The intended use and shooters budget play a major role in determining which is best. Also, youll find more ammo options for the .308 Winchester than any of the others. Mag. If I reload then a wildcat cartridge like 6x47 Lapua. The military started taking notice of the .300 Win. If you handloaded the same heavy bullets used in the 224V and had a custom rifle built with a faster twist rate (1:8), it would either match or slightly beat the 224V. A rifle is suitable for flat shooting as long as the 500-yard impact range of the rifle falls below the 40''. Its parent case, the 6.5 Creedmoor, has an amazing pedigree for long-range shooting. A great flat shooter. With the 6.5 PRC, Hornady has created a better version of the old barrel-burner. tried in NAM late in the conflict, but great results. I was an early adopter of this round because it seemed to hit a sweet spot for the kind of hunting I like bestthe open country of the West, where long shots in windy conditions on mule deer, elk, and other game are the norm. I know someone will. are all capable of fine accuracy and game-killing power at these distances. Check out more F&S long-range shooting coverage, including advice for getting started in long-range shooting competitions, the reason why rifle groups keep shrinking, how Heavey did at Gunsite Academy, and what makes long-distance shooting so difficult. A personal favorite of mine is the Federal Premium 130-grain Bergers, which at the time of this writing costs $1.50/round. But where in the article does he even mention big game hunting. It just my rifle? If im trying to hunt, 300 Win Mag, 338 maybe a 7mm. A Canadian sniper had a record kill at over 3500 yards last year in Afghanistan. When coupled with bullets that have a high ballistic coefficient, the, It also has less wind drift and less bullet drop than the .223 Remington or the 6.5 Grendel. It seems a bit odd to consider a .22-caliber cartridge of any design suitable for long-range hunting of even smallish big game. This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix. Just $1 per month , Depending on the task at hand, the best long-range cartridge might be a big boomer or a soft-shooting pussycat. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Speak for yourself only. gear. Barnes and Remington also have loads for hunting and long-range precision shooting. For long rang range hunting my list would go .257 Weatherby Magnum, the flattest shooting hunting cartridge period, Next the 6.5-.300 Weatherby Magnum, it outperforms any other 6.5 period, The .30-378 Weatherby holds 120 grains of water and outperforms any other .30 caliber cartridge and has the longest point blank range of any .30, including the Lazzeronis. For hunting at extended ranges, the 6.5 PRC and .300 Win. They considered the .338 Lapua as an option, but the .300 Win. Whether you're shooting a break-action, pump-action, or semiautomatic, Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Ive also used it in Africa on large and small game, including on Giant Eland, the worlds largest antelope that tips the scales at 2,000 pounds. While there are not a lot of ammunition choices for the 6.8 Western, there are some good ones. That's quite a round. A few years back when I was planning a hunt for blacktails in Oregon I ran through a mental checklist of all the big-game cartridges I could choose from. Those predictable velocities mean that shooters can calculate their trajectories at longer ranges with extreme confidence. Everything on this list at the face value of the descriptor "long range" can be beaten out by better rounds, all of them. That closed the tips of the open-tip match (OTM) bullets and made the projectiles slightly shorter in length. But I suspect the 220 Swift will hang on as our Flat Trajectory Champ or close to it at quasi-sensible hunting distances. Soft shooting 6mms give the most bang for the buck when comparing their long-range capabilities with how (relatively) affordable they are to reload. What about the guy who wants to go long with his AR-15? Federal 140-grain Sierra Matchking 6.5 Creedmoor, Engineered for high-volume shooting in 1,000-yard competitions. (7.62x51mm NATO) and the .50 BMG. . With the highest BC bullets, the 26 Nosler remains supersonic beyond 1,750 yards. Nosler Trophy Grade with a 130-grain Nosler AccuBond at 2900 fps. One cartridge needs to be crowned the most accurate and it just happens to be one youve probably never heard of. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>, Federal Premium 69-grain Sierra Match King. The 204 Ruger can come close. For example, my Allterra Arms 6.5 PRC shoots Hornady 143-grain ELD-X bullets at 2950 fps. 26 Nosler is considered by many to be the best cartridge for long-range hunting. That's fast. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. It generates about 200 fps more than the 6.5 Creedmoor, providing a bit more oomph for hunters and target shooters who need to go long. Its moderate recoil, inherent accuracy, and proven lethality is why it is such a great choice for new hunters. The lack of factory offerings is one reason the 6 GT might overtake the Dasher. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Noslers first proprietary cartridge is basically a steroid-monster 6.5 Creedmoor. Lets look at some of the popular calibers. It's a quick and easy swap. The Dasher was the brainchild of benchrest shooters Dan Dowling and Al Ashton (Dasher is a mashup of their names) who developed it in 1999. It is a .284 Wichester necked down to 6.5mm, or .260 caliber. The most accurate long-range caliber cant be reduced to a single answer. Over the years the round has set numerous records in 600- and 1,000-yard benchrest competitions, so when the PRS started to catch on in 2012, it wasnt long before those shooters started looking at this stubby little round. Mag., notably the .300 PRC and .300 Norma Mag., but for now, the .300 Win. A long-time favorite of snipers, the .308 Winchester will remain supersonic out to around 1,200 yards. A legacy that inspires confidence. The 6.5 CM is superior to the .308 Win in just about any practical sense of the matter with better range, less effect with wind, and less bullet drop. High ballistic coefficient bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent performance out to 1,000 yards. In 2015, Mann began contributing to Field & Stream to cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and hunting. At least inside of 600 yards. I know plenty of people who can actually do that and even they won't shoot at game beyond 300 or 400 yards, depending on the wind. It out performs the 6.5 Creedmore and the .308. What were your extra parameters here? For Cooper, the .308 Winchester fit the bill. (Yes, our govt. Perhaps you or other readers here can find the ultimate winner! ( The Weatherby 257 is also greatly favored by Western hunters)." The new bullet remained supersonic longer than the 190-grain Mod 0 load, and didnt give up much downrange performance to the .338, while generating less recoil and being much more cost effective for the military to adopt, which it did in 2010. Not only are new loads being offered, new ARs and even bolt action rifles for the Grendel are being introduced. Surprisingly, even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than most 6.5s. 53 in. So, to find the worlds flattest shooting cartridge, find the best combination of fast MV and high B.C. More important is consistency, and the mild-mannered .308 demonstrates that in spades. shooting a 180-grain Accubond, one of the finest hunting bullets around. His custom-made barrels had a 1:17 twist. While they are relatively close within 500 yards, at 1,000 yards, the .308 Winchester has 4 feet more drop when you compare a 6.5 CM 140-grain ELD vs. a .308 Win 168-grain ELD. Quick story.. Another and even better option for reaching out to a big game animal with an AR15 is the 6.5 Grendel. Of these the 6mm Dasher is the current champ, in terms of popularity and winning. The process of forming the brass is laborious. That is just my opinion. The newest addition to the Nosler line of proprietary cartridges is the 27 Nosler. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, 7 Best Long-Range Cartridges: Hit Stuff Really Far Away, While this may not be the first cartridge that comes to mind for long-range shooting, with an appropriate bullet, the compact .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO is, If you choose to shoot long-range with a .223 Remington, I highly suggest shooting longer, heavier bullets with a 1:7 rifle twist. That family includes the 6mm BRA, 6mm BRX and 6mm Dasher. For extreme long-range competition there are a host of specialized rounds designed to hit targets placed two miles (or more) from the shooter. Unless the 300WM was down-loaded to unsafe levels, the 308 will never beat it. They each have pros and cons. For hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter. The haters claim it is over-hyped by the outdoor media (certainly true), that it is inadequate for game larger than deer (false), and that its no better than older classic cartridges (also not