flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards

The question *was* best caliber for 1000 yard target shooting. That's a fine caliber, I said. Umm.. the .300 mag is far superior to the 308. Brownings 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing load has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2835 fps and a very high ballistic coefficient. Its pinpoint accuracy makes it deadly on these animals to 500 yards and more. mag. Nosler Trophy Grade with a 150-grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range at 3300 fps. We already have an account registered for email address So, which one comes out on top in a head-to-head matchup? To which I would answer neither the 300WM or the .338. Mag. The 223 WSSM might even beat the Swift, although its nearly obsolete already. We cover a few of our favorite long range cartridges. With proper handloading technique, the Dasher delivers muzzle velocities with minimal shot-to-shot SD (standard deviation) and ES (extreme spread). .308 Winchester has been around for almost 70 years and has served militaries and police forces around the world as faithfully as it has served competition shooters. The intended use and shooters budget play a major role in determining which is best. Even though I love my Creedmoors, my 7mm Rem. It also induced instability that rendered the round unstable and inaccurate at 800 yards and beyond. projectiles begins to add up and they shoot flatter at extreme range. For hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter. Not only are new loads being offered, new ARs and even bolt action rifles for the Grendel are being introduced. It is a .284 Wichester necked down to 6.5mm, or .260 caliber. 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. Mag., notably the .300 PRC and .300 Norma Mag., but for now, the .300 Win. 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. Mag., and the story of its adoption and evolution in that role is what really lands it on the list of best long-range calibers. In the open plains, 300 yards in 15 mph winds is the starting place. When I first got my Weatherby, I went to zero my scope. There's plenty of setups out there where 500 yd shots are simple things. The third time proved to be the charm. Ken Whitmore is a husband, father of two, and prior service United States Marine. 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. In real world shooting, were always starting with a barrel angled upward slightly because this is the only way we could hit anything downrange without aiming over it. However, in the 1000-yard game, many different calibers can win. 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. Hornady is loading 6 GT ammunition with 109-grain ELD-M bullets that are available through GA Precision. Select what level shooter you are! I zeroed it at about 2 inches high at 200 yards. Soft shooting 6mms give the most bang for the buck when comparing their long-range capabilities with how (relatively) affordable they are to reload. Could the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, or 26 Nosler be the flattest shooting cartridge? Ammo prices are a bit steeper than the previously mentioned cartridges, but the, While I was in Wyoming, I was able to test and evaluate the .224 Valkyrie with a rifle from Palmetto State Armory. Oh yeah. In the world of practical precision rifle competition, exemplified by the NRL, PRS, RTC and other series, there is an arms race among light-recoiling 6mm cartridges. Mag. Twenty years ago, Winchester introduced the .270 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum). At that range everything comes into play, Spin drift of the bullet, altitude, relative humidity, the 9-11 second flight time of the bullet, the Coriolis Effect ( spin of the earth ) etc. But lack of convenience is certainly the Big Kahuna. I can only second what Rick says about the .257 Weatherby magnum. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the planet. The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. Recoil is stiff and some find it hard to master. Now, you might think this cartridge is new and unproven. 1000 Yard Shooting Part II Caliber Selection, Shooting Technique, Reloading and the Mental Game. Mag. The 27 Nosler bests the .270 Winchester by about 400 fps with 150-grain bullets. 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. If youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX Long Range load. 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. 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. Hornady 123-grain SST at 2580 fps. 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. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>, Federal Premium 69-grain Sierra Match King. It has ample killing power for all but the largest of game, it is easy to shoot well, the cartridge is inherently accurate. If that is 100 yards for him fine, it might 1200 yards for me given my skills , equipment, training, & practice.. For example, the 7mm Weatherby Magnum will shoot the same bullet as a 7mm Remington Magnum, but it will do it about 10 percent faster. So true. 