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.338-06

I would go 9.3x62 with a 24" barrel. It is right between a 35 Whelen and a 375 H&H and is a fine caliber for NA big game. My 9.3x 62 is one of my favorites.

6.5x55 Swede.

25-06, 270, or 30-06. I'm really, really boring.

I hunt just about everything...
I have rifles in .223, .223ai, .243, 6.5x55 Swede, 257 Wby Mag, 300 Wby Mag, .30-06, 450/400 Nitro Express, .444 Rimless Howell, .303 Brit



I cant abide a .270 Win.
Years ago I had one that was a nightmare. It would shoot anything well ever.. you would think it was worked out and then it would go all to hell again. I went round and round with for too long out of stubbornness before I sent it on its way.

I see a gap from 6.5 to 30. A 280 AI would likely fill it.

True rifle nerd logic there!

You might be onto something...
It certainly is a tempting cartridge.

Sound like you had a rifle problem,not a cartridge problem.

Based on what you already have, I'd leave it 270 or make it a 280.

I am sure you are correct. It was a nice looking customized Mark X, but I think it just multitudes of problems throughout.

Likely....a pal had a badly behaving 280 made of great components,but badly assembled...it shot like crap which we would not expect from a Krieger barreled M70.

It was given to a good smith,stripped down and rebuilt with the same components...problem solved.He calls it Lazarus because it rose from the dead.

It's all in the assembly

6.5-06 or 35 whelen ack imp

After looking at what all you have it looks like a 280....338/06....35 whelen....9.3x62. Or just put it in the safe and use it as a loaner for a while.

Shod

Surely, the magic is in the magician and not in the wand.

If I were in Thomas' shoes, I think I'd have an 8x57 barrel put on, with a 280 barrel being a close second.

I rigged one of those for my BIL years ago. Knocked .the sharp edges off the stock, floated, bedded, and refinished it. We left it as a .270. It got named "death ray" because every time he pulled the trigger, something died.

Your battery could use that caliber. Or as someone suggested, 6.5-06 or 9.3. Lots of room there to the .450-400.

Your previous experience was with a rifle, not the cartridge. I have a pre- war 70 that has been consistent for some fifty years. A scope went south on it years ago, but that is no reflection of the rifle or cartridge.

Jack

I vote for a 9.3, as well. The 9.3x62 is a killer, usually accurate in a good rifle and it doesn't waste a lot of powder getting the job done. Downside: it's not arcane or exciting, just a reliable workhorse.

Hey hey don't try bringing logic to this...
The more I think about it the more in undecided I become. I might just let it sit in the safe for a bit, until I come to my senses.

.22-6mm it's calling you.

7x57AI

Due to the gap in your arsenal, I say buy a bunch of 85 grain TSXs and some RE17. Load to 3700-3800 fps, and lay a path of destruction.

If that gets boring (not likely), buy some 150 grain ABLRs and a Nightforce or SWFA 3-9, and put all the 280 AI custom rifle posers to shame with a Ruger.

280 AI maybe?