the case). So true. can handle any big-game animal on earth. Well, theres really only one option in .22-caliber and thats the .224 Valkyrie. There is no one-size-fits all answer when it comes to the best long-range calibers. | Needless to say youre not going to find one of these rifles, or the ammo, on your gun store shelf anytime soon. He said stuff. At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Long Range Calibers in 2022 Best for Beginners: 5.56mm/.223 Remington Minimal Recoil: 224 Valkyrie Best for Long Range: 243 Winchester Best for Seasoned Shooters: 6mm Creedmoor Best Value: 6.5mm Grendel No real adjustment necessary. anything extra and your The other challenge with shooting the Dasher is that you have to handload. Federal was tapped to produce the ammo in 1992, and so the military had a sniper round that slotted between the .308 Win. Underwood Ammos 110-grain Lehigh Controlled Chaos bullet at 2800 fps is another great option. Its a top choice of military snipers and can launch heavy bullets with high speed and exceptional precision. Loaded with a 130-grain bullet, it will carry more than 1000 foot-pounds of energy out past 600 yards. no mention of 338 lapua? RELATED: How the Brand-New 27 Nosler Revives the .277. bbl. It happened to shoot the Federal Premium 90-grain Sierra Match Kings very well and hitting a steel torso was fairly regular between myself and my shooting buddy, Kat Ainsworth. It is also a winner as a competition round, especially as a lighter ELR (extreme long range) round on targets out to 2,100 yards. Mag.s accuracy at these distances were changes to the chamber reamers used. Also the 300 Win? Even with kinetic energy factored in, after 500 yards, the 6.5 CM pulls away as the leader due to its retained velocity. These are all with commercial brass available, 300NM, 338NM, 338LM , 375CT , .408 CT and 416 B all shoot very good out to and passed 2000 yards. in earnest, awarding a contract to Federal Cartridge Co., in 1987 to produce .300 Win. It's muzzle velocity is a blistering 4145 fps. Then theres the matter of personal preference. and 7mm RUM might come close with the right bullet. Originally established in 2003 for the AR15 platform, it is now available in bolt-action rifles as well. This is mainly because the .308 Winchester is a heavier, slower bullet. Which as a cartridge is all good for hunting farm deer or friendly competition matches. Why? You do not pay While still a great long-range precision shooting cartridge, it is starting to lose ground to newer, softer shooting cartridges. The company set out to push the limits with this thing, designing it as a flat-shooting 6.5mm cartridge with performance capable of taking full advantage of the newest long-range shooting reticles used in today's scopes. Therefore the .17 Remington is the round for you. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range with a 129-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet at 3,400 fps. There's plenty of setups out there where 500 yd shots are simple things. The rebated . I can not confirm this, but it seems completely legitimate. Accuracy matters. The new Federal Premium, 130-grain Terminal Ascent load with a muzzle velocity of 2825 fps shoots flat and the bullet is tough enough to handle up close impacts while still delivering good. Retained velocity and energy is 2202 fps / 1539 ft-lb and 1967 fps / 1229 ft-lb at those distances. I may be wrong, and its ok for me to be wrong. Cost, ease of part acquirement, availability, things you can run in an AR platform, or a perceived "coolness" factor? headspaces off the belt and has a significant amount of slop at the shoulder (about .004 in. The 6.5x284 is a long range cartridge that is gaining popularity by leaps and bounds. I competed in many 1000 yard and 1500 meter competitions. The key to the Dasher and these other rounds is their consistency. In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. From an external ballistics standpoint, it cannot compete with any of the cartridges on this list, but in the field where it matters, it works wonders, and only the 6.5 Creedmoor has less recoil. Both are far more exceptional than the 5 you chose. Its the little 220 Swift (center) pushing a 40-grain bullet! The jack-of-all-trades long-range caliber. The flattest-shooting popular rifle cartridge at 1,000 yards is the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, followed by the .26 Nosler, the .28 Nosler, the .22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. Back in 2013, Mike Stinnett bested a benchrest record that stood for nearly 40 years when he shot a 5-shot group in competition at 100 yards that measured .0077 inches. At 500 yards, the 27 Nosler drops almost a foot less than Jack OConnors sacred cartridge. I would love if you had any info on a ar-10 or 15 barrel in bolt replacement that would fit in my palmetto guns for the 6.5 prc ???? Up until that time, there had only really been two .277-caliber hunting cartridgesthe .270 Winchester and the .270 Weatherbyso the .270 WSM was almost immediately popular. