Help with my next rifle

[sammuz75]

Hi all,

I currently stalk with a 1992 Steyr Mannlicher Luxus Stutzen in .243 and I’m looking to pick up another (sub £700) stalking rifle predominantly for Fallow. My Stutzen is, unsurprisingly, unmoderated and I would like something that is screw cut with the intention of using a moderator.

I’m considering .270, .30-06 and 7x57

I’d rather have a well balanced rifle over something that’s very lightweight, but a barrel ~20 inches would be preferable as it’ll be used mostly in woodland and at close range.

I’m keeping my eyes open for 98 actions like Parker Hales and CZs but any other suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Sam

 

[Mungo]

Heym SR20 (the older model, not the current SR21). There are a fair few floating about, and they’ve often seen very little use.

 

[Colonel]

If you reload I would go for a 30-06 as it’s a very versatile round. You can load it to 270 speed with a 130gr bullet, all the way up to 7m rem mag with a 165gr bullet, or as I do down load it to a 308 load with a 150gr bullet. Just my opinion. If you don’t reload I would go for a 270

 

[tackb]

none of those calibres are at their best in a 20'' barrel

instead for your requirements perhaps look at creedmoor , 308 and the 7-08 ?

 

[Scipio]

none of those calibres are at their best in a 20'' barrel

instead for your requirements perhaps look at creedmoor , 308 and the 7-08 ?

Hello mate, well for the 06 case family i can see where you are coming from, and but for the x57 too?
The 08family of cartridges holds about 55 grns of water, the x57s 60 grns and the 06-family 66 grns, so the x57 sits right in the middle of the two american cousins.
So perhaps bunching the x57s into the same category as the 06s as for how much barrel length is needed to burn its case capacity of powder isnt entirely accurate?

And given that we're going into the era of long non lead projectiles, the 7x57, with it's longer case neck and typically quicker twist rate barrels and long throats might actually be a better "fit for the future", might it not?
And for mainly woodland stalking, is the extra 6 case capacity (or speeds) of a 06 family case shooting deers suited weight bullets necessary or even adviseable?

However i do def agree that if one goes for the 7x57, and want the max out of it, one does really need to reload imo. Especially now with the non leads

@sammuz75 you intend to mod this rifle, correct? because i have a 20.5 inch barreled stutzen in 7x57, and you def need to hold that forend and use proper shooting technique if the muzzle is to be kept controlled. It is quite loud too! Just a small heads up.
As for makers i have mannlicher schoenauer action and rifle. I quite like them, and for their quality i doubt much better can be gotten for the prices that they typically sell for, however due to their split bridge construction, scope mounts and scopes is a whole world for itselfs for these guys, so be aware of that, should you consider a MS. (and if you go, i suggest to go for one pre 1972, as that is when Steyr started to industrialize their production of them, making them less hand crafted).

Good luck!

 

[tackb]

Hello mate, well for the 06 case family i can see where you are coming from, and but for the x57 too? The 08family of cartridges holds about 55 grns of water, the x57s 60 grns and the 06-family 66 grns, so the x57 sits right in the middle of the two american cousins.
So perhaps bunching the x57s into the same category as the 06s as for how much barrel length is ideally needed to burn its case capacity of power isnt entirely accurate?

And given that we're going into the era of long non lead projectiles at the moment, the 7x57, with it's longer case neck, quicker twist rate barrels and typically long throats might actually be a better "fit for the future", might it not?
And for mainly woodland stalking, is the case capacity (or speeds) of a 06 family case shooting deers suited weight bullets neecessary?

However yep, if one goes for the 7x57, and want the max out of it, one does really need to reload imo. Especially now with the non leads

for woodland stalking you do not need a long action

you do not want a 20'' barrel on a long action cartridge unless you want to burn loads of powder in the open air for no purpose

7x57 is a nice calibre but for the op's requirements it holds no advantage over the 7-08 (7x51)

 

[HonestJohn]

Get a 7x57 and accept 22-24” barrel. Yes on the Mauser 98 action

 

[stubear]

.270 with a 24” barrel - get a Schultz and Larsen victory and thank me later.

Give Steve Beaty a call at Ivythorn sporting.

 

[Scipio]

for woodland stalking you do not need a long action

you do not want a 20'' barrel on a long action cartridge unless you want to burn loads of powder in the open air for no purpose

7x57 is a nice calibre but for the op's requirements it holds no advantage over the 7-08 (7x51)

Hello again I think that sounds quite sensible for long action cartridges, but from all that i have ever heard and read about the x57 family, and i believe the x55 too they are not true long action cartridges.
Instead they Fall between the short and Long action length, hence my earlier point of it perhaps not being fully accurate to bunch the x57s into the same category as the 06 family

As for 7mm08 vs the 7x57, well absolutely each to their own of course.
However if i had to chose ( as a reloader) and could find a rifle I liked in either, which of course is of major importance too, id prefer the x57 for the reasons i stated earlier, as it to my understanding makes it a better option for the Long non lead bullets of today, and probably of the future too.
Even with lead ammo the x57 should also be better suited for the long and heavy bullet Options.

