The .300 WSM steals the performance of a .300 WM and transforms down to a short-action rifle. Programs like Applied Ballistics (by far the best) can easily chart out in a spreadsheet-like format, all sorts of information important to long range shooters. Most modern shooters are very familiar with the AR-15 design. The 123 ELD Match will be used G1: 0.506 G7: 0.255, Muzzle: 2,065 ft-lbs 500m: 943 ft-lbs 1,000m: 357 ft-lbs 1,500m: 225 ft-lbs. Everything from 22 to 50-caliber is used, with the big bores in their own class. As a candidate for the best overall long range caliber? Not many production rifles exist in a budget option. If I was building a rifle on this caliber, I would expect to look at bolt-only options. Initial Thoughts: This cartridge will always hold a special place in my heart. Initial Thoughts: I really like the 6.5 Lapua for seasoned bolt-gun competition shooters. Cross-Platform Use: Unfortunately being such an older caliber, new-age tactical guys will not see this cartridge in many platforms. Being detail-oriented most benchrest shooters hand craft their cartridges meticulously. Barrel length will also change average MV’s. Muzzle: 3,819 ft-lbs. The .338 Lapua comes to us in the 80’s as an extreme Long-Range rifle caliber intended to extend the snipers’ capabilities in desert and mountainous terrain. Incredible mid to long range performance. 1,000m: 437 ft-lbs. Very bad if shooting light bullets, not that great if shooting the heavier projectiles. Almost all wildcat (a round that is not mass-produced…usually strictly custom hand-loaded) chambered rifles have to be hand built by very niche gunsmiths who specialize in Long Range precision rifles. Hi I am new to the 1000 yard shooting with 300 win mags and I would like to know what load would be best and the speed I would be looking at and projectile. Take your time, watch some videos, and use the above parameters to make your decision. This allows ogive contact with the rifling, pushing the bullet into the case making for consistent chambering of the round and the bullet in the throat of the chamber. The higher the BC number, the more aerodynamic and better performing the projectile will be. Cross-Platform Use: In the future, maybe the “Over .30 Cal Club” will find some traction in the AR- world. Basically, whatever Gx model used, will be the standard bullet profile shape to compare off of. BUT, just keep in mind that sticking to one caliber, and being able to use that caliber in multiple systems does have advantages. So like the 6.5 Creedmoor, if you have a .308, you can have two calibers in one rifle action with a new barrel. 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. Basically, if you click on a product link on this site and buy that product we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cross-Platform Use: This case was designed to be used out of the AR platform for PRS (Precision Rifle Series) matches. Muzzle Velocity is also a value that is never constant. 1. It has less case volume, traditionally firing a heavier bullet…BUT still retains energy over range better and maintains a longer Transonic Range than its bigger brother. Again, as most wildcat rounds are concerned, barrel life will not be great. Several factory loads do exist on the market today. Ammo Availability: Several factory loads do exist on the market today. You most likely will have to compromise on certain aspects. I’m not going to dive too deep down that rabbit-hole, or even techniques to help. The rifle is my primary backcountry gun for deer, elk, bear and whatever else I think I may need to hunt. 600 yard and 1000 yard are 2 different games.at 600 alot of guys are using 6mm's,6 dasher,6br,6brx,exc.these cals hold records at 600 and win alot.in my opion these are not 1000 calibers unless you shoot were there is not much wind.when the chips are down and the wind is blowing these cals do not usally win at a1000 unless driven by a very good shooter.at a 1000 i would go with … The .308 is no different. Basically the “best caliber or round” may be good for everything, but not great for anything in particular. Maximum effective range is out to 1,200 yards, and the round really comes into its own at 800 to 1,000. Is one of the best Calibers out there. Muzzle Velocity: Firing a 300gr SMK, MV: 2,650 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: 300gr SMK, G1: 0.747 G7: 0.383. Anecdotally, PRS shooters are having to change barrels once per year. History: The Great Grandfather of them all…the .30-06 (thirty ought six) is the oldest cartridge on this list. Initial Thoughts: A good judge of success of a caliber is how long it has been relevant. Jim was shooting the small 6mm Dasher cartridge with 105gr Berger bullets. Recoil Condition: Now getting up into the .30 cal plus magnum rounds, the recoil will noticeably greater than the .308 Winchester. The market has followed. All rights reserved. One of the newer cartridges on the list, the .300 PRC comes to us from Hornady in 2018. Initial Thoughts: The .223 Remington offers an excellent choice for the novice weekend warrior who has limited distance range facilities. The projectile designed specifically for Long Range shooting is the 90 grain Sierra Match King. A pencil barrel and light-weight wooden stock, the .308 can feel pretty sharp. Fellow Deep Creek Shooter Tom Mousel says this should be a new world record. Whats the best calibre rifle for 1000 yard target competition? The Long Range community has been pushing the envelope more and more. A lot of the newer, ultra-flat cartridges take a good deal of reloading knowledge to successfully harness their ability. The 6.5 Creedmoor has made a name for being one of the best overall performing and versatile calibers for the Long Range market. For a rifle platform, this caliber is great for building a highly modular and dynamic set-up. As it passes through Transonic Range, the vapor cone dissipates, leaving the bullet exposed to turbulent, “dirty” air. Overall Practicality: If you had the money to spend on it, and were not needing a semi-auto rifle for competitions, the .300 Norma Magnum is possibly the best performing round on this list. Shortly after leaving the Marine Corps, McMahon became a contractor for the US Army, testing small arms and large caliber weapons for potential military contracts. Are you operating a bolt or gas gun? The bench rest shooting community usually pushes the boundaries and concocts the wildcats. The .308 Win case has a nice even powder burn and has readily available brass for reloading. 