Dial a Dog

[.280 Remington]

For some reason I am not happy with status quo right now and I'm looking to see if what I have in mind is feasible. I don't know, so I come here to ask some smart folks!

I have a Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA Varmint in 22-250 and I would like it to be some sort of 6.5 in the short action I have. Essentially I do know it's just a Howa, but in that action, is it possible? It's got a decent stock already and I'm just getting bored with the 250. I would drop a trigger and purchase a barrel for it and have it put on.

I hunt a lot of yotes and this could be my "Dial a Dog" rifle for those that hang up out of range....

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Songdog]

I've bought and built a bunch of "dial a dog" rifles.... from quick spun .223s to big 7s... and my favorite of them all is the .243 (AI'd if that suits your fancy). Paired with the 70 NBT they're still plenty flat for 400 fur-holds... and then with a turret I've killed prairie dogs and steel out to 700. Throw the 105 Amax at 3k+... and you've got a long range rifle capable of putting dogs in the dirt hard at 1k+...

I like the 6.5s too... but you pay the price in recoil to get roughly equivalent external ballistics; meaning: you have to shoot a pretty large pill out of a 6.5 to get the .500 BC of the 105 Amax... and then hit it with a hefty dose of boom to get 3000fps. There's a lot to be said for spotting your own shots when putting in long range work (particularly by your lonesome in coyote country)... and the .243 is about as much gun as you can run without a brake, and still spot your own shots.

 

[BK]

If you want a 6.5 you do have a few (fairly) mainstream choices... .260, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5x47 Lapua. Mike's got a Creedmoor, DF has a Lapua I think. All should fit.

 

[6mm Remington]

Like Songdog, I'm with the .243 or the 6mm Remington. Both would work nicely for you.

David

 

[.280 Remington]

I actually have a TC Icon Weathershield .243 and a Sauer 243, so was looking for something just a little "off kilter" if that makes sense. The 243 has served me well, but not as many options for upgrading stock/trigger/barrel as there are for the howa, so I thought I'd throw it out there.

Thanks everyone so far for the input!

 

[JD338]

Don't over look the 6.5mm Rem Mag. Its a big stick in a small bundle. :wink:

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

6mm Remington. :wink:

 

[nvbroncrider]

6-284

 

[Songdog]

6mm Remington. :wink:

6-284

Both of which suffer from mag box constraints... and neither will best the .243 by 200 fps IME.

There goes that damned Voice of Reason again...

 

[nvbroncrider]

6mm Remington. :wink:

6-284

Both of which suffer from mag box constraints... and neither will best the .243 by 200 fps IME.

There goes that damned Voice of Reason again...

Your right on that. I keep forgeting my was is a custom on a VZ-24 action which is a true long previously chambered in a 8X57. Which reminds me of how great it felt yesterday morning blasting that badger in my hay field hopefully all the BIG holes will be gone now! 70 BT DRT no exit would of had to go over it with a fine tooth comb to find the enterance.

 

[mcseal2]

I'd stick with the 6mm or 243 also.

Songdog is right about the mag box constraints, but I still like the 6mm Rem for what you want. My 6mm is built on a Ruger short action with a 25" Kreiger barrel. I have no trouble seating the short 70gr ballistic tips out as long as I'd want to and still fitting the box. With a 105gr A-max I'd likely have more trouble. Anyway, with 1gr under Hodgdon's max load from their website, and the new Superformance powder I get 3824fps from the 70gr ballistic tip. It's put down 21 coyotes with this load since working it up last year and done a wonderful job. The majority have been past 300yds when they finally stop and look back to offer me a shot. Run the ballistics on your program of choice, it offers dead on holds without ranging out to 350yds.

For a shorter barrelled handier rifle I'd go with the 243 win. I have both and really like them, one set up to be quick and handy for closer quarters and the other for a truck gun or real open country when shots get longer.

 

[Songdog]

Dude.....

3800+ is SMOKIN' a 70 NBT.... I love it! Find a shoulder... flatten a dog... all the way to 4 bills baby.

My collective 6mm Rems have all run the 70 at around 3650-3700... still scootin' no doubt. I know some of the newer powders can squeeze a little extra juice... so that seems about right. Of course, if you were to punch the .243... then you've got a little more capacity than the 6mm case... without all the mag box headaches...

 

[mcseal2]

Yeah, I was shooting 100gr bullets out of my 6mm for everything until I read the load data on a bottle of superformance. After reading their posted velocity of 3812fps I had to try it. My rifle is twisted for heavier bullets and is really more accurate with them, but I still get 3/4" 5 shot groups from the 70gr Superformance load. It smacks them REALLY hard and doesn't exit.

