Cross-Platform Use: 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. Im not going to dive too deep down that rabbit-hole, or even techniques to help. Hopefully, at the end of this article, you can apply the same questions and principles to select which caliber you want to dive into the awesome world of long-range shooting. This is one of the most informative articles I have read on calibers. Vastly improved barrel life by having a good case volume to bore volume ratio, and pushing longer bullets through the tube. Exceedingly well written and informative article. It makes sense. Vastly improved barrel life by having a good case volume to bore volume ratio, and pushing longer bullets through the tube. You can choose the hottest and flattest shooting caliber for your Long Range build, but keep in mind you will most likely have to replace that barrel once a year if you shoot enough. As a result, barrel life suffers. This year it had shots out to 2,000 yards, although most of the shots were 800-1700 yards. Ammo can be found at most sporting goods stores. Not many production rifles exist in a budget option. Is your rifle shooting steel or live targets? That closed the tips of the open-tip match (OTM) bullets and made the projectiles slightly shorter in length. While it uses the same case-head dimensions as the .30-06 and .308 cartridge families, the 6.5 Creedmoors direct ancestor is the .30 TC. This cartridge is one of the most capable rounds I have ever shot. Best 1,000-Yard Rifles For Under $1,000 Shooting Long Range 1. Cross-Platform Use: Since this caliber is somewhat antiquated, the modern tactical platforms have not maintained product lines for the .243. However, I cant jump fully on board until more bolt action options are available. The average barrel life will be 1,500-2,000 rounds. Muzzle velocity is somewhere around the 2800 2900 range with 26 barrel. To experiment with load developments to craft the ultimate 6.5 bolt gun cartridge. The numbers are beyond impressive. I am interested to see how the price of such systems will come down and become more readily available to entry to novice level LR shooters. He wanted an even lighter-recoiling cartridge with the same performance, so the 6mm Creedmoor was born. Of these the 6mm Dasher is the current champ, in terms of popularity and winning. Incredible mid to long-range performance. For example, my Allterra Arms 6.5 PRC shoots Hornady 143-grain ELD-X bullets at 2950 fps. 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. For hunters, the Grendel offers many different projectiles for different terminal effects. As a candidate for the best overall long-range caliber. 1,000m: 1,523 ft-lbs. The .243 WSSM was a freaky-accurate little cartridge with great muzzle velocity but could have been so much more with better brass. is not typically viewed as a competition cartridge. The .30-06 is such a classic sniper rifle round, I could not leave it out of the running. History: Plant yourself in post-2015 and you will see an explosion of the 6.5mm family of projectiles, thanks to the 6.5 Creedmoor. Until now, bolt action rifles only. Now lets break down some bullets. Camp Guns: Sometimes Perfect, Other Times Not But Often Essential! I built a .338 Lapua when I was in Gunsmithing College in Susanville. The top-end stuff certainly has its gatekeepers. For example, when the inception of the M110 came to the Army sniper community some guys hated leaving behind their trusty M24s. You dream it, and it can be done. To find the ideal caliber youll have to ask yourself a few questions. You need to get the best long-range rifle caliber for competitions. Ammo Availability: Like the .308 Winchester, ammo availability and reloading components are everywhere. History: The .338 Lapua comes to us in the 80s as an extreme Long-Range rifle caliber intended to extend the snipers capabilities in desert and mountainous terrain. I find it so interesting to see how this compares to the Lapua Magnum. Buying my first 308 soon in AR a first as wella double adventure! Very modular across nearly any rifle system. MasterPiece Arms BA Lite PCR 5. Also a great option for novice or seasoned hunters who want a great flat shooting rifle that can take groundhogs or deer just by changing the ammo. The .300 PRC tries to deliver to a market that doesnt need what its selling. The 6.5 Creedmoor has made a name for being one of the best overall performing and versatile calibers for the Long Range market. A pencil barrel and light-weight wooden stock, the .308 can feel pretty sharp. Take the .308 Winchester at 500 for comparison, The level of confidence of a first-round hit at that range is extremely high. And the AR-10 was designed SPECIFICALLY for the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO. Then came the bonus plates at 3,592 and 4,137. what are the most popular rifle manufacturers, what is the most common caliber used in . Great article, bringing in all the relevant points. Until now, bolt action rifles only. The average life will be anywhere from 4,000-7,000 rounds. The average price per round is $1.75. The