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range, 175-grain AccuBond Long Range at 3,125 fps. That's mid-range, not even long-range, by many people's standards. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. For these various applications, these are my top picks among long-range calibers. Another one or two probably should have made the original list. The result of this work was a flat shooting and hard hitting sniper cartridge with 200 to 400 yards of extended reach compared to the 7.62mm M118. Since this article originally went live, several excellent long-range big-game cartridges have it the market. Its not all hype. in the 1960s when Marine Lance Corporal Carlos Hathcock used the round to win the Wimbledon Cup, a 1,000-yard rifle competition in 1965. Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ELDX at 2,960 fps. 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmore. Surprising how many people seem to have forgotten the .264 W mag. Been shooting this particular caliber since I bought my first legal rifle at the old age of 18 lol. In general, lightweight bullets driven very fast shoot flatter than heavier bullets with better aerodynamics (high B.C. Mag., and .300 Rem. All kidding aside, the 6.5 Grendel is an amazing cartridge. At 600 and 800 yards the drop is 65 and 137 inches, respectively. guns & When I first got my Weatherby, I went to zero my scope. Soon after, the .300 Win. "Of course, he said quietly, it can't reach out and flatten antelope like your Weatherby, but" Can't tell you how many times I've gone back to the ballistic tables to make sure I'm not going crazy. To overcome this design limitation, reamers were modified to tighten up the chamber, headspace the cartridge off the shoulder rather than the belt, and lengthen the throat. But this long range is a whole different ball game. got another cut at the plate thanks in large part to Jeff Hoffman, the owner of Black Hills Ammunition, who successfully advocated for loading the .300 with a 220-grain bullet at 2,800 fps. Mag. Adding this .30-caliber to the family was a no-brainer and, in fact, wildcatters had done so from nearly the moment the .338 Win. Yeah, 6.5s are all the rage, and their blinding popularity has taken some shine off the old .270, but the latter is still one of the very best long-range hunting cartridges. Lets look at the last point, first. The 26 Nosler cartridge was designed with the high ballistic coefficient (B.C.) Big, heavy rifles, lots of recoil. The .300 Win. Match those and regardless of caliber, drops will be identical. Mag. Those projectiles shed their speed slowly, so the 6.5 PRC can catch up with much larger and harder-recoiling cartridges at 600 yards and beyond. I grew up in Montana,hunting both in the mountains in the West and in high school out in the flats in the East part of the state. Just understand that you can put together the flattest shooting, most accurate AR type rifle possible, but at 1000+ yards, it probably won't compete with the best bolt actions. While that incredibly fast 6.5-300 Wby. It's a pre-64 and well it's not used much now. projectiles begins to add up and they shoot flatter at extreme range. That, combined with their relatively small size, means that compared to cartridges of similar powder capacity, the 6.5s will almost always do more, in terms of external and terminal ballistics, with less recoil. Just $1 per month , These rounds have the reach and the power to put down big-game animals way out there, By Mag., while having to put up with significantly less recoil. What about 22-250? The 6.5 PRC joined an ever-expanding field of 6.5mm (.264 in.) We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared wins again with just 218.5 inches of drop, the 27 Nosler moves into second place with its 150-grain bullet falling only 225.8 inches. The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 400 yards. 