Forced to shoot High Power again - a rifle?

[snaketail2]

It was not my idea to start shooting High Power again. They held my hand under water until I gave in. It's been 15 years (Feb 5, 1998) since my last match and I see that many things have changed.
I used to shoot with a 6.5 x55 that I loved, but I need a new rifle now.
I plan to Hunting Rifle this time around. I'm kinda leaning toward a Rem 260, but all I'm finding are the little Remington 7s.
As I have absolutely no equipment I can start from scratch.
If you were starting over what rifle would you choose?

M

[yankee]

You are thinking a 260 rem for the caliber. Look to Savage for the rifle or there are a few Sako's around in 260. 708 is still hard to beat.

[Bob259]

A Tika T3 6.5x55 still is a great caliber and those Tikas are good shooters. Caliber choice is a personal preference, I love my 6.5x47 and I know many that love and stick with that old 7-08

[Bob Mc Alice]

Welcome back to the HP game, Snaketail. Something for you to ponder. MANY rams failed to fall from good hits with the various 6.5 and smaller rounds at St.Louis this past weekend. I hit 30 of my 60 rams with that OLD seven oh GREAT....er, eight. All fell dead. Yankee is on to something....just sayin.

[Jason]

Sounds like the venerable old 7-08 won't even hit half the rams, so you should probably use something else...

[Bob Mc Alice]

NEVER...NEVER!!!!.....

[Bob259]

Sounds like the venerable old 7-08 won't even hit half the rams, so you should probably use something else...

Jason, When the Guru counted wrong and 'almost' ran out of shells at the AZ States Bonner and I tried to let him shoot our 6.5x47's but he would have none of that (There would have been pictures ;) )

Bob, Seems like Dave's 6.5x47 did well enough to beat everyone All that's left is those old 7-08 guys and coming up with excuses

Come over the 6.5 side and you'll use those 7-08 barrel's for door stops

[Bigfoot]

For what it's worth...I hate to wade into these waters...It's not going to matter what caliber you shoot. Rams are going to get left at times based on conditions and that's just a fact of life.

At our WA State match this last weekend I was spotting for Byron and watched one of our elder statesmen ring not 1 but 2 rams with a .308...Not bullshit target loaded stuff but with loads that he wants to hunt in Idaho with in the coming month.

Load's that rang rams (7-08 rang 2(one shooter used this caliber), 260 rem rang 4 between 2 shooters and my little 260-3000 (260 bobcat) rang one (that was a center a hit as you can imagine).

Find a rifle you like in a caliber you like and get out there and have some fun with the rest of us knuckleheads. If the name of the game wasn't a balance between accuracy and limiting recoil we'd all be using M1 Garrand's and shooting 30-06 like the really tough old guys in days of yore.

Now the thing that will drive you to tears...Turn a chicken some time in a big match and watch the water works well up...I did that yesterday and am still kicking myself for breaking the shot as it was going out through the tail.

[Jerry G]

Bob, tough to use for door stops but they make great jack handles.

[Bob259]

Bob, tough to use for door stops but they make great jack handles.

[Jason]

If I were starting from scratch, I'd build a rifle to shoot either 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x47 Lapua. They aren't greatly different and both hit the sweet spot for having enough case capacity to known down rams without having excess that results in having to use extra powder and generate extra recoil.

On a side note, for anyone who might want some Hornady brass for 6.5 Creedmoor, Midway has it on sale right now for $30.72 per 50 and they seem to have 650 boxes of it in stock according to the "how much will it let me add to my cart" test.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/528000 ... -box-of-50

I haven't tried the Hornady brass in 6.5 Creedmoor because I don't have a rifle that shoots that cartridge, but I have had very good luck with Hornady brass for other cartridges.

[snaketail2]

Jason:
I once bought a set of quality reloading dies for a rifle I didn't own. I once bought a lens for a camera I was planning on buying. I knew a woman who bought a wedding dress because it was on sale - and she hoped to meet the right man before she outgrew it.

Michael

PS: Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.

[Jason]

Not sure if you were trying to be funny there, Michael, but you succeeded whether you were trying to or not. Well done.

I was actually aiming that 6.5 Creedmoor brass link at those on this forum who already use a 6.5 Creedmoor, since we have quite a few.

[Trent]

Thanks for looking out for us Creedmoor guys Jason!

[snaketail2]

I moved away from the warn/sunny Arizona desert - to the snowy central-US - now I Have to shot HP, I think its in the state regulations.

I know that the .22 version of the Ruger American has been well received - any thoughts on the 7-08 version? The price is certainly right, but is that trigger allowed?

No need to hurry an answer - we have howling winds, snow on the ground, and I think the first local match is still months away.

Michael of St Louis