Different rifle, same caliber?

[bsmith]

How many of you own different rifles of the same caliber?

I love my Browning 25-06 and my son wants to hang onto his Ruger compact .243. I'd like to get something that I can shoot quite a bit at the range and also use for deer hunting. I'd like to have something my son won't be afraid of as well. A heavy barrel rifle seems to be the ticket. The sporter barrels we have now heat up pretty fast. I was thinking a Ruger No. 1V in .25-06 or a Howa Varminter in .243 might be worth researching further. I'd like something that's fairly accurate out of the box, good to 300 yards, and keeps the price close to $1,000 for the rifle and scope. Not looking for a benchrest gun but something that's going to be a shooter at 200 and useful out to 300.

For those of you that do have the same caliber in different guns nad reload, do you have mutliple sets of dies?

 

[matts318]

If your looking for an out of the box performer look at some savage rifles, they are hard to beat out of the box and less expensive. I have several friends that shoot savage hunting rifles and all of them are pleased with what they got and how they shoot, its one of the reasons I bought a savage.

I have been loading for 2 different rifles in 270 for over 12 years now, no problems, one set of dies, one load for both. We have been lucky that we found a load that shot decent out of both rifles. Although I have found that brass shot out of my dads rifle sometimes chambers hard in mine or not at all so we started keeping our brass seperate, problem solved. You should have no problem loading for 2 different rifles of the same caliber.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[JD338]

I once had 2 30-06's, M700 BDL and a 742 ADL Carbine.
After a few years, I thought it was pointless and sold the 742. Later I sold the 700 BDL.

I would rather have different calibers than duplicates, just makes more sense to me.

JD338

 

[Powerstroke]

Don't look past the Rem .260 or 7-08.
The .260 is a very light recoiling caliber and a decent long range * easily out to 300yds * round. Just very limited on flavors it can be purchased in.

 

[bsmith]

I never gave the .260 or the 708 a thought. After some quick searching and reading, the 7-08 might just be the ticket. I can load 'em up for myself and even found some "youth" loads on the Hogdon site. More researching to do.....

 

[honkeetonkin]

One more vote for the 708. I have both but if you deside not to reload for it factory ammo has a better selection

 

[JD338]

The 7mm-08 would be tough to beat.

JD338

 

[JCalhoun]

Definitely give the Savage rifles a look.

If this will be a rifle you intend to carry a lot, I suggest not getting the heavy barrel. They are usually poorly balanced and weight too much to make for a good carry rifle. The longer barrels also tend to snag everything.

 

[FOTIS]

Never been able to do this....have 2 30-06's etc.

 

[Powerstroke]

As stated above, there is much better selection of over the counter shells for the 7-08. Mine is a Rem 700BDL Varmiter and is a tac-driver. From reading other post on here about the -08 they don't appear to be too finicky about which powder / bullet combo to get good accuracy.
My wife's .260 is a youth Model 7 and recoil is suprisingly light for that small of gun.
Good luck......decisions decisions decisions.....

 

[FOTIS]

I have worked with the 7mm-08 and I really love it.

For the budget minded hunter/shooter (that is all of us) the Stevens (savage) 200 literally rocks! Mine shot under 1" with all loads!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=83766741

 

[bsmith]

Thanks for the help everybody! I see a 45 minute drive to Buds Gun Shop in my immediate future. I've never owned a Savage-Stevens but everyone seems to have a lot of good things to say about them.

Has anyone tried the "youth" loads from the Hogdon site?

 

[Powerstroke]

bsmith,

I've never tried any youth loads....as POP stated mine has shot most combos very well....I have a ton of IMR4350 that I'm using up and use in this one and it really likes it. I load it very hot however with 120 / 150 grn B-tips.
I'd start with the 120's and see how the recoil is first...

 

[bsmith]

I have to find the rifle first. I called the 4 closest gun shops and Bass Pro (45 minutes away). One guy kind of laughed, one doesn't deal in Savage-Stevens, another wanted to sell me a .243, and the 4th didn't have anything but would order it. Bass Pro had a Rem 7 and a Savage youth. It's either the 'net or have one ordered in. I've bought a lot of things online but never a rifle. First time for everything...

Does anyone use any other brass besides 7mm? I have a bunch of .243 and my dad has a TON of. 308. I've necked down quite a bit of .270 for my .25-06 with no problems yet ans was thinking I could do the same for the 7mm-08.

 

[Powerstroke]

You should put your hands on the Rem 7 and see how you like it.
My wife's "youth" is a total different feeling, but I can shoot it just fine. The majority of my safe is full of nothing but heavy varmit barrels, it's nice to pack something small and light once in a while.

As far as necking it down I'm out of my league there, never done it. I'm fairly certian it wouldn't be too difficult to neck the .308 down however.

 

[Powerstroke]

POP,
That is a pretty good looking gun. I never knew.
Here's the Model 7 youth .260 once all the Remington stain is taken off and re-finished.

 

[bsmith]

My son's .243 is the Ruger compact. It is a different feeling. Offhand it's great. It's a super carry rifle for him. From a bench I have a hard time getting comfortable. We're looking for something with another 5 1/2 inches of barrel. We're going to head to Bass Pro anyway so we'll give it a look.

Nice refinishing job. Did you use poly satin or oil?

 

[FOTIS]

bsmith,

I've never tried any youth loads....as POP stated mine has shot most combos very well....I have a ton of IMR4350 that I'm using up and use in this one and it really likes it. I load it very hot however with 120 / 150 grn B-tips.
I'd start with the 120's and see how the recoil is first...

That is all I used exclusively 120 Ballistic tips at 3000 fps or so with 760 h414 and varget. Wyoming antelope from 70-330 yards hated them. The 70 yard goat was taken with a raking shot and bullet not recovered!

If you need reduced loads e-mail me.