 

[tackb]

Hello again I think that sounds quite sensible for long action cartridges, but from all that i have ever heard and read about the x57 family, and i believe the x55 too they are not true long action cartridges.
Instead they Fall between the short and Long action length, hence my earlier point of it perhaps not being fully accurate to bunch the x57s into the same category as the 06 family

As for 7mm08 vs the 7x57, well absolutely each to their own of course.
However if i had to chose ( as a reloader) and could find a rifle I liked in either, which of course is of major importance too, id prefer the x57 for the reasons i stated earlier, as it to my understanding makes it a better option for the Long non lead bullets of today, and probably of the future too.
Even with lead ammo the x57 should also be better suited for the long and heavy bullet Options.

ok

 

[Rusty knife]

You could go with a tikka t3 they commonly come with 20” barrel and factory screw cut. Not sure you’d find one in 7x57 but you never know. You’ll definitely find a good one inside £700.

 

[alberta boy]

none of those calibres are at their best in a 20'' barrel

instead for your requirements perhaps look at creedmoor , 308 and the 7-08 ?

Beat me to it .

AB

 

[Klenchblaize]

.270 with a 24” barrel - get a Schultz and Larsen victory and thank me later.

Give Steve Beaty a call at Ivythorn sporting.

Nice, but the Op won't get past the Ivythorn shop door with a budget of sub £700.

K

 

[Selous]

I agree that for woodland stalking a short action calibre is better, especially with a 20 inch barrel. There are some good options. My preference would be for a .308 as you will get ammo everywhere unlike the 7mm08. Here are a few options that you could consider though I can’t be sure what they weigh and what overall condition they are in. Most come with extras , scope, mod etc

Sako 7mm-08 Aii Semi Custom | GunTrader

Sako 7mm-08 Aii Semi Custom for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

Sako .308 75 Action 3 Hunter Wood Blued | GunTrader

Sako .308 75 Action 3 Hunter Wood Blued for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

Tikka .308 M595 Custom | GunTrader

Tikka .308 M595 Custom for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

.308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used .308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

www.guntrader.uk

 

[Selous]

If you were determined to get a long action then there are also options

Sauer .270 100 | GunTrader

Sauer .270 100 for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

Heym .30-06 Sr 21 | GunTrader

Heym .30-06 Sr 21 for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

Sako .270 75 Hunter Iv | GunTrader

Sako .270 75 Hunter Iv for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

 

[HonestJohn]

Nothing wrong with an 8x57 on a good old Mauser ! Ok in 20” and an excellent woodland cartridge

 

[Scipio]

Nothing wrong with an 8x57 on a good old Mauser ! Ok in 20” and an excellent woodland cartridge

And there probably some quite nice, but also nicely priced, wood and steel rifles available in that cartridge too. Same for the 7x57, i'd imagine, no?

But i dont know if that is the sort of rifle the TS is looking for? But yep, that wide bore of the 8mm combined with a 60 grn case capacity cartridge should probably do quite well indeed in a 20" barrel, i imagine. .-)

 

[sammuz75]

Thanks all for your replies, they’re most helpful. Plenty of food for thought.

When I get a chance I’ll handle some rifles and see what feels right for me. As I said I’m not too worried about weight, so a slightly longer barrel wouldn’t bother me but I don’t want anything too unwieldy. I’m not dead set on a 20 inch barrel and I am aware that the long action cartridges wouldn’t be living to their full potential in one, but thanks for all your opinions on the matter.

I may well end up going with a short .308 but would rather have something a bit more unusual/traditional. My local shop stocks most cartridges and can order in others so I’m not particularly worried about ammo availability.

Thanks again!

 

[tackb]

Thanks all for your replies, they’re most helpful. Plenty of food for thought.

When I get a chance I’ll handle some rifles and see what feels right for me. As I said I’m not too worried about weight, so a slightly longer barrel wouldn’t bother me but I don’t want anything too unwieldy. I’m not dead set on a 20 inch barrel and I am aware that the long action cartridges wouldn’t be living to their full potential in one, but thanks for all your opinions on the matter.

I may well end up going with a short .308 but would rather have something a bit more unusual/traditional. My local shop stocks most cartridges and can order in others so I’m not particularly worried about ammo availability.

Thanks again!

if you fancy something unusual have a look at 338 federal which is the 308win necked up , i looked into one once with a plan to experiment with subsonics in it but changed my mind and went 45/70 marlin dark series instead

 

[ABL]

I agree that for woodland stalking a short action calibre is better, especially with a 20 inch barrel. There are some good options. My preference would be for a .308 as you will get ammo everywhere unlike the 7mm08. Here are a few options that you could consider though I can’t be sure what they weigh and what overall condition they are in. Most come with extras , scope, mod etc

Sako 7mm-08 Aii Semi Custom | GunTrader

Sako 7mm-08 Aii Semi Custom for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

Sako .308 75 Action 3 Hunter Wood Blued | GunTrader

Sako .308 75 Action 3 Hunter Wood Blued for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

Tikka .308 M595 Custom | GunTrader

Tikka .308 M595 Custom for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

.308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used .308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

www.guntrader.uk

Ah I do like a 75 in wood. Not that I need one, and a lot less practical than my synthetic stainless, but....