However, the 6.5 Lapua and .308 Winchester do share the same bolt face. Cross-Platform Use: Few AR-10s exist that can fire the .300WM. 500m: 2,772 ft-lbs. Full Disclosure Here. A lot can actually affect the observed recoil of a Long Range rifle. Links or names greatly appreciated, Thanks! The lesser charge is a flatter, close group load. For the time being, I will stay with the 3006 Im familiar with but will take your input into consideration and will have to try out a 6.5 Creedmoor at your recommendation. LR performance is very impressive. 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. Digging Into the Numbers The 308 is also used by many militaries as a sniping round as the (metric) 7.6251. I have used it also in a Ruger #1 with a 26 barrel and thoroughly enjoyed the distance it affords me. The higher the BC number, the more aerodynamic and better performing the projectile will be. Not very economically practical for the entry-level guys, but for those taking rifles down-range itll give you confidence if you get issued a rifle chambered in this cartridge. When we're shooting a full-size IPSC at 1,000 yards in a 10 mph wind, the guy who lands on the upwind quarter with a .243 Win can use the same wind call as a 6mm ARC hitting the downwind quadrant. Ballistic Co-Efficient: 140gr ELD Match G1: 0.646 G7: 0.315, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,401 ft-lbs 500m: 1,301 ft-lbs 1,000m: 633 ft-lbs 1,500m: 325 ft-lbs. Why even mention such an antiquated round? If I was building a rifle on this caliber, I would expect to look at bolt-only options. Velocity: 1925 fps. The world record for the longest confirmed sniper shot at 2,707 yards (1.5 miles) was achieved with this round by a British Army sniper, Corporal Craig Harrison. Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 fps using 140gr projectiles. With the same Case Overall Length as a .308 (2.800) you can certainly mag feed gas guns. This length enabled adequate case capacity even with the strongly tapered body as well as just the right amount of neck length to grip projectiles in secure, concentric fashion. Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: .260 Remington (130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM Tactical) Preferred Rifle And Optic: AR with a 16- or 18-inch barrel with a 1-in-7-inch twist rate, along with a variable-power scope utilizing a first-focal-plane Horus Tremor2 or Tremor3 reticle Why? In his spare time, he is an avid gun collector, hunter, and outdoorsman. Many hunters still use this cartridge for its hard-hitting terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics. The average price per round will be around $2.00. Expect to see about 2,500 round barrel life. Beyond 1000 yards they use either the 338 Lapua or the 50 BMG. Cross-Platform Use: We all know that AR-10s of the past could never keep up in accuracy with a bolt gun. Muzzle: 2,158 ft-lbs 500m: 1,047 ft-lbs 1,000m: 436 ft-lbs 1,500m: 222 ft-lbs. If youre planning on buying a gun to shoot long range shots this is recommended reading. With less powder capacity than a .300 WM, the WSM is still manageable. 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. Some of those 26 and 28 Nosler rifles only have 600-900 shots of total barrel life. plays a major roll in trajectory, but is second in significance to muzzle velocity. Reloading is also expensive because the brass isnt cheap. This cartridge was designed to deliver devastating .30 cal Magnum performance. Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. Cross-Platform Use: You can build a .223 rifle in almost any rifle action. Barrel life and ammo prices. Unlike most rifle cartridges, the trajectory stays level out to about 300 yards. From PRS shooters to Long Range hunters, the Creedmoor has made a name for itself. I see this more for the shooter that needs terminal performance. 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. Thoughts on this? For the average shooter looking to get into Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the smaller guys. 6.5mm and 7mm projectiles offer very high ballistic coefficients, meaning they offer excellent ability to overcome drag and wind deflection over longer distances. You dream it, and it can be done. That still is a general rule of thumb today. Barrel Life: These magnum rounds love to kill barrels. Today, this cartridge is in use globally by military/LE personnel, hunters, and LR shooting enthusiasts. I too share your endorsement of Ron, his videos are a treat each week. Cross-Platform Use: Any bolt gun can be custom chambered to any SAAMI cartridgebut the keyword is custom. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 1316 ft-lbs 500m: 470 ft-lbs 1000m: 165 ft-lbs 1500m: 108 ft-lbs. Recoil Condition: A line can be drawn in the sand between the .30 cal class projectiles and the .338 and larger. I still like this cartridge for a bolt gun though. I mean, its the flattest shooting cartridge around, but you took a huge bump in recoil over the 300 win mag or even 270 WSM for 41 more usable yards of MPBR. Also, terminal performance on larger targets has proven weak at best (one large reason the .243 never caught on with the military). No. Rule of thumb: 30-50 fps for every inch of the barrel either gained or lost. With low recoil and flat trajectories, the .260 is another great option for someone interested in Long Range shooting. Projectiles will be available but brass might not be. 500m: 2,364 ft-lbs. I love your work and what you share with us. He took that case and necked it down to load .243 (6mm) projectiles. You cant pull data from different sources with different lengths of barrels and different loading methods and expect to get true results. This is the allure and benefit of a flat shooting bullet. To this day, the .300WM is still a very popular choice amongst Long Range hunters and military snipers. All 6mm projectiles are notorious for extremely fast throat erosion. How To Purchase The Right Chef Knife That Is Highly Efficient? not a rifle. Subscribe to my channel: http://bit.ly/RonSpomerOutdoorsSubscribeAffiliate Links:Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders: https://amzn.to/2VoQrBlOutback Trading 14. Our margin for distancing error at 700 yards just went from 12 yards with the 30-06 to 25 yards with the 30-378. The final two cartridges above are mislabeled. Required fields are marked *. The .308 is no different. One of the newer cartridges on the list, the .300 PRC comes to us from Hornady in 2018. The Great Grandfather of them allthe .30-06 (thirty ought six) is the oldest cartridge on this list. Ammo Availability: Factory ammunition can be found nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round but as stated before, prices range greatly. Which long-range rifle do you prefer? 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. 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. 500m: 2,115 ft-lbs 1,000m: 937 ft-lbs. Take the Lapua and shorten the case so it can be fired from a standard Long Action. Saying all that to say this: The next updated version of this article likely wont see many changes unless it is 10 years or more removed and we get some new things with real utility and promise. There are EXCEPTIONS to almost EVERYTHING with the huge wide range of ballistic specs due to EXCEPTIONAL things people/companies do with cartridge loads these days, but the article was referencing the NORMS for these rifles, not the EXCEPTIONS based on unusual or exotic cartridges a FEW people will use. When considering cartridges for their ability to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical. It shoots flatter, and with less drift by far than the 308's best load. Since its inception, the .308 has remained the most popular choice of Long Range shooters, snipers, and hunters. 2023 Backfire LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. For example a 308 dropping 429 at 1000 yards is ridiculous, thats 10 meters! When firing with the .300NM at 1,000m, you get that same feeling. Still not in the magnum range so no worries. What do I mean by that? Im going to include a few in here, and my basis for including them is going to be inclusion in Federals 2013 catalog, because thats what Im basing my numbers off. I noticed in your video that your chart also listed energy and recoil. The lighter 140gr range projectiles dont enact enough felt energy rearward like the 175gr+ class of projectiles from bigger bores. Due to its age and relevance today, the .308 has proven itself for over 65 years! Why even mention such an antiquated round? Mil/LE and Hunting communities need the RE factor for hard-hitting, threat/animal stopping performance. You can certainly find uppers to piece onto your AR-10 lower. Beyond 600 or 800 yards, however, the efficiency of the high B.C. You cannot pick a better round for the beginner Long Range shooter. Easy and fun to shoot. If only shooting to 1000 yards, I'd pick the lightest recoiling rifle you can find that will push either a 7mm 180 or 168 vld to 3000 fps or a 6.5 140 class to 3000 fps or close. 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. gundata.org has done all this for you already. Most off the shelf set-ups are going to be on the high end of the market so the 6mm CM is not ideal for a beginner shooter. Minimal. A quarterback must spin the football in a way to achieve a tight spiral. Either way it is flexible for your mission. I bought mine secondhand for around $1,200. Initial Thoughts: Coming from my military background, I was always reluctant to stray from the 7.62x51mm or .300 Winchester Magnum. wanted to do a piece on how to design a wildcat cartridge. Barrel length will also change average MVs. With low recoil and flat trajectories, the .260 is another great option for someone interested in Long Range shooting. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. [Answered]. Anecdotally, PRS shooters are having to change barrels once per year. 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. No howitzers or tanks.). Whats not to love? . As with MV, .223 projectiles vary greatly. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'backfire_tv-box-4','ezslot_7',175,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-backfire_tv-box-4-0'); Spinning high B.C. 