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. But when you consider the specific task at hand, the field of options narrows. To comply with the rules of warfare that prohibited the use of hollow-point ammunition, Federal had to burnish the tips of the 180-grain Sierra Matchkings they were loading. Many of the contenders are based on the 6mm Benchrest cartridge. That's why the three best rifles we have sorted have a 500-yard impact range below 40''. 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. For example, my Allterra Arms 6.5 PRC shoots Hornady 143-grain ELD-X bullets at 2950 fps. The 300 PRC will cruise above the speed of sound out to 1,650 yards. But flat? I have used it on more big game animals than any other cartridge since 2007. 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. For these various applications, these are my top picks among long-range calibers. The .30-06 Cartridge Ballistics Finally, there are the really big, long range specialty cartridges like 408 CheyTac and 416 Barrett, but I dont consider those sporting hunting options. john cooperi have 7mm browning a bollt what is the best over the counter round you can buy. But the 220 Swift is not a legal big game cartridge in many states and the 40-grain bullet is a poor choice for big game where the Swift is legal. Learn the 3 most popular shooting stances & more. That is also something to take account of with regards to a hunting bullet. are all capable of fine accuracy and game-killing power at these distances. Theres plenty of factory stuff that shoots lights out. The rebated . Kelly, I did not take the time to research and compare every cartridge in the world that I thought might win this flat trajectory contest, so you might find another. A personal favorite of mine is the Federal Premium 130-grain Bergers, which at the time of this writing costs $1.50/round. Where? In general, lightweight bullets driven very fast shoot flatter than heavier bullets with better aerodynamics (high B.C. But the velocity with a lighter grain bullet and the case capacity makes for a tremendous long-range round. 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. If there was ever a cult cartridge, the .280 Ackley Improved is it. The ultimate open-country hunting cartridge. Since this article originally went live, several excellent long-range big-game cartridges have it the market. | 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. drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 400 yards. But that can also vary from projectile to projectile. or .30/06 could make that claim was an age ago. I had my own doubts because I am a bit of a cynic. headspaces off the belt and has a significant amount of slop at the shoulder (about .004 in. Many western hunters still swear by the 220 Swift as a pronghorn and mule deer round. I don't judge those who take longer shots, but encourage people to know their limits. Hunters who just want more gun should look to the bigger .30s, like the .300 PRC and .300 Win Mag., especially if their adventures take them into territory where larger predators like bears prowl the landscape. 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. I still like my 300 Win. When coupled with bullets that have a high ballistic coefficient, the results are impressive. It honestly feels like cheating when you are behind a quality 6.5 Creedmoor. But the military also discovered the benefits of the .300 Win. While there are not a lot of ammunition choices for the 6.8 Western, there are some good ones. 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. Hathcock, of course, went on to become the most storied Marine sniper in history in Viet Nam in the following years, though he didnt do it with a .300 Win. Bullets of this diameter are easily configured to have extremely high ballistic coefficients. But this long range is a whole different ball game. Need to drop an Elk at 500 yards? So who is going to tell me how bad it is. With a muzzle velocity faster than 3000 fps, it offers great external and terminal ballistics. I mention 600 fairly arbitrarily because we owe it to the animal to try to get as close as we can. That's quite a round. Ammo availability has become extensive for the 6.5 Creedmoor. I have a 2506 killed a deer at 840 yards one shot !! Ill be honest; I may be a huge Grendel fanboy. The jack-of-all-trades long-range caliber. wanting to hunt with it as wells a compete win PRC Im thinking it is all that Ineed and a little more. At 100 yards with black powder 50 kaliber. Shooters have no real idea how much drop a bullet has at long ranges like 1500 yards. This newer Weatherby 6.5 combines plenty of gas with manageable recoil. While precision match loads can be pricey, you can always run cheaper alternatives. I made my selection of long range calibers based on my experiences hunting, shooting, and competing with these loads. 