It hits hard and flies flat and straight. No. Remington 870 Vs. Mossberg 590: Which Pump Shotgun Is Truly Better. Ive updated the chart description so its more clear that it isnt in inches. Muzzle Velocity: Firing a 300gr SMK, MV: 2,650 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: 300gr SMK, G1: 0.747 G7: 0.383. BUT, just keep in mind that sticking to one caliber, and being able to use that caliber in multiple systems does have advantages. Reproduction of any part of this website without direct permission is prohibited. For being a long and hard-hitting round, the 6.5 CM still maintains a lower felt recoil. In your opinion is the 6.5 Creedmoor going to eventually put out to pasture the 30-06 and the .308? I have not identified bullet make and type because that doesnt change impact drop. Ammo Availability: As to be expected, the 6mm Creedmoor is still a young cartridge. 1,500m: 295 ft-lbs. It has less case volume, traditionally firing a heavier bulletBUT still retains energy over range better and maintains a longer Transonic Range than its bigger brother. Cross-Platform Use: To date, the .300 NM will be a bolt action system only. A 10 mph right angle wind at 500 yards can divert even a fast, high B.C. Muzzle: 2,158 ft-lbs 500m: 1,047 ft-lbs 1,000m: 436 ft-lbs 1,500m: 222 ft-lbs. What is your mission? etc. But isnt that what makes it awesome? However, in 1969 Remington picked it up forcing it to become a standard cartridge that is nothing more than a necked down version of the .30-06. 1,000m: 786 ft-lbs. Recoil Condition: For being a long and hard-hitting round, the 6.5 CM still maintains a lower felt recoil. Its drop at 1,000 yards is 330.30 and at 500 yards its drop is 50.00. With a flatter trajectory and less wind drift the .300 Win Mag offers a useful step up in performance in a similar size rifle. Both are 338-378 Wby. We all have scores of 5.56 mags laying aroundwhy not beef up that system? 243 and 25-06 had to be left out because it didnt have enough at 600 for even deer. Topped with a Sierra MatchKing bullet, it's one a handful of 6.5 . For the Top 5 you have listed, what manufacturers offer a complete rifle in those calibers? The average barrel life will be 1,500-2,000 rounds. An AR-10 firing with a suppressor, the .308 will recoil slightly more than an AR-15. s. As said before, I come from a different world. 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. If you put a gun to my head, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is the best, overall, Long Range caliber. Barnes, Hornady, Federal, and Berger all make loads ranging from $0.60-$1.30 per round. This caliber is known for providing excellent Long Range performance with very light recoil. For those PRS guys that prefer bolt-guns, the PRC is a great alternative to the CM. Any shooter of any age can comfortably shoot the Valkyrie without feeling recoil fatigue. History: The Great Grandfather of them allthe .30-06 (thirty ought six) is the oldest cartridge on this list. As a candidate for the best overall long-range caliber. 500m: 1,866 ft-lbs. With available projectiles ranging from 40 grains up to 90, MVs could also range from 3400 to 2600 fps. Ammo Availability: Several factory loads do exist on the market today. 30-378 weatherby (214). It is based on the 505 Gibbs (an old-time rimless African big-game cartridge developed in England in 1911) and necked down to 0.408 inches. 500m: 2,621 ft-lbs. No. The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. We all have scores of 5.56 mags laying aroundwhy not beef up that system? Expect about $5.50 per round. The downfall? Its clear that flat shooting is directly proportional to overbore. It's a solid contender for the best deer caliber out to 500 yards. You have so much faith that your round will hit your target. At 1000 yards a .308 Winchester will have dropped around 400 inches (30 feet) where it has lost 55% of its velocity. The components for reloading are also readily available. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,158 ft-lbs 500m: 1,047 ft-lbs 1,000m: 436 ft-lbs 1,500m: 222 ft-lbs. Way more than needed to anchor a deer at that range. The average barrel life will be 1,500-2,000 rounds. Muzzle: 2,240 ft-lbs 500m: 1,091 ft-lbs 1,000m: 457 ft-lbs 1,500m: 221 ft-lbs. Multi-Caliber .17 to .300 WBY. WELL DONE!!! Cross-Platform Use: We all know that AR-10s of the past could never keep up in accuracy with a bolt gun. Might be of interest and I have used the cartridge in a Ruger M77 with a 22 barrel. So since it doesnt work AT ALL for serious shooters, it doesnt get much air time, and then the average hunter who only shoots 2-3 boxes per YEAR never hears about it. But lets take a quick look at a historically popular flat-shooting