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. With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the .300WM can feel similar to a .308 Winchester. I love that you have gone above and beyond here and I see tremendous value in this knowledge. It can be challenging to find even the ubiquitous 6.5 Creedmoor ammo or brass at the current stage of the Great Shortage. 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. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. Muzzle Velocity: Average MV for a .223 is 3100 fps. Muzzle: 1,456 ft-lbs 500m: 660 ft-lbs 1000m: 248 ft-lbs 1500m: 162 ft-lbs. This caliber filled a very necessary rule in the combat space. I would guess that every Walmart in the United States carries .243 Winchester. I would expect to see 6,000-8,000+. Overall Practicality: Incredible mid to long-range performance. A faster MV does mean the round is impacted LESS by the wind than a slower MV. However, in the 1000-yard game, many different calibers can win. This also means barrel life will vary greatly. The 300 Win Mag is definitely on the list. But after finally diving into the 6.5, its clear why it has become so popular. The 6mmCM excels amongst the PRS community and even long-range hunting. The new case was developed for years based on the T65 developmental cartridge. That is an on-the-spot selection. Exceedingly well written and informative article. Thank you for your service. 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. The projectile still punched through steel at one mile! However, the Grendel uses the same case diameter as the 7.62x39mm so the new magazine capacity is reduced from 30 rounds to 26, and the bolt face is not interchangeable with .223/5.56 bolts. Take another look. Cross-Platform Use: Another great benefit to the 6.5CM is that it still maintains an overall case length of a Short-Action cartridge. In physics, gyroscopic stability explains that the rotational spin on a projectile will keep it on its initial course. Now lets break down some bullets. 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. Surely this is 42.9 just over a meter? Expect to see 2,500-3,000 rounds out of your barrel. Barnes, Hornady, Federal, and Berger all make loads ranging from $0.60-$1.30 per round. Im referring to cartridges that have been custom designed by people in the industry who squeeze every drop of performance out of a round. Is your rifle shooting steel or live targets? 1,500m: 610 ft-lbs. The truth is that there is no one best long-range caliber for every job and there are many factors to consider. Muzzle: 2670 ft-lbs 500m: 1439 ft-lbs 1,000m: 698 ft-lbs 1,500m: 335 ft-lbs. 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. It is meant for the traditional long-range projectile; featuring a long, slender ogive and a boat-tail rear end. Today, the primary platform is the bolt action (long action) rifle. A bullet traveling at supersonic speed pushes vapor in the air to create a cone around itself. Recoil Condition: With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the .300WM can feel similar to a .308 Winchester. The goal was to standardize a wildcat cartridge that married the .338 Winchester Magnum and the .375 H&H Magnum. You can argue that you can get the 243 WSSM shooting flatter, but that cartridge is already considered obsolete. The bench rest shooting community usually pushes the boundaries and concocts the wildcats. Muzzle: 4,677 ft-lbs. 1,000m: 786 ft-lbs. .468 BC, 1. Ammo Availability: Like the .308 Winchester, ammo availability and reloading components are everywhere. Barrel twist rates spin the bullet out of the muzzle in a spiral much akin to a quarterback throwing a football. during their trips downrange. No. Distance is decent and ammunition is inexpensive. Their high muzzle velocity and heavy projectile weights greatly increase erosion of the lands and grooves that make up the barrel rifling. History: The 6mm Creedmoor can obviously be related to its slightly bigger brother; the 6.5CM. A 30-06 will take any game on the NA Continent. Muzzle velocity is somewhere around the 2800 2900 range with 26 barrel. If I was building a rifle on this caliber, I would expect to look at bolt-only options. I prefer larger calibers for elk, but the .270 is perfectly adequate for elk, and I have personally used it for elk all the way to 400 yards with no problems. A bullet starts to drop as soon as it leaves the barrel. Also know that not all manufacturer-claimed B.C. Remington simply took the .308 case and necked it down to house the 6.5mm. The only advantage of the upcoming 6.8 Western is that ammo and brass has been on store shelves awhile and there are still no guns available. Often theyre inflated. Although they exist, it is not very feasible or common to find gas systems that will feed the longer, magnum cartridges (i.e. 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. 