Check my thinking here

Weight doesn't matter. I'd like to be able to have small groups at 200 yards, I'm new at all this so I'm not going to be able to tell the difference between half a MOA or 2 MOA. For now its not really important so long as I can hit approximately where I'm aiming. Down the road I will probably want something different.

AR would work, but I'm probably thinking a bolt action for now. I understand they are more accurate, and a bit simpler for the first one. Really just trying to get started, hence all the uncertainty.
 
A Savage package deal in .308. You will have an outstanding caliber with a great trigger and superb accuracy.
 
Normal sizing dies size the entire case, the neck, shoulder and body. It basically resizes the case back to factory specs. If you are reloading for the same rifle that the round was fired in, you can rezise the neck only, since the rest of the cartridge when fired expands and forms itself to the chamber of that rifle (fire-forming). The only reason for sizing the neck in this case is so that it will hold the new bullet tightly when reloading. You are right in that a bolt action is usually more accurate than a semi-auto but, an AR15 is a pretty accurate rifle in it's own right (obviously some more than others). But either a .223 or a .308 makes an excellent target rifle and can also be used for hunting or self defense if the need ever came up. Both began life as military rounds so ammunition is plentiful and fairly cheap as compared to a lot of other rounds.
 
I'd be real curious to see how the .357 brass held up to the higher pressures generated in the rifle....... especially the BB load.....

If loading the rifle cartridges isn't as bad as I thought then that changes things. If I don't have to mess with lube and can ONLY resize the cases once in a while (I will be firing far from max loads), then that might be ok.
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I use the Lee Collet die almost exclusively for my .270 WIN..... I don't even rightly know where the FL sizing die I bought all those years ago has gotten to..... have not seen it for so long........

.....and Lee suggests full length sizing for lever and semi-auto guns ....... just sayin' .......

Were I you, I'd go with something other than a pistol cartridge ..... If you going to shoot an enemy, remember

"Never do your enemy a minor injury."


- Machiavelli
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Since you have a Savage in 22 LR, you would do well to add a Savage Model 10 in 243 Winchester to your list, great shooting rifle and the 243 will do great at 200 yards or 300 yards or 400 yards. The Accutrigger is great for getting accuracy for a beginner or a seasoned professional.

243 cases are easy to load for as well.


Jim
 
I like .308 and 7mm-08, but I don't want to have to lube or trim cases, or clean primer pockets, or any of that. My pistol ammunition is relaxing and enjoyable to reload, and I fear reloading rifle calibers would turn into a chore
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You certainly need to trim bottlenecked brass more often. Unless I'm shooting hot loads though, I find that once every two or three uses is fine.

I use Lee carbide rifle dies and find that lubing them doesn't take much at all. Put your brass in a throw away foil pan, give them a squirt of one shot, roll them around, repeat once or twice.

You won't go wrong with a Marlin Guide gun in 45/70 either. Those load just like any other straight walled cartridges. Just make sure to get a good crimp on them because they'll be sitting in a tube magazine.
 
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Look around and you can possibly get a bolt action rifle that runs both .450 Marlin and .45-70. I know there are always a few .45-70 bolt actions on Gun Broker. The .450 Marlin will be a little more rare but they do pop up from time to time.

Any of the WSM and SAUM rifles can be converted to run the .450 Marlin as well as any standard long action rifles with magnum bolt face. All it takes is a rebarrel job. You could possibly need some work to make it feed, but a lot of the times you don't.

Siamese Mausers, Lee SMLE, and P14 Enfields have all been converted to run the .45-70. The Siamese Mauser and P14 Enfields, are strong and can turn the .45-70 into a real beast of a rifle cartridge just like the Marlin GG. The .45-70 offers as well more factory options for ammunition than the .450 Marlin and is more easily found.

Any one of the these rifles should be better than a 2 MOA rifle at 200 yards as long as you are able to shoot better than 2 MOA.
 
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