best caliber for 2,000 yard competition
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. With help from the civilian market led by Winchester, the .308 took the world by storm. With more case volume than a .308 and firing the same grain weight bullet, the .30-06 will have more felt recoil than a .308. The .30-06 is such a classic sniper rifle round, I could not leave it out of the running. Muzzle Velocity is also a value that is never constant. Impressive, comprehensive, is packed with useful information. All 6mm projectiles are notorious for extremely fast throat erosion. The calibers up for debate will be: .223/5.56mm, .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. [Editors note: Thats about 90 feet of wind drift at 4,134 yards.] One reason for the .300 Win. Ive used it with great success on mule deer, whitetails, elk, and moose. what are the most popular rifle manufacturers, what is the most common caliber used in . But when you consider the specific task at hand, the field of options narrows. .300 PRC is strictly a bolt action caliber at the moment. Fortunately for them, older stalwarts like the .308 Win. If we get another iteration of this article in the years to come, we may have the opportunity to see. Today, this cartridge is in use globally by military/LE personnel, hunters, and LR shooting enthusiasts. Its an excellent choice for shooting groundhogs out to 500 yards. For someone considering PRS matches, this rifle is not for you. Ammo Availability: Factory ammunition can be found nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round but as stated before, prices range greatly. Because of the smaller powder volume and lower MVs, you can expect to see about 3,000 rounds out of your barrel. Ballistic Co-Efficient: The projectile designed specifically for Long Range shooting is the 90 grain Sierra Match King. Currently, G1 through G8 and GL is the only mathematical models to express BCs. Expect to see about 2,500 round barrel life. The new bullet remained supersonic longer than the 190-grain Mod 0 load, and didnt give up much downrange performance to the .338, while generating less recoil and being much more cost effective for the military to adopt, which it did in 2010. With regard to time-of-flight and trajectory, out to 1,000 yards its right on the heels of the 6 mm ARC. With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the recoil is definitely manageable. The new rifle is built on an aluminum billet chassis with carbon-fiber forend and cheek riser featuring V-block bedding. Mag., .338 Win. What is your goal? Muzzle velocity is somewhere around the 2800 2900 range with 26 barrel. 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. 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. You can certainly find uppers to piece onto your AR-10 lower. 308 Winchester - High availability of good match quality, tactical type ammo that can reach out to 1000 yards. Hornady is loading 6 GT ammunition with 109-grain ELD-M bullets that are available through GA Precision. A good hunting cartridge. For hunting it makes more sense to run with something a bit stouter. This can get expensive so choosing my first is very important. These magnum rounds love to kill barrels. Budget speaking, the 6.5 Grendel is much more of a value in rifle and ammo costs than the AR-10 class of calibers. Vortex Strike Eagle 4-2450 Most Affordable Vortex Optics 4-24x50 Strike Eagle 330 at EuroOptic Prices accurate at time of writing 330 at EuroOptic EuroOptic (See Price) Amazon (See Price) My most affordable pick is the Strike Eagle 4-24x. Vastly improved barrel life by having a good case volume to bore volume ratio, and pushing longer bullets through the tube. Well, with the right bullets (70 grains and up) and the right barrel twist (1:7 is best), the 5.56 is capable of shooting impressive distances, including the elusive 1,000-yard mark. Mil/LE and Hunting communities need the RE factor for hard-hitting, threat/animal stopping performance. The downfall? However, the majority of builds will be designed for the bolt action system. The military changed its need for the .30-06 as its primary infantry weapon cartridge. The projectile still punched through steel at one mile! More important is consistency, and the mild-mannered .308 demonstrates that in spades. drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 400 yards. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,832 ft-lbs. After the film it skyrocketed to stardom. That said, its most useful at 1,000 yards and beyond. The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think I may need to hunt. It was dark and, at 17-power, that 6-foot plate at 4,100 yards was very small. Factory ammunition can be found nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round but as stated before, prices range greatly. Exceedingly well written and informative article. Because the ultra-light recoil allows them to spot their own hits and misses more consistently. Mag. About 30 minutes later, after the other shooters had cycled through, I was able to get back on my gun and try for the long plate. If I was building a rifle on this caliber, I would expect to look at bolt-only options. 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. Definitely a dark horse in the competition cartridge realm, the 7mm SAUM is quietly used by competitors who know it and love it to trounce those who dont. Other than that, the projectiles will always be available. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. I still think this cartridge might be a bit on the wildcat side of the market (expensive to shoot and a barrel burner). The cartridge is essentially a .270 SAUM pushing bullets way too heavy with lower BC than comparable 6.5 and 7mm iterations while having only Winchester brass (the worst of the bunch) available. What I can tell you is that choosing the right caliber in relation to recoil can make or break your performance as a shooterespecially if youre new to the game. On the downside, the Dasher can be finicky with respect to feeding since it is so short and has a steep 40-degree shoulder. Assuming you have a decent .300 Win. Ideally, projectiles that have a higher BC, will retain their MV over a longer range. One of the great things about a .223 rifle build is that the recoil is manageable for a shooter of any age. Remington 700 PCR 9. This cartridge has been around for a while. Will have to buy a 6.5 after reading your article. 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. Ben Voss FN Product Manager talks about the new FN SCAR 15P ultra-compact rifle-caliber pistol at SHOT Show 2023. Recoil Condition: Now getting up into the .30 cal plus magnum rounds, the recoil will be noticeably greater than the .308 Winchester. After writing each of these parameters and reviewing each caliber, I could think of around much better suited than the 6.5 CM in a given categorybut it excels in almost every category. A quarterback must spin the football in a way to achieve a tight spiral. It will tumble erratically and fall short of the intended target. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. This makes the Valkyrie an excellent choice for distance shooting with an MSR. In 2008, the cartridge was introduced not to expand upon the capabilities of the .338, but the possibilities. On the fifth and final shot at 3,592 we didnt see where it went, so I grabbed my gear and left the firing line thinking I had missed. Muzzle: 4,677 ft-lbs. The .338 Lapua Magnum offers very impressive external and terminal ballistic performancebut at a steep cost. The average price per round will be around $2.00. Even better, this caliber has taken off so fast, nearly every manufacturer is making products to accommodate it. Cross-Platform Use: We all know that AR-10s of the past could never keep up in accuracy with a bolt gun. Hunters who just want more gun should look to the bigger .30s, like the .300 PRC and .300 Win Mag., especially if their adventures take them into territory where larger predators like bears prowl the landscape. You can readily find these rounds online. From what can be expected, the .224 wears a little bit more than the .223, approx. However, because of the lack of interest in the market, ammo is pretty expensive and interest in the caliber is limited to bench rest shooters. JOHN BUOL Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: 5.56mm NATO. 1,000 Yard Flight Time*: 1.346 seconds* Trajectory and time-of-flight calculations are representative of the best performing long-distance factory loads for each cartridge. This cartridge was designed to deliver devastating .30 cal Magnum performance. Likewise, there are .338 projectiles available, even during the Great Shortage, that hit the .800 BC mark that should have the big .338s looking even better. appeared, calling that cartridge the .30-338 Winchester. Take the Lapua and shorten the case so it can be fired from a standard Long Action. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Handloading ammunition can reap the reward of selecting the exact projectile with the exact desired BC. When thinking of muzzle velocity, a faster round is not always better. Mag. We were always trained to overcome our shortcomings. You can build a .223 rifle in almost any rifle action. The process of forming the brass is laborious. Expect to see 2,500-3,000 rounds out of your barrel. So like the 6.5 Creedmoor, if you have a .308, you can have two calibers in one rifle action with a new barrel. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Cross-Platform Use: To date, the .300 NM will be a bolt action system only. The .300 Winchester Magnum was developed in 1963 by Winchester itself. For those lucky enough to be able to own and fire a .338 rifle, you know what I mean. Compare that with a .300 Win. Length-of-pull and comb height adjustments help fit the rifle to any shooter. The .338 Lapua Magnum offers very impressive external and terminal ballistic performancebut at a steep cost. Soft shooting 6mms give the most bang for the buck when comparing their long-range capabilities with how (relatively) affordable they are to reload. The market has followed. G7 is the most current and most accurate measurement of the predicted flight of a long-range projectile. 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. After writing each of these parameters and reviewing each caliber, I could think of around much better suited than the 6.5 CM in a given categorybut it excels in almost every category. .223 Remington/5.56mm, .224 Valkyrie, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Grendel. Muzzle Velocity: Average MV for a .223 is 3100 fps. The 6 mm Creedmoor will not quite equal .243 Winchester muzzle velocities, but because of its specified 1:7.5-inch twist rate, it will handle more aerodynamic bullets, which makes it perform better at distance. Savage Model 10 BA Stealth 8. 1,500m: 426 ft-lbs. BUT, just keep in mind that sticking to one caliber, and being able to use that caliber in multiple systems does have advantages. The bullets are pointed up in our Bullet Pointing Die System and are moly-coated. Today, the primary platform is the bolt action (long action) rifle. You get excellent Long Range performance, with recoil slightly less than the .308 Winchester. For the reloading enthusiasts, this gives another round to be excited for. One of the newer cartridges on the list, the .300 PRC comes to us from Hornady in 2018. I like that the caliber is being offered in high-end AR-10 platforms for the gas-gun enthusiasts. Cross-Platform Use: In the future, maybe the Over .30 Cal Club will find some traction in the AR- world. Many hunters still use this cartridge for its hard-hitting terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics. Remington 7MM Magnum is the save the ranch rifle. This fact alone makes it a good do-all choice for shooters that dabble in quite a few different disciplines but dont particularly care about winning in a certain one. 