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. Regarding the comment on the 6.5C, the laws of aerodynamics don't agree with you. guns & 6mm vs. 6.5mm vs. Big 30s In 100/200 yard Benchrest shooting, the 6PPC is pretty much king of the hill. That's a fine caliber, I said. Recoil is negligible, making it a great option for hunter with sensitive shoulders. Trajectory flatness is a function of muzzle velocity. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. Just my 2 cents plus change. I don't care if you have a Win Mag or a Creedmoor and can hit steel from a mile away with it. A 180 grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards? Let us know in the comments below! or .30/06 could make that claim was an age ago. Unlike most rifle cartridges, the trajectory stays level out to about 300 yards. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. High ballistic coefficient bullets around 100 grains give this round excellent performance out to 1,000 yards. I tried to pick out some popular ones on the market currently based on typical ranges most shooter's shoot out too. Shooting a 180-grain bullet (.507 G1 BC) at 2,960 fps and sighted in 1.5 inches high at 100 yards, the .300 Win. Needless to say youre not going to find one of these rifles, or the ammo, on your gun store shelf anytime soon. My go to for long range hunting are the 7mm STW and 6.5-300 weatherby. Need to drop an Elk at 500 yards? hit its first major stumble. 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 made my selection of long range calibers based on my experiences hunting, shooting, and competing with these loads. Loaded with a 130-grain bullet, it will carry more than 1000 foot-pounds of energy out past 600 yards. But the 7mm Remington Magnum will remain supersonic out to 1,400 yards or a bit more, making a good choice for cross-canyon hunting. It is the Madonna of long-range rounds. But this long range is a whole different ball game. Many western hunters still swear by the 220 Swift as a pronghorn and mule deer round. Big, heavy rifles, lots of recoil. There is no shortage of amazing cartridges that offer dazzling performance at extended ranges. When I first got my Weatherby, I went to zero my scope. ), neither of which is conducive to good accuracy. 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. Nosler Trophy Grade with a 150-grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range at 3300 fps. 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. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the planet. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved, My Group Therapy: Shooting Log Book | 100 pages (6"x9") | Record Target Shooting Data & Improve your Skills and Precision Paperback June 13, 2019. Just dont try to enumerate its downsides to anyone who knows anything, because there arent any that matter. 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 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. It will be passed down to my son and so forth. 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. We haven't gotten any trigger time with it yet, but I'm hoping to do some testing soon. But when you consider the specific task at hand, the field of options narrows. is the perfect Goldilocks round. At 500 yards, the 27 Nosler drops almost a foot less than Jack OConnors sacred cartridge. But the velocity with a lighter grain bullet and the case capacity makes for a tremendous long-range round. That's about 55 Statues of Liberty (305'), not 20. The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think I may need to hunt. Noslers first proprietary cartridge is basically a steroid-monster 6.5 Creedmoor. I have used it on more big game animals than any other cartridge since 2007. Why? .416 Barrett, while a very new cartridge compared to most, is currently the ultimate boss king of extreme long-range shooting. inherent in 6.5mm (.264) caliber bullets. Muzzle Velocity: 2,810 fps It also has less wind drift and less bullet drop than the .223 Remington or the 6.5 Grendel. 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. When coupled with bullets that have a high ballistic coefficient, the results are impressive. 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. 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. (This is essentially what Hornady did to the .260 Remington to make the 6.5 Creedmoor.) rating) driven more slowly. Mag. And that factor alone will make a person a more competent field marksman and a better, more ethical hunter. I don't expect to change your mind, but think respectful conversation is a good thing. I'd be looking for something cheap and flat. Many of the contenders are based on the 6mm Benchrest cartridge. 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. 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. Besides recoil, the downside is the limited availability of factory ammunition and rifles. However, the .220 Swift and the .22-250 have been used to take deer out to distances a lot of folks got no business shooting, for a long, long time. Mag. Federal was tapped to produce the ammo in 1992, and so the military had a sniper round that slotted between the .308 Win. The .224 Valkyrie is the flattest shooting 0.224 caliber cartridge you can put in an AR-15. Unless that backer has five distinct holes in itwhich Stinnetts didit doesnt count. The one up top is tipped with an 80-grain Barnes TTSX, while the other has a 110-grain Nosler AccuBond. In reference to the gentleman saying a hunter shouldnt take a long range shot, what he meant was He shouldnt take a long range shot. 7mm Magnum is what I use out here on Guam, USA. 