7mm Rem Mag rebarreled to what?

[natman]

We do have a "texas mountain" on our place which would allow as long a shot as you can see. So I do have some interest in something that can drop a hog at long ranges.

You just bought a 6.5 Remington mag.
or a 264 Winchester mag

Not much point in a 6.5 RM, because the rifle is a long action. Not much point in a 264 WM, because it's only 1/2mm smaller than what he already has.

Either go a lot smaller or a lot bigger. 257 Weatherby or 338/458.

 

[TXHORNS]

Great advice so far but I should clarify some things:

No knock on the 270wsm, Im more trading the rifle than the caliber. Synthetic stock, cheap scope but I got the rifle for next to nothing and bought it to trade with.

The M77 has a way nicer scope and Harris bipod, plus its wood. So I would simply rather have the M77 even if I just trade again because this would be worth a few hundred more and if I kept it I'd like it more.

I like 7mag but I like 30-06 a tad more for my own reasons, so the 30-06 stays. I think I would be better served with something not so similar to the 06.

I dont reload but thats not an issue, my buddy does and can make me whatever I want, I know I know I need to reload myself, I'm getting there...

As far as shooting past 300 yards I have zero experience but I plan to change that. Paper tagets at a distance isnt something I will do a lot, other than for practice but being able to hunt pigs at 400-500+ yards or so from atop my "mountain" would be pretty cool. So just being able to punch paper at a distance doesnt work for me, I need the gun to have some thump at that distance too. I realize a significant amount of practice will be involved here as I currently only feel good about 300 yard shots with my current rigs but Im willing to learn.

Sooo, does that change anything? The 338 ideas are pretty cool.

And please feel free to tell me that to get a considerable advantage over the 7RM it can't be done on that action. Because if thats the best answer I am happy to trade or sell this to obtain whatever it is that would allow me to do what I want best, be it a 338 Ultra Mag or whatever.

 

[berettashotgun]

Not much point in a 6.5 RM, because the rifle is a long action.

Actually, the long action helps with VLD bullets.
The 6.5 remmy is more desirable WITH a long action IMHO. Seating the bullet out to the needed length is compromised with the short action. Rebarreling will get you a nice OAL capability.
With the 6.5 your long range on target energy will be adequate for the little piggies.
The 338 option is rough - having one - with the reloading cost, and recoil for long range shooting. 500 yard bullets for the beast are not very inexpensive. Great bullets for a 338 have a LOT of recoil, not very conducive for the long range shooting in a basically stock rifle.
RE: muzzle-brake and double hearing protection, or a can.

 

[exbiologist]

I'm sticking with the .264 Win Mag. Plenty of thump at long range, the Winchester factory loads are suprisingly hot (I get 3200 fps with them out of a 27.5 inch Lilja barrel). Since you aren't elk hunting, I can't see a good reason to go to the .338 or .358, but even then the .264 does good work on them. The bullet selection is way better than the .257 Weatherby, for what is essentially the same caliber to me. .007 inch difference, roughly the same case dimensions, but you've got hunting bullets from 100 to 160 grains for anything you can imagine. I use 100 grain Ballistic Tips at 3725ish for antelope, 120 TTSXs at 3500 for deer and elk, or 140 grain Partitions at a little over 3200 for deer and elk also. Been meaning to try those loooooonnnngggg, sleek 160 grain Woodleighs.
A buddy of mine in South Texas rebarreled his 7mag to .264 and hasn't looked back. He only shoots the Remington factory load but loves it.

 

[exbiologist]

Oh yeah, and another option is the 6.5-300 Win Mag. You get a little bit more case capacity by moving the shoulder up, but it still fits in the standard magazines. Of course, that's handload only territory.

 

[ants]

I think you need to find out more about that M77 magazine box.
Many of the options suggested in the two pages above won't fit in the box.
I would hate to see you set your mind on a caliber, then become a very disappointed little boy.

You said: As far as shooting past 300 yards I have zero experience but I plan to change that. Paper tagets at a distance isnt something I will do a lot, other than for practice but being able to hunt pigs at 400-500+ yards or so from atop my "mountain" would be pretty cool. So just being able to punch paper at a distance doesnt work for me, I need the gun to have some thump at that distance too. I realize a significant amount of practice will be involved here as I currently only feel good about 300 yard shots with my current rigs but Im willing to learn.

OK, now I'm REALLY convinced that I would get 7mm Rem Mag for that task. Longer range and flatter than .30-06. Much better bullets available for that purpose. It will accomplish at 400 to 500yd what your '06 won't.

And yes, yes, yes, you will have to shoot a lot of paper before you can shoot small animals off your mountian at 400 to 500. You're fooling yourself if you don't. Learning to judge wind drift over that distance, not to mention the downward angle, is a skill you don't have yet.

 

[TXHORNS]

Yes, I am aware I don't know how to make that shot right now, most hunters don't. But its something I would like to learn. Regardless of what I do the 7RM will get shot a bunch out there before I decide to change calibers. I have spent some time out there shooting my 308 so I have an idea of the increased difficulty. Still I think it can be learned.

For those who have never seen or hunted feral hogs they are not to be underestimated. 400 pounds is not rare, some get way bigger, they have a thick cartilage "shield" and relatively small (and protected) vitals when compared to a whitetail. Down here they are hated and sometimes feared. One of my favorite animals to hunt though, and I think at a far distance from the top of a mountain would be a blast.

 

[natman]

Not much point in a 6.5 RM, because the rifle is a long action.

Actually, the long action helps with VLD bullets.
The 6.5 remmy is more desirable WITH a long action IMHO. Seating the bullet out to the needed length is compromised with the short action. Rebarreling will get you a nice OAL capability.
With the 6.5 your long range on target energy will be adequate for the little piggies.
The 338 option is rough - having one - with the reloading cost, and recoil for long range shooting. 500 yard bullets for the beast are not very inexpensive. Great bullets for a 338 have a LOT of recoil, not very conducive for the long range shooting in a basically stock rifle.
RE: muzzle-brake and double hearing protection, or a can.

How would the 6.5 have any advantage over the 264 in a long action?

 

[TXHORNS]

So based on caliber only do the 6.5's mentioned do anything better than a 270wsm?

 

[exbiologist]

They have more cool factor, and higher ballistic coeffecients, more case capacity in a .264. Plus you can drive a 140 grain a little faster than the .270 WSM can, but not by much. And of course in a .264, it would have a superior BC and SD. But in reality, it's just splitting hairs. I've had both, I've killed elk with both, killed deer with both. Couldn't say which one's more effective. My .264 recoils less, but the gun weighs more, so who knows?