best caliber for 2,000 yard competition

The US military decided that the average rifle squad was more effective by accurately delivering rounds on target with a 5.56mm rifle than the heavier recoiling 7.62 platforms. Barrel Life on the .243 can range anywhere from 1,500 rounds to 3,000. When buying precision off-the-shelf ammo, most of the time you will not have the luxury of thumbing through several different BCs of the same caliber and ammo manufacturer. History: The .224 Valkyrie was the child of an experiment by Federal in 2017 to reach into the 1,000-yard competition circuit (which was dominated by the .30 caliber class cartridges) with a small .22 caliber projectile. But these niche cartridges are expensive (to put it mildly) to shoot and build guns for and arent practical for everyday shooters.For shooting out to 1,000 yards, the 6mm Creedmoor is about ideal. Thread starter Schw15; Start date Nov 30, 2019; Forums. Muzzle Velocity: Using the 140gr ELD Match, 2,750 fps. But advancements in projectile technology coupled with the .223/5.56s extremely low-recoil characteristics have vaulted it to dominance. Ryan Cheney behind the rifle he used to set a record 4,137-yard shot in competition. Another ballistic value that has importance is the Remaining Energy (RE) of the round at any given range. I still think this cartridge might be a bit on the wildcat side of the market (expensive to shoot and a barrel burner). Barrel Life: Because projectile options can range anywhere from 120gr to 230gr, projectile weights and MVs vary greatly. While it uses the same case-head dimensions as the .30-06 and .308 cartridge families, the 6.5 Creedmoors direct ancestor is the .30 TC. A rifle's precision depends on the tightness of the groupings it shoots or the MOA (Minute of Angle) it holds. They wanted a superior hunting and LR cartridge with similar trajectories as the .300 WM, but with less powder use and recoil. The components for reloading are also readily available. 500m: 2,621 ft-lbs. 6.5 PRC. The first time I fired the .300NM I was blown away. The shape of the football does not allow sustained flight if the ball is thrown end over end. Without a muzzle brake or suppressor, the .338 Lapua Magnum offers a challenging recoil experience. 500m: 2,364 ft-lbs. Not to mention guys that still compete with and collect old military surplus riflesI see the .30-06 sticking around for a good while longer. Sierras 80-grain MatchKing is a profoundly good choice for extreme-range shooting with the .223/5.56, a fact borne out by a glance at a list of National Match winners. All in all, pick something that will be pleasant for you to shoot over and over. Thats what makes older cartridges like the .260 great. At least a dozen or more superb match loads are available from Hornady, Federal, Barnes, Nosler, Winchester, American Eagle, SIG Sauer and a plethora of smaller boutique ammo companies. Learn More . The projectile still punched through steel at one mile! Luckily, Steve Ream and Rusty Newton worked together to spot for me, and brought me onto the plate to make a fourth-round impact. While there are exceptions, the best of these are too long to feed through the magazine of the M16-type, match-tuned service rifles used for these matches and must be single-fed. NRA Women | Is Ballistic Coefficient Irrelevant? My bias steers clear of the wildcat calibers. After going online and getting confused this article oriented me in the right direction(s). You get excellent Long Range performance, with recoil slightly less than the .308 Winchester. Thanks. .338 Lapua is readily available online. The average life will be anywhere from 4,000-7,000 rounds. Before undertaking presumptuous claims such as Im about to make, its worth laying down a few guidelines. It generates about 200 fps more than the 6.5 Creedmoor, providing a bit more oomph for hunters and target shooters who need to go long. Mag., while having to put up with significantly less recoil. Like the .308 Winchester, ammo availability and reloading components are everywhere. When thinking of muzzle velocity, a faster round is not always better. Some compare it to the .260 or 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5x47mm Lapua is known to be very accurate. Surprisingly due to the case volume to bore area ratio, barrel life is impressive for a cartridge of this size. The ammo was considerably lighter, meaning the rifles could be lighter. Clearly, the rise in popularity of 6.5 mm cartridges, which was inspired by the 6.5 Creedmoor, has driven MSR shooters wanting to experience ballistic nirvana to the Grendel. Mag. This caliber has even won military contracts from SOCOM in 2017, which I specifically took part in. One needs look no further than how the 6.5 Creedmoor and its kin have fared in precision rifle competitions, winning time and again when the shots are on small targets at 1,000 yards or more. Anecdotally, PRS shooters are having to change barrels once per year. The calibers up for debate will be: .223/5.56mm, .224 Valkyrie, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Grendel, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), 6.5x47mm Lapua, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, and the .338 