Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Advice on cartridge change

Here's the dilemma. I got a Ti recently in .270 win but can't warm up to it. I have a safe full of .280's so I would probably rarely use it. But I like the idea of the Ti so instead of selling it, I am thinking about getting a Pac Nor barrel mated to it in a different round. I already have a 25/06 and 30/06 so I'm pretty much good on 30/06 family.

With such a light rifle, my thought is to go with a mellow recoiling round but use the long action wisely. I'm thinking 7x57 mauser or 6.5x55 swede. I assume both of those require a long action in a Rem, correct? Is there anything else in the 6.5-7mm realm that is a mellow recoiling round that would be a good fit?

Finally, I assume the 7x57 is natural fit having the same size base as a .270 win. How about the Swede? It lists a touch larger, does it fit a 30/06 family bolt face?

Anything I'm not thinking clearly about?

I'm liking the way you're thinking. A good smith should be able to make any adjustments however small to make it a perfect fit.

With a rack of 280's, I'd go down even lower, or up much higher. I'm thinking as low as a 6mm Rem. or 257 Roberts (same case length as the 7x57), or up to a 35 Whelen. I suppose a 338/06 could be tossed into the mix, but that brass sure is expensive.

+1 for the 6.5x55 Swede. 7x57 is too close to the .270 to warrant the change IMHO.

The Swede has a "veeeery slightly" larger rim diameter, enough that the bolt face would have to be opened slightly, but it is an easy chore for a competent 'smith.

Check one of your manuals for the specifics.

Also the Mauser cartridges seem (to me) to be a length-of-cartridge in between the .308-family of rounds, and the '06-family of rounds.

I'm not a fan of the .25/06 (never been!), but if you don't want a quarter-bore, or .277 or .30/06, why not just built the ultimate walking BG-rifle in a std .280?

Otherwise skip the 6.5-choice and go with the 7X57.

Actually, if it was me - I'm looking for a LA titanium M700 rifle, to build a .338/06. Also you could lean toward the .35 Whelen or 9.3X62 - altho these three rounds kick at both ends.

You could be 'different' than everyone else and build a 6.5/06 ..... or the Swede .....

I agree with the next guy a .257 Bob would be a waste on that action.

Go with the .280, 7X57 or 6.5X55, and a nicer ltwt stock and ltwt optic and mounts.

AZ
The Roberts would be a waste of capacity in a LA 700... The 25-06 would fit and out-perform it...
art

Foxbat,

I have written this many times. I have a .270 Win and 7MM Rem Mag. However, if I were to start this game anew, I'd almost assuredly go with a .280 Rem and never look back. In fact, I am going to encourage my son to go with a .280 Rem, either new or rebarrel a model 700 action I have. I might just build him an entirely new rifle using the 700 action in .280 Rem. So with that written I can see your having little use for a .270 Win, other than it is one hell of a cartridge for western big game hunting!

Foxbat,

I have a NULA '06, as well as custom 6.5-'06 and a .280 Rem built on Remington actions. I have been thinking about a Ti .25-'06, but a 6.5-'06 would be cool too. If you don't want a wildcat there are European 6.5s of 63 and 64 mm lengths too.

The other cartridge I am thinking of is the .280 Ackley now that Nosler is selling rifles, ammo and brass for that cartridge.

You could also shoot it as a .270 with lighter TSX bullets and see if that performance warms you up.

jim

I have a .280 mountain in a Ti stock already so it would be a near duplication. .257 Roberts is interesting but seems like a waste to put in a long action since they can fit in a Rem short action.
338-06 or the Whelen are more recoil than I want in the light rifle.

Maybe I could wildcat it and go 6.5-06 but the swede and 7x57 seem most logical so far.

Anyone ever seen a 7x57 necked down to .277?

I would keep the Ti 270 Win as is and take your 25-06 and acquire new barrel and chamber in 6mm-06 (25-inch barrel minimum). I have never seen bullets with such short flight time as those thrown by the 6mm-06. It simply screams. The 6.5-06 has nothing on the 270 Win.