A: Kelly, it depends on the distance across which you want to measure. Barrel life is longer, packs more energy at all distances too!!! Originally established in 2003 for the AR15 platform, it is now available in bolt-action rifles as well. Accuracy matters. 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. 1000 Yard Shooting Part II Caliber Selection, Shooting Technique, Reloading and the Mental Game. Surprising how many people seem to have forgotten the .264 W mag. 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. What were your extra parameters here? They each have pros and cons. I don't expect to change your mind, but think respectful conversation is a good thing. You do not pay If there was ever a cult cartridge, the .280 Ackley Improved is it. A rifle is suitable for flat shooting as long as the 500-yard impact range of the rifle falls below the 40''. Therefore the .17 Remington is the round for you. Those predictable velocities mean that shooters can calculate their trajectories at longer ranges with extreme confidence. So it just depends , but I wouldn't lump 556, 224, etc into this category. The '06 has been the big-game king forever. The rebated . Feb 17, 2008. . headspaces off the belt and has a significant amount of slop at the shoulder (about .004 in. I was going to ask about the 7mms as well. No real adjustment necessary. The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. Cost, ease of part acquirement, availability, things you can run in an AR platform, or a perceived "coolness" factor? 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. But the velocity with a lighter grain bullet and the case capacity makes for a tremendous long-range round. Based on the 7.6239/220 Russian cartridge case, the Valkyrie changes the personality of the AR-15. But as with the 6.5 PRC, there are not a lot of factory-ammo options to choose from. It will be passed down to my son and so forth. Then theres the matter of personal preference. A 180 grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards? Also, youll find more ammo options for the .308 Winchester than any of the others. 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. As originally designed in 1963, the .300 Win. Well, with the right bullets (70 grains and up) and the right barrel twist (1:7 is best), the 5.56 is capable of shooting impressive distances, including the elusive 1,000-yard mark. Although it isnt the flattest shooting round, that trait is, ironically, overrated in a long-range round. 36 in. Sign up for Field & Streams newsletter to receive the latest and greatest gear reviews and expert hunting and fishing advice. Bullets of this diameter are easily configured to have extremely high ballistic coefficients. That involves shooting ballistically aero-efficient bullets at moderate velocities with the understanding that they will retain their speed and shoot flatter at long distances while generating mild recoil and good barrel life. When I first got my Weatherby, I went to zero my scope. And that light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field; it also makes practicing more fun and productive. We really neednt measure individual cartridges/bullets because just two things determine drop: muzzle velocity and bullet B.C. keeps reinventing itself to remain relevant. Federal 140-grain Sierra Matchking 6.5 Creedmoor, Engineered for high-volume shooting in 1,000-yard competitions. None of them will turn you into a trained sniper, but if youve put in the range time and have the skills to stretch it out, these 10 cartridges have the reach and the thump to put game on the ground from the next canyon over. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Here are some examples shot dead flat, meaning the bullet departs the muzzle perfectly horizontally with no sight angle above the bore. While at the High Bar Homestead with PSA, I was able to stretch their 6.5 Grendel out to 1,000 yards with Federal Premium 130 grain Bergers. Don't even come play if you can't consistently make that shot. It may be a bit rough on barrels, but this cartridge shoots so flat you probably wont care. There is too much to go wrong and game animals aren't targets or enemies. Thats what makes a long-range hunters heart go pitter patter, and its what has kept Weatherby in business since 1945. It's basically 6.5cm on roides, yes. . 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. 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. 26 Nosler is considered by many to be the best cartridge for long-range hunting. 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. Its built along the principles of modern cartridge design. While there are newer cartridges around, many of them are derived from the .308, and all are measured against it. The correct response is, for what? The one up top is tipped with an 80-grain Barnes TTSX, while the other has a 110-grain Nosler AccuBond. But where in the article does he even mention big game hunting. That is also something to take account of with regards to a hunting bullet. Where the 6.5 Creedmoor excels is with its engineering. Yes, you can. Any cartridge that is enjoyable to shoot in a rifle is one a hunterwhether new or experiencedwill be more apt to practice with. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. However, it proved to be mostly a flash in the pan. While precision match loads can be pricey, you can always run cheaper alternatives. That's why the three best rifles we have sorted have a 500-yard impact range below 40''. Don't need to be a super-awesome-Operator or competitive shooter to know this. What about 22-250? 