We were always trained to overcome our shortcomings. 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). All of these factors will ultimately decide if you will be sticking with ole reliable the .308 Winchester or reaching deeper into your pockets for the new and improved .300 Norma Magnum. off-the-shelf ammo, most of the time you will not have the luxury of thumbing through several different BCs of the same caliber and ammo manufacturer. For optimum LR performance, the 108 ELD Match projectile; G1: 0.515, G7: 0.268. This allows 300 PRC rifles to handle ultra-long .30-caliber bullets with high ballistic coefficients. Competitive shooters traditionally pick a hollowpoint boattail bullet in the 168-grain range, such as Sierras obscenely accurate MatchKing. The .308 Win. A rifle's precision depends on the tightness of the groupings it shoots or the MOA (Minute of Angle) it holds. As originally designed in 1963, the .300 Win. The .224 Valkyrie was the child of an experiment by Federal in 2017 to reach into the 1,000-yard competition circuit (which was dominated by the .30 caliber class cartridges) with a small .22 caliber projectile. Now when it comes to ammo, I already mentioned wildcat cartridges. History: Created in 2007 by a ballistics team from Hornady, the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed as an improved Long Range target cartridge, based on the .308 Winchester .30 TC (Thompson Center). Incredible mid to long-range performance. Mag. Its too much cartridge to be practical in PRS or sniper-type competitions. This is especially important to those of you who reload and can tailor a custom load for your rifle. Now getting up into the .30 cal plus magnum rounds, the recoil will be noticeably greater than the .308 Winchester. For average shooters wanting to plink at steel targets on their family farm, this round is far overkill. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. With the projectile variability and network of knowledge on this cartridge, I think its a great option to build a classic hunting rifle. by Tactical-Life. To experiment with load developments to craft the ultimate 6.5 bolt gun cartridge. It hits hard and flies flat and straight. .308 vs. 5.56 Make the Best Choice for Yourself! This topic of long-range calibers is debated across many different disciplines including PRS, Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting, etc. The lack of factory offerings is one reason the 6 GT might overtake the Dasher. Lighter projectiles may be pushed faster, but most long-range shooters prefer the outstanding ballistics of the heavy-for-caliber versions. Now they use special loads and heavy 77 or 80 grain bullets which the. Cross-Platform Use: This case was designed to be used out of the AR platform for PRS (Precision Rifle Series) matches. Currently, G1 through G8 and GL is the only mathematical models to express BCs. Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. For hunters, the retained energy, MV, and increased projectile expansion technology, the 6.5CM makes for a great terminally performing round for medium and even large games. For the hunting world, yes. Handloading ammunition can reap the reward of selecting the exact projectile with the exact desired BC. 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. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Which Caliber for 1000 Yards? | Sniper & Sharpshooter Forums Muzzle Velocity: Firing a 300gr SMK, MV: 2,650 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: 300gr SMK, G1: 0.747 G7: 0.383. If you want to shoot flat and hit hard, this is the cartridge; at 1,000 yards it hits with more than 1,500 foot-pounds of energy. To date, the .300 NM will be a bolt action system only. Very similar to the Lapua Magnum. For hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter. Overall best performance for the cost and practicality is the goal. For those lucky enough to be able to own and fire a .338 rifle, you know what I mean. Many shooters claim the .224 has about half of the felt recoil as a .308. Best 1,000-Yard Rifles For Under $1,000 Shooting Long Range 1. Like many of the Volquartsen rimfires, it's good for hunting and precision shooting. This last factor will doom the cartridge, in and of itself if no one else picks up the torch for brass production (which isnt likely). Thought a Beretta shotgun was out of your budget? At least a dozen or more superb match loads are available from Hornady, Federal, Barnes, Nosler, Winchester, American Eagle, SIG Sauer and a plethora of smaller boutique ammo companies. 