which is the better cartridge in long range work

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vaupet

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Huy guys,

I want to get into long range work. This is out to maximum 600 meters (in Belgium, there are 2 ranges out to 300 and one out to 600 metres, none further).
I'm looking to buy a tactical type rifle (Unique Alpine or AI AW or similar) and i'm not shure wich cartridge would be best.
To limit the price of ammo, I'm limiting my choise to 308, 7.5x55 swiss (I already use this one in my K31) or 6.5x55 swedisch (wich I already use in my swedisch mauser).

Another possibility is the 6.5x47 lapua, but this is limited around here to single shot "match" rifles.

Greetings

Peter
 
If I were to pick between the two here in the US I would go with the 6.5 in order to take advantage of the great ballistic co-efficient the .264 bullet provides.
 
I really like the 6.5x55 for just about anything. I wish it were chambered in more over the counter rifles.
 
In a modern bolt action rifle, the 6.5x55 offers the best ballistics of the four cartridges mentioned, assuming you reload. I use mine for shooting at 1,000 yards, and it only requires 25.5MOA of elevation from a 100 yard zero to reach 1,000 yards.

Don
 
6.5x55

I have two 6.5x55 rifles, a 6.5x.284 and am having a 6.5x47 Lapua built. The 6.5x47 is magazine-fed as are the others. For really long-range shooting the 6.5x284 might have an edge due to higher initial velocity and less wind drift, but the 6.5x47 has won a lot of 1000 yard benchrest matches recently. At 500yards nobody can tell the difference between a 6.5x55, 6.5x47 or .260.
 
Thanks for the info.

I just came of the line with Germany, the sales rep of Unique who offer a great rifle - http://www.unique-alpine.net/index2.html - at a correct price.

The rep told me 6.5*55 is superior balisticaly buth that it is hard to find good ammo. He advised 300 WM to me.
He said the Sellier & Bellot is not good for the rifle because of slack in case tolerance. Lapua was OK.

Any thoughts?
 
Lapua makes the best brass for the 6.5x55 cartridge. I cannot speak for their loaded ammunition, although I suspect it is first rate also. Am I to understand that you don't reload your own ammunition?

Don
 
I don't reload YET.

I'm planning to because my "caliber footprint" is changing to 45acp, 223 and this larger caliber.

Have to learn everything about reloading though.
 
300 WM is way overkill for 600 meters, not worth the blast and recoil. At that range any of the cartridges you listed will get it done easily.

While the 6.5x55 is a great cartridge I wouldnt throw out the .308 just yet. It is widely used for precision shooting and good loaded ammunition is easy to find.
 
Another vote for the 6.5x55 Swede.

Vaupet, do you have a scope on your Swedish Mauser? If so, what scope and mounting system do you use?
 
@ K9:
I use my milsurp rifles in wath we call "Ordonnance" matches, wich literally (in french) means "issued rifle matches.
It have to be WW II or earlier issued rifles in original state and with their original iron sights. No scope.

@ USSR: thanks, will take you up on that offer.

greetz

Peter
 
There are two points I'd consider.

If you're going to buy a rifle, then there are modern .308 "tactical rifles" (mostly based on the Model 700 Remington) that are specifically designed for the type of shooting you're talking about.

And because .308 is the civilian version of the 7.62mm NATO, ammunition is plentiful and high quality.
 
Welcome to THR :)

OK, I think there are some TIKKA and Sako "tactical" coices in a lot of the calibers discussed here. I'm also pretty sure CZ makes some too. But, you are in Belgium - what is wrong with FN? And there are couple of very nice French rifles we can't get here in the US.

I think 6.5mm or .308 would be my two choices. 6.5 because of performance and .308 because I could get US Gov't rounds off one of the bases for a "discount".

As far as caliber looking into the pipe from your end - what is the best supply of ready made cartridges vs cost vs ballistic performance? How about reasonably priced reloading supplies? Prvi Partizan makes very nice practice rounds for not a lot of money. Lapua makes excellent ammo and very, very good brass - so you shot one of their factory rounds and have the brass for later :)
 
I would just go with the caliber that you can find the cheapest, because the key to long-range marksmanship is LOTS OF PRACTICE! Any of those cartridges are more than sufficient for 600m. Just go to the range and figure out your elevation adjustments for each distance you will be shooting at.
 
Are there any restrictions on ammo components there we may not know about? If reloading, will the factory rounds be boxer primed? Can you catalog order or find what you need to properly reload? The gent you spoke to may have a valid point on ammo.
 
As strange as it may seem, FN is not for sale to civilians in Belgium.(they do sell browning hunting weapons and winchester) I can find some old SAFN (sa49) or fal but nothing else.
ALso Sako is considered by the Finnisch autority as "Military", so they require an end-user-certificate wich is to much trouble for individual sales.

The rifle in Pole-position right now is the Unique Alpine, a tactical of German origin, very modular, wich I can obtain directly at the factory. It is, if my info is correct, not available in the US. It is more and more used by European special police forces. They guaranty 1/2 MOA.

Price level is about 20 to 25% less than AI-AW.

http://www.tacticalthreshold.com/unique-alpine.html
http://uktactical.webs.com/uniquealpine.htm

greetings

Peter
 
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