Love the caliber. Its pinpoint accuracy makes it deadly on these animals to 500 yards and more. Some people take their rifle out two weeks before the season and fire a dozen shots, these people probably fall into the 50 or 100 yard category. 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. Rate it below. Many of the contenders are based on the 6mm Benchrest cartridge. They each have pros and cons. I recommend a longer 20-inch barrel to gain as much velocity as possible for extended range. Hoping to hear some good things about it too. It's a quick and easy swap. .260 Rem., .243, 6.5 x something, etc. I hate to be so critical here but when you start a list of "best long range cartridges" with the 5.56 you have immediately started off by being disingenuous. The 6.5C shoots bullets that are more aerodynamic (higher BC) and at faster speeds.. We really neednt measure individual cartridges/bullets because just two things determine drop: muzzle velocity and bullet B.C. But with this dead-flat launch angle we get an accurate picture of pure drop. I just think this article was not specifically a hunting article. However, it proved to be mostly a flash in the pan. Mag.s accuracy at these distances were changes to the chamber reamers used. And that factor alone will make a person a more competent field marksman and a better, more ethical hunter. Mag., .338 Win. When it came out in 1925, 300 yards was considered about the max distance for shots on game, and the .270 Winchester was quickly recognized as one of, if not the, best commercial option for that. 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmore. Brownings 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing load has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2835 fps and a very high ballistic coefficient. Many western hunters still swear by the 220 Swift as a pronghorn and mule deer round. Are going to forget about 6.5 rem mag again? Why It Made the Cut: The 6.5 Creedmoor brought affordable long-range performance to the masses. Caliber selection is all about figuring what trade-offs make the most sense for what you want to accomplish. Mag. Introduced by Remington in 1962 along with their Model 700 bolt-action rifle, Remingtons Seven-Mag was the beginning of the end of Winchesters .264. Mag. When the .264 Winchester Magnum was introduced about 60 years ago, it became a sensation with shooters looking to extend their reach in the field. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. You must adequately define these currently nebulous extra parameters that lead you to make these statements and pass them off as informative. From 600 to 1000 yards they use a 300 Winchester. 7 mm. Mag. Need to drop an Elk at 500 yards? Mag. The .300 Win. Those folks who actually do have that great deal of training and practice, once again, know better than to take outrageously long shots on our valuable big game animals. Why It Made the Cut: The .308 Winchester is the ultimate jack-of-all-trades long-range caliber. The third time proved to be the charm. The 300 PRC will cruise above the speed of sound out to 1,650 yards. when it comes to long range hunting I have to stick to my 7mm mag custom made bolt action, an extremely flat trajectory and shots at over 1000 yards are very common. What are some of your favorite long-range cartridges? That's quite a round. I may be wrong, and its ok for me to be wrong. 6mm vs. 6.5mm vs. Big 30s In 100/200 yard Benchrest shooting, the 6PPC is pretty much king of the hill. To which I would answer neither the 300WM or the .338. I think it slightly beats the 224V), I'm from Italy. That's a fine caliber, I said. hit its first major stumble. 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. Stinnett stacked those bullets so perfectly that the shot-to-shot variance was only detectable by precision calipers. Yet it has proven again and again that it will deliver at distance. After reaching out to 1,250 yards on a trip to the amazing High Bar Homestead in Gillette, WY, I am now a firm believer in the .224 Valkyrie. When talking about long-range calibers and their best applications, the immediate question pops up: For what? For good reason. So who is going to tell me how bad it is. These are the calibers that I have seen shot to 2000 yards or more that are very accurate. Loaded with a 130-grain bullet, it will carry more than 1000 foot-pounds of energy out past 600 yards. Underwood Ammos 110-grain Lehigh Controlled Chaos bullet at 2800 fps is another great option. My first successful hunt with a rifle was an antelope (ie, very small kill zone compared to an elk) shot at 330 yards. That's about 55 Statues of Liberty (305'), not 20. Survival Survival. Not only are new loads being offered, new ARs and even bolt action rifles for the Grendel are being introduced. The technique of holding the butt rather than the fore end - not too difficult, Swifts 150-grain Scirocco at 3,036 fps delivers outstanding terminal performance. The .277 is an oddball bullet diameter, in that it doesnt fall into the much more common 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30-caliber categories. Which as a cartridge is all good for hunting farm deer or friendly competition matches. If youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX Long Range load. That's mid-range, not even long-range, by many people's standards. If you have a laser range finder and know the exact distance, its not. However, in the 1000-yard game, many different calibers can win. With the 6.5 PRC, Hornady has created a better version of the old barrel-burner. Chief, I certainly respect your opinion, but having hunted out west I'd like to make a counter argument for you and others to consider. 