1,500m: 776 ft-lbs. It hits hard and flies flat and straight. MSRP: $1,537; Check availability here. Now when it comes to ammo, I already mentioned. Yeah, itll work in a bolt gun, but in the AR-15 it is the undisputed best cartridge for stretching distance. The .224 Valkyrie takes the benefits from the .223 and extends its range performance drastically. MOA vs MRAD Rifle Scopes Which is Best for Long Range? This caliber filled a very necessary rule in the combat space. You can certainly find uppers to piece onto your AR-10 lower. To find the ideal caliber youll have to ask yourself a few questions. Im not going to dive too deep down that rabbit-hole, or even techniques to help. Little information is out there on 6.5 PRC barrel life. What I can tell you is that choosing the right caliber in relation to recoil can make or break your performance as a shooterespecially if youre new to the game. A quarterback must spin the football in a way to achieve a tight spiral. That one-millimeter difference means a large increase in MV. In order to do so, their already proven case, the 6.8 SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) was necked down to fit a .22 caliber projectile. Sniper teams were already comfortable with the way a 308 performed. The average price per round will be $1.25. In the future, maybe the Over .30 Cal Club will find some traction in the AR- world. This caliber has even won military contracts from SOCOM in 2017, which I specifically took part in. As said before, the standard rifle manufacturers have not caught up the .224 Valkyrie. Ballistically, it is very close to the much older 264 Winchester Magnum, which is another great long-range cartridge. Bergara also offers a matching .22 LR training rifle for cheap practice. I talked to the score keepers watching the target cameras and they confirmed they could see what looked like an impact on the plate as well. Does it go the farthest? Given the projectile weight and MV, I would guess barrel life to degrade around the 2,000 round mark. Recoil Condition: This round is special just like the other 6.5mm projectiles in its class. Ballistic Co-Efficient: Using Berger 140gr VLD projectiles G1: 0.593 G7: 0.304, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,266 ft-lbs 500m: 1,174 ft-lbs 1,000m: 535 ft-lbs 1,500m: 296 ft-lbs. 1,500m: 426 ft-lbs. The .260 Remington and 6.5x55 have higher muzzle velocities, but the mandated faster twist rate of the Creed is what allows it to handle higher BC bullets and outperform both at distance. Also, experience firing large bore calibers is advised. The history and service-record behind the .308 goes all the way back to the 1950s. How to Get Started in Long-Range Shooting Competitions Over 100 ft-lbs difference! Federal smartly shortened the 6.8 SPC case and gave it a 30-degree shoulder. This is one of the most informative articles I have read on calibers. If you are investing $800 on a Proof Research, carbon-wrapped barrelreplacing that every 1,500 rounds will be costly. Ballistically, it absolutely trounces the .308 Win. Since its inception, the .308 has remained the most popular choice of Long Range shooters, snipers, and hunters. A legacy that inspires confidence. He took that case and necked it down to load .243 (6mm) projectiles. Barrel life is excellent, even when 10-shot rapid-fire strings are run over and over during a weekend match. The info on barrel life added a lot of depth. For Cooper, the .308 Winchester fit the bill. Most off the shelf set-ups are going to be on the high end of the market so the 6mm CM is not ideal for a beginner shooter. And the AR-10 was designed SPECIFICALLY for the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO. Thats when I was approached by another shooter who said I hit the bottom right portion of the plate, and I looked through his spotter to confirm. Such bullets provide a good balance of best BC/best velocity out of the .308. The Lapua .243 Win. We have put together a table for you to compare values side by side, and below the table, we go more in-depth on each caliber. It is meant for the traditional long-range projectile; featuring a long, slender ogive and a boat-tail rear end. You could say that the 6 mm Creedmoor story started in 1955 with the introduction of the .244 Remington, which was a .257 Roberts cartridge necked down to 6 mm. This also means barrel life will vary greatly. The retained velocity at 400 yards is 2,261 fps, providing plenty of punch for hunters who like to shoot with a point-blank zero. Unless you are a military sniper, this round has almost zero practicality. Cross-Platform Use: The 6.5 Lapua is primarily a bolt-gun only caliber. The world finally caught on that bigger and louder, does not equate to better performance at extended ranges. The fact that if the .308 was good enough for our boys in Viet Nam, then it sure as hell is good enough for me. Garmin Tactix 7 Pro Ballistic Solar-Powered GPS Smartwatch: First Look, Wilson Combat SFX9 5-Inch Solid Frame 9mm Pistol: First Look. I suspect that going forward, a lot of top PRS shooters will be transitioning to the 6.5 Creedmoor. The calibers up for debate will be: .223/5.56mm, .224 Valkyrie, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Grendel, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), 6.5x47mm Lapua, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, and the .338 Norma Magnum. 