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Well, it's late on Christmas night and my mind is churning away with an idea for a future rifle build.
I'm looking at a lightweight and compact (e.g. a folding/collapsable stock) suitable for deer/black bear/antelope down to predators and varmints that could be used in a pinch for elk. This would be used in backpack hunting scenarios with the ideal of bringing a single gun that could handle the larger game, but also would work on smaller targets of opportunity without ruining a lot of meat - even on the smaller critters.
I'm obviously considering the .257 Roberts Improved at the top of my list, but in reading on it, it appears that with the 115gr bullets it goes beyond the 2.80" OAL for Remington short actions. And I'd theoretically like to stick with a short action, but if it's a long action, I'd just go with a .25-06 and call it good.
That said, another option is the .25 Souper (aka .257-08) quasi-wildcat. In hopes of getting the cartridge more room to work with on larger game, I'm considering going the completely custom route and giving it a 40 degree Ackley shoulder. The shorter 51mm case should ensure that even the longer, larger 115gr bullets will fit in the mag just fine, while still allowing the lighter weight 75 grainers.
If I decided to start really throwing away my money here, what would be the process of all this? Seems the brass situation is simple enough: neck down .308 or neck up .243 brass, then shoot to fire form, but the expensive part would be a chamber reamer and dies right?
I'm looking at a lightweight and compact (e.g. a folding/collapsable stock) suitable for deer/black bear/antelope down to predators and varmints that could be used in a pinch for elk. This would be used in backpack hunting scenarios with the ideal of bringing a single gun that could handle the larger game, but also would work on smaller targets of opportunity without ruining a lot of meat - even on the smaller critters.
I'm obviously considering the .257 Roberts Improved at the top of my list, but in reading on it, it appears that with the 115gr bullets it goes beyond the 2.80" OAL for Remington short actions. And I'd theoretically like to stick with a short action, but if it's a long action, I'd just go with a .25-06 and call it good.
That said, another option is the .25 Souper (aka .257-08) quasi-wildcat. In hopes of getting the cartridge more room to work with on larger game, I'm considering going the completely custom route and giving it a 40 degree Ackley shoulder. The shorter 51mm case should ensure that even the longer, larger 115gr bullets will fit in the mag just fine, while still allowing the lighter weight 75 grainers.
If I decided to start really throwing away my money here, what would be the process of all this? Seems the brass situation is simple enough: neck down .308 or neck up .243 brass, then shoot to fire form, but the expensive part would be a chamber reamer and dies right?