help me decide

[greg916]

ultra hunter 25-06
ultra varmint fluted 243
savage mod 14 American classic 270 wsm

it will be a bean field rifle, the farthest tree line is just over 360 yards. due to a shoulder injury I can't support the forearm, the rifle will be shot off a bi-pod. the savage is included because I have heard of problems with the Handi's when weight is added to the forearm. any other suggestions welcome.

BTW, i will be shooting from the loft of the barn with my Mom on the back porch yelling "run away little deer, Greg's gonna shoot you" :D
 

[quickdtoo]

No one has yet to report a forend stud come off related to a bipod, just when weight is added to counter recoil on heavy kickers which wouldn't be an issue with either the 243 or 25-06. If you wanted a little added security, a little JB Weld reinforcement around the forend stud should work fine after proper prep.

Tim

[greg916]

I looked at the 25-06 at a local shop this morning. $279.99.  Think I'm gonna go back and get it. Wally World had the 243, but I'm not too fond of the black stock.

[quickdtoo]

I think you'll be happy with the 25-06, it's one of the most accurate of H&Rs. And if you get tired of it and want something a bit bigger, it's a great donor for reboring to  .270, 30-06 or 338-06.

Tim

[cwlongshot]

25-06 ALL the way!!

The Savages have been getting nicer and nicer. That accutrigger is quite the cats arse!!  BUT, this is after all the handi section!!

 Tim's right, the 25-06 in a handi, has proven to be one of the top performers in the accuracy dept. I know mine is pretty good. The caliber it self is top notch for what your describing. I would get a good streamlined 120 gr bullet like a Nosler BT or Hornady SST. Play with some hand loads, till I got it to shoot at an inch or better @ 100yrds and call it good.

CW

[handi243]

25-06 very good round

[oneshotonekill]

I agree the 25-06 is a great round but if I were in your shoes and I wanted a "bean field" rifle I would buy the savage and never look back.  Accuracy has been hit or miss for me with the handi's and with some work and range time I can usually get decent accuracy (sometimes very good accuracy) but not always.  I've yet to shoot a savage that wouldn't shoot sub-moa.  I've owned 19 different handi's and a few were consistent MOA or better rifles most would do MOA or better once in a while but not always.  I own 9 savages and all of them shoot sub-MOA consistently.  I don't know if I would want the wsm over some of the other calibers but the model 14 American classic is one of the best built savage rifles I've seen.  It does away with most of the fit and finish critisims you hear about savage rifles.  You get a decent piece of wood, nice finish, a great trigger, and a reputation for accuracy.   

[Mac11700]

Between the 2 Handi's...I would say the 25-06 hands down...As to buying a Savage...well that will be more of personal taste than anything else...Some love them...others don't...While many do luuuuuuv the Savages...and swear by their out of the box accuracy...I don't think they are all that special...nor am I paticularly fond of the accu-trigger ...Mine would go down to 1/2 lb.and very little creep... but I just don't like the feel of a 2pc trigger...on anything......The rifles are ok mind you...but...just ok in IMHO....However since I have gotten my Weatherby Sub-MOA 30-06 & my Winchester Heavy Varmint in 223...I am happy as ever...both are tack drivers as far as bolt guns go,and I traded my 308 FP Savage on the Weatherby Sub MOA  too...So...FWIW...there are a bunch of good shooting bolt guns around...and yes...even though this is the Handi forum...it's ok to ask here about what to buy...If you ask this on most other forums they'll most likely tell ya to go with the bolt gun over the Handi...most folks besides Handi-holics don't care much for them...You have to ask yourself if you want a bolt gun...or a single shot...and then go from there...I will say this much...I would take the 25-06 in either configuration before the 270 WSM...It's a good round and will work good for you...and  the 25-06 is a lot cheaper to shoot...easier on the shoulder...and cheaper to reload for...and kill whitetails very nicely  at 400 yards... with the right loads...

BTW...if your going to hunting from a loft in a barn anyways...set it up right and use a bench and use your regular rest...No need to worry about a bi-pod that way... A rock solid platform is better than bi-pods for shooting at a whitetails at that distance any ways...What kind of scope are you going to be using...?

Mac

[greg916]

Thanks!!  Looks like the 25-06 is well represented!!

I thought about using my rest. It is a Lyman (I think, it is orange anyway!!) Looks kind of like a car jack stand. Very solid but a little slow to adjust. I thought the bi-pod would be more convenient.  I am thinking about a Barska scope. Lik2hunt's thread caught my attention. I have an older Redfield 6x18 I could use.

