New rifle build.

[kernel gadaffi]

I'm in the situation where I feel I'd like a custom rifle and this will be the final gun I buy (yeah, we've all said that ), I do stalking mostly, but have had the urge to try some target shooting and I could use my Remington 700 .223 for that. I have a Tikka T3 6.5 Swede that is just about at the end of it's barrel life and a slot for a 7-08, I'm wondering whether to use the Swede as a donor and rebarrel it into a .260, 6.5x47 or 6.5x284, then again I could just spend the money on a custom 7-08 and sell the Swede to someone else to use as a donor. another choice would be to buy a standard 7-08 for stalking and rebarrel the Swede in .260, 6.5x47 or 6.5x284 for target shooting and sell the .223.
The reason I've chosen the above selection is growing pains (wtf), sorry, I'll be 53 next week and my mothers curse (arthritis) descended on me a couple of years ago, so (heavy) recoil is one thing I cannot take any more, so I'm open to suggestions or comments if you please.

Cheers.

Alan (KG).

[Christel]

What distance target shooting will you be doing?

[Sim G]

I've been using 7mm-08 for targets for about six years now. A damn fine cartridge!

[Dannywayoflife]

What bullets you using in 7mm08?

[Alpha1]

I would re barrel the Tikka T3 in .260 Remington.

[kernel gadaffi]

As for target distance, I'd like to think I could get good enough to reach 600 yards, I think the 7-08 is the way to go, bullet weight, anything from 100 grains up, having done a bit of research, it seems most users plumb for 120 grain Sierras to 168 grain A-Max. I have a Leupold VXlll EFR 6.5-20X40 parked on top of the .223 at the moment, I could put that on the 7-08, and put a spare Simmons WTC 6.5-20X50 into the .223. The Tikka has an S&B 8X56 on it, if I go to .260 REM, that can stay on and l can use it for stalking.
Does that make sense?

[Sim G]

What bullets you using in 7mm08?

My favourites are 130gn Sierra Matchkings, then the 150's. I have also used 168gn SMK's and 162gn A-maxes, but, both of the latter are a strictly short range option, under 600 as you can't really get the velocity with these two bullets.

[Christel]

6.5x47

At that distance and with you needing as little recoil as possible...6.5x47

6.5x47

[kernel gadaffi]

Well l'm not having any luck at all, can't find a 6.5x47 rifle l can afford or someone to build me one at a price l can, l had the thought of getting the 7-08 and fitting a Limbsaver recoil pad, so l called two dealers today who had them listed as in stock according to their websites, to be told they had none available, it's bloody annoying.

Chunter over.

[ovenpaa]

You could do something as simple as having a standard .308 Rem700 barrelled in 6,5x47 - it will work very well.