I thought the 6.5cm was supposed to be the pick of all the 6.5s according to the hype.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Get a .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM instead of a .340 WEATHERBY. Your shoulder will thank you for it. LOL

@CoElkHunter
Get a 35 Whelen and you shoulder will thank you even more.
And do a better job.
Bob

 

[Northern Shooter]

I was one caliber away from being content until I discovered this website.

Then I realized I needed a 338 WinMag, a 375HH, a 416 Right, a 458 WinMag and more to come..

 

[Forrest Halley]

I was one caliber away from being content until I discovered this website.

Then I realized I needed a 338 WinMag, a 375HH, a 416 Right, a 458 WinMag and more to come..

I had just purchased a .375 H&H Encore when I found this site look for load data and bullet information. The other three boomers that followed were a product of the enabling of this place.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Scrap that 243 idea and buy a 7mm-08 or 7x57, you'll be much happier.

 

[Velo Dog]

Greetings Russ,

Hi Velo Dog.

I've owned a couple of sporterised 6.5x55's - they were popular in Australia in the 90's.

A company in Oz bought a heap of them and Lee Enfield's and fitted them with bridge mounts, synthetic stocks and I believe Tasco scopes and sold them through the shooting mags. @CBH Australia and @Bob Nelson 35Whelen will remember...

I bought one in 6.5x55 and it was a nice accurate rifle - especially considering it was essentially an ex-military sporter. I think it cost me $400 with 100 rounds of ammo.
But I never shot any game with it so can't comment on it's performance - but I'm sure it would've been great on Deer sized game.

But when it comes to the .264" bore there is only one for me... the .264 Win Mag.
I have always wanted one and a .264 Win Mag in a nice Wood stocked Winchester M70 with a 26" barrel is one of my bucket-list rifles...
I know ballistically it maybe didn't deliver what it promised - and it can be hard on barrels (from what the hater's tell me) but I don't care, still want one!

Russ

Hi again Russ,

The world is small and getting smaller.
Back about the same time as companies in your country were marketing “sporterized” Scandinavian Mausers in 6.5x55 caliber, companies in my country were doing the same.
From my point of view and with only a very select few exceptions, “sporterize” is almost always synonymous with “vandalize”.
Be that as it may, in my limited experiences with said surplus Scandi-Swedish Mausers, they were pleasantly accurate.

The .264 Winchester Magnum ya, it’s a screeching laser beam for sure.
I will guess that it shines for long shots at thin skinned game but I’ve never shot anything with that cartridge, except paper targets.
It’s one caliber that despite my wearing ear plugs and ear covers both, the loud and sharp sound hurt my eardrums, right through said double protection.

Even with that crybaby memory of trying a .264 Magnum, at a rifle range, indeed I agree with you that a vintage Winchester Model 70, in that caliber might be fun to hunt thin skinned game with, in the wide open places.

Meanwhile, in the pics attached here, you will see my CZ 550, in caliber 6.5x55, with vintage Leupold 3X scope in lever rings.
Generally speaking, I do not care for short barreled hunting rifles.
However, this little 6.5 of mine is a noted exception.
It’s a delight to carry and easy to shoot, even for recoil sissies like me.

Cheers Mate,
Paul.

 

[colorado]

@CoElkHunter
Get a 35 Whelen and you shoulder will thank you even more.
And do a better job.
Bob

I have a 7.5 lb (with scope) Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby. It fills that gap for me. As far as recoil goes, I just put 3 rounds downrange with my 500 Jeffery and then the 375 doesn't kick at all lol The idea of a 35 Whelen or a 400 Whelen in a BLR does intrigue me though

 

[Hunt anything]

I have a 7.5 lb (with scope) Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby. It fills that gap for me.

That things gotta kick like hell!!

 

[Forrest Halley]

Get a .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM instead of a .340 WEATHERBY. Your shoulder will thank you for it. LOL

@CoElkHunter
Get a 35 Whelen and you shoulder will thank you even more.
And do a better job.
Bob

You two should just get .375s and be done with it. Superior BCs and better downrange energy.

 

[colorado]

Actually with 375 H&H factory 300 gain loads (300g bullets at 2550 fps) it's surprisingly gentle. I believe the soft synthetic stock soaks up recoil. I was very concerned about it when I first got it as well couldn't believe how light it was. I weighted the rifle on a calibrated scale it was 1/2 lighter than Remington adverised. With 375 Weatherby loads (300g bullets at 2800 fps) it's a bit snappy.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a 7.5 lb (with scope) Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby. It fills that gap for me. As far as recoil goes, I just put 3 rounds downrange with my 500 Jeffery and then the 375 doesn't kick at all lol The idea of a 35 Whelen or a 400 Whelen in a BLR does intrigue me though

View attachment 565936

@colorado
The Petrove version or the AI version give good headspacing for the 400 Whelen plus it equals the 8ld 400-450 in power.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That things gotta kick like hell!!

@Hunt anything
Stop being a chicken and put your big boy pants on.
When I shoot @Badboymelvin 425 express I will have 2 pairs of big boy pants on because he says it's worser than his 458WM. I will let you know.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[geoff rath]

As posted, nirvana for me may be a 22 Hornet, carbine or rifle, with the correct barrel, an accurate 17 Fireball might come close … realizing of course, all 17s have their own set of idiosyncrasies.

Try to find an Anschutz Hornet... $$$ needed?

 

[Hunt anything]

@Hunt anything
Stop being a chicken and put your big boy pants on.
When I shoot @Badboymelvin 425 express I will have 2 pairs of big boy pants on because he says it's worser than his 458WM. I will let you know.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

Hey Bob, I shoot squirrels and armadillos with a .416 Rigby! And would use a .700 nitro if I could could afford one.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@colorado
The Petrove version or the AI version give good headspacing for the 400 Whelen plus it equals the 8ld 400-450 in power.
Bob

What's the Petrove version?

 

[NDWoods]

I am content after having a lot of calibers and reducing them over time. Now, if I could only be content without buying more rifles! I am at least slowing down.
22LR
17HMR
.223/5.56
6.5Creedmoor
300 PRC
375 H&H

 

[CoElkHunter]

@Hunt anything
Stop being a chicken and put your big boy pants on.
When I shoot @Badboymelvin 425 express I will have 2 pairs of big boy pants on because he says it's worser than his 458WM. I will let you know.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

My 9.3lb unscoped CZ .458WM isn't bad at all to shoot. Just a little more kick than my .375 H&H and/or .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM. Never shot a .425 Express though. Have Russ make a video of you shooting it and share it with us here. LOL