I was thinking about a 100 gr boattail, and 4831 powder. This should give me 3200fps. With a BC of .39 the trajectory should look like this 100(+2), 200(+3.7), 300(0), 400(-9.1).  What I want is a trajectory that will stay +/- 3" out to 350 yards with a center hold. This looks to be pretty close.

 

[Mac11700]

My choice would be the 117gr. Combined Technologies Silver Ballistic tip...with a BC of .453...You will be able to get 3100 fps quite easily with them...and make a great long range deer bullet...

Load Data
~~~~~~~~~

Name: .257 Cal, CT SBT-BT, 117 grn
Ballistic Coeff: 0.453
Bullet Weight: 117
Velocity: 3100
Target Distance: 291
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 70
Altitude: 500

Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy     ETA         Drop      Max Y  10mph Wind Deflect
  0 yds   -1.50 in  3100 fps  2496 fpe  0.000 sec    0.00 in  -1.50 in    0.00 in
 25 yds    0.03 in  3047 fps  2412 fpe  0.024 sec    0.11 in  -0.57 in    0.03 in
 50 yds    1.32 in  2996 fps  2331 fpe  0.049 sec    0.46 in  -0.48 in    0.15 in
 75 yds    2.37 in  2944 fps  2252 fpe  0.074 sec    1.05 in  -0.33 in    0.30 in
100 yds    3.17 in  2894 fps  2175 fpe  0.100 sec    1.88 in  -0.11 in    0.55 in
125 yds    3.71 in  2843 fps  2100 fpe  0.126 sec    2.98 in   0.17 in    0.90 in
150 yds    3.98 in  2794 fps  2028 fpe  0.153 sec    4.35 in   0.53 in    1.33 in
175 yds    3.97 in  2745 fps  1957 fpe  0.180 sec    6.00 in   0.97 in    1.86 in
200 yds    3.67 in  2697 fps  1889 fpe  0.208 sec    7.94 in   1.49 in    2.47 in
225 yds    3.07 in  2649 fps  1822 fpe  0.236 sec   10.18 in   2.10 in    3.16 in
250 yds    2.16 in  2601 fps  1758 fpe  0.264 sec   12.73 in   2.79 in    3.93 in
275 yds    0.95 in  2554 fps  1695 fpe  0.293 sec   15.58 in   3.58 in    4.78 in
300 yds   -0.59 in  2508 fps  1634 fpe  0.323 sec   18.76 in   4.46 in    5.71 in
325 yds   -2.49 in  2462 fps  1575 fpe  0.353 sec   22.30 in   5.45 in    6.76 in
350 yds   -4.72 in  2417 fps  1517 fpe  0.383 sec   26.17 in   6.55 in    7.88 in
375 yds   -7.34 in  2372 fps  1461 fpe  0.415 sec   30.42 in   7.76 in    9.12 in
400 yds  -10.36 in  2327 fps  1407 fpe  0.447 sec   35.09 in   9.10 in   10.49 in


Sight the rifle to be dead on at 291 yards...the maximum PBR is 343 yards for a 8* kill zone...I've gotten good accuracy with this bullet driven to 3150fps...and using max loads from both Hodgdon's and Nosler... With a 400 yard shot...hold dead across the top of the  back would put you just above the heart area...

Mac

[McLernon]

The 260 Ackley (or just the 260) is a much over looked choice. Some of the 6.5 mm bullets have B.C. over 0.6. Combine this with A blown out case to Ackley and you have a very long range rifle. I don't know what the donor barrel would be , but I bet Quick does!

Mc

[Mac11700]

I don't think this is about custom barrels here Mc...just choosing between these...

ultra hunter 25-06
ultra varmint fluted 243
savage mod 14 American classic 270 wsm

Mac

[chrsm]

with all do respect the savage!! I would!! I have alot of cals for my handi. I allways wanted a savage!!!!

[zermatt7]

I've been there / here.....for what you've laid out follow Macs advice (always a good idea anyway) and get the 26" barrel 25-06 !

[greg916]

Well, the 25-06 came home today. OpticsPlanet has the Barska 3x9x40 with easyshot recticle for 34.99, plus free shipping. Am going to give it a try, hope it gets here by next weekend. Hope it shoots good

[Mac11700]

Congrats on the 25-06...I'll pick mine up next Saturday...

Mac