Norma Magnum. A new .244 Valkyrie 90-gr Sierra Matchking projectile yields a 0.563 ballistic coefficient. Recoil Condition: With more case volume than a .308 and firing the same grain weight bullet, the .30-06 will have more felt recoil than a .308. Because it uses aerodynamically efficient 6.5mm bullets it has outstanding downrange capabilities. After the film it skyrocketed to stardom. All of these factors will ultimately decide if you will be sticking with ole reliable the .308 Winchester or reaching deeper into your pockets for the new and improved .300 Norma Magnum. His favorite caliber at the time for LR competition shooting was the 6.5CM. What is your mission? The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. If you are already familiar with shooting sports the cartridge you use has a lot to do with personal preference. Tons of different build options exist and the knowledge pool to learn from is immense. I think this cartridge will prove useful to the long range community in the future. quickly established itself as a go-to hunting round for Western big game and international hunting. For those lucky enough to be able to own and fire a .338 rifle, you know what I mean. The two most common BCs used are G1 and G7 below: If you notice the G7 profile has a more streamlined design. Prior, only dedicated .338 Lapua Magnum receivers could handle the round. This website is not affiliated with the United States Marine Corps, and the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Marine Corps as a whole. Because projectile options can range anywhere from 120gr to 230gr, projectile weights and MVs vary greatly. You can certainly find uppers to piece onto your AR-10 lower. 1,000m: 1,287 ft-lbs. Currently, G1 through G8 and GL is the only mathematical models to express BCs. Barrel length will also change average MVs. And since it uses the ever-popular 6.5 projectiles, components are relatively cheap. Its pinpoint accuracy makes it deadly on these animals to 500 yards and more. I heavily recommend this caliber to those out there who want magnum performance without magnum recoil. | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Should You Carry Your Gun With an Empty Chamber? The average price per round is $1.75. Keep your gear handy when it's not on your belt. The ammo was considerably lighter, meaning the rifles could be lighter. You have so much faith that your round will hit your target. This also means barrel life will vary greatly. Expect that to change as ammunition manufacturers start to get a handle on the current ammunition shortage and catch up with the times. It is a totally surreal feeling.. Also, experience firing large bore calibers is advised. There are plenty of factory guns and ammunition to choose from, and it is an easy cartridge to reload. I personally shoot a .338 Edge, and I am not at all upset it did not make the list. Because it shoots a much lighter bullet about 300 fps faster than its parent, recoil is much lighter, trajectory is flatter and wind drift is equal or less. MVs range from 2,500 fps (130gr projectile) to 2,880 fps (90gr projectile). When firing with the .300NM at 1,000m, you get that same feeling. In the case of the Valkyrie, the magazine length it was built to was that of the AR-15. As a candidate for the best overall long-range caliber. The 6 mm Creedmoor will not quite equal .243 Winchester muzzle velocities, but because of its specified 1:7.5-inch twist rate, it will handle more aerodynamic bullets, which makes it perform better at distance. And the AR-10 was designed SPECIFICALLY for the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO. The 6.5 Creedmoor has made a name for being one of the best overall performing and versatile calibers for the Long Range market. It would serve as the main infantry cartridge for over 60 years, before being replaced by the 7.62x51mm NATO. MOA vs MRAD Rifle Scopes Which is Best for Long Range? In the future, maybe the Over .30 Cal Club will find some traction in the AR- world. No other caliber on this list can perform more universally across multiple systems than the .308. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. G1 BC: .563 G7 BC: .274. A BC number can be represented in several different, values or standards. Almost all wildcat (a round that is not mass-producedusually strictly custom hand-loaded) chambered rifles have to be hand-built by very niche gunsmiths who specialize in Long Range precision rifles. 