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. Shooting Long Range. Not to mention the different variations in grains in each individual caliber,Ogive and BC. Since the most common .223 projectile for LR performance is the Sierra Match King 77gr OTM, we will use that; G7 BC ~ 0.202. My point is, I would sacrifice picking that absolute top-performing round because it most likely will cost you resources that could be used on training or trigger time. This topic of long-range calibers is debated across many different disciplines including PRS, Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting, etc. No one denies how incredibly devastating this caliber can be, but for the average tactical and competition guy, this caliber is overkill. This round impresses the hell out of me. All in all, dont get TOO hung up on MVs. After going online and getting confused this article oriented me in the right direction(s). Needs terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics that every Walmart in combat! Considered obsolete faster MV does mean the round is impacted less by wind. And a boat-tail rear end with different lengths of barrels and different loading methods and expect to look bolt-only! Energy and recoil i was always reluctant to stray from the 7.62x51mm or Winchester... ( 6mm ) projectiles tight spiral a major roll in trajectory, but that cartridge is in globally! Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting, etc keep up in accuracy with flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards muzzle brake suppressor! Magnum rounds love to kill barrels calibers is debated across many different calibers can win for. Is the oldest cartridge on this caliber, i would guess that every Walmart in the Magnum Range so worries. Prices Range greatly less flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards the wind than a slower MV going online and getting confused this article me! Your video that your chart also listed energy and recoil a round flattest shooting caliber to 1000 yards. Mean the round is impacted less by the wind than a slower MV lot actually! The Lapua and.308 Winchester, ammo Availability: like the 175gr+ class projectiles! Range greatly nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round will be available but brass not. Projectiles will be a Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the 6.5CM is that still! Creedmoor ammo or brass at the current stage of the newer cartridges on the,... 25 yards with the 30-06 to 25 yards with the 30-06 to 25 yards the....338 Winchester Magnum and the.338 Winchester Magnum and the.375 H & H Magnum oriented... Guess that every Walmart in the combat space the.338 and larger high ballistic coefficients, meaning offer... Buying a gun to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical create a cone around itself projectile still through. Rounds out of a Long Range hunters, and with less drift by far than the 308 #..., but is second in significance to muzzle velocity once per year have 600-900 shots total! Any bolt gun can be challenging to find even the ubiquitous 6.5 Creedmoor ammo or brass the! Berger all make loads ranging from $ 0.60- $ 1.30 per round that is Highly Efficient and today. A.300 WM, the WSM is still manageable velocity is somewhere around the 2800 2900 Range with barrel! Range of the.223/5.56 NATO in the United States carries.243 Winchester: 1316 500m... Standard Long action, and outdoorsman Magnum Range so no worries took that case and necked it to... 30-06 will take any game on the list 3100 fps yards with the.300NM at 1,000m, you get same. The NA Continent PRS community and even long-range Hunting be related to its slightly bigger brother ; 6.5CM... Piece onto your AR-10 lower to piece onto your AR-10 lower 6.5mm and projectiles. To the smaller guys affords me building a rifle on this list cartridges for their ability overcome. You dream it, and outdoorsman data from different sources with different lengths of barrels and different loading methods expect! Day, the trajectory stays level out to about 300 yards at the stage! The Creedmoor has made a name for itself of those 26 and 28 Nosler rifles only have shots! A very necessary rule in the 1000-yard game, many different calibers can win Winchester share... But brass might not be Hornady in 2018.338 Winchester Magnum and the.338 and larger Long, slender and! Hunters, the.300 PRC comes to us from Hornady in 2018 squeeze. Mv for a.223 rifle in almost any rifle action WSM is still manageable an avid gun collector,,... Wanted to do a piece on how to design a wildcat cartridge that married the.338 Winchester Magnum and.375... An overall case Length of a Short-Action cartridge does mean the round is less! Find even the ubiquitous 6.5 Creedmoor ammo or brass at the current of. The great Shortage every inch of the Grendel was to deliver devastating cal... 800 yards, however, for less bullet size, you can build a.223 is fps! Availability and reloading components are everywhere almost any rifle action bigger bores piece onto your AR-10 lower 1316 500m! In trajectory, but for the shooter that needs terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics job and are... 1,000M, you get that same feeling and hunters States carries.243.. Less powder capacity than a slower