Unusual but Exceptional Calibers for Long Range Precision Rifle - Opinions Sought

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

My background includes lots of handgun and shotgun time, but my rifle experience is pretty much limited to the AR-15 and a few other military autoloaders.

I am doing some research into unusual rifle calibers for a custom long range (e.g., 500 to 1000 yards) bolt action sniper rifle. What I am interested in is opinions on unusual calibers that are superior choices for long range rifle work.

Let's have a little opinion exchange.

I've already done my research on the usual suspects (.308 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, etc.) and would like some unusual but exceptional choices to research as well.

Any other opinions on actions, stocks, scopes, etc. are also welcome.

Incidently, this thread was inspired by an article by Chuck Taylor regarding a sniper rifle Ted Yost made for him in .280 Ackley.

Thanks for your opinions and time.

- Anthony

 

[3 gun]

Some fella by the name of David Tubb has had good results using a 243 at Camp Perry. Front Sight magazine Vol. 20 Num. 2 has a breakdown on some of the long range choices. They have the 243 matching up almost even with the 300 Win Mag out to 600 yards with about 1/3 the recoil.










(edit to correct spelling)

 

[cratz2]

The most important things in a 1,000 yard cartridge are effeciency, enough velocity to remain supersonic at 1,000 yards and as low recoil as possible while being effective. High sectional denisty and ballistic coefficients are desirable as they both help fight the effects wind over distance.

6.5x284 I think is the current champ at 1,000 yard competition. Lapua makes brass and a 139 Scenar bullet that looks like it could really be very competitive at long distances.

6.5-06 should actually beat it in retained energy though a bit less efficient. Brass would be easier to 'make' though you can now buy 6.5x284 from at least three sources including Lapua mentioned above.

6.5x55 or 260 would both be very easy to come by. The 6.5x55 really need handloads to get the most of out of modern rifles but, of course, anyone serious about 1,000 yard competition would be handloading anyway. It's a shame that Howa or Savage doesn't build a heavy barrel rifle in a 6.5mm bore... you could then easily ream it to whatever cartridge you desired. I email them each once a month saying this would be a good idea.

.270 Weatherby Magnum should prove very effective to 1,000 yards, actually quite a bit past. And I have no reason to believe that 7mm Ultra Magnum would be any less effective.

I think that, while other calibers have proven themselves at long ranges, the 6.5mm, .277" and 7mm are the most ideal 1,000 yard calibers. The higher the velocity (within reason) and the shorter the case, the better. Eventually, someone will come out with a 6.5mm cartridge based on the 50BMG case that gets 4,500 fps.

The 300 Ultra Mag, .30-378 and 338-378 Weatherby Magnums and and 338 Lapua look good on paper but are really overkill for 1,000 use.

 

[Steve Smith]

The .243, while a real shooter, is hell on barrels for a comp rifle and Tubb (no S!) isn't using it anymore. Same reason he's not using a 6.5x08. I think his latest puppy is a 6X.

Anything Ackley inproved will increase your throat erosion.


Do you plan to learn how to use this rifle at distance or just buy it and play? I'm not trying to be condescending. I'm serious. If YOU'RE serious then I have a defferent recommendation for you.

 

[Art Eatman]

Looking only at accuracy: Many discussions have spoken of the incremental amount of "better" for short actions, since they're stiffer. .308 vs. .30-'06, for instance.

Wouldn't this be an argument in favor of basing a rifle on one of the new Short Magnums?

Then: I read of only 10% less velocity for 20% less powder than in a regular-length magnum. This means less recoil and also less barrel heating per shot.

So if this nattering makes any sense, you select your diameter as a function of bullet weight and highest coefficients. SFAIK, this leads you into comparing 6.5, 7 and 7.62 as to your design parameters...

, Art

 

[Anthony]

Hi Steve,

I'm planning on getting some training along the way.

What would your other suggestion(s) be in that case?

- Anthony

 

[H&Hhunter]

I'll start off by telling you that I am not a long range target/sniper kinda guy. I'm just a hunter.

With that being said I've always thought that .270 weatherby might just fit the bill for your type application. Pretty impressive long range ballistics. And with that being said take a look at the new .270WSM it actually beats the Weatherby by a scosh.

Just my uninformed and humble .02$

 

[Steve Smith]

I'd suggest you start with a .308 and shoot some long range competitions like Palma or F-class. If you're a good student, by the time you burn out your first barrel you'll have enough skill to appreciate a wonder-caliber.

 

[4v50 Gary]

What Steve says. Most of us, myself included, won't get the max that a match barrel will deliver. Just gotta to the range a whole heckuva lot more.

 

[telewinz]

What does the US Army rifle team use.............the 300 Winchester Magnum. It must be the best.

 

[Steve Smith]

Actually....


They don't all use the .300. Quite a few are using 6X, 6.5x284, and a few others. A lot that goes on with them at Long Range is experimental.

 

[Midnight]

I've always read that 6.5mm bullets benefit from great BCs and high sectional densities. Also, because they come in lighter weight bullets, they can be loaded to velocities that stay supersonic at long ranges. I would go with one of the several excellent 6.5mm loads recommended above. 6.5x55 is a great load, but I think it lacks the uumph to stay supersonic at 1000 yards. One cartridge I've always been impressed with is the 7mm-08. I don't know a lot about it, but I'm a big fan of 6.5-7mm cartridges, and a 7mm without the recoil of 7mag would be nice.

For me, if I'm going to become proficient with a rifle and do a lot of practice, I need to be able to put at least 20 rounds through it without any discomfort. There goes 7mag and 300mag....

 

[atek3]

the vogue cartridges at 600 yds. right now are the 6X clones. All of them are basically 22-250's necked up to 6mm. The different variations are the overall length, shoulder position and angle, neck length etc.
The advantage of these cartridges over 243 is that they aren't barrel burners. Most drive a 107 gr. SMK.

atek3

 

[Gewehr98]

Maybe I'm blessed...

But I've won several 500-1000 yard tactical matches with my 6.5-06.

(Truth is, I had a .308 700PSS, with 155gr Palma loads, as a back-up gun at each of those matches, too. Kinda hard to let go of the old Binky, as it were!)

The 6.5-06 is no more of a barrel burner than it's quarter-bore cousin, the .25-06. It's commonly found on the ammo shelves in Europe as either the 6.5x64 Brenneke or 6.5x65 RWS.