1,000m: 1,345 ft-lbs. The .300 Norma Magnum comes to us from the .338 Norma Magnum, necked down to accept a .30 cal projectile. To explain Transonic Range, think about the physics of a football. Cross-Platform Use: In the future, maybe the Over .30 Cal Club will find some traction in the AR- world. But the truth is you dont need to suffer with bad .308 ammo. A column writer for Outdoor Life wanted to do a piece on how to design a wildcat cartridge. Its built along the principles of modern cartridge design. Todays magnum cartridges show us the performance that could only exist in science fiction, 20 years ago. Projectile manufacturers are even still making their high-end rounds in .243. He took that case and necked it down to load .243 (6mm) projectiles. For target shooting, the lighter recoiling Creedmoor is probably a better choice, but for hunting and tactical application at distance, the PRC hits harder. Youve already come here, which shows you are willing to read. hit its first major stumble. All 6mm projectiles are notorious for extremely fast throat erosion. To salvage the project, the Navy switched to 185-grain Lapua FMJs, which went into production in 1990. It also induced instability that rendered the round unstable and inaccurate at 800 yards and beyond. For hunters, medium-game will be the limit of this caliber. Overall Practicality: If you had the money to spend on it, and were not needing a semi-auto rifle for competitions, the .300 Norma Magnum is possibly the best performing round on this list. What Caliber Is An AR-15? A lot can actually affect the observed recoil of a Long Range rifle. For extreme long-range competition there are a host of specialized rounds designed to hit targets placed two miles (or more) from the shooter. History: The 6mm Creedmoor can obviously be related to its slightly bigger brother; the 6.5CM. To this day, the 7.62x51mm still has a place in the modern military sniper community. Recoil is polite, making it easy to focus on correctly executing the shot instead of clenching your teeth in anticipation. The cartridge was designed for reliable feeding in battle rifles, not efficient powder burns for consistent accuracy. Other than that, the projectiles will always be available. Overall Practicality: The .223 is an excellent choice for an inexperienced and/or younger shooter. Initial Thoughts: Just like any new and exciting caliber that is designed specifically for the LR community, I know the performance will be top-notch. The moly does extend the cleaning interval a little bit, probably 20 percent or so. A good hunting cartridge. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, 7 Best New Cartridges for Long-Range Precision, First Look: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint. 1,000m: 1,287 ft-lbs. Thread starter Schw15; Start date Nov 30, 2019; Forums. All in all, this caliber is excellent for those of you who do not have the time, money, or training to dive into 1000m+ shooting. .300 Winchester Magnum. Now that we are pushing a 140gr projectile up to nearly 3,000 fps, the recoil will slightly increase over the 6.5 Creedmoor. Wont do that again. Why not mention the 7mm Remington Mag? On the downside, the Dasher can be finicky with respect to feeding since it is so short and has a steep 40-degree shoulder. The .243 does not have enough. That being said, there are plenty of commercial options, but the price will be much higher than standard cartridges. 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. Get the gist? I shot this out of the new Barrett ASR at 1,600m. History: Winchester designed the .300 WSM in 2001 with the idea of a hybrid. Other than that, the projectiles will always be available. I can already hear the snarls and gnashing teeth of offended readers. Barrel Life: Average barrel life will depend greatly on ammo type and how fast the gun is shot (barrel temp.). . For those PRS guys that prefer bolt-guns, the PRC is a great alternative to the CM. I had some elevation issues with target six because of the 17 to 26 mph 4:30 wind. Of these the 6mm Dasher is the current champ, in terms of popularity and winning. Budget speaking, the 6.5 Grendel is much more of a value in rifle and ammo costs than the AR-10 class of calibers. At 1000m, look at how much more RE the 140gr bullet has over the 130gr. Daniel Defense Delta 5 6. The 6mm BR competition guys love to shoot fast strings in competition to get the best wind conditions, so they commonly see 1000-1500 for 6mm Dasher. This cartridge was designed to deliver devastating .30 cal Magnum performance. Muzzle Velocity: Using the 143 grain ELD-X, 2950 fps. To put that in perspective, seven-thousands of an inch is the equivalent thickness of two sheets of paper. When buying precision off-the-shelf ammo, most of the time you will not have the luxury of thumbing through several different BCs of the same caliber and ammo manufacturer. History. Several factory loads do exist on the market today. PRS is a rapid-fire, multi-position, multi-target, long-range game wherein no spotter feedback is allowed while the clock is ticking. The two most common BCs used are G1 and G7 below: If you notice the G7 profile has a more streamlined design. Do you have the equipment and knowledge to reload? 