Good 1000 yrd >.22 but <.30 Cal rifle?

[SN13]

I want to get a bolt action that's larger than .22 but smaller than .30.

I want to use it for LONG precision shooting.

I was leaning toward 7mm magnum.

Are there any other suggestions for a flat shooter?

I'm new to the non-military calibers.

 

[Dksimon]

7mm would be a pretty good choice in my opinion. As far as anything else that will reach out to 1000yards im not sure what to suggest.

 

[usp_fan]

I believe there is a lot of good data on using the 6.5's for this applications. I've seen some using the .260rem and some using the 6.5x.284. I think this is the same, or very similar to the 6.5 Lapua.

 

[Charles S]

I would go with the 6.5 X 284, although the 6.5 Lapua, 6.5X55, or the 260 Remington would also work.

For a bigger wildcat the 7X300 WSM seem to have great long range potential.

The 7mm Remington Magnum will easily do the task you want, however it also uses more powder and will recoil more than the various 6.5's mentioned.

 

[rangerruck]

I am also a fan of the .65's. both of the origionals; the 264 winchester, and the 6.5 remmy mag, were both never marketed right. They both will outdo a 7mag, with better bbl life, in a shorter fatter case. Now then, you can still find rifles in both chamberings. Also, the other 6.5's mentioned above would be nice as well, especially the short mags. And i will throw in another one; the 270wsm, if you can find in a 140 grainer, or if you handload, would be very nice.

 

[W.E.G.]

How heavy are you willing for the gun to be?

How much money are you willing to spend on it?

The recoil should be a non-issue if you are going for a heavy custom barrel, and a high-end target-type stock.

You can spend a ridiculous amount of money building a gun that is well-suited for 1000-yard shooting (and not very well-suited for much else).

 

[skinewmexico]

I have a 6.5x47 Lapua that I like a lot. Not much difference in it and the 260 Remington. And the 6.5x55 is well thought of at 1000, if you put it in a modern action, instead of something 100 years old. Some people are having good luck with the 6mmBR. But the 6.5s are ruling the roost, for the most part, in 1000 yard shooting.

How much do you have to spend?

 

[jlbraun]

I've heard the 6.5x284 is a barrel burner.

Zak Smith's site is good:

http://demigodllc.com/

 

[Jim Watson]

Zak Smith did a comparo on .260 Rem, 6.5x47 Lapua, and 6.5 Hornady Creedmoor.
They each have their assets and liabilities but are so close the difference gets down to fine points of what you care to fool with. They are enough smaller than 6.5x284 to have markedly better barrel life.

I have seen a couple of very good shooters with 7mms. Not Remington Magnums, not even WSMs. One has a 7mmx270WSM and the other a 7mm WSM AI. I can't see what they are gaining by wildcatting the WSM, but then they are way better shots than I am.

 

[USSR]

I have been running a 6.5x55 for several years now. Has the advantage of a velocity greater than the .260 (and better brass) and on par with what most 6.5-.284 shooters operate at, without the short barrel life of the 6.5-.284.

Don

 

[Zak Smith]

This has notes on caliber selection


article | Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting, Part I - Rifle & Equipment

Hard to beat the 6.5's:


article | The Case for .260 Remington: A Better Cartridge For Practical Long-Range Shooting



article | 6.5mm Shootout: .260 Remington vs. 6.5x47 Lapua vs. 6.5 Creedmoor

I do not recommend this for 1000 yard target shooting, but to give you an idea what "bigger" looks like


article | Military .338 Lapua Magnum Rifles: the Sako TRG-42 and the AI-AWSM

I'm rebarrelling my .338LM to 7 Rem Mag in about a month.

 

[rogerxd45]

im a huge fan of the 7mms either remington mag or WSM
they usually have the best BC, now the 6.5s are good and have less kick so they might be better for target work. but for a great target caliber as well as a great hunting cal nothing beats the 7mm IMO

 

[frankd4]

M1a1

The Spring Field M1A1 (M14) is at the top of the list.

 

[Jim Watson]

At 1000?
Not hardly.

 

[H2O MAN]

frankd4 The Spring Field M1A1 (M14) is at the top of the list.

Yep, the M14SE “CRAZY HORSE”® SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN
(M14SE SDM) has recorded kills in the sandbox at a range of over 1000 yards.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Besides what Zak says, which trumps all,

take a gander at this rifle:

http://www.gunblast.com/Savage-12F.htm

If you don't mind a really heavy rifle.

 

[skinewmexico]

Yep, the M14SE “CRAZY HORSE”® SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN
(M14SE SDM) has recorded kills in the sandbox at a range of over 1000 yards.

Big difference in shooting human sized targets at 1000 with unlimited shots, and what most people call long range precision shooting at 1000.

 

[Schleprok62]

Just curious, as I am clueless here... but could a 25-06 Rem be used??

 

[Will Learn]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing but want to use a caliber that carries energy. I'm skeptical of the praised calibers like 6mmbr and others that are very accurate but don't do much in the ft/lb dept. I don't meant to hijack but what would be a good balance for power/accuracy longer ranges? The .260 looks promising.

