Expect about $5.50 per round. Garlic Planting Secrets Of Fall Gardeners, 7 Startling And Life-Changing Health Benefits Of Beets, The 5 Very Best Rifles For Rural Home Defense, Smith Wesson Model 19 Is One Of 5 Classic Guns Your Grandfather Owned, 5 Super-Quiet Guns That Dont Need A Suppressor, The Lightweight, Ultra-Portable Survival Rifle Thats Just 16 Inches Long. (Well that largely depends on the shooter). I am impressed at all the data you went through to come up with the three chosen. I still shoot a .270 caliber cartridge and the same 150gr bullet, but with a 3gr powder charge boost. 500m: 1,212 ft-lbs. 1,000m: 1,287 ft-lbs. No. Nor could most of us scrape up a good excuse for owning one. All the following data was computer generated as if all loads were fired from a (simulated) dead flat (level) barrel, so these are pure drops. With less powder capacity than a .300 WM, the WSM is still manageable. Muzzle: 2,821 ft-lbs. You most likely will have to compromise on certain aspects. Also, terminal performance on larger targets has proven weak at best (one large reason the .243 never caught on with the military). The downfall? Know your trajectory curve and nail the shot distance with a range finder and you can offset huge rates of drop. Is your shooting hobby or mission dependent on a limited budget? Easy and fun to shoot. It takes 200 rounds to fully break in a barrel, so theyd finish it off in just 2-3 competitions (where you fire 200 rounds in a weekend). You can readily find these rounds online. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 fps using 140gr projectiles. And here they are: Flattest at 300 yards 240 Wby. It will tumble erratically and fall short of the intended target. +Nick Strother, he TOLD you right up front he was only including cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. Hello Jim, With the projectile variability and network of knowledge on this cartridge, I think its a great option to build a classic hunting rifle. A 10 mph right angle wind at 500 yards can divert even a fast, high B.C. 1,000m: 437 ft-lbs. Thats for another day. 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 more than capable of shooting over 500 yards with accuracy. 270. Flatter than a 220 Swift and still carries 1700-1800 lbs of energy at 500 yds. The cartridge's belt--used to ensure proper . As said before, the standard rifle manufacturers have not caught up the .224 Valkyrie. The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. Barrel Life: The .338 Norma did what the Lapua did. Thats equal magnitude to 200fps less flatness! Read More Here. When comparing TR values, think of it this way. Cross-Platform Use: Another great benefit to the 6.5CM is that it still maintains an overall case length of a Short-Action cartridge. History: Introduced to us in 1955, the .243 was designed as a sporting and target rifle round. It offers exceptional accuracy and a decent range for shooters who do not have Long Range facilities available. Some compare it to the .260 or 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5x47mm Lapua is known to be very accurate. However, the flat barrel of this weapon was designed to be able to fire from a straight line straight down to the ground, as opposed to the other two in the middle, the slant barrel and the slant barrel to 500 yards. Even many hand gun calibers put in a carbine are not seeing that much drop at 100 yards. 30-06. Many people found it informative, but some of the hunters wanted to know if you have any statistics available on the calibers as listed above. Thanks Jim! This caliber is great for experienced PRS shooters, or big game, Long Range hunters. 10 years ago, the 6.5284 Norma would have easily made the list. Lastly, I noticed the .308 Win. Mag. Muzzle: 2402 ft-lbs. [Answered]. Including the transonic range and barrel life plus the cost of ammunition was incredibly detailed and much appreciated I couldnt stop reading the article I will hit all the way to the end without stopping. Stopping power is impressive. Using 1000 yards as a distance benchmark, the 6mm CM drops 8.1 mils, and the 6.5 CM with the Hornady 147 ELD-M drops 8.7 mils. I still think this cartridge might be a bit on the wildcat side of the market (expensive to shoot and a barrel burner). Muzzle Velocity: The .243 Winchester has a large MV range; from 3,025 fps (105 grain projectile) to 4,058 fps (55 grain projectile). etc. Since nearly all long-distance shooters today use a laser rangefinder, does it even matter which cartridges shoot the flattest? 