Accurate Calibers

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Dance&Sting

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Hey. I made up my decision and Im going with a Tikka T3. I was just wondering which caliber is the most accurate from 200+ yards. Any help'd be great. Im going to try and grab it sometimes this week. Thanks!

-.308 Win.

-.300 WSM

-.300 Win mag.

-.338 Win.

-6.5x55 Swed.
 
If the ammo, rifle, and barrel are all of similar quality, they will shoot about as accurate.

The intended use and economics should answer your question. For example, 308 has the worth long range trajectory of those listed, but it's also the cheapest to shoot (buying new ammo or reloading) and has the least recoil.
 
Best cartridge

You didn't mention what you were going to use the rifle for, there's a sizable difference in power between the .308 and the .338 or the .300 magnum. In my opinion the 6.5 Swede has the best 'inherent' accuracy....best ballistic coefficient for the bullet....it has a longer bullet for its given weight.
 
Deer/Mule Hunting out to at least 200 Yards +

I just need to know which one of those calibers listed above is the most accurate.
 
I have a .300wm that I like. I did have some issues with accuracy but that was due to a crappy trigger. I have heard that the .338 kicks like a mule. That may be something to look at also.
 
...Im going with a Tikka T3. I was just wondering which caliber is the most accurate from 200+ yards.
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D&S,

It's not the cartridge it's chambered in, it's the quality of the barrel and chambering job. Buying a factory rifle is always a crap shoot. Sometimes ya get lucky, and othertimes ....:eek: Go with the cartridge that best fills the need you have to fill.

Don
 
Go with the 6.5 Swede

A perfect deer rifle with mild recoil. More powerful calibers aren't any more accurate and you pay a price in recoil, muzzle blast, and price. If deer out to 300 yards is what you are after then nothing will work better.
 
.308 winchester

For deer at or near the 200 yard stick, you can't go wrong with a .308. The others will work fine, but with more recoil and higher cost. 6.5 X 55 is a good round, but cost is as much or more than the others you listed as options.
 
.308 is a good all around cartridge. I realize it wasn't on your list but 30-06 would be my first choice in a hunting rifle. I have shot half inch groups with my scoped 03-A3 in 30-06.
 
Dance&Sting

As far as most accurite, I read about all the cartridges you mentioned except for the 338, being used for target shooting matches. Up to 200+ yards? Are you saying less than 300 yards. :)

As these posters said either the 6.5x55 or the .308 will work fine for your needs. If you already know which rifle you want, and cartrige choice is your question. I'd go with either of those two. I don't see the need for anything more powerful.

I have personally shot a 200+lb whitetail at about 200 yards with my 6.5x55 with a 129 gr Hornady bullet. He only took about 4 steps before collapsing.

I have a post right now about the 260, 7mm-08, and .308 Win below. because I wanted a rifle a few pounds lighter and shorter than my present one.And now that I've looked over the Tikka website you've got me thinking about a Tikka in a 6.5x55. Dog-gone-it... :)
 
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Im doing private land hunting this March and April with open fields of 200 - 500 yards. A tripod stand and the right caliber should take care of business. I need something with enough umpfh and accuracy to pile up those deers.

Thanks again guys.

BTW.... I've never done any deer/mule hunting with a rifle before. Just shotguns. I'm a slug freak:banghead:
 
D&S

Have you ever shot a rifle at distances between 200-500 yards? I'm not trying to dis you, (you could be a champion long range shooter for all I know).

If not, you may want to do a lot of research, and invest in a lazor range finder. Plus a bunch of shooting at those ranges to find your dope (settings).
 
500 yards!

300 yards or less then definitely a 6.5x55

You've left out 7mm Mag. That's a good long range deer round.

500 yards, I think I might want a 300 Win Mag or 300 WSM
 
If I wanted to be able to make "95%+ sure" shots on game to 500 yards, I would choose the rifle I could practice the most with. The weak link will be the shooter.
 
I agree they will all be about as accurate. It comes down to the shooter.

Myself, I am partial to the 300WSM. That is going to be my next bolt gun purchase. I would take bullet drop into affect. Don't know if you have a range finder or not.

You did leave out 7mm (and the mags in that caliber). Also .270. I know that is a very lethal round on whitetails out to 450yds. There is also the 270WSM.
 
If I were shooting out to 500 yards from a tripod stand I would first of all shoot the rifle at various ranges and make up a drop chart. I would laminate that and tape it to the stock.

In my preliminary scouting I would bring some sticks and survey tape. I would locate the most obvious points of approach and pace them off from my stand, marking the ranges with sticks and flagging -- say one tape at 250 yards, two at 300, three at 350, then two sticks with one flag at 400, two sticks, two flags at 450 and two sticks and three flags at 500.
 
Im doing private land hunting this March and April with open fields of 200 - 500 yards. A tripod stand and the right caliber should take care of business. I need something with enough umpfh and accuracy to pile up those deers.
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D&S,

500 yards, huh? Hate to tell you this, but once you get to 400 yards, wind comes into play in a serious way. Unless you have the wind dope for your rifle/load, I would restrict myself to 300 yard shots. Just MHO.

Don
 
Vern Humphrey said:
If I were shooting out to 500 yards from a tripod stand I would first of all shoot the rifle at various ranges and make up a drop chart. I would laminate that and tape it to the stock.

In my preliminary scouting I would bring some sticks and survey tape. I would locate the most obvious points of approach and pace them off from my stand, marking the ranges with sticks and flagging -- say one tape at 250 yards, two at 300, three at 350, then two sticks with one flag at 400, two sticks, two flags at 450 and two sticks and three flags at 500.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was planning doing! What I am trying to do here is find the right caliber/rifle (which I have a good idea of) and practice, practice, PRACTICE!! I think in 3-4 months time of practicing I'll have enough experience.

I don't have that much free time but when I do im either researching on rifles/calibers which there is a whole lot more I have to learn or actually out there on the range.
 
Dance&Sting said:
Anybody ever shot the 7mm STW. Just a thought.
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The 7mm STW is a fine cartridge, but is currently riding the wake of the 7mm RUM and is doomed to sink. It currently fills the relatively small void between the 7mm RM and 7mm RUM.

That said, I don't think you'll want to tolerate the recoil of either the STW or RUM for long, especially shooting 500 yards from a rest.

I only have one rifle that I would attempt a 500+ yard shot on a deer with, and it is a .25-06. I use 100 grain Barnes TSX boat tails and load to a muzzle velocity of 3580 FPS. With a 200 yard zero they drop between 42 and 47 inches at 600 yards, depending on altitude and barometric pressure. I have charts for these that I have printed in 3 pt font that I tuck under the buttstock shell holder. These charts account for angle and windspeed variables in incriments of 5 from 0 to 50. I have fired literally thousands of rounds through this rifle, the trigger is set at 2.15 lbs with .035" of travel and I run a Leupold VX-III 4.5-14x 40mm scope and Harris bipod.

Only if I had a dead-solid position and had my breathing under control would I attempt a 500-600 yard shot. That's a long friggin' way, and variables change downrange. If you can get closer, you should. Such long range shots are an exercise in marksmanship and not really hunting and should only be taken if the alternative is going home empty-handed.
 
Exterior Ballistics are all fine and good but get off the internet and get on the Range. A 2000.00$ tack hammer in the wrong hands is still going to be just a club at close range. Pick a Caliber and Practice.
Question to all If .308 is such a crappy round why do so many snipers use it?
Why is it along with .223 such a popular Prairie Dog Caliber?
 
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