I seldom get the opportunity to range an unspooked dog unless I'm calling. For the rest of my shooting from the truck or polaris ranger while working on the ranch coyotes are usually leaving the country when I spot them. Especially after rifle deer season they have been shot at from vehicles on the road. Many times though, they will stop at a bark or on their own for a second at the edge of cover and look back. I try to be patient and be ready to take that shot the instant they stop. I use the time while they are moving away to get my scope dialed up and get as steady as possible so I'm ready for that quick shot. The speed of my 6mm and 204 also for that matter give me the ability to just quickly hold and squeeze without worrying about range unless I guess them past 350. If they are that far I'll wait for a better opportunity another day, or a longer pause where I can range them and dial for the shot.

 

[jmad_81]

My very first Dial-a-dog. 465 yards, 105 Amax out of my savage .243 win. Never knew what hit him, BANG, flop! Going to be a sad day when this goes down the road.

I really love the 6mm bullets for yotes. There is a great selection, and they sure do a number on any dog they connect with! I have taken more yotes with the 55 NBT, but they don't hold the wind as well when a guy starts getting out there. I'm really liking the idea of a 243 WSSM in an AR, or a new barrel for my savage in a 6-284.

I vote for a 6mm something over a short action 6.5. But a 95 Vmax out of a 260, or 6.5/284 would sure do the trick as well.

 

[Reconnoiter]

For some reason I am not happy with status quo right now and I'm looking to see if what I have in mind is feasible. I don't know, so I come here to ask some smart folks!

I have a Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA Varmint in 22-250 and I would like it to be some sort of 6.5 in the short action I have. Essentially I do know it's just a Howa, but in that action, is it possible? It's got a decent stock already and I'm just getting bored with the 250. I would drop a trigger and purchase a barrel for it and have it put on.

I hunt a lot of yotes and this could be my "Dial a Dog" rifle for those that hang up out of range....

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

A 23" 22-250AI twisted 8" will spit the 75A-Max at 3450fps+.

I shoot 243,243AI,6mmRem,6mmRemAI and a plethora of others...but a fast twist 22-250AI is a riot.

Hint.

 

[FOTIS]

My very first Dial-a-dog. 465 yards, 105 Amax out of my savage .243 win. Never knew what hit him, BANG, flop! Going to be a sad day when this goes down the road.

I really love the 6mm bullets for yotes. There is a great selection, and they sure do a number on any dog they connect with! I have taken more yotes with the 55 NBT, but they don't hold the wind as well when a guy starts getting out there. I'm really liking the idea of a 243 WSSM in an AR, or a new barrel for my savage in a 6-284.

I vote for a 6mm something over a short action 6.5. But a 95 Vmax out of a 260, or 6.5/284 would sure do the trick as well.

What is your optics setup????

Sharp looking rifle though!

 

[Ridge_Runner]

I run a 6.5 Gibbs, 140 with a .7 BC at 3250 fps. the 6.5's will get it done.
RR

 

[usmc 89]

I run a 6.5 Gibbs, 140 with a .7 BC at 3250 fps. the 6.5's will get it done.
RR

who is making a 140g bullet in the .7 g1 bc realm? would like to get some.

 

[jmad_81]

My very first Dial-a-dog. 465 yards, 105 Amax out of my savage .243 win. Never knew what hit him, BANG, flop! Going to be a sad day when this goes down the road.

I really love the 6mm bullets for yotes. There is a great selection, and they sure do a number on any dog they connect with! I have taken more yotes with the 55 NBT, but they don't hold the wind as well when a guy starts getting out there. I'm really liking the idea of a 243 WSSM in an AR, or a new barrel for my savage in a 6-284.

I vote for a 6mm something over a short action 6.5. But a 95 Vmax out of a 260, or 6.5/284 would sure do the trick as well.

What is your optics setup????

Sharp looking rifle though!

It is a Luepold Mark II (now the Mark AR) 6-18x40 mil dot. It tracks well, has clear glass and worked great for learning some of the basics of LR shooting on a budget. Get me out to 1000 yards on a .243 easy. The only thing I don't like about it is the AO on the end turns to easy.

 

[Ridge_Runner]

I run a 6.5 Gibbs, 140 with a .7 BC at 3250 fps. the 6.5's will get it done.
RR

who is making a 140g bullet in the .7 g1 bc realm? would like to get some.

to make my charts match my trajectory I run the BC of a berger 140 at .7 to hit POA out to 1060 yards.
RR