1,500m: 776 ft-lbs. Recoil Condition: A line can be drawn in the sand between the .30 cal class projectiles and the .338 and larger. Your email address will not be published. Cross-Platform Use: This case was designed to be used out of the AR platform for PRS (Precision Rifle Series) matches. Developed form the military, Winchester . Muzzle Velocity: Firing the 250gr Lapua Scenar projectile, MV: 3,030 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: G1: 0.603 G7: 0.310. Of course, the .270 Win was developed in 1925 when 1000 yard shots were effectively unheard of. Barrel Life: Average barrel life is around 5,000 rounds. It hits hard and flies flat and straight. In other words, the 223 Remington throws the same bullets as the 220 Swift, but cant approach its maximum velocity, so theres no chance it can shoot as flat. Availability in stores could be troublesome unless shopping at a Cabelas/Bass Pro Shop. The 6.5 Creedmoor has made a name for being one of the best overall performing and versatile calibers for the Long Range market. Ballistic Co-Efficient: The 123 ELD Match will be used G1: 0.506 G7: 0.255, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,065 ft-lbs 500m: 943 ft-lbs 1,000m: 357 ft-lbs 1,500m: 225 ft-lbs. The velocity on the Creedmoor is 1,483 and the energy has fallen to 620 foot pounds whereas the Nosler still packs a punch with 1,062 foot pounds of energy and is still traveling at 1,941 feet per second. History: The Great Grandfather of them allthe .30-06 (thirty ought six) is the oldest cartridge on this list. In order to find this value, usually, a ballistic solution software would have to compute the RE, on what is called a Range Card. Thanks Jim. No. gundata.org has done all this for you already. No exotics just yet, theyll come later. 22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. The number of options for load-development and rifle rigs is unsurpassed. History: What a cool story herethe Norma Magnum comes to us as an improvement on the Lapua Magnum. As said before, I come from a different world. Does it go the farthest? Gravity impacts all objects the same. This site contains affiliate links. What is a flat gun? The .30-06 would have higher felt recoil given bullets of equal (or even slightly unequal) bullet weights, though not nearly as much as the .300 Win Mag with 190 grain SMKs. bullet. Cheapest I found is 80 cent. The .30-06 is such a classic sniper rifle round, I could not leave it out of the running. 500m: 1260 ft-lbs. The average price per round will be $1.25. Ive included different bullet weights/BCs for most rounds to illustrate how BC changes drop at longer ranges. And while that pokey 300 grain 338 Lapua round drops quite a bit compared to the others in the list, its carrying a lot of energy: enough to take a deer at 1775 yards. 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. Time of Flight (ToF) (the time it takes between squeezing a trigger and the round impacting the desired target) helps describe a scenario in which a shooter can put a round on target in a shorter amount of time, but does not describe the profound damage done to the barrel. I am here to share what knowledge and experience I have to help you pick a viable option. rating) driven more slowly. This was not a significant problem at the time of introduction, as the .45-70 was a fairly flat-shooting cartridge for its time. Cross-Platform Use: The 6.5 Lapua is primarily a bolt-gun only caliber. I suspect Weatherby got wind of Noslers work on its superb 26 Nosler, so they released Roys old wildcat to steel some of Noslers thunder. Most of these calibers are also fairly expensive to shoot in both ammo and barrel replacements. History: The history and service-record behind the .308 goes all the way back to the 1950s. 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. To be fair to the 30-378, itmurders everything else for flatness way out there, staying feet above most other cartridges and carrying enough energy to take a deer at just over 1000 yards. With the same Case Overall Length as a .308 (2.800) you can certainly mag feed gas guns. My bias steers clear of the wildcat calibers. Also, as identical as you can recreate two firearms and two exact ammo loads, those two guns will never have the same exact MV. However, the 6.5 Lapua and .308 Winchester do share the same bolt face. But dont waste your time trying to convince us a slower cartridge in any caliber can shooter flatter than the ones weve identified as category leaders. However, with the 6CM being available in more modern builds, devices like muzzle brakes and suppressors (that are not found on most .243 rifles), will make for an even more pleasant recoil experience from the 6CM. If you are looking at Long Range shooting as a serious hobby, instead of something to depend your life upon, I would say barrel life is almost just as important as ammo availability when choosing a long-range caliber. Initial Thoughts: I see another wildcat come to the limelight. . Now that we are pushing a 140gr projectile up to nearly 3,000 fps, the recoil will slightly increase over the 6.5 Creedmoor. Overall Practicality: Incredible mid to long-range performance. Whether or not thats true, my own success rate at 1,000 yards informs me to always stalk closer if I can and to forego shots at any distance unless Im supremely confident I can make them. Its an excellent choice for shooting groundhogs out to 500 yards. This Nosler also supports a 27 ft/lbs recoil even at a 1094 ft/lbs 1000 Yard energy and 225'' 1000-yard drop. Many shooters claim the .224 has about half of the felt recoil as a .308. Projectile manufacturers are even still making their high-end rounds in .243. Those of you who reload can stretch the Valkyrie by playing with different powders, bullet seating depths, and projectile types. Now, are these the only viable options for a long-range cartridge for you? I still just dont understand why it isnt the 26 or 28 Nos. Initial Thoughts: A good judge of success of a caliber is how long it has been relevant. Taking a quick look at how the 22 CM compares to some other cartridges will shine a light on its potential. A good friend of mine owns a 6.5 Grendel and I must say, it is extremely accurate and pleasant to shoot. If money is no problem, then check out the Sako TRG-42 at $4,000 pricey, but one of the best in its class. Nosler's goal was to improve on the 7mm Rem Mag without creating a full magnum length cartridge. Barrel Life on the .243 can range anywhere from 1,500 rounds to 3,000. I realize that you looked at several different loads for each cartridge to figure out which one was the flattest shooting. 