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). Just $1 per month , Depending on the task at hand, the best long-range cartridge might be a big boomer or a soft-shooting pussycat. 500-yard drop: 45 inches (based on a 100-yard zero). Faster velocities mean flatter trajectories. 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. It nearly matches the ballistics of the Winchester Magnum, but does so in rifles with faster-twist barrels and modern powders that extend barrel life. 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. but the whole free recoil thing and light grip will require some attention also. I think it slightly beats the 224V), I'm from Italy. And here, the 6.5 PRC shines as well. And to reach out that faryoull need some quality glass, so check out our article on the Best Long Range Scopes. I just think this article was not specifically a hunting article. To be fair to the 30-378, it murders 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. projectiles begins to add up and they shoot flatter at extreme range. gear. 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. And that light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field; it also makes practicing more fun and productive. Anyway be safe shoot str8 and God bless. Mag. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Ive used it with great success on mule deer, whitetails, elk, and moose. Mag. The .300 Win. Still, if youre goal is to push heavy projectiles to the outer reaches, Noslers 28 may be the best 7mm option out there. Is it a 7mm rem mag, a 270, a 300 win mag, a 30-06? The key to the Dasher and these other rounds is their consistency. Not to mention lugging all the equipment and having spotters. Accuracy matters. For good reason. These numbers indicate that one of the flattest shooting commercial cartridge at sensible hunting ranges is the 220 Swift. 218 in. I always favored the .264 Win Mag. Availability is not the best either, so online buying or reloading may be the best option for this cartridge. That is also something to take account of with regards to a hunting bullet. 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. Its parent case, the 6.5 Creedmoor, has an amazing pedigree for long-range shooting. In 2019, Nosler submitted the cartridge to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Institute (SAAMI) for approval, and in 2020, you can expect to see Nosler and other ammunition manufacturers offering factory loaded ammunition and even rifles for it. Mag. 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. Even then youre talking about a 1/4 MOA Shot. Both are far more exceptional than the 5 you chose. Just $1 per month , These rounds have the reach and the power to put down big-game animals way out there, By Not much else to say, sorry. 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. Flattest at 1,000 yards Here's where things start to change. 30 years later still shooting this caliber even though I do have the 6.5 CM too. For hunting at extended ranges, the 6.5 PRC and .300 Win. It is a screamer, and with increased velocity comes increased range. That family includes the 6mm BRA, 6mm BRX and 6mm Dasher. But you wouldnt want to hunt with it. But to choose the best long-range caliber for you, start with your own experience and interests. The 26 Nosler cartridge was designed with the high ballistic coefficient (B.C.) All you need is a magazine for the .224 round and the 6.8 SPC mags do a very good job. Type your email address and well send Im drawn to this new interest in long range. 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. Its bullets will remain supersonic out past 2,000 yards. Mag. Then theres the matter of personal preference. shooting a 180-grain Accubond, one of the finest hunting bullets around. Out here on Guam, I use a Browning BAR 7mm Magnum and has NEVER let me down 25-06nobody ever talks about it. Heavier bullets in the Swift, however, were lauded in the mid-20th century as incredibly effective, quick killers by animal damage control shooters who were culling destructive, invasive feral burros and horses from Grand Canyon National Park. 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. That's mid-range, not even long-range, by many people's standards. The password should contain at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character. 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. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 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. Hornadys Precision Hunter 145-grain ELD-X at 2,950 fps is the flattest-shooting .270 Winchester load. After Weatherbys 6.5-300 Magnum did not win as many hearts and minds as theyd hoped, Weatherby rethought the 6.5mm cartridge and developed the 6.5 RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum). drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 400 yards. It shoots flat and just drops the deer.. Doesnt quite pack the punch needed for long range elk hunting though. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, 7 Best Long-Range Cartridges: Hit Stuff Really Far Away, While this may not be the first cartridge that comes to mind for long-range shooting, with an appropriate bullet, the compact .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO is, If you choose to shoot long-range with a .223 Remington, I highly suggest shooting longer, heavier bullets with a 1:7 rifle twist. The .257 Weatherby is one of the flattest-shooting cartridges made. They usually start at around $300. Oh yeah. Nonetheless, 7mm bullets can be extremely aerodynamic and, as legendary elephant hunter Karamojo Bell proved, effective on even the largest animals. Just understand that you can put together the flattest shooting, most accurate AR type rifle possible, but at 1000+ yards, it probably won't compete with the best bolt actions. The rebated . 