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Long range shooting

16K views 52 replies 29 participants last post by  BKeith 
#1 ·
Is there such a thing as: 1. Best caliber for up to 500 yards 2. Best caliber for 500 to 1000 yards.

Shooting paper only.
 
#3 ·
I would say, no and no. There are several for each that will shoot equally as well. The reason the .308 is popular is because it has been tested in every which way up and down so there is a plethera of info out there on them.

Both listed above are good choices. Others may be:
500 yards: .243 Win, .260 Rem, 6X284, 6.5X284, 6.5X47, etc.
100 yards: .300 WM, .308 Norma, 6.5X284, 338 Lapua etc.... etc...

Just a couple off the top of my head that I would shoot if I were in competition. JMO.

I love shooting my 7mm Mag out to 500+.

Just shot my .220 swift a few weeks back at 550 yards to double check POI. shot a nice little 5 shot group, never measured it, but was around 6-7" with quite a gust. Getting it all warmed up for coyote hunting! :D
 
#6 ·
I love shooting my 7mm Mag out to 500+.
Comparing cartridges, and bullets, Velocities, BC's, etc. the 7RM is actually very close to the ballistic equal of the .300 Weatherby. All it lacks is a few grains of bullet weight.

Is it pretty much the same out to 1000 yds?

The longest range I have access to with a bench is 300yds. That isn't far enough to find a difference.
 
#8 ·
I just went to as many manufatures websites as I could and looked at thier ballistics charts. Of course this will not do you justice if you load your own rounds but if you scan around to sights like (fusion) for eg only you can go through the list and see how every grain and calibre drops at 500 yards and they have a table you can download to give you estimates. I think it goes up to a 1000 yards. Ultimately it will have to be your choice in the end as to what cal. you want. Everyone has thier favorite and have more then likely proven thier gun. I have a lot of respect for the guys on here and take thier opinion like it was coming from my dad. Research is the key and you will find what you are looking for.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Sorry but I have to disagree with the rifle being number one priority.

The finest rifle in the world is no better than an averarge good rifle if the person squeezing the trigger doesn't have the skills it takes to shoot 1,000 yds. People shoot 1,000 yd targets with a 223 in a lot of cross wind and do very well hitting their targets.

When you start getting out past 500 yds, shooting moves up to a whole different skill level. I have a 14 year old granddaughter that shoots extremely well out to 400yds. She does ok at 500 yds, she's tried 600 a couple of times but gotten discouraged each time and moved back to 400. She gets mad with herself, gripes and complains about how she don't understand why she don't miss at 400 but can hardley hit anything at 600. Before asking, it's not her rifle, she's using a custom built 260 that I can easily shoot 1,000 yds.

Another thing is the loads, a load that will shot bug holes at 100 yds may not hit a clay target at 400. A load that shoot's 2" groups at 400 yds may not groups with a darn at 100. If you're going to shoot long range, you build loads that group at long range, not 100yds. I shoot 100yds to get a general idea of what I want to work with, but then I shoot 400/500 yd ladder test to develope the load to use.
 
#13 ·
I'd vote for the shooter with a rifle and cartridge that he knows. Billy Dixon did a right creditable job with a Sharps and a tang sight, at the battle of Adobe Walls. Some of the fellas during WWI with Springfields corrected the thinking of a fair number of Huns, way out yonder.
When I was younger I had two rifles, a 243 Browning Safari grade Sako and a 25-06 Mark X. I hunted groundhogs with both. I got jaded and refused to shoot critters closer then 300 yards. (Guess-timated distance).
There's the old saying "Beware of the fellow who owns one firearm, most likely he knows how to use it."..
Jim
 
#15 ·
I'd go with a fast twist .223 to be honest. The barrel will last a long time, recoil will be quite manageable, and shooters are doing amazing things with them at Camp Perry.

By the time it's worn out, then the shooter can go on to the next great thing.

Just don't want to have to lug a 20 pound rifle around the firing line!
 
#19 ·
BKeith - I just want to clarify that neither I or anyone else said the rifle was the No. 1 priority, just that it was more important than the cartridge. I will agree that the skill of the shooter is the No. 1 priority though.

My Grandpa always said you don't use a tape measure for a micrometer's job.
 
#21 ·
When competing at 1000 yards or more for me, the cartridge would be just as important as the rifle I choose. Especially because i'd be loading my own ammo and competing against others who are doing the same.

I wouldn't show up to an F-Class match with a rifle I thought was awesome in a cartridge I knew nothing about.
 
#25 ·
Depends on the weight allowed for the gun. An 8 or 9 pound rifle in one of the ultra-whatever magnums isn't going to be fun at all. If you can shoot a 20 pound or better yet, 50 pound rail gun, then the cartridge selection is much less critical.

That is why the f-class guys are using smaller cartridges than the bench rest shooters.
 