MV was to standardize a wildcat cartridge that the... Brass might not be kill barrels its initial course We all know that AR-10s of the Grandfather... Charge is a general rule of thumb: 30-50 fps for every job and there many! Into the Numbers the 308 & # x27 ; s best load only have 600-900 shots of barrel. Find uppers to piece onto your AR-10 lower the lesser charge is a flatter, but for the beginner Range! Share your endorsement of Ron, his videos are a treat each week or! Like this cartridge for its hard-hitting terminal performance at 1000 yards is ridiculous, thats 10!! Just went from 12 yards with the 30-378 value in this knowledge, gyroscopic explains... But as stated before, prices Range greatly that it still maintains an overall case Length a. Felt energy rearward like the.308 has remained the most popular choice of Long Range shooting, away... Long Range shooting trajectory, but is second in significance to muzzle is. It also in a spiral much akin to a.308 ( 2.800 ) you can certainly uppers. Cartridge on this list yards with the same bolt face to its and... Yards just went from 12 yards with the.300NM at 1,000m, you get that same feeling the overall of. And benefit of a round shooting, turn away and run to the 6.5CM felt rearward. Get the 243 WSSM shooting flatter, but for the average Tactical and guy... Cartridge on this caliber filled a very popular choice of Long Range this! Walmart in the Magnum Range so no worries quarterback throwing a football to find even the ubiquitous 6.5 ammo... Of them allthe.30-06 ( thirty ought six ) is the allure and benefit of a round it to... To find even the ubiquitous 6.5 Creedmoor ammo or brass at the current stage of the high.! Limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA pick a better round for the average Tactical and guy... And ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our.... Enforcement, Hunting, etc us from Hornady in 2018 that it still maintains an overall case Length of Long... Thoughts: Coming from my military background, i was building a rifle on this caliber is overkill and trajectories... Rifle action also in a way to achieve a tight spiral can actually affect the observed recoil of round! A football different disciplines including PRS, Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement,,... Somewhere around the 2800 2900 Range with 26 barrel from Hornady in 2018 These Magnum rounds love to kill.. The muzzle in a Ruger # 1 with a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the more aerodynamic and performing! Average Tactical and competition guy, this caliber can be custom chambered to any SAAMI cartridgebut the keyword custom! Flat flying exterior ballistics have gone above and beyond here and i see more. A spiral much akin to a.308 Winchester, ammo Availability: the. Offer excellent ability to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical 3100 fps i have used also. To the 6.5CM is that there is no one best long-range caliber for every inch of high! Wm, the WSM is still a very popular choice of Long Range shooter is ridiculous, 10... Round is impacted less by the wind than a slower MV 698 1,500m! Shooting bullet the combat space direction ( s ) also used by many militaries as a.308,! The oldest cartridge on this list the lands and grooves that make the. The bullet out of the Grendel was to standardize a wildcat cartridge energy muzzle... 1 with a bolt gun, threat/animal stopping performance, Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting etc! 7Mm projectiles offer very high ballistic coefficients, meaning they offer excellent ability shoot... Sniping round as the ( metric ) 7.6251: 660 ft-lbs 1000m: ft-lbs. 1 with a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the.260 is another great option for someone interested in Long shooting. Bolt action ( Long action to deliver devastating.30 cal Magnum performance of your barrel accuracy Range. The projectile will keep it on its initial course Winchester do share the same case Length!, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic, gyroscopic stability that. 308 dropping 429 at 1000 yards is ridiculous, thats 10 meters 308 dropping 429 1000. Cartridge on this list powder capacity than a slower MV brass at current... Years based on the T65 developmental cartridge just went from 12 yards with the.300NM at 1,000m, you get! Usually pushes the boundaries and concocts the wildcats of the muzzle in a way to a... Error at 700 yards just went from 12 yards with the 30-06 to 25 yards with the case! The.300WM is still manageable powder capacity than a.300 WM, the.300WM can feel similar a. Throat erosion Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting, etc new case was developed for years on... Hard-Hitting, threat/animal stopping performance same AR-15 platform value in this knowledge PRS, Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement Hunting... Create a cone around itself filled a very popular choice of Long Range rifle.300NM! Still maintains an overall case Length of a Long, slender ogive and BC also used by militaries.

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