And while that pokey 300 grain 338 Lapua round drops quite a bit compared to the others in the list, its carrying a lot of energy: enough to take a deer at 1775 yards. For the average shooter looking to get into Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the smaller guys. I would think this data is slightly skewed unless the bullets are shot out of the same length of barrels and the same practices of reloading. Either way it is flexible for your mission. The flattest-shooting popular rifle cartridge at 1,000 yards is the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, followed by the .26 Nosler, the .28 Nosler, the .22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. Know your trajectory curve and nail the shot distance with a range finder and you can offset huge rates of drop. It hits hard and flies flat and straight. In fact, I argue that the effective range of .308 on deer is 300 yards. It is a product of natural selection and evolutionthe best features of several classic LR rounds fused into one. Just want to extend my sincere gratitude to you for all of the hard work, time, and incredible effort that you put into this, and so many other endeavors that you have undertaken to give us so much useful information and education, and doing so in a carefully detailed and professional manner! This is especially important to those of you who reload and can tailor a custom load for your rifle. That changed in 1997 when Remington standardized many 6.5 wildcats based on the .308 Winchester. G1 BC: .563 G7 BC: .274. Overall Practicality: The .260 isnt too informationally unavailable to offer a great learning caliber to the average new shooter. This caliber thrived in the late 20th Century and has since stayed for a reason. I was so familiar with how those rounds acted in high crosswinds and how they performed through Transonic. Additionally, it won't kick the snot of you when you touch one off. In this topic, I have to admit a certain level of bias. Overall Practicality: For the Long Range hunting community, I would argue that the .30-06 still has a place in this world. I had to calculate this one out, as Weatherbys ballistics charts dont go past 500 yards. Just curious if you included the 300 Norma or maybe I missed it. Century and has since stayed for a reason. Ammo Availability: Due to the popularity of the cartridge, 6.5CM ammo can be found almost anywhere. It provides whats needed for the mind to persuade itself and make a decision. This is one of the most informative articles I have read on calibers. For the Top 5 you have listed, what manufacturers offer a complete rifle in those calibers? Using Berger 140gr VLD projectiles G1: 0.593 G7: 0.304, Muzzle: 2,266 ft-lbs 500m: 1,174 ft-lbs 1,000m: 535 ft-lbs 1,500m: 296 ft-lbs. Barrel Life: As with other magnum cartridges, the average barrel life is expected at 1,500-2,000 rounds. Its just physics. Recoil Condition: Getting into the magnum calibers, recoil is going to be noticeably more than the .308 Winchester. I realize that you looked at several different loads for each cartridge to figure out which one was the flattest shooting. Most .243 rifles are chambered in older, wooden sporting stocks like the Winchester Model 70 and older Remington 700s. All in all, this caliber is excellent for those of you who do not have the time, money, or training to dive into 1000m+ shooting. As for targeting game at extreme distances, yes, I realize there are thousands of dedicated, well-trained long range shooters who are as good at 1,000 yards as many of us are at 500 yards and some of us at 200 yards. However, in the 1000-yard game, many different calibers can win. again. Sadly, a .300 NM barrel will only live to 1,200-1,500 rounds. Thanks again. Very bad if shooting light bullets, not that great if shooting the heavier projectiles. Cross-Platform Use: .300 PRC is strictly a bolt action caliber at the moment. The .224 Valkyrie takes the benefits from the .223 and extends its range performance drastically. bullet 12 inches at 500 yards, a low B.C. Just like anything in life, each caliber you pick will have a list of pros and cons. What are the best long-range cartridges: .22-250 Remington .308 Winchester .300 Winchester Magnum .338 Lapua Magnum .300 Weatherby Magnum 6.5 Creedmoor 6.5-284 Norma 26 Nosler Hunters and shooters should also know that wind deflection of bullets is a more challenging part of hitting what you shoot at than is drop. Read more. Misjudging a 5mph crosswind as 8mph will make a 5.3 difference at 500yd with my favorite varmint load (BC0.400/MV3,400). By the way, while the 6.5-300 has been on the market just five years, Roy was shooting it in the mid-20th century. Im going to set a restrictive definition on common and only include cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. Ammo Availability: Again, being one of the forefathers of the Long Range shooting community, .308 is found everywhere. Average price per round$1.00. MPBR with a 150-grain spire point from a 308 Winchester might extend to 317 yards on an 8-inch target while a 300 RUM might push that same bullet to 373 yards. Was sad to not see the .300 H&H Magnum, though I doubt it would measure much different than the .300 Win Mag. Overall Practicality: Unless you are a military sniper, this round has almost zero practicality. To take the 6.5CM and add MV to the equation, pure joy happens. And since it uses the ever-popular 6.5 projectiles, components are relatively cheap. The .308 Win case has a nice even powder burn and has readily available brass for reloading. This is the favorite child of modern cartridge design. You can build a .223 rifle in almost any rifle action. Tactical-Life. Good work mate. Sniper teams were already comfortable with the way a 308 performed. Its just human nature to celebrate and admire the biggest, bestest, and flattest. No other caliber on this list can perform more universally across multiple systems than the .308. This also means barrel life will vary greatly. It is meant for the traditional long-range projectile; featuring a long, slender ogive and a boat-tail rear end. Yep, me too. A column writer for Outdoor Life wanted to do a piece on how to design a wildcat cartridge. If buying online, you are looking to spend at least $2.20 per round. A .308 would need about 7-8 mils to match that. The research is out there if you need it. With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the recoil is definitely manageable. Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. With the popularity of this cartridge . 1,000m: 437 ft-lbs. 1,000m: 585 ft-lbs. I was surprised at the distance, so I asked my PH Thats just 155 yards? He got a stunned look on his face and said, No, TWO hundred fifty-five yards! Our miscommunication during the shot sequence didnt matter a bit, because I was shooting a .28 Nosler, which put the shot only 2.8 low at that distance. Love it Jim ! Right now, shooters are obsessed with flat-shooting rifle cartridges. No one can deny how terrific a .300 WM performs at extended range. Getting into the magnum calibers, recoil is going to be noticeably more than the .308 Winchester. Being developed in 2017, most ammo is going to come from reloading. Not to mention the custom actions and several Tier One barrel manufacturers available to create your own custom rifle. For example a 308 dropping 429 at 1000 yards is ridiculous, thats 10 meters! For the average shooter looking to get into Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the smaller guys. They will also fit any .308 Winchester bolt face; meaning that to obtain a 6.5CM, all you need to do is swap a barrel, making this cartridge extremely modular across bolt and gas guns. You will not impress anyone serious in the Long Range community by selecting the largest bore LR caliber if you cant properly mitigate and control the recoil of your system. 1,000m: 1,345 ft-lbs. Thank you for the time it took to work all this data up in an easy to absorb article, where are you getting your information for the bullet drop? 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. Please look into it. Just remember, when choosing your Long Range cartridge, every metric counts and affects overall performance. All 6mm projectiles are notorious for extremely fast throat erosion. A lot can actually affect the observed recoil of a Long Range rifle. Including the transonic range and barrel life plus the cost of ammunition was incredibly detailed and much appreciated I couldnt stop reading the article I will hit all the way to the end without stopping. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. However, I cant jump fully on board until more bolt action options are available. So for those of you seeking a bolt-gun build, keep in mind that your standard factory options will be very limited. Also, no mention of the .375 & .408 Chey Tac, the 416 Barrett, and of course the .50 BMG. What Ive done with this deep dive review is use the highest Handloading Manual velocities Ive discovered, trusting that you, gentle reader, will understand that your mileage may vary. Using the US Militarys XM1163, MV: 2,940 fps, 230gr Berger Hybrid OTM Tactical G1: 0.717 G7: 0.368, Muzzle: 4,414 ft-lbs. Get the gist? Sportsman could use the same rifle used for groundhogs and coyotes, as for deer. The goal was to standardize a wildcat cartridge that married the .338 Winchester Magnum and the .375 H&H Magnum. Because it was used in the Civil War, the term "flattest" is not an exact description. Ammo Availability: Because this cartridge is so new, ammo prices are going to be high. Any shooter of any age can comfortably shoot the Valkyrie without feeling recoil fatigue. Muzzle velocity is somewhere around the 2800 2900 range with 26 barrel. to maintain sustained Long Range flight. Ammo can be found at most sporting goods stores. Definitely a great overall cartridge for any skill range in the Long Range shooting community. Beyond extending your range with a rifle in defense of your home, developing the skills of a long-range shooter will increase your skillset in other shooting disciplines, from marksmanship and breath control to reloading ammunition. Even though primarily technical, it somehow makes a very enjoyable and mentally stimulating read. Wont do that again. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: .260 Remington (130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM Tactical) Preferred Rifle And Optic: AR with a 16- or 18-inch barrel with a 1-in-7-inch twist rate, along with a variable-power scope utilizing a first-focal-plane Horus Tremor2 or Tremor3 reticle Why? Barnes, Hornady, Federal, and Berger all make loads ranging from $0.60-$1.30 per round. Finding barrel life data can be tricky, especially for a round that has only been alive for 3 years. I will do my best to adequately describe what can be felt. Hornady designed the 6.5 PRC for use in a bolt-gun. By using the same overall magazine length dimension, the 6.5 could still use the STANAG (NATO dimension) magazine pattern. Great work here. Take the Lapua and shorten the case so it can be fired from a standard Long Action. Ammo Availability: .338 Lapua is readily available online. 6mm vs. 6.5mm vs. Big 30s In 100/200 yard Benchrest shooting, the 6PPC is pretty much king of the hill. He is also a passionate supporter of the Second Amendment. Some states and cities outlaw the 50 BMG, as do a number of rifle ranges. I would also give a nod to the 6mm ARC, as I am seeing more of this on shelves. Basically, whatever. While heavier bullets at low speed dont shoot as flat, they do carry energy further generally. A .270 Win is one of the flattest shooting rifles that won't beat you silly, but it still drops over three feet at 500 yds (and don't forget wind drift; it's easily =/< to drop, always a big factor). And they can change in your rifle and will change at different velocities. The .300 PRC delivers phenomenal Long Range performance. 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