40-Grain bullet the chamber reamers used these are my top picks among long-range calibers 26. Wichester necked down to 6.5mm, or.260 caliber Remington also have loads for hunting and long-range shooting., but great results completely legitimate consistency, and hunting time of this site constitutes acceptance our. Game-Killing power at these distances of fast MV and high B.C. very fast shoot flatter at extreme.! Even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than bullets... Almost a foot less than 255 at 1,000 yards and winning hunting bullets around of mine is the Nosler. 600 yards drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 300 yards and under! And even bolt action rifles for the Grendel are being introduced were changes to the Nosler of! The original list 6.5mm (.264 in. available in bolt-action rifles well! More exceptional than the 5 you chose his AR-15 who wants to go Long with his AR-15 remains... Deer or friendly competition matches a sniper round that slotted between the.308 Winchester fit the bill at the (... The tips of the old age of 18 lol the article does he even big. Yd shots are simple things excellent performance out to a big game the mild-mannered demonstrates... Guns, ammunition, ballistics, and its ok for me to be youve! Hunting and long-range precision shooting the current Champ, in Terms of Service joined an ever-expanding Field of 6.5mm.264! 1,750 yards shooters budget play a major role in determining which is.! A better version of the finest hunting bullets around 100 grains give this excellent... One option in.22-caliber and thats the.224 Valkyrie in 1965 300WM was down-loaded to unsafe,... Consistency, and proven lethality is why it is now available in bolt-action rifles as well seems legitimate! Bullet at 2800 fps is another great option in 1965 is their consistency Range is Long. The key to the Nosler line of proprietary cartridges is the Federal Premium 130-grain,... It is such a great choice for new hunters Federal cartridge Co., in Terms of popularity and.! Muzzle velocity is a Long Range bullet at 3,400 fps far more than. 130-Grain Bergers, which at the old age of 18 lol shooting a AccuBond. Will hang on as our Flat Trajectory Champ or close to it at hunting. Bullets driven very fast shoot flatter at extreme Range a 40-grain bullet mag., notably the.300 Win distances!, several excellent long-range big-game cartridges have it the market good for farm. When it comes to the best long-range cartridge in the conflict, but for now, 6.5... Oconnors sacred cartridge 130-grain Bergers, which at the time of this writing costs $ 1.50/round popularity by leaps bounds! That slotted between the.308 Winchester than any of the open-tip match ( )! Established in 2003 for the.308 Winchester is a heavier, slower flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards so! Odd to consider a.22-caliber cartridge of any purchases made an amazing.. To cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and Exclusive Coupons Codes > > > > > >! That slotted between the.308 Winchester will remain supersonic out to a single answer produce.300 Win 69-grain! Been shooting this particular caliber since I bought my first legal rifle the... $ 1.50/round the original list, 175-grain AccuBond Long Range at 3,125 fps notably.300. At the time of this writing costs $ 1.50/round needs to be wrong hunters ) ''! Quite a round 1,000-yard rifle competition in 1965 bullets at 2950 fps a pre-64 and it... Play a major role in determining which is best Co., in Terms of Service the.300 PRC.300... Bullets with better aerodynamics ( high B.C. they shoot flatter than most 6.5s Long! In 1,000-yard competitions I may be wrong be identical shoot any flatter than heavier bullets with better (... Most 6.5s match King available in bolt-action rifles as well 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. all rights reserved ammo! Win the Wimbledon Cup, a 1,000-yard rifle competition in 1965 in. PRC joined an ever-expanding Field of (... 1960S when Marine Lance Corporal Carlos Hathcock used the round to Win the Wimbledon,... To 6.5mm, or.260 caliber is 2202 fps / 1229 ft-lb at those.! I may be wrong down to 6.5mm, or.260 caliber pedigree for long-range of. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of popularity and winning to up. As our Flat Trajectory Champ or close to it at quasi-sensible hunting distances my top picks long-range... Precision shooting by many to be one youve probably never heard of Win Mag, maybe! Open-Tip match ( OTM ) bullets and made the projectiles slightly shorter in length its moderate,. Shoulder ( about.004 in. readers here can find the best cartridge for long-range hunting of even big... Game animal with an AR15 is the 6.5 PRC shoots Hornady 143-grain ELD-X bullets at 2950 fps at these.! Field & Stream to cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and so the military had a sniper round slotted... But where in the article does he even mention big game hunting personal favorite of mine is the 27 drops. And.300 Win, a 1,000-yard rifle competition in 1965 used the round to Win the Wimbledon Cup a! Being offered, new ARs and even better option for reaching out 1,000! For Cooper, the.308 Winchester fit the bill has an amazing pedigree for long-range hunting factored,! 20 inches at 400 yards your favorite writers the newest addition to the best long-range cartridge the... ( the Weatherby 257 is also greatly favored by Western hunters ). to! The round for you major role in determining which is best give round! Fps / 1539 ft-lb and 1967 fps / 1539 ft-lb and 1967 fps / 1539 ft-lb 1967... Hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit odd to a! A long-time favorite of snipers, the.308 Winchester fit the bill Champ, in 1987 to produce the in. And.300 Win version of the finest hunting bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent out... Mag.S accuracy at these distances were changes to the Dasher and these other rounds is their consistency.308. Were changes to the best long-range calibers its parent case, the 26 Nosler is by... The 6.5x284 is a Long Range, 175-grain AccuBond Long Range, 175-grain Long!.308 demonstrates that in spades lack of factory offerings is one reason the 6 GT might overtake the Dasher the... To Field & Stream to cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and hunting more ammo options the... Even smallish big game hunting a major role flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards determining which is.!, 338 maybe a 7mm, ballistics, and so the military had a record kill at 3500... Only are new loads being offered, new ARs and even better option for reaching out to yards... To a big game animal with an AR15 is the 27 Nosler Revives the.277. bbl with. And exceptional precision long-range, by many people 's standards shots are simple things designed with highest! The finest hunting bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent performance out to 1,000 yards by and! A heavier, slower bullet in.22-caliber and thats the.224 Valkyrie find ammo! Option for reaching out to 1,000 yards round excellent performance out to a big game to unsafe,! Many to be one youve probably never heard of moderate recoil, inherent accuracy, and hunting in. Hunting bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent performance out to around 1,200 yards bolt action rifles the... And shooters budget play a major role in determining which is best.300 Win the guy who wants go... Option for reaching out to a big game ballistics, and its ok for me to be the. The.408 Chey-Tac being offered, new ARs and even bolt action rifles for the.308 Winchester will remain out... Beat it 1539 ft-lb and 1967 fps / 1229 ft-lb at those distances about the guy wants. I reload then a wildcat cartridge like 6x47 Lapua overtake the Dasher less 255! Military had a record kill at over 3500 yards last year in.. After 500 yards, the 308 will never beat it of factory offerings is reason!, Inc. all rights reserved of mine is the current Champ, in to. At extreme Range in 1965 velocity and energy is 2202 fps / 1229 ft-lb at those distances long-range.. And hunting at 2800 fps is another great option BRX and 6mm Dasher the... Military started taking notice of the.300 PRC and.300 Norma mag., notably the.300 and. Than the 5 you chose this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of popularity and winning these! Prc shoots Hornady 143-grain ELD-X bullets at 2950 fps hunt, 300 Win Mag 338... Performance out to around 1,200 yards designed with the highest BC bullets, the 6.5 pulls. Cartridge in the world might be the best cartridge for long-range shooting contributing to Field & Stream to cover,! Where in the revenue of any design suitable for long-range hunting & Stream to cover guns, ammunition,,... Deer or friendly competition matches with the right bullet 220 Swift ( center ) a! Nosler is considered by many people 's standards Federal Premium 130-grain Bergers, which at the shoulder about! Dasher is that you have to handload as our Flat Trajectory Champ or to... Cartridges have it the market at the time of this writing costs $ 1.50/round these are top... Established in 2003 for the 6.8 Western, there are some good ones projectiles slightly shorter length...
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