 

[Zak Smith]

.25 caliber lacks high BC bullets.

0.50 is "OK"
0.55 is "GOOD"
0.60 is "GREAT"
0.70+ is "EXCELLENT"

 

[H2O MAN]

Quote:
Yep, the M14SE “CRAZY HORSE”® SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN
(M14SE SDM) has recorded kills in the sandbox at a range of over 1000 yards.

skinewmexico

Big difference in shooting human sized targets at 1000 with unlimited shots,
and what most people call long range precision shooting at 1000.

Yeah, most people - including me - are not doing our long range precision shooting on a two way range.

People shooting at you makes a big difference.

 

[Howard Roark]

Zak,

I read your review of the LR calibers that included the 300 Win mag. I think the results might be different if the 210 or 220 SMK ballistics are given. Those bullets are superier in performance to the 190 listed. All the LR shooters I know brave enough to shoot a Mag shoot the heavier bullets. Kent Reeve shot 210gr. SMK over 71 Gr. H4831SC for a win at the Georgia State 1k match this year and a few wins at Perry last year and 2007.

I have never shot a 300 Win Mag to say for myself. All I can stand is a 6.5x284.

 

[Zak Smith]

Here is a similar table, but it runs "full power" loads for everything with the most you can reasonably expect using standard technology bullets (not solids)

_Bullet_           _BC_ _MV_         0     200     400     600     800    1000 | YARDS
338LM 300         0.77* 2800 >    0.00    1.63    6.79   15.96   29.72   48.71 | wind (inches)
300RUM 240SMK     0.71* 2950 >    0.00    1.64    6.86   16.14   30.09   49.48 | wind (inches)
338LM 250         0.675 3050 >    0.00    1.65    6.91   16.30   30.46   50.13 | wind (inches)
7RM 180           0.698 2900 >    0.00    1.71    7.17   16.90   31.54   51.87 | wind (inches)
300RUM 210        0.631 3100 >    0.00    1.73    7.27   17.20   32.26   53.30 | wind (inches)
7RM 168           0.648 3005 >    0.00    1.76    7.39   17.47   32.73   54.03 | wind (inches)
6.5-284 140       0.628 3000 >    0.00    1.82    7.67   18.16   34.09   56.39 | wind (inches)
243 115 DTAC      0.585 3100 >    0.00    1.87    7.90   18.79   35.40   58.82 | wind (inches)
300 210           0.631 2900 >    0.00    1.90    8.01   18.98   35.65   59.01 | wind (inches)
260 140           0.628 2860 >    0.00    1.95    8.21   19.48   36.60   60.64 | wind (inches)
300 190           0.574 3050 >    0.00    1.96    8.26   19.68   37.14   61.84 | wind (inches)
308 155           0.508 2950 >    0.00    2.34    9.95   23.91   45.62   76.73 | wind (inches)

338LM 300         0.77* 2800 >   -0.00    1.35    5.91   11.42   17.78   25.08 | drop (moa)
300RUM 240SMK     0.71* 2950 >   -0.00    1.13    5.24   10.28   16.15   22.95 | drop (moa)
338LM 250         0.675 3050 >   -0.00    1.00    4.84    9.62   15.21   21.72 | drop (moa)
7RM 180           0.698 2900 >   -0.00    1.21    5.50   10.77   16.92   24.07 | drop (moa)
300RUM 210        0.631 3100 >   -0.00    0.95    4.71    9.42   15.01   21.59 | drop (moa)
7RM 168           0.648 3005 >   -0.00    1.07    5.09   10.09   16.00   22.94 | drop (moa)
6.5-284 140       0.628 3000 >   -0.00    1.09    5.14   10.23   16.26   23.39 | drop (moa)
243 115 DTAC      0.585 3100 >   -0.00    0.97    4.79    9.65   15.49   22.47 | drop (moa)
300 210           0.631 2900 >   -0.00    1.23    5.62   11.09   17.58   25.27 | drop (moa)
260 140           0.628 2860 >   -0.00    1.30    5.83   11.48   18.20   26.16 | drop (moa)
300 190           0.574 3050 >   -0.00    1.04    5.03   10.11   16.24   23.60 | drop (moa)
308 155           0.508 2950 >   -0.00    1.21    5.68   11.47   18.65   27.56 | drop (moa)

As you can see, the 300WM shooting the 210gr VLDs beats the 260REM by a whopping 1.6" of wind (per 10mph cross) at 1000 yards. With about twice the powder and 230% the recoil.

-z

 

[Howard Roark]

Thanks for posting the chart. Quickloads? It's most interesting. I would have never thought the 115 DTAC would shoot inside the Win Mag. Maybe the 300 velocities are low? I don't know. Again, I'm not man enough to shoot one. I'll email Kent and see what velocities he is getting. I know he thinks the mag shoots better in the wind.

I like my 6.5 in .260 and .284. No Mags for me. I'll trake drift over recoil any day.

 

[Zak Smith]

The velocity helps the DTACs in that chart