cartridge, the .270 Winchester. G7 is the most current and most accurate measurement of the predicted flight of a long-range projectile. Initial reports having performance equal to or very slightly better than the .243 with much better barrel life and enough recoil reduction to be slightly noticeable. Read More Here. 270 and 30-06 carry enough power out to 700 yards, 7mm pulls a bit further, and 300 win mag pulls a bit further still. Because of the smaller powder volume and lower MVs, you can expect to see about 3,000 rounds out of your barrel. For hunters, medium-game will be the limit of this caliber. I built a .338 Lapua when I was in Gunsmithing College in Susanville. We will be discussing: Muzzle Velocity, Ballistic Co-efficient, Remaining Energy, Transonic Range, Recoil Condition, Cross-Platform Use, Ammo Availability, Barrel Life, and Overall Practicality. projectiles begins to add up and they shoot flatter at extreme range. It was designed from the ground up in 2005 by an ammunition manufacturer, Lapua, to take on the 300-1,000 yard competition world. To date, the .300 NM will be a bolt action system only. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. At least until you start shooting at true long range, over 1000 yards. I tend to like popular calibers for off the shelf ammo availability and cost, so the gun doesnt just sit in the safe. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. 1000 yards CheyTac featured Lapua Magnum rifles Winchester Magnum. Personally, I have been running a Savage 110 BA Chasis rifle for the past 5 years with no complaints besides its weight. That still is a general rule of thumb today. This cartridge is one of the most capable rounds I have ever shot. Kind of underwhelming, right? 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. 1,500m: 776 ft-lbs. 300 WinMag, 338 Lapua Mag., etc.). I shot this out of the new Barrett ASR at 1,600m. Winchester designed the .300 WSM in 2001 with the idea of a hybrid. Without a muzzle brake or suppressor, the .338 Lapua Magnum offers a challenging recoil experience. Real-world shooting of this round is even more impressive. Overall Practicality: For the experienced Long Range hunter, I think this is a great caliber to consider. This is especially important to those of you who reload and can tailor a custom load for your rifle. 500m: 2,621 ft-lbs. It is a product of natural selection and evolutionthe best features of several classic LR rounds fused into one. always means more wind deflection. 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). And here they are: Flattest at 300 yards 240 Wby. I personally shoot a .338 Edge, and I am not at all upset it did not make the list. It gives you that extra boost in MV to cut the wind more effectively. That kind of long-range accuracy comes at a hefty price with this model starting at $11,700 from the manufacturer. While the other three rounds in this category may have an advantage in economics (300 Winchester Magnum), accuracy (338 Lapua Magnum) or range (408 CheyTac), the 50 BMG is still the king of the domain of long-range shooting. Barrel twist rates spin the bullet out of the muzzle in a spiral much akin to a quarterback throwing a football. All in all, the .308 is certainly manageable by shooters of most ages. From 600 to 1000 yards they use a 300 Winchester. 1,000m: 1,451 ft-lbs 1,500m: 722 ft-lbs. Im not going to dive too deep into terminal ballistics for the purpose of this article. I would expect to see 6,000-8,000+. They throw in 200 rounds ($1,400 worth), but you still need to provide your own optics. My take away on all this number crunching? For example, the .50BMG and the 6.5 Creedmoor both launch bullets at approximately the same muzzle velocity of 2,700fps. If Ive left out an obvious winner or near winner, write in and state your case. Its not the fastest, farthest, or most accurate roundbut it will certainly get the job done with less headache and wallet-ache. Very modular across nearly any rifle system. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 4,677 ft-lbs. Take the .308 Winchester at 500 for comparison, The level of confidence of a first-round hit at that range is extremely high. at 150-grains, the bullet is a bit light, but it still has enough energy at 1,000-yards for deer, bear, and elk. But after finally diving into the 6.5, its clear why it has become so popular. How hard would it be to add a 223wssm to the mix. The .260 also made a name in the hunting community as well, so finding it on the shelves is no problem. The advent of precision rifle competitions and the laser rangefinder has increased the publics desire to go long. Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. Like I said, each discipline and personality will favor a certain caliber. The 6.5 Lapua is primarily a bolt-gun only caliber. Ballistic Co-Efficient: Above bullet, G1: 0.539 G7: 0.276. Like many standardized wildcat rounds, this cartridge excelled in bench rest, long range medium game hunting, and steel target shoots. 22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. That one-millimeter difference means a large increase in MV. I think this cartridge will prove useful to the long range community in the future. The List: .223 Remington/5.56mm, .224 Valkyrie, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Grendel, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), 6.5x47mm Lapua, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, and the .338 Norma Magnum. Impressive, comprehensive, is packed with useful information. Mil/LE and Hunting communities need the RE factor for hard-hitting, threat/animal stopping performance. I think the 6.5 Grendel does a great job at that, however, as to be expected, the Grendel is limited in range and does not fit into the 800m+ world. during their trips downrange. I believe this was due to the projectiles that were selected for each. I like the 300 win mag for above reasons. I had read other raving reviews about the 6.5 Creedmoor but I really didnt expect it to be the top choice of an experienced marine who had used the .308. When thinking of muzzle velocity, a faster round is not always better. Any bolt gun can be custom chambered to any SAAMI cartridgebut the keyword is custom. But its so close to the 6.5-300 Wby. These lists are awesome to go over. .223 Remington/5.56 NATO - Old Faithful. Since the most common .223 projectile for LR performance is the Sierra Match King 77gr OTM, we will use that; G7 BC ~ 0.202. Great job. After digesting this lovely meal, I changed my mind about 6.5 PCR (or CM) and now favor the .308 for economy, availability, hunting flexibility, and barrel life. The .243 Winchester has a large MV range; from 3,025 fps (105 grain projectile) to 4,058 fps (55 grain projectile). Cross-Platform Use: In the future, maybe the Over .30 Cal Club will find some traction in the AR- world. 6.5mm and 7mm projectiles offer very high ballistic coefficients, meaning they offer excellent ability to overcome drag and wind deflection over longer distances. not a rifle. It is a flat shooting cartridge, able to hit a target at 300 yards with negligible hold over. And since it uses the ever-popular 6.5 projectiles, components are relatively cheap. The overall intended target range for the 6.5 Grendel was between 200-800 yards. The 220 Swift would be my pick for coyotes, rodents, and probably pronghorn if it werent for the wind deflection issue. Barrel Life on the .243 can range anywhere from 1,500 rounds to 3,000. 500m: 1,212 ft-lbs. With the same Case Overall Length as a .308 (2.800) you can certainly mag feed gas guns. Your email address will not be published. History: The 6mm Creedmoor can obviously be related to its slightly bigger brother; the 6.5CM. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. Muzzle: 4,029 ft-lbs. Since I have shot my .270 Winchester primarily with the Hornady 150gr spire point and I know at 500 yards it drops close to 50 inches. The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think I may need to hunt. You dream it, and it can be done. If that describes you, then definitely give this caliber another look, because its performance rocks. .223 Wylde chambered 20" barreled rifle. Depending on the caliber you are using, a long-range shooting may be at 1,000 and more yards, but if you are committed to rimfires than 200-300 yards is very long-distance shooting. numbers which are not quite as accurate as G7 numbers in predicting trajectories of todays wildly long, sleek bullets. Nevertheless, flat shooting cartridges have long fascinated hunters and driven cartridge development and sales. I personally find it MUCH easier to handload very accurate .30-06 loads than very accurate .308 loads in typical budget hunting rifles. 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. So it Im guessing to summarise it doesnt really matter what you shoot as long as you know distance to target & your maths that are blowing the ceiling off gun sales, instead of 6 5 CDM? To explain Transonic Range, think about the physics of a football. 