What caliber do I need?

[sooperdooty]

Partsman,
     Obviously you don't mind tinkering with a gun since you have the handi rifle, so I suggest trade the handi rifle for stevens 200 in ......drum roll please.......7mm-08.  You already have the reloading supplies, and the will to tinker so take the low cost route.  Way back on page 1 of this thread you typed mil dot and range finder.  A 150 grain ballistic tip is a great match for mil dot ranging, and the 140 grainers look like they were designed for the burris ballistic plex reticle with a trajectory match within an inch at 500 yards!  Don't be ashamed that you have had the right caliber all along.  I will agree that a 2moa rifle is shaky past 300 yards, but up to that point it is plenty accurate (milk jugs 300 yards away tremble in the presence of a 2moa 7mm-08 hahahaha).  Maybe with a Leupold 4.5-14x40 or Nikon Monarch 5-20x42 the handi would be a little better than 2moa.

[PartsMan]

I have considered getting a different 7mm-08 and the ballistic plex.
That makes the most since. Like that matters.

I am very sorry to have to tell you all that what does matter is that the money for this project has not come in yet.
So we will have to wait some more to see what I end up buying.
Thank You so much for all the comments.

PartsMan.

[myronman3]

that just gives you more time to think about it.

[gr8ful]

Hummmmm... I am going to have to go with the .270 Win or the 30-06.  Plenty of power for anything in North America or Canada regardless of what the magnum crowd says.  Shot placement is what counts, and it is easier to learn to shoot a standard cartridge well.  A .270 Win through the heart beats a .300 RUM through the guts every time.

[Bear Wallow]

Remington 600 in a 6mm Remington