1,500m: 295 ft-lbs. Real-world shooting of this round is even more impressive. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. Muzzle Velocity: Using the 140gr ELD Match, 2,750 fps. 5. Its pinpoint accuracy makes it deadly on these animals to 500 yards and more. 1,000 Yard Flight Time*: 1.346 seconds* Trajectory and time-of-flight calculations are representative of the best performing long-distance factory loads for each cartridge. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. I like the idea of basically a short-action .300 Win Mag. Trollygag's Guide to the $1000, 1000 Yard Rifle (Update) Many hunters still use this cartridge for its hard-hitting terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics. At standardized sea-level atmospherics, it gives shooters legitimate 1,600-yard supersonic capability with the right load. Those predictable velocities mean that shooters can calculate their trajectories at longer ranges with extreme confidence. That changed in 1997 when Remington standardized many 6.5 wildcats based on the .308 Winchester. The Long Range community has been pushing the envelope more and more. Like the .308 Winchester, ammo availability and reloading components are everywhere. Picking six top long-range competition-cartridges was hard because various long-range disciplines apply a vast spread of demands, and many such as Palma and Service Rifle have cartridge-specific regulations. As said before, each of the parameters will have to be thought about. Ammo Availability: Several factory loads do exist on the market today. Ballistic Co-Efficient: 140gr ELD Match G1: 0.646 G7: 0.315, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,401 ft-lbs 500m: 1,301 ft-lbs 1,000m: 633 ft-lbs 1,500m: 325 ft-lbs. Then to learn that I also hit the 4,137-yard target was a total shock. Bro, do you even long range? But isnt that what makes it awesome? Also because of how popular and available it is, the 6.5 comes in around $0.75 to $1.25 per round, making it very affordable to shoot compared to other high-performing LR calibers. The .338 Lapua Magnum offers very impressive external and terminal ballistic performancebut at a steep cost. 10 Top Precision Rimfire Rifles for Competition and the Field Im in the beginner stages and I used a Rifle in 308. The first four shots, my spotters and I saw the misses as I got closer and closer to hitting the plate. Take the .308 Winchester at 500 for comparison, The level of confidence of a first-round hit at that range is extremely high. Depending on how often you shoot, price range, and shooting range (distance) availability, some of these parameters will not be as important. Barrel Life: Sadly, a .300 NM barrel will only live to 1,200-1,500 rounds. Ammo Availability: This cartridge has been around for a while. The cost of such rifles can be at least $4,000 and can take months to build. New LR shooters also often skimp on glass and what I see most often is that someone buys a cheap scope so that they can afford other goodies for their rifles. The higher the BC number, the more aerodynamic and better performing the projectile will be. A BC number can be represented in several different G values or standards. For close range, PMC Bronze at about $0.50/round is great for practicing. I expect barrel life is better than the PRC, yet probably not as good as the Creedmoor. Muzzle Velocity: 168gr Berger Target Hybrid @ 3,200 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: G1: 0.515 G7: 0.264. Programs like Applied Ballistics (by far the best) can easily chart out in a spreadsheet-like format, all sorts of information important to long-range shooters. History: Unlike the previous cartridges, this is the first one that has no parent case. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 4,186 ft-lbs. 1. But putting the emotional draws to the cartridge aside, there are still plenty of pragmatic reasons for the choice. The .25 had the .25-06 glaring it in the face, while the .223 was known as a barrel eater supreme (I say as I build a .22 Creedmoor). Hardly a week goes by without the introduction of a new productwhether a bullet, a type of gun powder, a riflescope, an electronic gizmo, or what have youthat doesnt help shooters put projectiles on target with greater precision. One thing that becomes abundantly clear is that theres a world of difference between a 1,000-yard poke and one that stretches beyond a mile (1,760 yards). As a serious LR shooter who intends on needing terminal performance or wanting a modern tactical build, I would leave the .243 behind in the 20, The 6mm Creedmoor can obviously be related to its slightly bigger brother; the 6.5CM. Cross-Platform Use: Few AR-10s exist that can fire the .300WM. Cross-Platform Use: The .300 WSM is going to be a bolt-action-only build. Ammo Availability: The biggest issue for calibers this new and this niche, is Hornadys ability to keep up with the demand. At 5,000 feet altitude? The .30-06 is such a classic sniper rifle round, I could not leave it out of the running. So for those of you seeking a bolt-gun build, keep in mind that your standard factory options will be very limited. Top inherently accurate 2000 yard calibers | Sniper's Hide Forum As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. 7 Best Long-Range Cartridges: Hit Stuff Really Far Away Several other .30 cal magnum rounds were designed at the time, but the .300 Winchester Magnum was the only one of the lot, to stand the test of time. In the competitions I shoot, we regularly stretch the shots to 1,300 yards or so. Barrel life and ammo prices. Right now, there is no loaded ammo and barely any brass available from Alpha and GAP. However, the more compact 6.5 PRC case isat least theoreticallymore conducive to better accuracy. Like I said, each discipline and personality will favor a certain caliber. Also, terminal performance on larger targets has proven weak at best (one large reason the .243 never caught on with the military). No issue finding it. Average barrel life is around 5,000 rounds. Mag. Myriad projectile options are available and perform superbly in the .300 Win. You dream it, and it can be done. And the AR-10 was designed SPECIFICALLY for the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO. But with some tuning of the magazine that issue can be mostly mitigated. History: The Great Grandfather of them allthe .30-06 (thirty ought six) is the oldest cartridge on this list. JOHN BUOL Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: 5.56mm NATO. I am interested to see how the price of such systems will come down and become more readily available to entry to novice level LR shooters. Average price per round$1.00. So, you get much better performance from the 6.5 PRC versus the .300 Win. That handy rifle is an excellent expression of the subtle nature of the .308. History: The 6.5 Grendel comes to us in 2003 from Alexander Arms. Overall Practicality: All in all, if you are new to the LR community and have an heirloom .243 in the family and that is it, re-barrel it and work on fundamentals. You can expect an average of 4,000 to 10,000 rounds of sustained accuracy. By using the same overall magazine length dimension, the 6.5 could still use the STANAG (NATO dimension) magazine pattern. Im not going to dive too deep down that rabbit-hole, or even techniques to help. He used .30-caliber BIB 114-grain bullets made by Randy Robinett (loaded over H4198 powder for a 2980 fps muzzle velocity). Using Berger 140gr VLD projectiles G1: 0.593 G7: 0.304, Muzzle: 2,266 ft-lbs 500m: 1,174 ft-lbs 1,000m: 535 ft-lbs 1,500m: 296 ft-lbs. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. Most off the shelf set-ups are going to be on the high end of the market so the 6mm CM is not ideal for a beginner shooter. What I can tell you is that choosing the right caliber in relation to recoil can make or break your performance as a shooterespecially if youre new to the game. Are you operating a bolt or gas gun? Ryan Cheney, a 41-year-old competitive ELR shooter from Conway Springs, Kansas, just made a couple of those shots that are going to be tough to top. You need to get the best long-range rifle caliber for competitions. When buying . However, were interested in long range, and those bullets are usually considered mid-range projectiles. This caliber is one of the most popular and widely used centerfire cartridges in the world. With care and discipline, a 6.5 Grendel barrel will outlive a .308. The components for reloading are also readily available. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. This cartridge is an interesting case of innovation to solve a fairly difficult problem. The 6mmCM excels amongst the PRS community and even long-range hunting. Although the two cartridges have very small differences, SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunitions Manufacturers Institute) maintains it is safe to interchange the two rounds. Overall Practicality: Incredible mid to long-range performance. Those high ballistic coefficients also help the 6.5 PRC buck the wind. I am here to share what knowledge and experience I have to help you pick a viable option. Taking the original .300 Ruger Compact Magnum and necking down to accept the 6.5CM projectiles, Hornady could fire the same projectiles as the 6.5CM but with 250 fps added MV.
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