Fatelvis
Member
What caliber bullet, is the absolute best, for ultra-long range shooting? I see alot about 6.5mm and 7mm. (Ive had no experience with 6.5)
Best diameter bullet for long range?
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Fatelvis
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Thanks Sasno, I meant outside of the .50 BMG.
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Marshall
Member
Ultra long range shooting of what?
EchoSixMike
Member
Barrel life on the 50's isn't too bad, most go over 2K rounds, as long as you don't get them too hot for too long. I'm betting my money on the 280 Ackley Improved, and a lot of guys are going 6.5-284 also. The 6.5-08 is a good one too. There are also a lot of guys who are going with real puss rounds like the 6mm BR, 6mm X, 6x250, etc etc because they make the points up in rapids and the LR performance isn't a huge loss to the 6.5's and 7's. The 6's tend to be slightly more accurate, or perhaps easier to make accurate, because they don't recoil as much and the BR case designs are somewhat more inherantly accurate. S/F...Ken M
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
One of the reasons I like Mr. Sierra's Reloading Handbook is the wealth of info about external ballistics. They give the coefficients for all their bullets, among other things.
Long range, one of the more important criteria is the Ballistic Coefficient of the bullet. The higher the BC, the better the velocity is retained, downrange. It's desireable that the bullet's velocity remain supersonic as long as possible.
After that, it's your own choice for caliber; the last is building the package and developing a load...
, Art
Long range, one of the more important criteria is the Ballistic Coefficient of the bullet. The higher the BC, the better the velocity is retained, downrange. It's desireable that the bullet's velocity remain supersonic as long as possible.
After that, it's your own choice for caliber; the last is building the package and developing a load...
, Artcratz2
Member
6 and 6.5 mm.
The 6mm-284 and 6.5mm-284 are probably the most ideal for sensible and among the most award winning cartridges right now.
For factory loaded cartridges, the 300 Win Mag, 338 Lapua, 264 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Ultra Mag, 300 Ulra Mag, 257 Weatherby, 270 Weatherby and 30-378 Weatherby Magnums come to mind as exceptional long range contenders.
Of course, the Old, 30-06, 270 Win, 25-06 and 308 seem to do just fine in properly trained hands.
The 6mm-284 and 6.5mm-284 are probably the most ideal for sensible and among the most award winning cartridges right now.
For factory loaded cartridges, the 300 Win Mag, 338 Lapua, 264 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Ultra Mag, 300 Ulra Mag, 257 Weatherby, 270 Weatherby and 30-378 Weatherby Magnums come to mind as exceptional long range contenders.
Of course, the Old, 30-06, 270 Win, 25-06 and 308 seem to do just fine in properly trained hands.
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Gordon
Member
.338 Lapua has advantages as a long range tactical round under .50bmg. Those 300grain untra low drag bullets can still be going near Mach 2 at 1000 yds. A .30-378 weatherby with a 250 boattail is right up there too. Just a little smaller and lighter. Big cased 6.5s were all the rage in 70s and 80 for 1000yd shots. Just smaller and lighter. A 100 grain .223 can be driven to 3400 or so by lotsa cases it will still buck the wind and rise no more than 6 feet at 1000yds just smaller and lighter. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!WilderBill
Member
Since the old standbys 30.06, .308 etc were mentioned, I'll add the 6.5 Swede and the .264 WinMag to the list.
If you are talking about more the 1,000 yards the .50BMG pretty much IS the list.
If you are talking about more the 1,000 yards the .50BMG pretty much IS the list.
Redlg155
Member
I think the .308 Winchester will work just fine. Know your gun, load and range and you will be just fine. With rangefinders being so easy to obtain, accurate and inexpensive we shouldn't have to guess too much at longer shots these days.
I believe it was proven not that long ago that the .223 is also perfectly suitable under optimum conditions at extended ranges for punching holes.
But then with the .223 you are just hitting the target. Whether or not you would have enough retained energy to incapacitate at 1000 meters is anyones guess.
Anyone here know of how many ft/lbs of energy a .223 has at 1000 meters?
Good Shooting
RED
I believe it was proven not that long ago that the .223 is also perfectly suitable under optimum conditions at extended ranges for punching holes.
But then with the .223 you are just hitting the target. Whether or not you would have enough retained energy to incapacitate at 1000 meters is anyones guess.
Anyone here know of how many ft/lbs of energy a .223 has at 1000 meters?
Good Shooting
RED
cratz2
Member
A 60 Gr Partition bullet awith a BC of .228 fired at about 3100 fps would only have about 100 ft/lbs at 1000 yards.
Compare this to a 100 gr BT .243 with a BC of .430 at 2900 fps having 320 ft/lbs remaining at 1000 yards.
