Rem 700 PSS caliber?

[USMC-Mustang]

I've decided to get a Rem 700 PSS for long range paper punching. It'll mostly be on a 500 or 600 yard range but if I ever find a 1000 range I'll give it try. I have no intentions of shooting competition or anything, just a "fun gun". Can't decide on the caliber. I know there are cheaper rifles but I've read nothing but good about the PSS and I'm not worried about cost. It's also available in 300 RUM but I've heard the recoil is ridiculous. The recoil that I'm used to is in the form of a 270 Win (my mule deer rig) and 243 Win (my whitetail rig), NEF 45-70 Handi rifle (my hog rig) and I've never fired the below calibers. My old man passed down all his reloading equipment to me and I plan on starting reloading.

308: Pros: Ammo availability, lighter recoil, short action, proven caliber, barrel life, ammo cheaper than the other two.
Cons: Not as ballistically efficient as the other two.

7mm Rem Mag: Pros: Ballistics
Cons: Recoil, more susceptible to the wind than other two, barrel life, ammo cost.

300 Win Mag: Pros: Ballistics
Cons: Recoil, ammo cost

Please explain your choice.

Thanks,

Mustang

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I'd go .308 ....

It will do everything you need it to out to 1,000.

It is not a barrel burner like the others.

It has less recoil.

There are more factory loadings for it, ammo is cheaper, it burns less powder and brass is cheaper.

There's also a mountain of data out there. Sure, there's lots of data for the others, but .308 is ubiquitous and that is an understatement. Make no mistake about it, everything that can be done has been done with the .308. It has been so common and used in so many competitive venues, everything about it has been figured out. No need to reinvent the wheel. Lots of loading and ballistic data and cartridge info out there as well as many time-tested and proved loads/recipes. You cannot go wrong.

Good choice on the rifle. 700 PSS is an awesome rifle. It will shoot sub-moa unless it is defective. Expect 1/2" 3-shot groups and 3/4" 5-shot groups at 100 yards with good loads.

 

[USMC-Mustang]

Don't Tread On Me - Thanks for the info. That is exactly the type of perspective I'm looking for.

How would the PSS in 308 (near 10 lbs rifle) recoil compare to my Savage 270 (6.5 lbs rifle) recoil (I've never fired a 308)?

Anyone else?

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

How would the PSS in 308 (near 10 lbs rifle) recoil compare to my Savage 270 (6.5 lbs rifle) recoil (I've never fired a 308)?

.308 will be less.


168gr .308 @ 2,700 behind 46gr ...in a 10lb rifle: 12.8lbs of recoil

130gr .270 @ 3,000 behind 55gr ...in a 6.5lb rifle: 18lbs of recoil


Keep in mind, these numbers can vary by 3 maybe 4 pounds of recoil depending on various factors. They are estimates. The KEY factor above all is rifle weight. Make the .308 a 6.5lb rifle and the recoil goes up to 19.8lbs with the numbers above.

 

[BoilerUP]

Would the 7mm, with its higher BC and faster velocity, really be more susceptible to wind than the 308 or 300WM?

 

[Horsemany]

I just shot my 308 700P for the first time 2 days ago. I was mostly sighting in but I did get a couple of groups in. One group measure .012" @100yds using Sierra 165gr GK.

Here's why the 308 is a no brainer. RECOIL. The other flatter cartridges offer little benefit when you consider this fact; When shooting extreme distances there's little difference between compensating for 12" of drop or 14" of drop. You need to know your ballistics either way. It's not like one shoots so flat you don't need hold over.

It would be hard for me to shoot much from a bench with much more recoil than the 308. It's one of the easiest cals to load for. It has the most good factory ammo available. It burns very little powder so it will heat up slower(tighter groups longer) and the barrel life will be dramatically greater than the magnums mentioned earlier. I own a couple of 7mmMags and I wouldn't want it in the 700P type of gun. It's a great hunting cartridge but not great for high volume shooting IMO.

 

[Jim Watson]

No.
The 7mm R.M. will hold closer to the wind than a .308.
Maybe better than a .300 W.M. and certainly with less recoil. But it still has a lot more recoil than a .308 which would take out a lot of the fun for me.

I recommend the .308. Get that reloading gear set up and STUDY.

 

[skinewmexico]

You could re-barrel your Savage for $300 in one of the 6.5 calibers, and get much better long range ballistics than any of your choices. With less recoil.

 

[Horsemany]

You could re-barrel your Savage for $300 in one of the 6.5 calibers, and get much better long range ballistics than any of your choices. With less recoil.

That's not a bad idea. The 6.5's are light on recoil and good on ballistics. I vote for doing that and get a 700P in 308.

 

[Acera]

Mustang,

I have a PSS in the .300 mag., and really like it. The recoil became tame once I added a muzzle brake. The weight of the gun helps with recoil. Black Hills has a great load for this gun, and it should take care of your general target needs. I use their 190 gr match hollow point (aka the "Navy Load"). I like the .300 because it has the legs to reach out long distances, but uses a very easy to find bullet. There are probably more choices in buying a .30 bullet than any other caliber made, if you choose to handload

They are very good guns, at a good price for that level of precision.

Question for you, can you still get them with the detachable magazine? Mine has a one, and I can't seem to find new rifles with that feature anymore.

Good Luck

 

[Tarvis]

I have a 700P in 300 win mag. I don't know if it's my hand loads or what, but that thing kicks the hell out of me, in fact I need to put a brake on it. 7mm is very flat shooting and has waaaay less recoil than the 300win mag. I voted 308 fwiw, mostly based on the same reasons you stated.