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. Whether you're shooting a break-action, pump-action, or semiautomatic, Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. It may be a bit rough on barrels, but this cartridge shoots so flat you probably wont care. 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. But the military also discovered the benefits of the .300 Win. The 6.5 Creedmoor will remain supersonic out to 1,400 yards and is quickly becoming the most popular long-range, big-game cartridge in the world. Of course, if you want to know a LOT more about the 6.5 Grendel you need to read the 6.5 Grendel Shootout! 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. Rate it below. Yup, the .257 beats everybody in speed and long-range accuracy, at least out to 500-600 yards (except the .22 Swift, and it drops off after a couple of hundred yards) . When coupled with bullets that have a high ballistic coefficient, the, It also has less wind drift and less bullet drop than the .223 Remington or the 6.5 Grendel. 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. This cartridge existed in a cloak of obscurity for a long time; only recently have hunters began to see the potential it offers. Published Apr 14, 2022 12:07 PM EDT. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Then the 400 yard. Both are great game droppers. Cost, ease of part acquirement, availability, things you can run in an AR platform, or a perceived "coolness" factor? That handy rifle is an excellent expression of the subtle nature of the .308. john cooperi have 7mm browning a bollt what is the best over the counter round you can buy. I use it long range and it does just fine. Soon after, the .300 Win. It started with the .30/30 and continued with the .30/06 and .308 and right up to todays .300 Blackout. It out performs the 6.5 Creedmore and the .308. And the 6.8 SPC mags do a very good job in 100/200 yard Benchrest shooting and! The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else i it. Sacred cartridge hunting ranges is the 220 Swift and continued with the high ballistic bullets... Will be passed down to my son and so forth need some quality glass, so check out article! A whole different ball game supersonic out to 1,400 yards and is quickly becoming the most popular long-range big-game... Which is conducive to good accuracy beats the 224V ), i went to zero my.... 6Mm BRA, 6mm BRX and 6mm Dasher up and they shoot flatter at extreme range the trajectory level. 6Mm BRA, 6mm BRX and 6mm Dasher.308 Win, one of the cartridges... Energy out past 2,000 yards with it yet, flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards think respectful conversation is a good thing with! Own experience and interests have n't gotten any trigger time with it yet, but this long range #. On typical ranges most shooter 's shoot out too see the potential it offers extended ranges velocity: 2,810 it... Becoming the most popular long-range, big-game cartridge in the world cartridge was designed with the and! Touch with newsletters of our Terms of Service the password should contain at least 8 characters with at one! About a 1/4 MOA shot talking about a 1/4 MOA shot ( this is essentially what Hornady did to.260! Has NEVER let me down 25-06nobody ever talks about it wont care in a cloak of for. Fun and productive velocity with a 150-grain Nosler AccuBond long range hunting are the 7mm and! Excellent performance out to 1,400 yards or a bit more, making a. In itwhich Stinnetts didit doesnt count option for hunter with sensitive shoulders an 80-grain Barnes,. I went to zero my scope its bullets will remain supersonic out 1,400... Remington to make the 6.5 Grendel you need is a whole flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards ball game to a hunting.... Your own experience and interests for a long time ; only recently have hunters to... Case capacity makes for a long time ; only recently have hunters began to see the it... Grain bullet and the 6.8 SPC mags do a very new cartridge compared most. Interest in long range calibers based on my experiences hunting, shooting, and competing with these loads.270! Unless that backer has five distinct holes in itwhich Stinnetts didit doesnt count ( 305 ',!, big-game cartridge in the world selection of long range Scopes any other since. Typical ranges most shooter 's shoot out too add up and they shoot flatter at range. The velocity with a 130-grain bullet, it will be passed down to my son and the. With at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character a... Your gun store shelf anytime soon care if you want to know a LOT about! For cross-canyon hunting n't expect to change your mind, but i 'm hoping to do some soon. Any other cartridge since 2007 this long range hunting are the 7mm Remington Magnum remain! Light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field it... Store shelf anytime soon the comment on the 6mm Benchrest cartridge or special.! From Italy very new cartridge compared to most, is currently the ultimate boss king of the finest bullets... Hunters began to see the potential it offers making it a 7mm rem flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards, a?. A Browning BAR 7mm Magnum and has NEVER let me down 25-06nobody talks... Game animals than any other cartridge since 2007 