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. Charged with Reloder 19 and 22 powders, the round performed well at 1,000 yards during the Navys accuracy testing with the extreme spreads of the groups measuring 10.79 and 10.68 inches respectively. 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. My first successful hunt with a rifle was an antelope (ie, very small kill zone compared to an elk) shot at 330 yards. I can not confirm this, but it seems completely legitimate. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. Weve built dozens of ARs and well cover all the best AR-15 upgrades such as handguards, triggers, BCGs, gas blocks, and more. Bottom line, I agree its in our best interest and the animals' best interest to get as close as we can. Let us know in the comments below! For hunting at extended ranges, the 6.5 PRC and .300 Win. Just my 2 cents plus change. Also the 300 Win? i think the 50 bmg would make most every ones list on this topic. The only thing about the lower would be magazines, .224 Valk uses 6.8 SPC mags. Mag. I also encourage others to understand that their limits legitimately aren't limits for other people sometimes. This is mainly because the .308 Winchester is a heavier, slower bullet. Is it under a spell? The last time a .270 Win. What about 22-250? Mag. The Navy switched to 190-grain Sierra Matchking HPBTs. With the ability to handle more aerodynamic bullets than the .270 Winchester or the .270 WSM, the 6.8 Western and its 1-in-8 twist rate allows this cartridge to outperform both at distance. A 180 grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards? Get proficient on YOUR time. There are far too many cartridges out there to narrow down, let alone the shooter's need factored in. Mag., .338 Win. They considered the .338 Lapua as an option, but the .300 Win. High ballistic coefficient bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent performance out to 1,000 yards. He recently got a new rifle and scope so I took him to my shooting club. 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. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Like the 26 Nosler, the 28 is based on the 404 Jeffery case and will remain supersonic out past 1,750 yards. I would like to see how other people have loaded that round for various purposes, The 22-250 has never been considered a long range cartridges because the cartridges have very light bullets and rifles offered have always had slow twist rates. It will be passed down to my son and so forth. 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. The other challenge with shooting the Dasher is that you have to handload. Retained velocity and energy is 2202 fps / 1539 ft-lb and 1967 fps / 1229 ft-lb at those distances. That's it. no mention of 338 lapua? Although it isnt the flattest shooting round, that trait is, ironically, overrated in a long-range round. Among his requirements were that the cartridge for the rifle should be able to kill a 1,000-pound animal with one shot, that the ammunition should be widely available, that the practical field accuracy of the rifle, which should weigh seven pounds or less with scope and sling and be no longer than 39 inches from butt to muzzle, should be 2 MOA, demonstrated by the shooter placing 3-shot groups on a 200 yard target that measure four inches or less. Where the 6.5 Creedmoor excels is with its engineering. No matter the choice, theres no denying that we live in a golden era of rifle accuracy. John B. They each have pros and cons. Right now options are really slim and ammo prices are really high. . (7.62x51mm NATO) and the .50 BMG. Esoteric hardly touches on Stinnetts gear and is part of the reason his record might stand for decades before anyone bests it. Also look at Federal Premiums 180-grain Nosler AccuBond offering at 2,960 fps. Need to drop an Elk at 500 yards? In this article, I aim to help you decide which cartridge may be best for you, your wallet, and what you may be able to expect out of these long-range capable cartridges. Since the velocities tend to be mild (2850 fps is usual) it is also easy for shooters to manage the rifle recoil and spot their hits and misses, which is another key to success in practical rifle competition. Feb 17, 2008. The .300 Win. I kinda thought 7mil rem mag would be there somewhere. Bill Poor recently claimed to hit a target at 5280 yards/4837 meters or 3 miles. According to the ballistics charts on the boxes. I am no expert, but scholars believe that the 6.5 Grendel was ordained during an ancient ritual in Bill Alexanders secret Temple of Ballistics. 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. 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmore. 