Opinions on the better custom rifle combo??

So I have a 300 wsm that I'm going to rebarrel to make it a semi-custom and also have plans to build a full custom in the next year or 2. I'm considering 2 options right now though I'm sure that'll change a bunch between now and having the custom built. The two combo's i'm considering are...rebarreling the 300 WSM and keeping it a 300 WSM (would be shooting for an 8-8.5 lb gun including glass) and then building a 280AI (or 7mm Mag) as more of a backpacking gun around 7-7.5 lbs including glass OR rebarreling into a 270 WSM and then building a 300 Win Mag. In the second scenario, the 270 WSM would be the lighter of the two guns. I already have lots of 300 WSM brass/dies and several loads already done which makes the decision a little harder. I'm just curious which of those two combinations of rifles do you think would be the better all around choice? I will be using these rifles for all western big game hunting in NM/CO along with TX. If I ever was fortunate enough to go to Africa, I would have a 375H&H built so consider these rifles for North American game only. Thanks guys.

I'm lost on what actions you already have.

Haha sorry...

I have a 300 WSM Win M70 that I will be rebarreling soon into either a 300 WSM or 270WSM. My other thread is trying to decide what to plan for when I build a full custom, action and all. Being that I'm leaning towards either a 280AI/7mm Mag or 300 Win Mag for that rifle dictates a bit about whether I leave this rifle a 300 WSM or change it to a 270WSM. I obviously don't have many options for this rifle due to it being a WSM action. Clear as mud?? haha

I'd keep it a 300 WSM and go 280 AI...in my OP I'd do a 264 win and give more difference. I'd build the 280 light... Shoot 180s and 190s in the 300, and 160s in the 280 or 140s in the 264. Good luck on your custom build, they are a lot of fun, I have built 20 or so rifles over the years, each experience I learned something.

Ed

The .264 is an interesting idea but I've heard the barrel life in them is very short.

Do you have any short action, 308 bolt face rifles?

The 300 WSM fills so many jobs is why I ask.

Well what is short barrel life? 2500 rounds?thats a 125 boxes, at $45 a box that is $5625--at $20 a reloaded box that's $2500--a barrel is 250-400 depending on maker, the adv hunter, shooter might shoot 400 rounds a year out of there high performance rifle--that is over 6 years--most will not shoot 2500 in a life time. If you are that worried have your barrel QPQ'd it will triple the life.

Ed

Interesting perspective there and definitely worthy of being taken into consideration.

I do have an older rem 700 .308 and two .270s but the 308 isn't in need of any work right now. One of the 270s is a sub-Moa rifle already that I don't want to change right now and the other is a Hill Country Custom already.

I'd thought that .264's can burn a barrel somewhere between 1k and 1.5k rounds. Maybe I'm wrong.

Creedmoor ... Consider this post answered

Haha I'll have to do some research as I'm not as familiar with the creedmoor calibers as maybe I should be.

Short action = 6.5 Creedmoor

No it will not cook a barrel on 1500 rounds unless you run a 130 gr @ 2900+.

Run a 140 gr and it will last 2500 rounds and is a beautiful thing in all aspects.

Ah I gotcha.

My father ol 264 "Westerner" has been shot since 1960s a truck gun maybe 1250-1500 rounds in its day--I am sure it will still stack them around an inch.

Ed

If that's the case, I might have to seriously consider a 264 as well.