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. The third time proved to be the charm. Essentially a legitimization of a great bench rest competition cartridge called the 6 mm PPC, the new Hornady 6 mm ARC will get to 1,000 yards faster and hit harder than any other cartridge that . Recoil Condition: You are definitely going to feel less recoil than a .308. 17 Best Long Range Calibers in 2023 (Ranked by a Marine Sniper), This topic may be daunting to some readers because the actual numerical values in which we represent a projectiles Ballistic Coefficient seem like arbitrary numbers. Many hunters still use this cartridge for its hard-hitting terminal performance and flat flying exterior ballistics. The cartridge was designed for reliable feeding in battle rifles, not efficient powder burns for consistent accuracy. The .243 was also a great option for those living in countries that banned the use of military countries (.308 Win/7.62x51mm NATO). This caliber is one of the most popular and widely used centerfire cartridges in the world. Not ideal for beginners or those who do not reload. Now when it comes to ammo, I already mentioned wildcat cartridges. After seeing such success with its flagship cartridge, Hornady wanted to take the Creedmoor to the next level. You had to hit T6 at 2,203 to advance to the far plates. MasterPiece Arms BA Lite PCR 5. Like I said, each discipline and personality will favor a certain caliber. And that my friend required outstanding composition and masterful communication skills, not to mention the aforementioned qualifications. It has been a proven competitor in the PRS circuit. rifle, you can find a factory load that shoots well in it. Now that we are pushing a 140gr projectile up to nearly 3,000 fps, the recoil will slightly increase over the 6.5 Creedmoor. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 4,029 ft-lbs. 500m: 1,212 ft-lbs. Although it isnt the flattest shooting round, that trait is, ironically, overrated in a long-range round. So guys who reload might fall into brass availability problems. No. Ammo can be found at most sporting goods stores. While absolute best-possible performance is usually achieved through handloading, the 6.5 Creedmoor typically provides unprecedented factory-load accuracy. You have more knowledge in your non-dominant pinky than I have. My own personal Remington 700 chambered in .308 shoots a five-round shot group of Federal Gold Medal Match at 0.60-0.75 MOA at 100m. In order to do so, their already proven case, the 6.8 SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) was necked down to fit a .22 caliber projectile. My background comes from the military sniper community where our gear was never the best. Think again. That is an on-the-spot selection. Now, this parameter may not be too important to most of you out there, searching for the best Long Range caliber. G1 BC: .563 G7 BC: .274. Although the two cartridges have very small differences, SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunitions Manufacturers Institute) maintains it is safe to interchange the two rounds. 1,500m: 776 ft-lbs. While the retained velocity and energy is 1937 fps / 1500 ft-lb and 1656 fps / 1096 ft-lb at 600 and 800 yards. Few AR-10s exist that can fire the .300WM. 1,500m: 295 ft-lbs. 1,000m: 437 ft-lbs. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. This cartridge can be found in semi-auto AR-style rifles. Camp Guns: Sometimes Perfect, Other Times Not But Often Essential! It offers exceptional accuracy and a decent range for shooters who do not have Long Range facilities available. Muzzle: 1316 ft-lbs 500m: 470 ft-lbs 1000m: 165 ft-lbs 1500m: 108 ft-lbs. Because it shoots a much lighter bullet about 300 fps faster than its parent, recoil is much lighter, trajectory is flatter and wind drift is equal or less. I find it so interesting to see how this compares to the Lapua Magnum. Recoil Condition: Shooting any of these calibers across any number of platforms will show that each round feels differently depending on the set-up. Very similar to the .243 Winchester. You can expect an average of 4,000 to 10,000 rounds of sustained accuracy. Decide where you fit in. 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. Again for the best LR option, 140gr Hybrid Target MV: 2,780 fps, Using above projectile, G1: 0.607 G7: 0.311. A lot of the newer, ultra-flat cartridges take a good deal of reloading knowledge to successfully harness their ability. Its pinpoint accuracy makes it deadly on these animals to 500 yards and more. Muzzle Velocity: One of the classic LR projectiles is the 175 Sierra Match King @ 2,700 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: 175gr SMK G1: 0.474 G7: 0.243. The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. I see another wildcat come to the limelight. I suspect that going forward, a lot of top PRS shooters will be transitioning to the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6mm BR competition guys love to shoot fast strings in competition to get the best wind conditions, so they commonly see 1000-1500 for 6mm Dasher. 500m: 1,212 ft-lbs. This is especially important to those of you who reload and can tailor a custom load for your rifle. It hits hard and flies flat and straight. Barrel Life: These magnum rounds love to kill barrels. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 1,456 ft-lbs 500m: 660 ft-lbs 1000m: 248 ft-lbs 1500m: 162 ft-lbs. In 2008, the cartridge was introduced not to expand upon the capabilities of the .338, but the possibilities. 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