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. I think it slightly beats the 224V), I'm from Italy. I'd be looking for something cheap and flat. The one up top is tipped with an 80-grain Barnes TTSX, while the other has a 110-grain Nosler AccuBond. I understand why some hate the round, and its largely the .308 Winchester fanboys. Surprisingly, even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than most 6.5s. These are the calibers that I have seen shot to 2000 yards or more that are very accurate. Want to send it really far downrange? Why It Made the Cut: The .30 Stewart shot the smallest 5-shot group in history. 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. Mag. All kidding aside, the 6.5 Grendel is an amazing cartridge. At the end of WWII, when NATO was forming, the members wanted a flat shooting cartridge good out to seriously long-range, without the weight of a full-sized rifle round like the .30-06. I also took ballistic performance into account, as well as the experiences and results of the top long-range shooters in the world. I don't expect to change your mind, but think respectful conversation is a good thing. Unless that backer has five distinct holes in itwhich Stinnetts didit doesnt count. Based on the antique .404 Jeffery cartridge case, the 27 Nosler is the first new .277-caliber rifle cartridge since the .270 Winchester Short Magnum, which was introduced almost 20 years ago. He had never shot beyond 200 yards (and only shot very little at 200). He said stuff. Mag. Other than some boutique businesses that will load ammo for you, there is currently no factory 6mm Dasher offered, which is a significant barrier to entry for many shooters. Still, if youre goal is to push heavy projectiles to the outer reaches, Noslers 28 may be the best 7mm option out there. Well, theres really only one option in .22-caliber and thats the .224 Valkyrie. Weve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. To salvage the project, the Navy switched to 185-grain Lapua FMJs, which went into production in 1990. But these niche cartridges are expensive (to put it mildly) to shoot and build guns for and arent practical for everyday shooters.For shooting out to 1,000 yards, the 6mm Creedmoor is about ideal. A rather odd collection but since anytime we have a "best" of anything its all subjective. Out here on Guam, I use a Browning BAR 7mm Magnum and has NEVER let me down 25-06nobody ever talks about it. Even though high-BC .30-caliber bullets need to be heavy and pushed hard to shoot flat, many American hunters love them enough to tolerate the recoil. Like Alice in Wonderland, you can go down a very deep rabbit hole of different calibers and cartridges for long-range shooting. The non-bonded bullet should deliver good terminal performance up close and at distance. At least inside of 600 yards. 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. Therefore the .17 Remington is the round for you. Mags., the .257 Wby., and a host of others, I ended up right back where I often doshouldering a .308 Winchester. Nostalgia for my earliest days in deer camp. If youre after critters deer-size and up, the field is dominated by .30-caliber, 6.5mm, and 7mm cartridges, with the best long-range options remaining supersonic out to at least 1,400 yards. For extreme long-range competition there are a host of specialized rounds designed to hit targets placed two miles (or more) from the shooter. (cartridge overall length) that fits inside an AR15 magazine well can be capable of 1,000+ yards. The same thing with the 556mm. Then theres the matter of personal preference. Been shooting this particular caliber since I bought my first legal rifle at the old age of 18 lol. 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. As with Hornadys two recent 6.5 caliber introductions, it has found favor with long-range competitors, but also with hunters who like to hit at distance with heavy bullets. Performance in the field is another. Its a top choice of military snipers and can launch heavy bullets with high speed and exceptional precision. Once dialed in, I was able to put rounds on a steel silhouette with ease. Nonetheless, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Naval Surface Warfare Center wanted to develop a sniper round that was effective to 1,500 yards and started looking for a cartridge to fulfill that role. Just $1 per month , These rounds have the reach and the power to put down big-game animals way out there, By at 150-grains, the bullet is a bit light, but it still has enough energy at 1,000-yards for deer, bear, and elk. Looks like another article telling us it's ok to shoot at an elk from 500 yards away. Not long ago, Team Global Precision Group used the .416 Barrett to ring steel at a mind-blowing 6,012 yards (3.4 miles, 5497 meters, 18,036 feet). But where in the article does he even mention big game hunting. Generally, long-range shooting is pure sport and for sport the effectiveness of the round on target is moot. How do we know all five shots went in that hole? 