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. This "best" list is a list of "best" for the author, others mileage may vary. i think the 50 bmg would make most every ones list on this topic. He didn't say Elk or Deer or Hogs or Trolls. Though the recoil in sporting-weight rifles is a bit much to allow you to see bullet impacts inside . Need to recheck your math when you were talking about the .416 Barrett clinking at 5497m. The reason why 6.5mm cartridges are exploding in popularity is because they are ultra-efficient. Tikka T3 CTR Tikka rifles are excellent shooters. But what are the flattest shooting rifle cartridges? Those are the hunting rifles, see a pattern? In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. But if you can shoot this cartridge well, with its supersonic speed out beyond 1,650 yards, youre just about unstoppable at distance, and there are lots of factory loads and riflesaffordable and expensiveto choose from. A good 1000-yard stock will feature a flat fore-end, 3 or so wide . A: Kelly, it depends on the distance across which you want to measure. For hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter. Sadly, this round too fell short, not meeting the accuracy standards that the Navy had established while developing chamber pressure that exceeds SAMMI standards in the process. Get proficient on YOUR time. In general, lightweight bullets driven very fast shoot flatter than heavier bullets with better aerodynamics (high B.C. With their Vanguard line you can do it for less than $900. Once dialed in, I was able to put rounds on a steel silhouette with ease. Where? I've been teaching my dad how to shoot. Well, theres really only one option in .22-caliber and thats the .224 Valkyrie. His first 5 shots were all hits. With the exception of the 7mm Remington Magnum, cartridges of this diameter have never been as popular in America as they should bemaybe because this was the caliber of the Imperial German Army and the Nazis. Death in the Long Grass: A Big Game Hunter's Adventures in the African Bush .by Peter H. Capstick, Dino Paravano, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders (Volume 1) Paperback, The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game, Horn of the Hunter: The Story of an African Safari Kindle Edition, Use Enough Gun: On Hunting Big Game Hardcover, Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail: Upland Birds and Small Game from Field to Feast Hardcover March 1, 2018, The Easy Venison Cookbook: 60 Simple Recipes for Deer, Elk, and Moose Kindle Edition, 8.5x63mm: A Rimmed Thumper for Heavy Critters. Maybe 250 if the stars align. I also want to give credit to a couple of long-range AR cartridges that deserve honorable mention. Shot from SAAMI-mandated 1-8 twist barrels, the 6.5s long, slender bullets seem to almost defy wind and gravity and allow this cartridge to deliver clean kills at distance. at 150-grains, the bullet is a bit light, but it still has enough energy at 1,000-yards for deer, bear, and elk. I then went about correcting it for the 300-yard target. It will push a 90-grain Fusion bullet to 500 yardswhich is probably the limit for big game with this cartridgewhile still retaining enough velocity to initiate expansion. Faster velocities mean flatter trajectories. Speak for yourself only. Shooting a 180-grain bullet (.507 G1 BC) at 2,960 fps and sighted in 1.5 inches high at 100 yards, the .300 Win. can handle any big-game animal on earth. The long-time standard bearers are Federals two Gold Medal Match loads, the 168- and 175-grain BTHPs. Its also based on the 220 Russian/7.62x39mm Russian cartridge, but unlike the Valkyriewhich uses a 0.223-caliber bulletthe Grendel is yet another 6.5. To build off of the PSA .224 Valkyrie Upper you recommended is there any other changes needed to a standard AR-15 lower assembly? My favorite for many years is the 7mmX300 Weatherby on a Ruger No.1 with a Schillen @ 24'' a long with the 264 Win. Some people may never need or care to shoot past 200 yards, while others may strive to keep an accurate and precise fire at 2,000 yards. 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. 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. Match those and regardless of caliber, drops will be identical. A long-time favorite of snipers, the .308 Winchester will remain supersonic out to around 1,200 yards. While there isnt much of a cheap alternative for 6.5 CM ammunition, Lucky Gunner lists S&B 140-grain FMJs for $0.78/round. In reference to the gentleman saying a hunter shouldnt take a long range shot, what he meant was He shouldnt take a long range shot. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. shooting a 180-grain Accubond, one of the finest hunting bullets around. (, 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. Q: Ron, I would love to see you do a video on the all-time flattest shooting rifle. So true. But the velocity with a lighter grain bullet and the case capacity makes for a tremendous long-range round. Another downside is that the 6mm Creedmoor does not buck the wind as well as its bigger brother, the 6.5 Creedmoor. I shoot a lot of team matches and although I run a 6mm GT (another fine round that has the potential to knock the 6mm Dasher from its perch), my shooting partner runs a 6mm Dasher, so Ive seen what it can do first-hand. They usually start at around $300. That is just my opinion. Hornady is loading 6 GT ammunition with 109-grain ELD-M bullets that are available through GA Precision. Don't need to be a super-awesome-Operator or competitive shooter to know this. Newer cartridges do offer better ballistics, but at the expense of more recoil, shooter barrel life and less off-the-shelf cartridge selection. Finally, there are the really big, long range specialty cartridges like 408 CheyTac and 416 Barrett, but I dont consider those sporting hunting options. Not much else to say, sorry. wanting to hunt with it as wells a compete win PRC Im thinking it is all that Ineed and a little more. With its rebated rim and 1/2-inch diameter at the base, it is essentially a longer version of the 6.5284 Norma; ballistically equivalent to the .264 Winchester Magnum. Big, heavy rifles, lots of recoil. The .30-06 Cartridge Ballistics In 2019, Nosler submitted the cartridge to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Institute (SAAMI) for approval, and in 2020, you can expect to see Nosler and other ammunition manufacturers offering factory loaded ammunition and even rifles for it. It has ample killing power for all but the largest of game, it is easy to shoot well, the cartridge is inherently accurate. 