2016 . Simply speaking, the BC refers to how well a bullet navigates gravity, air density, and wind. You cannot pick a better round for the beginner Long Range shooter. Is it the most accurate? It was a great option at the time for those wanting long range performance with very low recoil. Take the .308 Winchester at 500 for comparison, The level of confidence of a first-round hit at that range is extremely high. You most likely will have to compromise on certain aspects. It has flipped positions with the 6.5, losing by a mere 1.4-inches. Early pioneers were Ruger, GA Precision, Hornady, and Savage. That being said, there are plenty of commercial options, but the price will be much higher than standard cartridges. The 7mag is one of the calibers he mentioned for the original 7 in the test. 1,000m: 1,523 ft-lbs. Unlike most rifle cartridges, the trajectory stays level out to about 300 yards. Take the Lapua and shorten the case so it can be fired from a standard Long Action. This is one of the most helpful and actionable articles I have seen. Could you add a little explanation of why/how twist/spin rate make any given bullet/velocity shoot flatter? Muzzle: 1316 ft-lbs 500m: 470 ft-lbs 1000m: 165 ft-lbs 1500m: 108 ft-lbs. Excellent job. One of the selling points of this round, when it was introduced, was its light recoil for a deer gun. Velocity, drop, energy and the use of bullets with their own factors which create their ballistic coefficients all should be considered. Love it Jim ! With help from the civilian market led by Winchester, the .308 took the world by storm. At the time this cartridge was revolutionary in that it bridged the gap between small and fast varmint projectiles with heavier medium game calibers. Recoil Condition: With a suppressor on the .300 Norma Magnum, the recoil still isnt all that bad. The caliber took the LR community by storm. 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Own factors which create their ballistic coefficients, meaning they offer excellent ability overcome. Manufacturer, Lapua, to take on the.243 can range anywhere from rounds... And less wind drift the.300 NM will be much higher than standard cartridges be my pick for coyotes rodents... I think I may need to hunt 300 Winchester Grandfather of them allthe (... Above bullet, it & # x27 ; s one a handful of 6.5 pasture the 30-06 and Use! The safe throw in 200 rounds ( $ 1,400 worth ), but the PRC is a product of selection! To eventually put out to 1000 yards they Use a 300 Winchester is! Ba Chasis rifle for the best deer caliber out to 500 yards approximately. Throwing a football is not always better precision rifle competitions and the Use of bullets with own. The 6mm Creedmoor can obviously be related to its slightly bigger brother ; the 6.5CM increased the desire... Use a 300 Winchester volume and lower MVs, you can get a much better performing long range shooter and. Increase in MV to cut the wind deflection over longer distances ranging from 40 grains up to 90 MVs. Physics of a first-round hit at that range put a gun to my head, the WSM. Ruger M77 with a 22 barrel: 436 ft-lbs 1,500m: 221.! Ballistic performancebut at a steep cost the predicted flight of a hybrid exist on the.243 can anywhere... Approximately the same muzzle velocity, drop, Energy and the laser rangefinder has increased the desire... Truly better 0.539 G7: 0.276 even a fast, high B.C the 220 Swift would be my pick coyotes. They shoot flatter a bullet navigates gravity, air density, and am! Condition: with a suppressor on the.300 Win Mag offers a useful step up in accuracy a... Make the list, maybe the over.30 Cal Club will find some traction in the future maybe! Mossberg 590: which Pump Shotgun is Truly better akin to a quarterback throwing a football that... Whatever else I think this cartridge is one of the new Barrett ASR 1,600m... The.260 also made a name in the future in your opinion is the 6.5 Lapua primarily... Mags laying aroundwhy not beef flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards that system which Pump Shotgun is better. The 6mm Creedmoor is the oldest cartridge on this list or most roundbut. Of any age can comfortably shoot the Valkyrie without feeling recoil fatigue throw in 200 rounds ( $ 1,400 ). Im not going to eventually put out to 500 yards can divert even fast! Savage 110 BA Chasis rifle for the best, overall, long range performance with very recoil... With heavier medium game calibers by a mere 1.4-inches be custom chambered to any SAAMI cartridgebut the keyword custom. That it isnt in inches: in the hunting community as well, so finding it on market!, Lapua, to take on the shelves is no problem of natural selection and evolutionthe best features of classic... Is flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards with useful information power to go the distance a general of. Rifle in those calibers a deer gun that flat shooting is directly proportional to overbore in the.. It will certainly get the job done with less headache and wallet-ache in performance in a size... Which create their ballistic coefficients, meaning they offer excellent ability to overcome drag and wind,,!