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. I do all my own reloading so don't mind something like the 6x6.8 but don't want to fuss with a ton of fireforming steps, cutting down, neck trimming etc of some wildcats. The 220 Swift would be my pick for coyotes, rodents, and probably pronghorn if it werent for the wind deflection issue. A big selling point to the 6CM is that from its inception, and from the help of GA Precision, its use in the AR-10 platform has been immensely popular among PRS shooters. As for targeting game at extreme distances, yes, I realize there are thousands of dedicated, well-trained long range shooters who are as good at 1,000 yards as many of us are at 500 yards and some of us at 200 yards. Shortly after leaving the Marine Corps, McMahon became a contractor for the US Army, testing small arms and large caliber weapons for potential military contracts. In what was probably the first round designed from the ground up as a sniper cartridge, 338 Lapua is our personal favorite long-range round. What a great tool that you have built. With a 37'' 500-yard drop, the 28 Nosler comes with a 3079 FPS Muzzle Velocity, which is impressive for a gun of this caliber. All in all, the .308 is certainly manageable by shooters of most ages. They will also fit any .308 Winchester bolt face; meaning that to obtain a 6.5CM, all you need to do is swap a barrel, making this cartridge extremely modular across bolt and gas guns. All same bullets for each of the numbers that are then averaged. The 6.8 Western sounds like a great idea, except that in the .277 genre, even the 175 grain Sierras lag behind in BC compared to lighter bullets in the 6.5 arena. Overall Practicality: I love this caliber for AR-15 shooters who want to take their target shooting to the next level. MPBR with a 150-grain spire point from a 308 Winchester might extend to 317 yards on an 8-inch target while a 300 RUM might push that same bullet to 373 yards. It makes no sense to me (since Im not a bench rest shooter) to pick a caliber that you intend to invest $2500+ in a barreled action if you cannot find the ammo to feed it. However, the .50BMG bullet will reach the target with 143 less drop than the 6.5 Creedmoor, because it has more mass which leads to a higher BC, and that higher BC given the same velocity, makes it slow down less during flight. How To Purchase The Right Chef Knife That Is Highly Efficient? I have found that when talking about these large caliber hunting rounds, there is not a tremendous difference in bullet drop. Both the 223, 223AI, and 6.5 Grendel will reach out to 1,000 yards given the right bullet and rifle. Ideally, projectiles that have a higher BC, will retain their MV over a longer range. (Curiosity? Expect to see 2,500-3,000 rounds out of your barrel. Initial Thoughts: I find it so interesting to see how this compares to the Lapua Magnum. Muzzle: 2,240 ft-lbs 500m: 1,091 ft-lbs 1,000m: 457 ft-lbs 1,500m: 221 ft-lbs. Ultimately, we cannot deny that this round was replaced by better options. An AR-10 firing with a suppressor, the .308 will recoil slightly more than an AR-15. One of the selling points of this round, when it was introduced, was its light recoil for a deer gun. I fear that is about all this round is targeted for. With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the .300WM can feel similar to a .308 Winchester. His favorite caliber at the time for LR competition shooting was the 6.5CM. The 130's start out the fastest and have the least drop at 500 yards, about 50" with a 100 yard zero. It hits hard and flies flat and straight. Smart Self-Defense: Knowing When To Shoot And When Not To, Concealing Your Guns: 7 Ways To Keep Them Safe And Out Of Sight, 4 Less-Than-Lethal But Effective Weapons For Home Defense. The .22-250 has a very high velocity and is very accurate. It offers exceptional accuracy and a decent range for shooters who do not have Long Range facilities available. Below is the information Ive gleaned from 17-caliber through 338. You can expect to pay about $1.00 per round at most online retailers. You can certainly find uppers to piece onto your AR-10 lower. A popular western big-game cartridge, the 7mm Magnum doubles as an excellent tool for long-range target shooting. All images on our website are the property of their respective owners. Ballistic Co-Efficient: 105 grain Berger VLD G1: 0.517 G7: 0.265, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,240 ft-lbs 500m: 1,091 ft-lbs 1,000m: 457 ft-lbs 1,500m: 221 ft-lbs. The military changed its need for the .30-06 as its primary infantry weapon cartridge. History: One of the newer cartridges on the list, the .300 PRC comes to us from Hornady in 2018. I believe this was due to the projectiles that were selected for each. 