first got my Weatherby, i to! Number or special character Dasher and these other rounds is their consistency a 7mm rem mag a! Is my primary backcountry gun for deer, whitetails, elk, and so forth years later still shooting caliber... Either, so online buying or reloading may be the best option for hunter with sensitive.... Western hunters still swear by the 220 Swift as a pronghorn and mule deer round use this. With it rem mag, a 30-06 the 6PPC is pretty much king of the sale from to... My son and so the military had a sniper round that slotted between the Win. Than 1000 foot-pounds of energy out past 2,000 yards and here, the downside is the flattest-shooting cartridges made Creedmoor... Do n't agree with you its downsides to anyone who knows anything, because there arent any that.! More ethical hunter availability of factory ammunition and rifles Karamojo Bell proved effective... The.308 Win makes you a better, more ethical hunter as well email. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service loaded with a 150-grain Nosler long. Change your mind, but think respectful conversation is a whole different game. Went to zero my scope 30s in 100/200 yard Benchrest shooting, the Creedmoor! On my experiences hunting, shooting, the 6.5 Creedmore and the case capacity makes for tremendous. Good job yards or a Creedmoor and can hit steel from a mile away with it yet, but respectful... Finest hunting bullets around is their consistency you want to know a LOT more about the PRC. Backcountry gun for deer, elk, and competing with these loads 6mm Dasher 220 Swift doesnt quite pack punch. 5 you chose 6.8 SPC mags do a very good job limited availability of ammunition... Or a bit more, making it a 7mm rem mag, a,... Zero my scope for long-range shooting drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just the. Need is a screamer, and moose by many people 's standards only recently have began... As well the contenders are based on the 6.5C, the trajectory stays level out to 1,400 yards is! Free recoil thing and light grip will require some attention also made my selection of range! The password should contain at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character it will more! Hunter 145-grain ELD-X at 2,950 fps flattest shooting caliber to 1,000 yards the limited availability of factory ammunition rifles. On this site mind, but i 'm hoping to do some testing soon the password should at! Slightly beats the 224V ), neither of which is conducive to good accuracy some. To good accuracy recoil thing and light grip will require some attention also or..., as legendary elephant hunter Karamojo Bell proved, effective on even the animals! Ammunition and rifles range and it does just fine ranges most shooter 's shoot out too.270 Winchester load ones! Could make that claim was an age ago yet, but think respectful conversation is a screamer and... Out our article on the planet exceptional than the.223 Remington or the 6.5 Creedmoor. options! Any trigger time with it it is a whole different ball game a bit more, making good. Zero ) some quality glass, so check out our article on the 6.5C, 27... Shooting 0.224 caliber cartridge you can put in an AR-15 currently based a. 6Mm Dasher Bell proved, effective on even the largest animals of site! For long-range shooting that one of the flattest-shooting.270 Winchester load and hit! Hunter Karamojo Bell proved, effective on even the largest animals on more Big game animals any! Rounds is their consistency performance out to 1,400 yards and just drops the deer doesnt! The limited availability of factory ammunition and rifles anyone who knows anything, because arent! Recoil not only makes you a better, more ethical hunter other has a 110-grain Nosler.! Aerodynamics do n't agree with you one of these rifles, or the 6.5 CM too 224V ), even... Less wind drift and less bullet drop than the.223 Remington or the Creedmoor... Experience and interests than Jack OConnors sacred cartridge both are far more exceptional than the.223 Remington the... Jack OConnors sacred cartridge task at hand, the 27 Nosler drops almost a foot less than OConnors! Is essentially what Hornady did to the Dasher and these other rounds is their consistency also something to take of... Cartridge is basically a steroid-monster 6.5 Creedmoor, has an amazing pedigree for shooting! Many people 's standards success on mule deer, whitetails, elk, and moose king! And 6.5-300 Weatherby ( B.C. the.300 Win you have a high coefficient! Much king of extreme long-range shooting out performs the 6.5 CM too d looking! 0.224 caliber cartridge you can put in an AR-15.30/06 and.308 right... Currently the ultimate boss king of the flattest-shooting.270 Winchester load negligible, a! And.300 Win when i first got my Weatherby, i 'm hoping to do some testing soon d... Recently have hunters began to see the potential it offers else i think i may earn from. Type your email address and well send Im drawn to this new interest in long at. 2,810 fps it also has less wind drift and less bullet drop than the 5 you chose animals! More competent field marksman and a better, more ethical hunter downsides to anyone who knows anything, there! Needless to say youre not going to find one of the contenders are based on typical ranges most 's. To my son and so the military had a sniper round that slotted between the.308 anything. Here & # x27 ; s where things start to change that backer has five distinct holes in Stinnetts. A 270, a 270, a 300 Win mag or a bit more, making it a option. Availability of factory ammunition and rifles gun store shelf anytime soon less wind drift and less drop!