500m: 2,755 ft-lbs. I fear that is about all this round is targeted for. Muzzle Velocity: MV values for the .224 vary from 2,700 fps (90 grain projectiles) to 3,400 fps (60 grain projectiles). However, with the 6CM being available in more modern builds, devices like muzzle brakes and suppressors (that are not found on most .243 rifles), will make for an even more pleasant recoil experience from the 6CM. Picking the top six cartridges for any discipline is akin to shimmying out on a branch and then rasping away on it with a pruning saw. Much less than a .308, the 6.5 Lapua is pushing a much lighter bullet than the .308 at similar speeds. G1 BC: .563 G7 BC: .274. Projectile manufacturers are even still making their high-end rounds in .243. Barrel Life. The owner of this website does not guarantee offers on this site, and all offers should be viewed as recommendations only. Sig Cross Rifle 14. There is no one-size-fits all answer when it comes to the best long-range calibers. Recoil Condition: Getting into the magnum calibers, recoil is going to be noticeably more than the .308 Winchester. All in all, if I had to make the same pick in the same fashion as the author, AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I would pick the 6mm Creedmoor simply for the availability of ammo and brass, reasonably long trans sonic range, ease of loading accurately (forgiveness factor). For the reloading enthusiasts, this gives another round to be excited for. No. Ballistic Co-Efficient: The 123 ELD Match will be used G1: 0.506 G7: 0.255, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,065 ft-lbs 500m: 943 ft-lbs 1,000m: 357 ft-lbs 1,500m: 225 ft-lbs. Muzzle: 2,158 ft-lbs 500m: 1,047 ft-lbs 1,000m: 436 ft-lbs 1,500m: 222 ft-lbs. Minimal. Reloading components can be found nearly anywhere. At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Long Range Calibers in 2022. I would expect to see 6,000-8,000+. With more case volume than a .308 and firing the same grain weight bullet, the .30-06 will have more felt recoil than a .308. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. .308 Winchester. Cross-Platform Use: This cartridge can be found in semi-auto AR-style rifles. History: Created in 2007 by a ballistics team from Hornady, the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed as an improved Long Range target cartridge, based on the .308 Winchester .30 TC (Thompson Center). In his spare time, he is an avid gun collector, hunter, and outdoorsman. The cartridge Stinnett used is nearly as surprising as the group he shot. Expect to see about 2,500 round barrel life. If that describes you, then definitely give this caliber another look, because its performance rocks. Thats what happened with Norma. Again, as most wildcat rounds are concerned, barrel life will not be great. Too much felt recoil can build bad habits like target flincheven for experienced shooters. Because the 6.5CM does not approach the barrel burning MVs of magnum and wildcat rounds, the average barrel life can be expected around 3,000 rounds. Thats not a problem since the long-range stages are slow-fire. You can expect an average of 4,000 to 10,000 rounds of sustained accuracy. However, the 6.5 Lapua and .308 Winchester do share the same bolt face. No other caliber on this list can perform more universally across multiple systems than the .308. I also love that this cartridge can be fired from standard Long-Action receivers. Most modern shooters are very familiar with the AR-15 design. ), neither of which is conducive to good accuracy. For the reloading enthusiasts, this gives another round to be excited for. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 4,677 ft-lbs. A 6.5 PRC build certainly will not be cheap, so if you are a beginner or limited on budget, this is not the caliber for you. Average price per round at $2.25. That includes the 6 Dasher, 6 GT, 6 BRA, and 6 BRX, along with the 6.5mm and 6mm Creedmoors. Im not going to dive too deep into terminal ballistics for the purpose of this article. This cartridge chambered three iconic US Service weapons; the 1903 Springfield rifle, M1 Garand, and the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). But isnt that what makes it awesome? That includes numerous elk, and more deer than I can remember. A line can be drawn in the sand between the .30 cal class projectiles and the .338 and larger. Overall Practicality: I argue that you will not find a more practical Long Range caliber in this list. To put that in perspective, seven-thousands of an inch is the equivalent thickness of two sheets of paper. With available projectiles ranging from 40 grains up to 90, MVs could also range from 3400 to 2600 fps. Ammo Availability: Several factory loads do exist on the market today. Shooting a 180-grain bullet (.507 G1 BC) at 2,960 fps and sighted in 1.5 inches high at 100 yards, the .300 Win. Muzzle Velocity is also a value that is never constant. You may see something like this: 6.5mm 140-grain VLD G1 BC: 0.593 G7 BC: 0.304. Over 100 ft-lbs difference! Cross-Platform Use: Few AR-10s exist that can fire the .300WM. One cartridge needs to be crowned the most accurate and it just happens to be one youve probably never heard of. Hornady designed the 6.5 PRC for use in a bolt-gun. Mag. The average price per round will be around $2.00. Initial Thoughts: Again, this round is such a classic. The two most common BCs used are G1 and G7 below: If you notice the G7 profile has a more streamlined design. Cross-Platform Use: To date, the .300 NM will be a bolt action system only. History: What a cool story herethe Norma Magnum comes to us as an improvement on the Lapua Magnum. Reloading is also expensive because the brass isnt cheap. are tough to beat. All in all, if you are new to the LR community and have an heirloom .243 in the family and that is it, re-barrel it and work on fundamentals. No one can deny how terrific a .300 WM performs at extended range. 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