#26 ·
Here is something from the F-Class rules

OFFICIAL F-CLASS RULES


F-Class has two categories: F-T/R & F-Open.
Both are fired from the prone position.
Briefly, the rules are as follows:


F-T/R


Caliber limited to .223 or .308 (unmodified).
Sling and/or bipod allowed.
Rifle weight limit of 8.25 kgs (approx. 18.18 lbs).

For more information on FTR rules and shooting, please visit the U.S. FTR Team's website at http://www.usftrclass.com/home.htm


F-Open


Caliber limit of .35 and under.
Rifle weight of 10 kgs (approx. 22 lbs.).
Adjustable front rest allowed.
Rear bag allowed.
Rail guns not allowed.
3" wide forend.
Rifle must be shouldered when fired.
Tables are prohibited.

For precise F-class rules, please visit the NRA website at http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-index.pdf

If you see the F- class open used looks like a BR match except they shoot prone and shoot for Score instead of groups.

http://usfclass.com/gallery-of-guns.aspx

Here a rifle F-Class on concrete

http://usfclass.com/gallery-of-guns.aspx?gun=12

Here a picture of an open F-Class record setting rifle

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek088.html

Don't get me wrong F-Class is growing.
 
#28 ·
The .30 cal holds the record because you can get the best bullets and barrels in that size. And, you can get the best bullets and barrels because that's what people commonly shoot and that is where the demand is.....

Circular, I know, but that's how the market works. If the demand was for the most accurate .29 or .34 caliber projectiles, that's what eventually we'd get.
 
#29 ·
I disagree that the .308 is the best 1000 yard caliber, and I find it unfortunate that all the top-of-line Savage target rifles come in either .308 Win or .308 Palma. I'd like to start seeing some production target rifles in 264 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm RUM, and .270 WSM. I'm happy to see Savage introduce for 2011 the model 12 LRP rifle in .260 Rem and 6.5 Creedmore. I hope they continue their caliber expansion in their target line.
 
#31 ·
here something to look at

http://www.pa1000yard.com/wo/wostandings.php?year=2010&cls=Light+Gun&grsc=Overall&send=Submit


http://www.pa1000yard.com/wo/wostandings.php?year=2010&cls=Heavy+Gun&grsc=Overall&send=Submit

Guy can set a world small group record and never win a match. They will get small group of that relay it happend to McMillian when he shot the smallest groups ever in BR and that record still stands today.

Now for the guys that don't think much of the WSM look at these results

http://www.pa1000yard.com/results/toplists.php?cls=2+Gun&grsc=Group&topct=100&year=2010


In our part of the country alot of the 1000yd shooters have switched over to the 6 Dasher and I have to admit the east coast has some of the best 1000yd gunsmith.
 
#38 ·
Hi Jim,

I really can't comment on that, but what I can tell you is this. Target shooting is not a poor man's hobby, and target shooters don't seem to care much about barrel burnout (although I do!) A very good friend of mine, who is an international award winning target shooter told me once that a barrel is a wear part, and so is a firing pin, and the breaks on your truck, and it needs to be replaced, more than once. He's got barrels lying around everywhere. That's why I buy Savages...easy to change barrels.
 
#34 ·
Greetigs Arkypete,

There is another saying (not so old) which states " beware of the fella who owns a bunch of guns cause he knows how to shoot em all."

Just an old Okie expression.
Top of the morning Moondog.

Family hails from Caddo and Beaver counties.
There are many fellas with lots of guns and can't shoot any very well. There's a few fellas that can shoot most any gun they get a hold of, very well. Me, I can only shoot one gun well and it's the one that is currently tickling my fancy.
When I was planning my 'plains game hunt' cancelled because of the current economic down turn, I practiced most every weekend with my Wincheater 1886 and 95, and got fairly good with them.
Now I'm practicing with a couple of AR10s and getting fairly good with them.
I'm not not able to keep the fine edge without constant practice. My wife tells me I can't multi task.

jim
 
#35 ·
Greetings MPN,

Good article on the 6.5 calibers. Being a poor Okie, I can not afford to have a custom barrel put on my gun. Consequently, I end up with what the manufactures produce for the shelf. However, I have high hopes that the factory reps spend time looking at sites like this one to get the feel for what the customer wants. I would surely like to see one of them chamber the 6.5-06 or the 6.5-55. I am not interested in a target rifle, but would like a shooter for the average shooter.
 
#37 ·
Yeah I can't afford those rifles either, at least not right now. I've wanted a 6.5 Swede for awhile. Almost went with a CZ 550 but didn't like the slow twist they have on it. Savage will chamber any of their models in whatever caliber you want provided it fits in the action. You'll pay about 100 bucks more and have to wait about 2 months though.
 
#36 ·
Greetings Arkypete,

Happy to be on the site, and I am enjoying the reading of it as well. Had a bear in the pasture yesterday, so I have been keeping a close eye on my stock. I will go out later to gather some firewood with my marlin 45-70 just in case it is still hanging around.

Always did have a weakness for the winchester.
 
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