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. (Even though the term cartridges is correct, the common usage of caliber dictates why this story is called Best Long-Range Calibers rather than Best Long-Range Cartridges.). 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. It combined flat-shooting ballistics with hard-hitting bullets in a package with lighter recoil than the .300 Weatherby Magnum, which debuted in 1944. It was also a resounding success and has remained popular with hunters looking to stretch their effective range. Nosler Trophy Grade with a 150-grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range at 3300 fps. Nosler is loading the 27 with their famous AccuBond, which is one of the best big-game bullets ever crafted. Thats a lot of freedom. Prior this Ive been an old school kinda guy, shooting offhand and making sure I can hit what I aim at out to 300 yards. Flattest-Shooting Cartridges Ever Backfire 641K subscribers Subscribe 4.2K 173K views 1 year ago The flattest shooting rifle cartridges are listed in this video to help shooters determine. Generally, long-range shooting is pure sport and for sport the effectiveness of the round on target is moot. Recoil is negligible, making it a great option for hunter with sensitive shoulders. The same thing with the 556mm. The long range military rifles on my list would start with the .338 Lapua, .375 Cheytec, .408 Cheytac, the .416 Barrett and finally the .50 Bmg. Get Our Top Shooting Drills and Zeroing Targets ($47 value - but FREE for a limited time). One reason for the .300 Win. There are not many places you can shoot 500 yards. At 100 yards with black powder 50 kaliber. Nostalgia for my earliest days in deer camp. An F-Class shooter engages the 1,000-yard target at the Wendover, Utah, Air Force range (inactive). The 223 WSSM might even beat the Swift, although its nearly obsolete already. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Nonetheless, 7mm bullets can be extremely aerodynamic and, as legendary elephant hunter Karamojo Bell proved, effective on even the largest animals. One of the advantages of the 300 Winchester Magnum is that it can be loaded in a long-rifle action rather than a more expensive Magnum receiver. Just dont try to enumerate its downsides to anyone who knows anything, because there arent any that matter. Now, the .280 AI is finally a SAAMI-approved cartridge, and while ammunition options are sparse, its performance is right there with the 7mm Remington Magnum. During benchrest competition the targets have a paper backer that is moving placed behind them. 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. It is the Madonna of long-range rounds. . For me a guy who likes hitting steel at long range this article was extremely helpful. But putting the emotional draws to the cartridge aside, there are still plenty of pragmatic reasons for the choice. anything extra and your Model 70 with a 24" Medium wt. We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared Heavier bullets in the Swift, however, were lauded in the mid-20th century as incredibly effective, quick killers by animal damage control shooters who were culling destructive, invasive feral burros and horses from Grand Canyon National Park. Like Alice in Wonderland, you can go down a very deep rabbit hole of different calibers and cartridges for long-range shooting. A rifle is suitable for flat shooting as long as the 500-yard impact range of the rifle falls below the 40''. Shoots flatter than a 243- wheich already kicks a 6.5 cm was. With the right bullet and (as always) good shot placement, the 6.5 Creedmoor hits hard. 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 If im trying to hunt, 300 Win Mag, 338 maybe a 7mm. First deer rifle ever since I was 13 and I keep going back to it (37 now). So many variables and I think the age old "it depends". Lots of hunters consider the .270 Winchester one of the best all-purpose, short- and long-range cartridges of all time. (The only reasons I can think of to buy the 308 is if you are going compete in a competition that requires that caliber or you already have plenty of reloading gear for the 308 and you don't want to change that over also. The .257 Weatherby is one of the flattest-shooting cartridges made. It is a screamer, and with increased velocity comes increased range. (cartridge overall length) that fits inside an AR15 magazine well can be capable of 1,000+ yards. Serious long-range shooters shouldn't make compromises; 6 mm ARC bullets will reach 1,000 yards before any of the others and they will also remain supersonic longer, too. 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. A rather odd collection but since anytime we have a "best" of anything its all subjective. Richard Mann Now, you might think this cartridge is new and unproven. Look at what the best are shooting in PRS, pretty much 6mm and variants. The problem with articles like this is that it gives younger readers (whose experience likely includes playing call of duty or watching American sniper) the false impression that any of these rounds will simply do the trick without a great deal of training and practice.
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