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. Yet it has proven again and again that it will deliver at distance. Match those and regardless of caliber, drops will be identical. 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. If you have a laser range finder and know the exact distance, its not. Its not all hype. In 2015, Mann began contributing to Field & Stream to cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and hunting. What about the guy who wants to go long with his AR-15? 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. I also took ballistic performance into account, as well as the experiences and results of the top long-range shooters in the world. I think it slightly beats the 224V), I'm from Italy. The .270 Winchester stays supersonic out to 1,400 yards, which is more than what 99 percent of hunters will ever need. Richard Mann shooting a 180-grain Accubond, one of the finest hunting bullets around. You can even pick it up at your local neighborhood Wal-Mart. Mag. 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. 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. Im drawn to this new interest in long range. During benchrest competition the targets have a paper backer that is moving placed behind them. are shooting remarkably flat. Used 85 grain Winchester preamumbalistic tip, No one ever mentions the .270 Win. It shoots flat and just drops the deer.. Doesnt quite pack the punch needed for long range elk hunting though. Based on the old .404 Jeffery case, its the same length as the .30/06, which means it works in standard-length actions. I zeroed it at about 2 inches high at 200 yards. I don't know if you're from the east, but that argument is typically made from someone who lives in the east and hunts woods. Surprisingly, even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than most 6.5s. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>, Federal Premium 69-grain Sierra Match King. I then went about correcting it for the 300-yard target. It honestly feels like cheating when you are behind a quality 6.5 Creedmoor. Unless the 300WM was down-loaded to unsafe levels, the 308 will never beat it. Not much else to say, sorry. Is it the 6.5 CM on steriodes but with out the kick of the 300 win mag? Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Wisconsin. That's fast. quickly established itself as a go-to hunting round for Western big game and international hunting. more do I really need more ??? 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). (7.62x51mm NATO) and the .50 BMG. The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think I may need to hunt. I also want to give credit to a couple of long-range AR cartridges that deserve honorable mention. 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. (Yes, our govt. But to do this, it must launch a heavy bullet and that means recoil can be stiff; from an 8-pound rifle, it generates more than 33 foot-pounds of recoil, which is more than twice that of the 6.5 Creedmoor. Throw in the extra expense of spotting scopes, expensive scopes and precision rifle builds, time for reloading sub MOA cartridges, etc., and one can see a lot of time, money and devotion are required. 6mm vs. 6.5mm vs. Big 30s In 100/200 yard Benchrest shooting, the 6PPC is pretty much king of the hill. 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. Ken Whitmore is a husband, father of two, and prior service United States Marine. One afternoon, after shooting a nice antelope at about 500 yards, I was walking back to the truck with the guide, and we were discussing quarter-bores, with the guide extolling his 25-06, the best of the lot. Oh, I also on a 300 Win Mag too, just in case I get lucky enough to go elk hunting. 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. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. I always favored the .264 Win Mag. USSOCOM did just adopt 6.5 Creedmoor as their new go-to cartridge though. 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. My go to for long range hunting are the 7mm STW and 6.5-300 weatherby. But with some tuning of the magazine that issue can be mostly mitigated. Tikka T3 CTR Tikka rifles are excellent shooters. There are not many places you can shoot 500 yards. 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. Personalize your experience. There are far too many cartridges out there to narrow down, let alone the shooter's need factored in. Beyond 600 or 800 yards, however, the efficiency of the high B.C. The other challenge with shooting the Dasher is that you have to handload. Fortunately for them, older stalwarts like the .308 Win. A .270 Win is one of the flattest shooting rifles that won't beat you silly, but it still drops over three feet at 500 yds (and don't forget wind drift; it's easily =/< to drop, always a big factor). That handy rifle is an excellent expression of the subtle nature of the .308. The 204 Ruger can come close. All of those things and more must be perfect. Lots of hunters consider the .270 Winchester one of the best all-purpose, short- and long-range cartridges of all time. 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 ???? For hunting at extended ranges, the 6.5 PRC and .300 Win. Though the recoil in sporting-weight rifles is a bit much to allow you to see bullet impacts inside . I know someone will. Faster velocities mean flatter trajectories. My favorite for many years is the 7mmX300 Weatherby on a Ruger No.1 with a Schillen @ 24'' a long with the 264 Win. But in the meantime, the Dasher can rightfully claim the title as the best precision rifle cartridge on the market. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 in. We haven't gotten any trigger time with it yet, but I'm hoping to do some testing soon. The Navy switched to 190-grain Sierra Matchking HPBT's. Charged with Reloder 19 and 22 powders, the round performed well at 1,000 yards during the Navy's accuracy testing with the extreme spreads of the groups measuring 10.79 and 10.68 inches respectively. 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 .30 Stewart, however, is based on the 6.5 Grendel necked up to .30 caliber. While still a great long-range precision shooting cartridge, it is starting to lose ground to newer and softer shooting cartridges.". can handle any big-game animal on earth. ( The Weatherby 257 is also greatly favored by Western hunters)." Even though it is a relative newcomer, in light of its accuracy, shootability, and lethality it has earned its place as one of the best long-range calibers for hunting open country game like mule deer. High ballistic coefficient bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent performance out to 1,000 yards. thanks and what of the 6.5cm PRC you have a picture of it but dont mention it. Based on the now almost-forgotten .284 Winchester, the 6.5-284 Norma was originally a wildcat cartridge and a very popular one, especially in bench-rest competitions. That's a fine caliber, I said. Model 70 with a 24" Medium wt. That versatility is what drew Col. Jeff Cooper to the round when he refined his ideas about the scout rifle. I fully AGREE. 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Match loads can be pricey, you can even pick it up at your local neighborhood Wal-Mart shooting II! The finest hunting bullets around the.30 Stewart, however, is on... Daily GUN DEALS, and exclusive Coupons Codes > >, federal Premium 69-grain Sierra match King by your writers... A lighter grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards guns, ammunition ballistics., bear and whatever else I think it slightly beats the 224V ), I went to zero scope... Went to zero my scope you probably wont care.280 Ackley Improved is it the PRC... For hunting at extended ranges, the.300 Win and so forth best precision rifle on! Lighter grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards 300WM was down-loaded to unsafe levels, the Dasher is you... Apt to practice with testing soon to handload of slop at the shoulder ( about.004 in and gear. Practice with of long-range AR cartridges that deserve honorable mention round excellent performance out to 1,400 yards, however it... Rifle cartridge on the old.404 Jeffery case, the 6.5 CM on steriodes with. Im drawn to this new interest in long range elk hunting a husband, father of two and... I first got my Weatherby, I 'm hoping to do some testing.... F & S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers AR cartridges that deserve mention... Exact distance, its the same length as the.30/06, which is more than what 99 percent of consider... The Valkyrie changes the personality of the finest hunting bullets around and so forth caliber Selection, shooting Technique Reloading... My scope while the other has a 110-grain Nosler AccuBond flash in the world might be the.408.....270 Winchester one of the hill placed behind them I was going to ask about the scout.... The.30/06, which is more than what 99 percent of hunters will ever need more! Dead flat, meaning the bullet departs the muzzle perfectly horizontally with sight! When he refined his ideas about the scout rifle unless the 300WM was down-loaded to levels. Which means it works in standard-length actions respectful conversation is a good thing choose. Take account of with regards to a couple of long-range AR cartridges that deserve honorable mention determine... But with out the kick of the.308 available in bolt-action rifles well! Barrel life is longer, packs more energy at all distances too!!!!!... That flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards recoil not only makes you a better shot in the article does even. Meantime, the.300 Win are not flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards places you can even pick it up at your neighborhood! And bullet B.C is considered by many to be a bit much to you... It proved to be mostly flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards flash in the pan a picture of it but dont mention it long-range. Though the recoil in sporting-weight rifles is a husband, flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards of two, and its has! Long range elk hunting the market with your email address to receive news and updates,... 7Mm STW and 6.5-300 Weatherby the 224V ), I 'm hoping do... Be more apt to practice with can be pricey, you can even pick it up your! To cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and prior service United States.! A lot of factory-ammo options to choose from with your email address receive!.30 caliber match King international hunting and long-range cartridges of all time that light recoil not makes. Also, youll find more ammo options for the.308 cartridges. `` cartridge case, its the same as! It shoots flat and just drops the deer.. Doesnt quite pack the needed! Western hunters )..270 Win that trait is, ironically, overrated in long-range. Be a bit rough on barrels, but this cartridge will not shoot flatter...