Long Range Calibers

Which Long range caliber?

  • .308

    Votes: 55 47.4%

  • .300 Win Mag

    Votes: 28 24.1%

  • others (please post)

    Votes: 33 28.4%
  • Total voters
    116
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S

S&WKING

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Location
Fremont, Nebraska
I was looking at a few guns and the salesmen was talking about competitions and i thought it sounded fun. He pretty much invited me to one of the competitions but i dont have the gun or the right caliber for long range. So i was debating on one of these for longer range. I would like the caliber to stay around .30 and no 338
 
Commercial .308 ammo has one of the best bullet type selections which could pinpoint your needs. Also barrel life is longer as well than 300 win mag. There was a big thread that i was into yesterday about this.
 
I choose other...30-06

And although the STW will be very flat, unless you handload, the cost of ammo will be a limiting factor in your range time, and the recoil will most likely not be pleasurable, assuming you have average recoil tolerances.
 
All SERIOUS long range riflemen reload. If they don't, they lose matches. Nobody said anything about hunting, so I'm assuming it's for target or match use? Of course, 300 win mag is very popular in such competitions and 7 STW isn't really, but I like the ballistics charts I've seen of the STW, pretty awesome caliber. If you can handle the recoil of a .300 win mag, the 7 STW shouldn't be a problem.
 
If you are going to really long ranges then you may even be interested in 6.5 cartridges. When handloading you can create a super high BC. At long distances you want higher BCs obviously over much faster shooting rounds.
 
6 and 6.5 mm are what the winners are using in long range competition. Of course if shooting F-TR you are limited to .223 or .308, and in that case I would suggest the .308. My recently purchased rifle is a .243 which can be loaded with very high BC bullets, as can the .260 Remington and specialist cartidges like the 6.5-284. I normally hunt with 30-06/.308/7x57, so the recoil from the .243 is nearly nonexistant. I would also recommend the 26" barrelled guns, if you are shooting at 1000 yards that gives you a little leeway to keep the bullets supersonic.

To me the best entry level gun is a Savage 12 series, pick which model you like. I went with a 12 FV because I wanted to stick with a .243, later I'm going to get a barrel in .308 for shooting TR class. I went with a Weaver Grand Slam 6-20 scope which is on sale at Natchez for $277, and Burris Z rings. So with scope and rings I'm out less than $850, and it's starting to shoot tiny groups.

If you don't mind spending it all at once Savage makes the model 12-FT which is in .308 and already set up for shooting F-TR class, I've seen them selling new for $999.

12-F-TR-Target-Rifle.gif
 
There's the old, nearly dead, 264 Win Mag, a 6.5mm, but I bet the 7 STW will shoot flatter. There ain't that much better in 6.5 than 7.

Of course, when you really get serious about long range, think .50 BMG, but you said you didn't wanna go over .30 cal. :D

Of course, you're going to be choosing a class to shoot in if you're doing competition and that's something I know nothing about. I've shot some informal bench rest, but that's it. IDPA and IHMSA are other sports. Somehow, I got enthralled with handguns and never shot rifle competitions.
 
Before we get to into it, does the original poster reload? We don't even know if he will be in the copetitions for real, or is just trying them out. If you don't reload I vote for the 30-06 and if you do, I still say the 30-06 or maybe like smith said a 6.5mm of some sort. I personally like the 6.5x55 swede for 6.5's, but there are "better" choices for long range, like the 6.5x284 and the like.
 
no i dont reload and i dont think we are all on the same page of competition it will be under 1000 more around 500-750 and what about the 6.5 grendel
 
Now there is some very good information, now a .308 in a 22-24" barrel is looking like the ticket. Definately the widest range of match ammo available.
 
The grendel is meant for AR style guns I believe, and I haven't really looked at it, but I am pretty sure that it would drop a hell of a lot at 1000yards. I'd take a loot at the 6.5x55 if you are interested in 6.5mm and reloading would be a wise choice should you decide to get real competative.
 
In your place you are probably going to want .308 as it has the biggest spread of long range match ammo provided. Its hard to be a long range shooter without handloading.
 
The word "magnum" sells a rifle.

The word "skill" wins a match.

Get the .308 and get more trigger time and less wear on yourself and the rifle.

If you don't reload it's the way to go. Decent match ammo can be bought off the shelf for the .308. Notice I said decent not the best.

The 6.5's and the Magnums are for those that reload and are committed to the various types of long range shooting.

If you decide you like it than you can "upgrade" with more goodies and other calibers.
 
I do not know much about AR style firearms and therefore cannot offer you help, but considering you do not reload and I have never seen ammo for that chambering I would look for something else. But in the end its your money, so don't let my ignorance of the AR's keep you from enjoying one.
 
A good .308 and a budget for dollar a pop Black Hills match ammunition.

Browningguy and Yardvarmint are the most up to date of posters based on what I have seen at Long Range matches this year.
 
I don't remember seeing what the original poster stated regarding "long" range. That can be a relative term. Long range to some of us is 1500 yards...others, it's 1k. Yet others, 600 yards is a LONG way. Lotsa variables, and obviously, pet calibers and pet loads (yea USA!). None of the advice given the poster thus far is incorrect. Some of the loads, especially if he's going to shoot a lot, will require reloading unless 1) he's loaded himself, and 2) gets lucky and finds a factory load that's 100% compatible with his rifle's harmonics. I have my pets also... but won't bore anyone until we see what his intended range is, if he's planning on just jumping in with both feet without feeling the water, what the budget is, and what distance is available on his range for practice.
 
6.5x284 if you reload. If you don't .308 will be a good starting round for you. Remember a couple of things about shooting long distance. You can have the best round money can buy but, if you can't "dope" the wind, elevation and mirage you won't be any good.......
 
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