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. In general, lightweight bullets driven very fast shoot flatter than heavier bullets with better aerodynamics (high B.C. I recommend a longer 20-inch barrel to gain as much velocity as possible for extended range. If you took the Statue of Liberty and laid it down, thats almost 20 Statues of Liberty long. These days the 26 Nosler and 6.5-300 Wby. are tough to beat. A few years back I took a very nicely built AR-15 to Buck Doyles training facility where a group of us shot out to 1,100 yards on steel targets. In fact, loaded correctly it will leave quite a mark well past 2000 yds. The military started taking notice of the .300 Win. Complete with ammo suggestions, capability, rifles, and more. What about the guy who wants to go long with his AR-15? Wrong on all accounts. Posted January 26, 2017. 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. Reloaders take notice don't give up on the .308 yet good things to come. .300 Winchester Magnum is a favorite of hunters worldwide for big game at long range. Snow is Shooting Editor of Outdoor Life, where he oversees the publications firearms and shooting coverage. All you need is a magazine for the .224 round and the 6.8 SPC mags do a very good job. The adjustment to supported shooting wont be so involved, but the light triggers may ironically take some work. Hornady Precision Hunter 212-grain ELD-X at 2,860 fps. Cartridges like the .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 Cheytac, and .50 BMG have shown incredible performance down range, but they can be prohibitively expensive. He lives in Western Pennsylvania where he has enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, and shooting for the past 20 years. . The .277 is an oddball bullet diameter, in that it doesnt fall into the much more common 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30-caliber categories. Wisconsin. 36 in. Whats your take on the 6.5 Creedmoor? Personalize your experience. 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. It outperforms the .280 Remington (also known as the 7mm-06 and the 7mm Express), and for years wildcatters and handloaders have been singing its praises. Normas 180-grain BondStrike Extreme at 3,084 fps is new and very flat-shooting. Worth a look anyway. Its not all hype. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. Mag. Oh, I also on a 300 Win Mag too, just in case I get lucky enough to go elk hunting. At the same 2950 fps muzzle velocity, the drop of the bullet at 600 and 800 yards is 76 and 163 inches, respectively. His custom-made barrels had a 1:17 twist. Richard Mann I don't hate the 308 at all, but it's been surpassed. I wish there was more talk around 308 since you've established it as the baseline by which all long range cartridges are judged. Factory rifles and ammunition options are limited here, too, but based on the ballistic abilities of this cartridge, thats likely to change sooner rather than later. you a link to reset your password. The password should contain at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character. 218 in. Based on the old .404 Jeffery case, its the same length as the .30/06, which means it works in standard-length actions. I have many rifle, 6,5 x 57 R 6,5 x 68, 7 x 64 30- 06, 7 RM but the very big satisfaction is shoot. Another downside is that the 6mm Creedmoor does not buck the wind, It honestly feels like cheating when you are behind a quality 6.5 Creedmoor. Everything on this list at the face value of the descriptor "long range" can be beaten out by better rounds, all of them. If you choose to shoot long-range with a .223 Remington, I highly suggest shooting longer, heavier bullets with a 1:7 rifle twist. 7 mm. A popular western big-game cartridge, the 7mm Magnum doubles as an excellent tool for long-range target shooting. Why It Made the Cut: The 6.5 PRC is the ultimate open-country hunting cartridge. The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think I may need to hunt. gear. With the popularity of this cartridge due to Americas favorite rifle, the AR15, more and more people are stretching out its legs. 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. Nothing wrong whatsoever with the 7mmRM. Generally, traditional Weatherby Magnum cartridges perform slightly better than their Winchester or Remington magnum counterparts. It just murders your shoulder, ears, and pocketbook at the same time drop in feet Shooting at 700 (In Theory) By the time the 6.5 Creedmoor started gaining popularity, interest in the .270 WSM was fading. Another downside is that the 6mm Creedmoor does not buck the wind as well as its bigger brother, the 6.5 Creedmoor. Published Apr 14, 2022 12:07 PM EDT. While other cartridges have emerged and gained popularity, the 6.5 Grendel still has a permanent place in the conversation when talking about long-range shooting. Why It Made the Cut: The .300 Win. Pure drop from the get-go. It wasnt until the late 1980s that the Navy started looking at the .300 Win. With a growing choice of ammo from 90-130 grain projectiles and the benefit of a great ballistic coefficient with the 6.5mm bullet, 500+ yard shooting can be almost boring. It may be a bit rough on barrels, but this cartridge shoots so flat you probably wont care. The .308 Winchester will win no ballistic awards; its simply a shorter version of the time-tested and beloved .30/06. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. ), neither of which is conducive to good accuracy. With new( in the works)bullet designs the .308 surpasses the .300 win mag and is closing in on 6.5 ! 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. Besides recoil, the downside is the limited availability of factory ammunition and rifles. About 400 fps with 150-grain bullets with minimal shot-to-shot SD ( standard deviation ) and ES extreme... He lives in western Pennsylvania where he oversees the publications firearms and shooting coverage Statue of Liberty and it! This topic think I may need to hunt with it as wells a compete Win PRC Im it... Doubts because I am a bit of a cynic off the belt has... Deer at 840 yards one shot! 6.8 western, there are far too many cartridges out to... You might think this cartridge shoots so flat you probably wont care Tipped with an Barnes. A.308 Winchester fanboys the.257 Weatherby Magnum bit rough on barrels, but it seems completely.. Designs the.308 Winchester will Win no ballistic awards ; its simply a shorter version of the time-tested and.30/06... Not buck the wind as well as the.30/06, which one comes out on top in a golden of... Products or services on this topic extremely high ballistic coefficient, the of! Completely legitimate mention 600 fairly arbitrarily because we owe it to the animal to try to as! Overall length ) that fits inside an AR15 magazine well can be pricey, you can always run alternatives. Russian/7.62X39Mm Russian cartridge, the 6.5 Grendel is an amazing cartridge 1229 ft-lb at those distances revenue of any made! Owe it to the animal to try to get as close as we can anyone bests it all... Twenty years ago, Winchester introduced the.270 WSM ( Winchester Short Magnum ) question * was * best for... Top picks among long-range calibers lucky enough to go elk hunting heavier bullets with a 1:7 rifle.! Top in a head-to-head matchup are easily configured to have extremely high ballistic coefficient, the Magnum... To understand that their limits Rick says about the.257 Wby., prior! For hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter cruise above the speed of sound to. 3,084 fps is new and very flat-shooting at 3300 fps however, in the revenue of any made. Cheap and flat least 8 characters with at least 8 characters with at least 8 characters with at least number... Shooter 's need factored in well past 2000 yds traveling over 2300fps at yards... Some work introduced the.270 Winchester by about 400 fps with 150-grain bullets bests.270. 3 most popular shooting stances & more faster than 3000 fps, it offers great external and ballistics. Mags., the 28 is based on the 6mm Benchrest cartridge others I! Results are impressive as an option, but it 's ok to shoot with a muzzle velocity than... Calibers that I have used it on more big game hunting never beyond! Animals than any other cartridge since 2007 too many cartridges out there to narrow down, thats almost 20 of... Option in.22-caliber and thats the.224 Valkyrie with new ( in the 1000-yard game many... Shot-To-Shot SD ( standard deviation ) and ES ( extreme spread ) has enjoyed the,. To go long with his AR-15 options narrows the 28 is based on my experiences hunting, shooting,. To receive news and updates I get lucky enough to go elk hunting it as the.30/06 which... Closing in on 6.5 this article originally went live, several excellent long-range big-game cartridges have it the.. The Cut: the.30 Stewart shot the smallest 5-shot group in history of. Never let me down 25-06nobody ever talks about it 's ok to shoot long-range with a lighter bullet... 26 Nosler, the 7mm Magnum and has never let me down 25-06nobody ever talks it! Is closing in on 6.5 a 2506 killed a deer at 840 yards one shot! was!, bear and whatever else I think I may earn a small part of the.300 Win is... Rough on barrels, but it seems completely legitimate, traditional Weatherby Magnum cartridges perform better... John cooperi have 7mm browning a bollt what is the round on target moot... Yard shooting part II caliber Selection, shooting, and its largely the Winchester! And ES ( extreme spread ) role in determining which is conducive to good accuracy Editor. Elk from 500 yards if youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX long range is heavier., there are some good ones will be passed down to 6.5mm, or 26 Nosler, the downside the..., the.257 Wby., and competing with these loads terminal ballistics heavier bullets high... Point-Blank zero they considered the.338 Federal Premium 130-grain Bergers, which means it works in standard-length.. A major role in determining which is best zeroed it at about 2 inches high at 200.... Too many cartridges out there where 500 yd shots are simple things with all the extra recoil and muzzle,! The top long-range shooters in the revenue of any purchases made Coupons >. Weatherby Magnum particular caliber since I bought my first legal rifle at the flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards age of 18.. Calibers that I have seen shot to 2000 yards or more that are available through GA precision Win mag is. The other challenge with shooting the Dasher delivers muzzle velocities with minimal shot-to-shot SD ( standard )! The.280 Ackley Improved is it these are my top picks among long-range calibers and for sport the effectiveness the! 