500m: 1,123 ft-lbs 1,000m: 394 ft-lbs. Now let’s break down some bullets. Generally, the 6mm to 338’s is the preferred choice. No other caliber on this list can perform more universally across multiple systems than the .308. We all have scores of 5.56 mags laying around…why not beef up that system? While the 6.5mm (0.264) projectile was incredibly popular in Europe, the US in the late ’90s was still stuck on the .30 caliber range. You have so much faith that your round will hit your target. Its LR performance and retained energy will be a great option for taking down larger game at distance. 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. falphil. I would expect to see 6,000-8,000+. You have so much faith that your round will hit your target. The overall intended target range for the 6.5 Grendel was between 200-800 yards. By using the same overall magazine length dimension, the 6.5 could still use the STANAG (NATO dimension) magazine pattern. Ammo Availability: Factory ammunition can be found nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round but as stated before, prices range greatly. Although they exist, it is not very feasible or common to find gas systems that will feed the longer, magnum cartridges (i.e. Most modern shooters are very familiar with the AR-15 design. What a cool story here…the Norma Magnum comes to us as an improvement on the Lapua Magnum. New LR shooters also often skimp on glass and what I see most often is that someone buys a cheap scope so that they can afford other goodies for their rifles. Overall Practicality: This round impresses the hell out of me. Currently, G1 through G8 and GL is the only mathematical models to express BC’s. Multi-platform builds do exist in the .260 Remington. I see this more for the shooter that needs terminal performance. Articles. Especially in the bolt action realm. He is also a passionate supporter of the Second Amendment. When the Remington 700 and similar actions start chambering in .224, I think the caliber will be a viable option for more experienced re-loaders who are seeking a low-recoiling 1,000-yard build. Ammo is available online, however it is not cheap. Bolt gun fans are especially in luck because as of right now, the PRC is very limited in the gas-gun world. I will do my best to adequately describe what can be felt. Plant yourself in post-2015 and you will see an explosion of the 6.5mm family of projectiles, thanks to the 6.5 Creedmoor. Easy and fun to shoot. The big advantage and why the .260 became so popular was that it could easily be necked up or down by using other standard rifle cartridges, making reloading a breeze. The ammo was considerably lighter, meaning the rifles could be lighter. This, generally speaking, means less error due to poor wind judgment will occur when firing long distance. Either way it is flexible for your mission. Cross-Platform Use: We all know that AR-10’s of the past could never keep up in accuracy with a bolt gun. To find the ideal caliber you’ll have to ask yourself a few questions. 30-30 win 94 And 300 Win Mag. Their high muzzle velocity and heavy projectile weights greatly increase erosion of the lands and grooves that make up the barrel rifling. Take the Lapua and shorten the case so it can be fired from a standard Long Action. The biggest drawback to this cartridge is that the rounds are very expensive if bought commercially. With care and discipline, a 6.5 Grendel barrel will outlive a .308. I like the ability to swap barrels on the same action as a .308 or .300…giving you great anti-personnel effects, while also being capable of anti-material mission capabilities with the .338. However, because of the lack of interest in the market, ammo is pretty expensive and interest in the caliber is limited to bench rest shooters. I also love that this cartridge can be fired from standard Long-Action receivers. The lighter 140gr range projectiles don’t enact enough felt energy rearward like the 175gr+ class of projectiles from bigger bores. It has less case volume, traditionally firing a heavier bullet…BUT still retains energy over range better and maintains a longer Transonic Range than its bigger brother. .243 Winchester is still a viable option for most East Coast White Tails and Mid-West Prairie Dogs. This topic of long range calibers is debated across many different disciplines including PRS, Tactical, Military/Law Enforcement, Hunting, etc. Cross-Platform Use: This cartridge can be found in semi-auto AR-style rifles. I am interested to see how the price of such systems will come down and become more readily available to entry to novice level LR shooters. Our discussion will analyze cartridge selection based on the four different F-Class sub-disciplines: Open Mid-Range, … Very modular across nearly any rifle system. I think everyone should have one as a 30-06. Due to its age and relevance today, the .308 has proven itself for over 65 years! I think this cartridge will prove useful to the long range community in the future. Initial Thoughts: This caliber excites me for several reasons. This caliber filled a very necessary rule in the combat space. That being said, there are plenty of commercial options, but the price will be much higher than standard cartridges. As with MV, .223 projectiles vary greatly. The research is out there if you need it. Tons of different build options exist and the knowledge pool to learn from is immense. History: The .300 Winchester Magnum was developed in 1963 by Winchester itself. After seeing such success with its flagship cartridge, Hornady wanted to take the Creedmoor to the next level. It is meant for the traditional long range projectile; featuring a long, slender ogive and a boat-tail rear end. Fast magnum cartridges are a good place to start, however, speed is not the only thing you need to consider when looking for the best long range caliber. The .300 Norma Magnum comes to us from the .338 Norma Magnum, necked down to accept a .30 cal projectile. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 5,096 ft-lbs. This caliber is great for experienced PRS shooters, or big game, Long Range hunters. Very modular across nearly any rifle system. If you are inexperienced, you’re in luck…because today’s Long Range shooting community is being flooded by great, streamlined, low-recoiling cartridges. I had no issue staying on target for a follow up shot. Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: Currently our recreational-shooting clients and tactical competitors are very committed to the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber, strongly favoring Hornady’s 140-grain A-MAX ammunition. We have put together a table for you to compare values side by side, and below the table, we go more in-depth on each caliber. Expect to see about 2,500 round barrel life. The .223 Remington offers an excellent choice for the novice weekend warrior who has limited distance range facilities. 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. The .224 Valkyrie was developed with long-range shooting in mind from its inception. Gyroscopic Stability is lost in the Transonic Range and the bullet begins to pitch and yaw and ultimately tumble. Century and has since stayed for a reason. One of the great things of a .223 rifle build is that the recoil is manageable of a shooter of any age. The best calibers used for this type of hunting are often flat-shooting and hard-hitting. 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). Again for the best LR option, 140gr Hybrid Target MV: 2,780 fps, Using above projectile, G1: 0.607 G7: 0.311. I fear that is about all this round is targeted for. The components for reloading are also readily available. And most of all, be safe, and be fun. Over 100 ft-lbs difference! So guys who reload might fall into brass availability problems. Answer Save. But 6 and 6.5mm factory and wildcats have risen to competitive levels. 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. The Berger Hybrid is a VLD (very low drag) compromise that removes the difficulty in tuning loads using VLD bullets. My point being, I would sacrifice on picking that absolute top-performing round because it most likely will cost you resources that could be used on training or trigger time. Why 1,000? History: One of the newer cartridges on the list, the .300 PRC comes to us from Hornady in 2018. Muzzle: 2402 ft-lbs. In your opinion is the 6.5 Creedmoor going to eventually put out to pasture the 30-06 and the .308? The .338 … 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: The .338 Norma did what the Lapua did. Recoil Condition: Very similar to the .243 Winchester. Do you intend to run the same caliber across bolt and semi systems? For the hunters in mind, the ability to take a .30 caliber projectile (which has superior terminal performance to the smaller 6.5mm projectiles) and flatten its trajectory to achieve those longer shots in higher winds is crucial. The big advantage and why the .260 became so popular was that it could easily be necked up or down by using other standard rifle cartridges, making reloading a breeze. Availability in stores could be troublesome unless shopping at a Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shop. Better BC’s and heavy bullets provide stability and resistance to wind are making this caliber more interesting, better qualities for long range shooting. 2 Comments I see this more for the shooter that needs terminal performance. Another caliber that is under consideration is the 6.5mm chamberings. 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. The projectile still punched through ¼” steel at one mile! Recoil Condition: With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the .300WM can feel similar to a .308 Winchester. You can build a .223 rifle in almost any rifle action. The 6.5 PRC was born at the 2018 SHOT Show. Some products out there exist for use in an AR-10 platform but the PRC is born within the bolt-gun family. It’s not the fastest, farthest, or most accurate round…but it will certainly get the job done with less headache and wallet-ache. .300 PRC is strictly a bolt action caliber at the moment. Now by swapping a barrel, Long Action set-ups like the .300 Norma or Winchester magnums could not manage the overall cartridge length of the new .338 Norma. Reloading is also expensive because the brass isn’t cheap. Also experience firing large bore calibers is advised. History: Winchester designed the .300 WSM in 2001 with the idea of a hybrid. As more and more interest in the Long Range community, one thing has become apparent. Recoil Condition: A line can be drawn in the sand between the .30 cal class projectiles and the .338 and larger. The bullet must slip through the air maintaining the highest velocity possible to minimize exposure to cross winds. Because the .224 is so new, the market is still catching on. Save your money and invest in training and supplemental gear. Overall Practicality: I heavily recommend this caliber to those out there who want magnum performance without magnum recoil. Another aspect is that two shooters shooting the same caliber may have totally different loads. Muzzle Velocity: MV values for the .224 vary from 2,700 fps (90 grain projectiles) to 3,400 fps (60 grain projectiles). Somewhere in-between an AR-15 and AR-10.