Range Rifle Caliber Choice

[Bountied]

The ones I built are reliable and I never too a SOTAR class, not even once. I do check the trigger pin pockets with my handy gauge to make sure it's in spec, just like Colt does at it's factory.

 

[teratos]

.600 Nitro. Go big or go home.

 

[RFBfromDE]

I am frail, old and weak.

Not young, and strong, with good hair, full thighs, I could go on...

 

[RFBfromDE]

.223 Remington. The perfect companion to 22lr and 12ga, and your initial center-fire rifle option that makes sense in terms of having an inventory of varied chambering selections that can collectively do many different things. From there, something in 6.5mm or heavier, to open other avenues still, if and when desired.

Sometimes, my first thought is right. But I like to be certain and keep an open mind.

 

[Uncle Duke]

Sometimes, my first thought is right. But I like to be certain and keep an open mind.

You'll be amazed what you can rationalize with each new purchase. "Tweeners" have filled many a man's safe.

 

[RFBfromDE]

That's why I included something as new as 350L. Generally, I like to see if something will catch on in 50+ years.

But I just got no time for that now!

 

[trickg]

I have a rifle I built in .223 that is accurate to the point that it's a real joy to shoot when I'm having a good day behind the rifle. I don't even do anything specific to reload other than size my brass and then trim it to length.

Here's a pic of the rifle and a couple of targets that were shot at 100 yards. (The target with the dime - 5 shots - was shot at 50 yards.) Granted, these are good targets - groups aren't always that tight because I'm not always that consistent, but the rifle will certainly do it if I can. On that battleship target, those dots are about the size of a nickel and each shot is a hit if it breaks the line.

This rifle is actually built to be a prairie dog gun - I could have gone with 22-250, which is considered the King of the varmint gun cartridges, but I went with 223 because it's cheap, and 223 range pickup is EVERYWHERE. A guy can get a good stock of good brass if they want to take the time to sort by headstamp and weigh the cases. There is a fair bit of brass prep to deal with though - crimped primer pockets and all - but I don't mind that so much, and my reloads have proven to be a great deal more consistent than cheap factory ammo.

 

[willtill]

8mm and 7.62 x 54r. I have oodles and oodles of it.

 

[RRomig]

Canned bolt 308

 

[Katsoup]

5.45x39

 

[RFBfromDE]

8mm and 7.62 x 54r. I have oodles and oodles of it.

I'm scrawny and shaped like a pear.

I've seen what you've done with that thing...

I'd shoot my arm off!

 

[Threeband]

.30-06 M2 Ball.

Works in your Garands, and your 03s, and your 03-A3s, and your 17s.

You can even shoot it from your BAR.

 

[trickg]

Maybe I misunderstood the question. They want a range rifle. To me that means a few things:

1.) Fun to shoot
2.) Accurate
3.) Decently economical

There's nothing very economical about some of the pet choices being bandied about.

30-06? Is that even remotely economical to either buy or reload? Same thing goes for some of those other choices. Of course no ammo is cheap these days - .22 LR is about as cheap as it gets, but I think that 223 makes for a good argument for for a few reasons:

1.) Definitely fun to shoot - negligible recoil out of my bolt gun - I literally don't have to have it in my shoulder because the recoil is that light.

2.) Accurate? Oh yeah - if you really want to test your marksmanship abilities, shoot my rifle - if you miss, you can't blame the gun.

3.) Decently economical? Yeah - I'd say so. I can reload it for about 35¢/round with a decent bullet and get the results I posted above....although I do have about $2200 into the build, so....

 

[RFBfromDE]

Maybe I misunderstood the question. They want a range rifle. To me that means a few things:

1.) Fun to shoot
2.) Accurate
3.) Decently economical

There's nothing very economical about some of the pet choices being bandied about.

Nope. You are correct, Sir!

The only other consideration was the possibility of legal hunting opportunities in retirement.

Like that would ever happen...

The usual MDS cacachittery was anticipated as well as appreciated.

 

[Vile Shadow]

8mm and 7.62 x 54r. I have oodles and oodles of it.

Wanna put some of that 8mm thru my K98s?

 

[Vile Shadow]

I never liked shooting off the AR platform. 40 years ago we were shooting 400 yard targets with it. (USAR) I can't even see that far with corrected vision any more!

It's unpleasant to shoot and butt ugly.

I'm a FUDD.

A used, wood .308 bolt gun would sure be purdy!

How bout a .308 Garand?

 

[trickg]

Nope. You are correct, Sir!

The only other consideration was the possibility of legal hunting opportunities in retirement.

Like that would ever happen...

The usual MDS cacachittery was anticipated as well as appreciated.

Some states allow hunting with a 223 - I know when I was a kid my Dad took a deer with a Sako Vixen in 223, although I wouldn’t recommend hunting anything bigger.

As for a rifle, a Ruger American Predator would be nicely accurate and wouldn’t break the bank - you wouldn’t have to do a build like mine.

 

[TwinTurbskis]

I have a rifle I built in .223 that is accurate to the point that it's a real joy to shoot when I'm having a good day behind the rifle. I don't even do anything specific to reload other than size my brass and then trim it to length.

Here's a pic of the rifle and a couple of targets that were shot at 100 yards. (The target with the dime - 5 shots - was shot at 50 yards.) Granted, these are good targets - groups aren't always that tight because I'm not always that consistent, but the rifle will certainly do it if I can. On that battleship target, those dots are about the size of a nickel and each shot is a hit if it breaks the line.

This rifle is actually built to be a prairie dog gun - I could have gone with 22-250, which is considered the King of the varmint gun cartridges, but I went with 223 because it's cheap, and 223 range pickup is EVERYWHERE. A guy can get a good stock of good brass if they want to take the time to sort by headstamp and weigh the cases. There is a fair bit of brass prep to deal with though - crimped primer pockets and all - but I don't mind that so much, and my reloads have proven to be a great deal more consistent than cheap factory ammo.

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That has got to be some of the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I have a lot of love for bolt actions in intermediate calibers. I recently picked up a CZ527 in 223 but it's nowhere near that accurate. I hope to get it there one day though.

 

[4g64loser]

That has got to be some of the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I have a lot of love for bolt actions in intermediate calibers. I recently picked up a CZ527 in 223 but it's nowhere near that accurate. I hope to get it there one day though.

Get Ed Harren to take care of that for you. He doesn't post much but he's on the boards as DocEd. He's in imams ijamsville, not too far from you. He turns the 527s into some wicked shooters. When the actions were available readily he would do PPCs on them.

 

[Augie]

For what it's worth I would start with a .223 bolt rifle. Can shoot for hours and won't beat you up, as I aged I no longer enjoy recoil so spend most of my time messing around with the 22 varmint calibers.
I tend to buy used, many fine accurate varmint rifles have been made over the years and can be found for reasonable prices. Just one example is the Winchester Model 70 Heavy Varmint, made in the 1990's with a Wilson barrel and HS Precision stock, they have a reputation for accuracy, they were available in 5 calibers, mine is .223.
You can spend a lot of quality time at the 100 yard range tailoring loads to shoot small groups and if the opportunity presents itself can easily take a .223 out to 600 yards with the right loads.