KenM
Member
Depending on how far you want to go with "Ultra Long Range" and dollars here's something for if nothing else a "Whoa!" factor.
http://www.edmarms.com/cheytac.htm
Regards,
KenM
PNW50BMG Shooters Association
Member FCSA
http://www.edmarms.com/cheytac.htm
Regards,
KenM
PNW50BMG Shooters Association
Member FCSA
cheygriz
member
Consider barrel life, downrange energy, commercial availability, RECOIL, weight, accuracy, commercial vailability of ammunition/components etc.
With these factors in mind, for shooting over 1,000 yards, especially if the target is shooting back, the .338 Lapua is about the only game in town. Just MNSHO!
With these factors in mind, for shooting over 1,000 yards, especially if the target is shooting back, the .338 Lapua is about the only game in town. Just MNSHO!
12-34hom
Member
Ackley Improved.
In .243 diameter bullets, 107 grain HPBT [match] Sierra or 105 Berger VLD [moly coated] are excellent fare. Starke also makes some excellent F.B. bullets [95 grainers] that shoot very well at longer ranges.
I've seen loadings posted using slow burning powders like Reloader #22 - V.V. 160 -165 - IMR -7828 pushing these bullets up too 3200 FPS@.
The B.C. of these slugs are .540 or greater.
12-34hom.
In .243 diameter bullets, 107 grain HPBT [match] Sierra or 105 Berger VLD [moly coated] are excellent fare. Starke also makes some excellent F.B. bullets [95 grainers] that shoot very well at longer ranges.
I've seen loadings posted using slow burning powders like Reloader #22 - V.V. 160 -165 - IMR -7828 pushing these bullets up too 3200 FPS@.
The B.C. of these slugs are .540 or greater.
12-34hom.
echo3mike
Member
There's been some stuff up on EDM Arms about the .408 Cheyenne Tactical round, a wild cat with a necked down .505 Gibbs case structure (at least initially), using Lost River Ballistics custom rounds with insanely high BCs.
Sub MOA to 2000 yds, MOA to 2500......THAT I'ld like to see (if I could see 2500 yards)....
S.
Edited to add...Yeah...what KenM said...:banghead:
Sub MOA to 2000 yds, MOA to 2500......THAT I'ld like to see (if I could see 2500 yards)....
S.
Edited to add...Yeah...what KenM said...:banghead:
cheygriz
member
Actually, if you want true long range performance, i.e., one hole groups at 15,000 yards, it's hard to beat the 155MM. Somewhat of a big bore, of course, but frighteningly accurate at long range.
Frohickey
Member
Yeah... and with 155mm's, you don't have to go lugging around ammo and gun. You get to ride.
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Echo3mike beat me to it, .408 CheyTac.
The 6mills are ruling the roost in long range right now...and since physics don't change, it'll probably remain that way for a long time, until someone has a breakthrough.
.223 has almost no energy at 1000 yards. .308 doesn't have a whole lot itself, actually.
What do you want to do?
The 6mills are ruling the roost in long range right now...and since physics don't change, it'll probably remain that way for a long time, until someone has a breakthrough.
.223 has almost no energy at 1000 yards. .308 doesn't have a whole lot itself, actually.
What do you want to do?
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Fatelvis
Member
Im looking to put together a rifle that will do varmints at extreme ranges, sheep, occational boar, and target shooting at >300 yds., without beating me up too much. 300 magnums` recoil is a bit much for me, for extended target shooting.
.408 Chey-Tac read about it at
http://www.extremefirearms.com/Pages/Cheytac.html
Edit: A couple guys beat me to it, but at only 300 yards, it's way overkill.
http://www.extremefirearms.com/Pages/Cheytac.html
Edit: A couple guys beat me to it, but at only 300 yards, it's way overkill.
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redneck2
Member
I'm gonna
go with a 7 mag. The 162 gr A-Max is supposed to be a great commercially available bullet for LR. Sierra makes a heavy (168gr IIRC) Matchking. Both have REAL high B.C.
I detest muzzle brakes, but will probably get one for extended bench sessions. 100 rounds straight from a 8# mag will probably get real old, real quick. Now, if there was just some way to get the weight up to 15#...
I just talked to Charlie Sisk last night. His recommendation was a heavier caliber just so you don't have to dope the wind so much.
The other option is the 260 Reminton (6.5-08) for a factory caliber. Watch the twist for heavy slugs.
go with a 7 mag. The 162 gr A-Max is supposed to be a great commercially available bullet for LR. Sierra makes a heavy (168gr IIRC) Matchking. Both have REAL high B.C.
I detest muzzle brakes, but will probably get one for extended bench sessions. 100 rounds straight from a 8# mag will probably get real old, real quick. Now, if there was just some way to get the weight up to 15#...
I just talked to Charlie Sisk last night. His recommendation was a heavier caliber just so you don't have to dope the wind so much.
The other option is the 260 Reminton (6.5-08) for a factory caliber. Watch the twist for heavy slugs.
Steven Mace
Member
Has anyone considered something like a 6.5x300 WSM?
Steve Mace
Steve Mace
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