Anyone tried one of the new calibers?

grayghost · #1 03-21-2007, 11:13 AM

Over the last couple of years a variety of new rifle calibers have been introduced. Anyone tried one? What's your take on it?

BILLY D. · #2 06-01-2007, 10:23 PM

Well they certainly aren't new but just overlooked.

A few months ago I ordered a 19 caliber Hornet barrel from Match Grade Machine for my Contender. Haven't received it yet. In the meantime I purchased a 19 Caliber Badger rifle from James Calhoon in Havre Montana.

The Badger is built on the CZ 527 platform with a single set trigger. It sure handles sweet and is an excellent walking rifle. The round it self is based on the 30 caliber Carbine case. I was on my way to Vegas to visit a Grandaughter and did some load development there. I broke the barrel in according to Jims instructions.

Then I started on the loads. I was using 32 gr Calhoon bullets and started with 15.5 grs of Accurate 2200 powder. Once I hit 16 grains I used .2 grain increments untill I hit 17.4 grs.

The largest group I had was .735 and the smallest was .480. Jim sells these rifles as .500 shooters. Damn I hate when people lie like that. LOL. This is an honest to goodness 350 yard rifle. I wasn't able to shoot any farther than 100 yards there and since I just returned home and it is now the monsoon season in North Dakota I haven't really gotten any further on loads. So far in May we had a foot of rain, very unusual for here.

So how did it clean you might ask? Very well, thank you. Used Bore Tech Copper remover and the first patch had just the smallest amount of blue tint. Next patch was clean. Something that never happened with my 17 cal or my 204.

As soon as I can I will do some chronographing and I want to shoot for groups at 200.

By the way, Jim also produces his own bullets and applies a proprietary coating to them, it's done by electrolysis. They are excellent. I'm having him send me some in 22 cal. also.

I'll keep ya posted.

Best wishes, Bill

grayghost · #3 06-21-2007, 01:01 AM

Interesting caliber Bill. Keep us posted.

fishnfrank · #4 08-25-2007, 04:04 PM

It's not in the past couple years, but I bought a 300 RUM a few years ago for Elk hunting and never got to go. So I took back home with me to Ne. deer hunting and it was a bit overkill but I still love it. It sure knocks em' dead. I would love to get a 204 Ruger for a coyote getter and a 17HMR as well. Can't ever have too many guns.

grayghost · #5 08-27-2007, 07:18 PM

I like the 300RUM myself but I've only used it in Africa. Would use it on Bear, Moose and Elk here and maybe Mule Deer if the shots tended to be longer. I have the .17HMR and love it for Ground Hogs and Squirrels. I have a friend that uses it for close range (100 yds) for Coyotes. Good hunting, grayghost

TKO · #6 09-24-2007, 01:59 AM

I bought a 7 Rum a couple of years ago, and its just as flat shooting as you would think. Hits very hard. I bought it for huniting Co. where the shots can be very long. I think I have taken 5 deer with it so far, all but one were one shot kills. Its just amazing what this thing will do. 140gr@3650fps...

TKO

skb2706 · #7 09-24-2007, 01:07 PM

Depends on how far back the 'new' goes.

.260 Remington....I love that gun, perfect prairie deer/antelope rifle.

I bought two .204 Rugers that are the cats axx for pds. All my other varmint rifles collect dust now.

Had a .270 WSM .....a true testament to why the Winchester plant closed up. It was poorly made, ugly gun and it shot just like it looked. A gift.........too bad because there was nothing wrong with the chambering......it was just wrapped in a crappy gun.

grayghost · #8 10-01-2007, 11:34 PM

I've got a model 70 .243 WSSM that I won at an outdoor event. I'm not impressed with the rifle. In fact, there were problems from the start and who in the hell makes a stock with no magazine? No box, no trapdoor...nadda. You push them in (all 3 of them) and take them out by hand...one at a time. Pain in the ass.

grayghost · #9 10-04-2007, 06:34 PM

Same here!

Evan03 · #10 11-03-2008, 04:19 PM

i was envolved in the wsm craze when the calibers were first introduced.

i grabbed 270wsm in featherweight as fast as i could. i loaded 140gr nos bts and began the find that wsm case was finicky and the winchester rifle was nothing to speak of. it actualy had problems and had to be sent back to factory.

ever since ive found the 270win burns less powder and flys right there with wsm within 100 fps. im loading 110gr tipped triple shocks and loveing it.

on a side note im loading a freinds 270wsm with the same 110 tipped triple shock and its not impressing me at all. cases are finicky and it seeing pressure signs before book max. it may not even shoot with the 270win not sure why this rifle sees pressure sings. so soon but ohhwell.

i also love the 260 ive realy takn a liking to all 6.5 calibers the 6.5x284 seem to be the cream of the crop.

and i just this year used a 220 swift with a 53 gr tripple shock to take my dear, the load worked so well im thinkning my kids may be hunting with a compact 22/250 pushn 53gr triple shocks ounce they get big enough. i feel there is no replacement for being able to precisly place your shots. and i dont want my kids getn a flinch from 270s and 06s the biggest ill consider for them is 243. and 85gr triopple shocks.

ohhhhhh

with the tripple shocks comeing onto the seen there turning more small calibers into solid deer rifles and mid size calibers into pretty big big game rifles.

now the 22s are cleanly killing deer and the 25s are takn elk.

its kinda cool.

othere new calibers, cant think of any other than the wssm, the super shorts are neat i kinda wish theyd off came out and we never saw the wsm case.

Evan

buckhunter · #11 11-04-2008, 12:53 PM

It is always interesting to see who is still standing 4 or 5 years after the new and improved version comes out. JMO but the 300WSM will probably be the only one stand by the time we elect our next president. The Hornady and Ruger newbee are doomed as the same thing dofferemt day. Doubt the Rem Utlra's will last long.

Then again they said that about the 06.

fishnfrank · #12 11-04-2008, 01:24 PM

The Remington ultra mags have been around since 1999 and I believe are still going well. I know a lot of people that own them, one guy who owns all the RUM series. I recently had a hard time finding brass for my 300 RUM since all the suppliers were sold out. As long as they make brass for it, I will be happy. I personally haven't had any experience with the SAUM's, but have heard that some guy's like them because they kick less. My 300 RUM kicks like a mule on the bench, but when I have a deer in my sights, I can't even feel it. I think everyone is like that though.

Mike Moss · #13 11-04-2008, 09:38 PM

greyghost,

If you mean new cartridges I got a 7mm WSM in a M70 Classic when they first came out and its my primary long range deer rifle.

My next new one is a 270 WSM in a Kimber Montana. That one is now a primary rifle to me also.

I like the WSM's. They get us out of the belted rounds what with their poor case life.

fishnfrank · #14 12-05-2008, 03:17 PM

I used my 300 RUM using 180 gr TTSX bullets this year on my deer hunt in Nebraska. I had the loads built up by CorBon Ammo and they are the most accurate bullets I have ever used. When I took my gun out the case and fired it at home in Nebraska, it put three in bullseye. I hunted with it and it and made a couple 300 shots dropping the deer in their tracks. Now my favorite gun.