Which mag Rifle caliber For long Range?

[ArkansasFatboy]

Guys which mag rifle caliber is better at long range? I have a 7mm mag and like it but the other calibers intrigue me. I handload (I'm still new to handloading and have much to learn) and have piddled with the 7mm a little.But I have tossed around the idea of getting a .300 win mag or a .338 mag. I will probably never really need a big magnum but I want someting that will shoot accuratly way out there. I have yet to try the 7mm mag out at really long range so don't know how it will perform. I just wanted some of your guys opinions. I like to read what everyone has to say.

 

[brandyspaw]

I have a Remington Sendero in 300 WinMag for longer ranges that I really like. It supplements my other Model 700s in 308 and 30/06. However, If I had the funds I'd like to get another 338 Lapua. I now wish I hadn't sold the one I had but thats the way I seem to do things at times. The 338 Lapua is a real long range cartridge that will stretch out a lot longer than the 300 mags.

 

[GunTech]

yes, but 338 lapua is a 416 Rigby necked down to 338, with all that implies. Better have a heavy rifle.

Basically, it will come down to the bullet. There are extremely high BC 7mm bullets, if your rifle will stabilize them. That gives the edge to the 7mm. Of course it depends on your definition of long range and how much energy you need at the end.

I shoot 308 to 1000 yards and have no problem ringing the gongs. 260, 6.7x47 and 6.5x55 will all do 1 K and still be supersonic with little recoil.

Some of the 6mms will do it as well

 

[cpttango30]

the 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) is a real screamer. It was devloped for the long range hunting some places out west offer.

 

[W.E.G.]

If you are shooting a sporter-weight rifle, the 7mm will do everything the 300 Win. Mag. will do.

The heavier bullets yield some advantage at really long range. But the recoil from the heavy-bullet loads will knock the snot out of you if you get down hard on the gun unless the gun is really heavy.

After very few shots, most folks have had enough of a rifle even such as the 7mm Mag. if they have to lie down prone with it, or cuddle up with it on a bench. In a sporter-weight rifle, the advantage of heavy calibers is not in their trajectory charts, but rather in how hard they hit the target at reasonable hunting distances.

I have a .300 Win. Mag. that is quite heavy, and is set up for prone-only 1000-yard shooting. It pounds the hell out of the 10-ring and 9-ring -- so persistent it becomes boring. Its amazing what the "right tool" for the job can do. Mind you too, winning scores in 1000-yard highpower rifle any-rifle/any-sight matches tend to be well over 195 (out of a possible 200). Its quite possible to lose a 1000-yard match with a score of "just" 199. I've seen that at Quantico many times.

 

[dakotasin]

define long range, and what your intent is at that range.

i have a 308 that i have taken beyond 1000 yards for paper. does fine until you start creeping up on 1100 yards, then it can sometimes get to be a 'maybe' kind of deal. i've taken a 7 mag to 1000 yards. does it easily. i've taken one of my ar-15's to 1000 yards, too. a bit of a struggle, but it will get there if you are persistent enough.

don't discount the 264 win mag, or a 264-wildcat. i would think a 264-300 wsm would be a ton of fun at 1200-ish yards. 6.5x284 is a proven 1000 yard chambering...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why buy a more expensive Magnum rifle when a good rifle chambered in .308 will do just fine out to 800 yards or more if you are skilled enough. (I'm not BTW!!) The .308 round is a proven sniper round used but the Military. I'm sure the .308 will outperform most of the shooters who fire it.

Take a look at the Sako 85 in .308 if you are looking for an extremely accurate hunting rifle or the TGR-22 in .308 if you want something more like a sniper rifle. If you really want a .300 or .338 Mag look at the TGR-42. IF you have more money that I do then the Tikka T3 line will make you very happy for a very long time... See them all here: http://www.sako.fi/

 

[rangerruck]

right now, some dudes are doing very well with 160 grain vld type bullets, out to 1000 yds. some guy just hit a world record over in England, with a sub 3 inch group at 1000. i like the ballistics better than the 30 cal bullets, i would expirement with what you got. go here.
http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Rangerruck,
What caliber are you talking about?
Where is it on the link you provided?

 

[Titan6]

If you need to shoot out fruther than a .308 takes you why not buy a .50BMG? Relatively a high quality rifle only costs about 30% more and ammo is only about 20% more. You get many times the the range and foot pounds of a .338 or .300 Win Mag.

Since you hand load you can really save money on ammo.

 

[Jim Watson]

You need to figure out what you are really going to do before spending a lot of money. How far is "long range" to you?
Will you shoot in organized competition? Better read the rules. NRA's are pretty specific and if for wannabe sniper shooting Zak has some good recommendations on this board.
If not, where will you shoot and how will you know what you have hit? Spotting shots beyond about 300 yards is going to require either some sort of reactive target or a pit crew as for NRA matches.
Good loads in a 7mm R.M. will do pretty well; a 7mm 168 gr SMK, A-Max, or VLD is a fine 1000 yard bullet. You can fly before you buy.

 

[aloharover]

I think before answering the question we would need to know what do you consider long range, and what do you want to do (hunt, compete, or punch paper)

I know people that look at 500m as long when Elk hunting.

 

[Charles S]

As stated, knowing your idea of long range and your intended purpose will be essential for making a good recommendation for a long range caliber.

Know whether or not you reload and what kind of budget constraints you have will also help individuals make appropriate recommendations. Do you have any problem with wildcats. How important is a flat trajectory (in other words is maximum point blank range important)?

Depending upon your platform the 7mm Remington Magnum can be an excellent long range cartridge.

I know people that look at 500m as long when Elk hunting.

That would include me.

Here are some general recommendations.

Starter rifle punching paper out to 1000 yards 308.

Excellent low recoil paper puncher out to 1000 yards: 6.5-284, 6.5-06.

Higher energy general purpose...good for paper beyond 1000 and good for long range hunting. 7mm Remington Mag, 30-338 Winchester, 300 Win Mag.

Real long range high energy rounds...338 Lapua, 50 BMG.

Long range hunting rounds for Deer sized game...25-06, 257 Weatherby, 6.5 Sweede, 264 Winchester Magnum, 270 Winchester, and 270 Winchester Short mag.

Long range big game calibers with a very flat trajectory could include the 264 Winchester Magnum, 270 Winchester Short Mag, 270 Weatherby, 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm Weatherby, 7mm STW, 7mm RUM, 300 Winchester, 300 Weatherby, 300 RUM, 340 Weatherby.

This list is not inclusive I left out a number of great rounds that are either specialized or proprietary, and a great number of other calibers will work depending upon your percieved needs, your skill, your chosen platform, and to a great extent the situation around the hunt.

Let us know what you intend to do....Good luck.

 

[trstafford]

The 7mm was made for long range it was used to win 1000 yd competition at Wimbeldon. If you are going to step up there isn't that much difference to 300 win mag, step on up to the 338 win mag it is also good at long ranges I have owned both and bath are great. IMHO