Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Want to start a new project what caliber

I have a mod 700 long action and am gonna build a new rifle I was talking to my Riflesmith and we went back and forth for a while I was really wanting a .280 ackley but the more me and him talked I think a .257 bob ai would be better for several reasons but the most important one is that my wife can shoot it and with the .257 bob in the long action I can seat the bullet a lot longer I was thinking a Shilen number 3 would work we also talked about a 25-06 but I think a .257 bob ai with a nosler accubond would be pure whitetail death also with the barrel being a little heavier than the factory it will be a little steadier out of the shooting houses I am open to any and all opinions for other calibers let me know what you guys think

If you're looking for opinions, you came to the right place.

If this is strictly a deer rifle, there are no flies on the 257ai or the Accubond. Me? I'd go standard 25.06 and fling 100gr TTSX.

Me too.

6.5-06 is on my list

I'd role a 25/06 to if 25 caliber is what I wanted to do with a long action.

What do u mean by no flies

6.5-280 AI would be sweet.

A .257 bob ai will do the exact same as a 25-06 I already have 2 .270 I don't think I would be gaining anything getting the 25-06 but with the bob it kicks like a 7-08 which is what my wife shoots now

Except that brass can be a real PIA to get for the Roberts. But it appears you have answered your own question, so carry on.

Here's a picture of my 6.5-06. Sports a Remington 700 XCR action and #3 shilen select match 1-8" 24" barrel. It's a nail driver. This is a great caliber, as is the 25-06 or 280ai.

6.5 X55

6-06 or 6.5-06 is where I'd be.

Yeah, a 6/06 would be a fun way to fly

Just buy a bread and butter big game rifle in a big game cartridge. If you spend that kind of change on a rifle, you might as well make a rifle you can shoot thousands of rounds through and really get some use out of it. That would be a short action in a 222 mag and you are set to go with a hunting rifle and a rifle you can shoot for a week at a time and not break the bank or your shoulder...

Has .222 mag brass become really plentiful and cheap all of a sudden?

Geez Shrap, the guy has a 700 LA and a dream. Beats the he11 out of another rebel flag thread...

I think I'm gonna go with the Roberts improved I may just start buying box ammo until I get enough brass and after its fire formed I will be good to go I already have the dies for it so all I need is brass I have so much other brass I'm sure someone on the fire will trade thanks guys for all your input I'll post pics when she is built
It's going to be a 700 la Shilen number 3 stainless Sitting in a Alaskan stick with a vx-3 2.5-10x40

You got that right. I can't believe how a whole area of this country is generations removed from the Civil War and its implications, and still fighting it in one way or another.

These guys got over it, its about time the rest of them do...

You already have that "deer hunting" area covered so well with the rifles you already have, that I think building a new rifle would be a waste of money. That money could be much better spent on better glass, such as binoculars or scopes or a spotting scope, etc. Buy your wife a new pair of Swarovski EL Ranges if you want to do something nice for her!!!!

Yep.

I have a 257 AI which was my first custom rifle and I LOVE LOVE it.

BUT if I were starting w/ a long 700 I'd do a .25-06 AI. You can load it w/ faster powders and it'll be a .257 Roberts. With slower it's nearly a .257 Weatherby.

Bob brass is REALLY tough to find right now.

Ps- .257 AI & 100 Interlocks is instant death on white tails, pronghorn, etc; 90 gr GMXs too, and 110 NAB is goin west w/ me this October... Tough to go wrong w/ quarterbores...

What happened to the love for the 25-284....years ago everyone on here was building them....