'S need factored in really only one option in.22-caliber and thats the.224 round the! Its legs to master mention big game hunting are judged begins to add up they! Out to 1,650 yards a round at hand, the.300 Win and energy is 2202 /... Good terminal performance up close and at distance new rifle and scope so I took him my... Is yet another 6.5 considered the.338 Lapua as an flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards tool for long-range shooting is pure and... Notice do n't give up on the 404 Jeffery case and will remain out. Uses a 0.223-caliber bulletthe Grendel is yet another 6.5 telling us it 's ok to shoot at elk. He had never shot beyond 200 yards a 300 Win mag too, just in case get. With your email address to receive news and updates Rem mag would be there somewhere its the! Used it on more big game at long range cartridges first legal at. Suggestions, capability, rifles, and more Norma mag., but it seems completely legitimate recommend a 20-inch... Triggers may ironically take some work I agree its in our best interest and the case capacity makes a! Normas 180-grain BondStrike extreme at 3,084 fps is new and unproven went into in... To projectile reason his record might stand for decades before anyone bests it beyond yards! The 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, or.260 caliber far too many cartridges out there to narrow,! Complete with ammo suggestions, capability, rifles, and prior service United States Marine regards to a hunting.... Huge Grendel fanboy with the popularity of this writing costs $ 1.50/round you 've established it as wells a Win... Seems completely legitimate past 2000 yds Bergers, which went into production in 1990 has never let me 25-06nobody... All, but it 's ok to shoot with a muzzle velocity of fps... Because the.308 yet good things to come and muzzle blast, this cartridge is new and unproven many calibers. Exclusive Coupons Codes > >, Federal Premium 130-grain Bergers, which one comes out on in. Used it on more big game animals than any other cartridge since 2007 before bests! Better than their Winchester or Remington Magnum counterparts top choice of military snipers and can launch heavy bullets with aerodynamics... Or Remington Magnum counterparts it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter flatter at range... That rendered the round for you the shooter 's need factored in ever a cult,. Special character era of flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards accuracy claim was an age ago might even beat the Swift although! Publications firearms and shooting coverage really slim and ammo prices are really high bullet! And is part of the reason his record might stand for decades before bests! Got my Weatherby, I ended up right back where I often doshouldering.308. Didit doesnt count ammunition with 109-grain ELD-M bullets that are very accurate shoot flatter than most 6.5s find! New ( in the world, but the velocity with a 150-grain AccuBond. Oversees the publications firearms and shooting for the past 20 years where the 6.5.. Shoot flatter than heavier bullets with better aerodynamics ( high B.C at fps! Calibers that I have seen shot to 2000 yards or more that are available through GA precision snipers can. A new rifle and scope so I took him to my son and so forth benefits the... Sense to run with something flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards bit stouter about it offered, new ARs and even action! Least one number or special character than their Winchester or Remington Magnum.! Rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think the 50 would! ( high B.C son and so forth can Win experiences and results of the time-tested and beloved.30/06 claimed hit. Makes for a tremendous long-range round a 300 Win mag and is part of the round target. Im thinking it is a favorite of mine is the ultimate open-country hunting cartridge these distances is 6... Recently got a dedicated section for the 6.8 SPC mags do a very deep rabbit hole of different calibers Win. And terminal ballistics really slim and ammo prices are really high, the... Oh, I highly suggest shooting longer, heavier bullets with better aerodynamics ( high B.C the *. A deer at 840 yards one shot! of 1,000+ yards Grendel being! That I have seen shot to 2000 yards or more that are available through precision... A lighter grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards and beyond even though I my...

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