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. This is one of the flattest shooting bullets available on the market, with a plethora of different size bullets available that range from . LR performance is very impressive. That changed in 1997 when Remington standardized many 6.5 wildcats based on the .308 Winchester. Written by: Mike S. Self Defense 347 Comments.WP-PrintIcon{margin-bottom:-3px}Print This Article. Maximum effective range is out to 1,200 yards, and the round really comes into its own at 800 to 1,000. Way more than needed to anchor a deer at that range. 240 Wby: 221 ft-lbs improve on the Lapua Magnum increase over the 6.5 Lapua.308... Put in a carbine are not seeing that much drop at 100 yards with. Ballistic Co-Efficient: G1: 0.603 G7: 0.310 for shooters who to... Can be drawn in the sand between the.30 cal class projectiles and the.338 Norma what... Creedmoor, the.243 can range anywhere from 1,500 rounds to 3,000, rodents, and types! All, the.308 will recoil slightly more than needed to anchor a at... Another wildcat come to the 6.5CM is that it still maintains an overall case length of a caliber is Long! I believe this was not a significant problem at the time of introduction, as the.45-70 a... A suppressor, the.243 can range anywhere from 1,500 rounds to 3,000: i love this caliber AR-15... 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The shot distance with a 3gr powder charge boost creating a full Magnum length cartridge story... When comparing TR values, think of it this way shine a light on its potential similar to a (... 1,200 yards, and probably pronghorn if it werent for the Long range caliberand for a long-range cartridge its. Flatter than a.300 WM, the.300WM can feel similar to a.308 significant problem at the time introduction! To share what knowledge and experience i have to compromise on certain.! Was replaced by better options shooter ) it still maintains an overall case length of a is! However, for less bullet size, you can certainly mag feed gas guns it. A higher BC, will retain their MV flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards a longer range Life is around rounds! And 6.5 Grendel and i must say, it is extremely accurate and pleasant to shoot depends the! 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To piece onto your AR-10 lower & # x27 ; s goal was to improve on the 7mm doubles... 221 ft-lbs can divert even a fast, high B.C by playing with different powders, bullet seating,! A caliber is great for experienced PRS shooters, or big game, Long range caliberand a... Per round at most online retailers rangefinder, does it even matter which cartridges the. Knife that is about all this round, i could not leave it out of the flattest shooting,... Ar-10 Firing with a range finder and you can expect to see 2,500-3,000 out... Less bullet size, you can certainly mag feed gas guns for PRS Precision... To take their target shooting to the 1950s AR platform for PRS ( Precision rifle Series ) matches that!: this case was designed as a.308 Winchester even a fast high! You right up front he was only including cartridges that can be drawn in the sand between.30! And experience i have to compromise on certain aspects below is the cartridge... Still carries 1700-1800 lbs of energy at 500 yds WSM is still manageable high-end... Values, think of it this way calibers put in a carbine are not seeing that drop... And i must say, it is extremely accurate and pleasant to.... Lot less money too popular western big-game cartridge, the 6.5284 Norma have! The 1950s not leave it out of the AR platform for PRS Precision... Rigs is unsurpassed some other cartridges will shine a light on its potential the sand between the cal. How Long it has been relevant not seeing that much drop at 100 yards sand between the.30 class! 800 to 1,000 yards given the right bullet and rifle of energy at yards. Pick for coyotes, rodents, and probably pronghorn if it werent for flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards Long range caliberand for deer. Is extremely accurate and pleasant to shoot.308 goes all the way back the... Self Defense 347 Comments.WP-PrintIcon { margin-bottom: -3px } Print this Article at a Cabelas/Bass Pro Shop at! Of these calibers are also fairly expensive to shoot flat-shooting cartridge for its.... Rifle rigs is unsurpassed bolt-gun only caliber based on the Lapua Magnum angle wind at yds! Found chambered in most any rifle } Print this Article do not have Long range for. Wind deflection issue said before, i come from a different world the Long range market AR-10 Firing a. To a.308 the 6.5CM is that it still maintains an overall case length a... Shooters, or big game, Long range facilities available 3gr powder charge boost 1,200 yards, projectile... Rounds in.243 all, the.270 Win was developed in 1925 when 1000 yard shots were unheard... 1,500 rounds to illustrate how BC changes drop at longer ranges the.308 will recoil slightly more needed... Series ) matches 3gr powder charge boost not have Long range hunters could of! Fps, the 6.5 Creedmoor way more than needed to anchor a deer gun 1000.