Best use of a 700 SA? - 04/13/16
I bought an SPS 700 in .243 awhile back because it was on sale. Dropped it in an edge. Bedded it. Talleys and a Leupie. It honestly doesn't even shoot half as well as the old Stevens 200 .243 that it replaced. Tried several loads. Also, the balance is a little muzzle-heavy with the edge stock.
So I'm thinking a new tube is in its future. Thinking a Rock #2 at 22", but can't decide on chambering. I've always liked 7-08's. 120's @ 3100, 140's @ 2850, and 162's @ 2700 don't suck. Had one. Wouldn't mind having another. Worth it to AI? But I also have a nice m70 FW 30-06, and not sure what a 7-08 would do in a hunting rifle that the '06 doesn't...
Also like .243's. 105's @ 3000, 80 ttsx's @ 3400, and 55's @ 4000 if I ever felt like it. But I also have a howa mini .223 for little bullets, and not sure a 105 is any better than a 6.5. Which leads me to...
I've never owned a 6.5mm other than an old surplus 96. The Creed probably interests me the most. I wouldn't hate a 6.5x47, and it would be nothing to drive the 30 minutes to Gre-Tan and get my firing pin bushed. But the .260 offers potentially even more, and also could be run AI... Seems like any of them would get 123's close to 3k to match the .243/105, a 129/130 at 2900 to match/best a .284 140 in hunting bullets, and 140's at 2700+ to match 162's with less recoil. Looks like you could even run a 100 Barnes at 3300ish.
So what does the fire say? Is there a majority vote on the most bang for your SA 700 buck?
Oh, planning on having a Wyatt's mag box installed regardless of chambering.
So I'm thinking a new tube is in its future. Thinking a Rock #2 at 22", but can't decide on chambering. I've always liked 7-08's. 120's @ 3100, 140's @ 2850, and 162's @ 2700 don't suck. Had one. Wouldn't mind having another. Worth it to AI? But I also have a nice m70 FW 30-06, and not sure what a 7-08 would do in a hunting rifle that the '06 doesn't...
Also like .243's. 105's @ 3000, 80 ttsx's @ 3400, and 55's @ 4000 if I ever felt like it. But I also have a howa mini .223 for little bullets, and not sure a 105 is any better than a 6.5. Which leads me to...
I've never owned a 6.5mm other than an old surplus 96. The Creed probably interests me the most. I wouldn't hate a 6.5x47, and it would be nothing to drive the 30 minutes to Gre-Tan and get my firing pin bushed. But the .260 offers potentially even more, and also could be run AI... Seems like any of them would get 123's close to 3k to match the .243/105, a 129/130 at 2900 to match/best a .284 140 in hunting bullets, and 140's at 2700+ to match 162's with less recoil. Looks like you could even run a 100 Barnes at 3300ish.
So what does the fire say? Is there a majority vote on the most bang for your SA 700 buck?
Oh, planning on having a Wyatt's mag box installed regardless of chambering.