two most common BCs used are G1 and G7 below: If you notice the G7 profile has a more streamlined design. For those PRS guys that prefer bolt-guns, the PRC is a great alternative to the CM. The .243 does not have enough. Cross-Platform Use: Another great benefit to the 6.5CM is that it still maintains an overall case length of a Short-Action cartridge. (Even though the term cartridges is correct, the common usage of caliber dictates why this story is called Best Long-Range Calibers rather than Best Long-Range Cartridges.). The .284 Winchester (7MM) is very popular with bench rest shooters. For being a long and hard-hitting round, the 6.5 CM still maintains a lower felt recoil. The Best of both worlds: After nearly 4 years of waiting, Dan Wesson's DWX is here. One good thing about switching between the M24 to the M110 was that snipers were already familiar with the M118LR round. History: The 6mm Creedmoor can obviously be related to its slightly bigger brother; the 6.5CM. One thing that makes the .308 Winchester one of the best Long Range cartridges ever, is that in a pinch, you can find ammo for it ANYWHERE. It excels at 1,000 yards and beyond, and is really at home in long-range, cross-country competitions where distances range from mid to very far and shots are limited. However, the 6.5 Lapua and .308 Winchester do share the same bolt face. Today, this cartridge is in use globally by military/LE personnel, hunters, and LR shooting enthusiasts. Initial Thoughts: Again, this round is such a classic. You will HAVE to use very slow burning propellants to push a 175 grain bullet out of a .277 bore, and will HAVE to have at least 26 of barrel to most efficiently burn said powder. A rifle's precision depends on the tightness of the groupings it shoots or the MOA (Minute of Angle) it holds. 500m: 1,212 ft-lbs. I couldnt believe it. Being developed in 2017, most ammo is going to come from reloading. For someone considering PRS matches, this rifle is not for you. The truth is that there is no one best long-range caliber for every job and there are many factors to consider. While its not as efficient as the 6.5 Creedmoor, and recoils harder and burns barrels faster, it is indubitably more effective at bucking wind. This round is special just like the other 6.5mm projectiles in its class. The average cost per round of .260 Remington online will be around $1.70. Long Range Calibers Ballistics Comparison Chart. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. A legacy that inspires confidence. You dream it, and it can be done. Muzzle Velocity: The .243 Winchester has a large MV range; from 3,025 fps (105 grain projectile) to 4,058 fps (55 grain projectile). Easy and fun to shoot. 1,000m: 1,345 ft-lbs. And that factor alone will make a person a more competent field marksman and a better, more ethical hunter. Ammo Availability: Due to the popularity of the cartridge, 6.5CM ammo can be found almost anywhere. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Very modular across nearly any rifle system. 1,500m: 630 ft-lbs. 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. Recoil Condition: Very similar to the Lapua Magnum. Its an excellent choice for shooting groundhogs out to 500 yards. Unless you will be loading subsonic rounds, all standard Long Range rifle calibers maintain supersonic flight (Mach 1 or greater than 1125 fps). Today, the primary platform is the bolt action (long action) rifle. With available projectiles ranging from 40 grains up to 90, MVs could also range from 3400 to 2600 fps. caliber cartridges in 2018 when Hornady introduced it after working with George Gardner of GA Precision on the concept. Ammo Availability: Factory ammunition can be found nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round but as stated before, prices range greatly. Recoil Condition: Very similar to the .243 Winchester. The cartridge was designed for reliable feeding in battle rifles, not efficient powder burns for consistent accuracy. The next chart includes ALL LG and HG Relay Winners from years 2000-2006. Hardly a week goes by without the introduction of a new productwhether a bullet, a type of gun powder, a riflescope, an electronic gizmo, or what have youthat doesnt help shooters put projectiles on target with greater precision. However, given the choice, there are drastically more capable cartridges. Mag. I believe this was due to the projectiles that were selected for each. Different shooters will all have different calibers that are better suited for their specific goal or mission. It should be possible that a few savvy and disgruntled hunters/reloaders have stocked up in anticipation BEFORE the grab for those start after rifles are released. This caliber is great for experienced PRS shooters, or big game, Long Range hunters. This, generally speaking, means less error due to poor wind judgment will occur when firing long distances. The overall purpose of the Grendel was to deliver extended accuracy and range of the .223/5.56 NATO in the same AR-15 platform. When thinking of muzzle velocity, a faster round is not always better. The .308 Win case has a nice even powder burn and has readily available brass for reloading. Cross-Platform Use: The .300 WSM is going to be a bolt-action-only build. R1 (8): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas R2 (38): T Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse R3 (75): EDGE Zach Harrison, Ohio State R4 (113): CB Clark Phillips III, Utah R7 (224): S DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama R7 (225): OG Jovaughn Gwyn, South Carolina. Several factory loads do exist on the market today. A standard 6BR, after all, set the ten-shot 1000-yard world record. This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Also because of how popular and available it is, the 6.5 comes in around $0.75 to $1.25 per round, making it very affordable to shoot compared to other high-performing LR calibers. So, why do so many top PRS competitors choose to shoot the 6mm Creedmoor? I see this more for the shooter that needs terminal performance. Barrel Life: Since the .260 is not firing heavy bullets over 2,900 fps, the barrel life can be similar to other 6.5mm cartridges in its classabout 2,500-3,500 rounds. Muzzle: 2,821 ft-lbs. I had no issue staying on target for a follow-up shot. This cartridge is based on the 6.8 SPC case. The short case body allows long, aerodynamic bullets to be seated far out, eliminating bullet-base intrusion into powder capacity, while still fitting comfortably in standard short-action magazines. Especially in the bolt action realm. Overall Practicality: The .223 is an excellent choice for an inexperienced and/or younger shooter. Taking the original .300 Ruger Compact Magnum and necking down to accept the 6.5CM projectiles, Hornady could fire the same projectiles as the 6.5CM but with 250 fps added MV. For the average shooter looking to get into Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the smaller guys. Much sharper and stronger than a .308 Winchesternot meant for beginners. Garmin Tactix 7 Pro Ballistic Solar-Powered GPS Smartwatch: First Look, Wilson Combat SFX9 5-Inch Solid Frame 9mm Pistol: First Look. Ammo Availability: One of the biggest drawbacks of this round is that ammunition is not readily available and its expensive. I like the ability to swap barrels on the same action as a .308 or .300giving you great anti-personnel effects, while also being capable of anti-material mission capabilities with the .338. Might try that 6.5 Creedmoor as well. For the reloading enthusiasts, this gives another round to be excited for. Overall Practicality: All in all, the 6.5 Lapua has great numbers on a round moving fairly slow. Using Berger 140gr VLD projectiles G1: 0.593 G7: 0.304, Muzzle: 2,266 ft-lbs 500m: 1,174 ft-lbs 1,000m: 535 ft-lbs 1,500m: 296 ft-lbs. As with MV, .223 projectiles vary greatly. Overall Practicality: With things like barrel life and ammo availability into consideration, the 6mm Creedmoor is a perfect option for the more seasoned and able LR shooter who doesnt mind reloading consistently and replacing barrels often. Other cartridges have come along in recent times that are designed better than the .300 Win. 1,000m: 1,287 ft-lbs. However, were interested in long range, and those bullets are usually considered mid-range projectiles. This caliber was designed and intended strictly for the semi-auto AR-15 platforms. 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. .223 Remington/5.56 NATO - Old Faithful Assorted 5.56 Rounds (XM193, XM855, Gold Medal 69gr) 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. This round is a hammer and a scalpel. 6.5 projectiles hold a reputation of great BCs. This topic of long-range calibers is debated across many different disciplines including PRS, Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting, etc. The average price per round will be close to $2.00. But the truth is you dont need to suffer with bad .308 ammo. It was squirrely, pushing the bullets high or dropping them low because of the hilly, uneven terrain. Best Long-Range Cartridges 1. Just like anything in life, each caliber you pick will have a list of pros and cons. The day started off late. Using the US Militarys XM1163, MV: 2,940 fps, 230gr Berger Hybrid OTM Tactical G1: 0.717 G7: 0.368, Muzzle: 4,414 ft-lbs. For the reloading enthusiasts, this gives another round to be excited for. Well, now they do. I ended up going with a 6.5 PRC for target shooting, and this article was a factor in that decision. 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. Unlike the previous cartridges, this is the first one that has no parent case. keeps reinventing itself to remain relevant. models. Many hunters still use this cartridge for its hard-hitting terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics. A pencil barrel and light-weight wooden stock, the .308 can feel pretty sharp. At the same 2950 fps muzzle velocity, the drop of the bullet at 600 and 800 yards is 76 and 163 inches, respectively. This upstart has been on a tear since its introduction in 2007 and evokes passionate responsesboth pro and conlike no other cartridge in recent memory.