Every time I listen to my favorite Guntuber podcast when I hop in my car, I inevitably end up hearing about a newly designed cartridge that has incredible ballistic performance.
It is always a cartridge so sleek and fast-looking that the only thing to rival it is the speed at which my hard-earned cash flows through my hands to purchase a new setup to test it out.
This has led me to a collection of newly designed cartridges and boxes of fired brass waiting for the reloading dies to arrive in the mail so that I can stretch the legs on these long-range screamers.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the best cartridges for long-distance shooting and the role each one serves, so keep reading!
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How We Chose the Best Long-Range Cartridges
Various members of the Pew Pew Tactical team have spent time shooting various cartridges at long range, whether for tactical training, competition, or extended-distance hunting.
We know the ins and outs of reloading, how expensive these rounds can be, and what it takes to get the most out of your cartridge without going completely broke.
Our main criteria for the long-range cartridges we selected for this list are overall accuracy, consistency, ballistics, trajectory, round availability, rifle availability, and average price point.
Best Long-Range Cartridges
1. 7mm PRC – Best for Long-Range Hunting
The 7mm PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) by Hornady is a hot cartridge and an excellent middle ground between lighter-weight 6.5mm cartridges and larger .30 caliber cartridges.
Speed-wise, it performs like the legendary 7mm Remington Mag. You are looking at a listed box velocity of 3,000 fps, pushing a 175-grain ELD-X with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .689.
But what sets the 7mm PRC apart from the classic 7mm Mag is its cartridge design, which is short enough to accommodate longer and heavier 7mm bullets than the 7mm Mag.
The design also increases accuracy due to the cartridge and chamber’s tight tolerances and a fast twist rate of 1:8. This combination gives big game hunters outstanding accuracy mixed with hard-hitting energy at extended distances.
This means the 7mm PRC provides 875 foot-pounds of energy at 1,000 yards. The drop is also approximately 243 inches at that distance, slightly less than the 7mm Remington Magnum drop of roughly 268 inches.
So, this cartridge is impressive, but what’s the downside? Three factors could probably be considered drawbacks here.
First is ammunition selection. Being a relatively new cartridge, very few loadings limit factory ammunition to three or four configurations.
Next is price. Factory ammunition costs approximately $45-65 for a 20-round box and can go up to as much as $100 a box. The ammo selection is currently more limited and pricier than 7mm Mag. But there is a very real possibility that as the 7mm PRC gains wider popularity in the long-range world, there will be more loadings and lower prices.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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The last factor that should be considered is that it is often referred to as a “barrel burner” due to the high pressures of the cartridge and correspondingly smaller caliber. High round count competition shooters may avoid this cartridge to extend the life of their barrel. Still, the vast majority of hunters will never fire enough rounds through their rifles to approach the count needed to burn out a barrel.
This round has so much potential that I’m betting it will stay around for quite some time. Its capabilities make it a perfect choice for long-range big-game hunters.
2. .50 BMG – Best Extreme Long-Range Cartridge
It is no secret that .50 BMG is an old cartridge. There are a host of extremely capable or ballistically superior cartridges for extremely long-range applications, like .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 Cheytac, .408 Cheytac, .416 Barrett, the list goes on.
But there’s just something about launching a .50 caliber projectile after pressing the trigger on a cartridge designed for heavy machine guns.
The .50 BMG is sight and sound to behold when the shooter sends the largest legally available projectile (without extra paperwork) down-range, an impressive 2,800 fps.
There are a host of “affordable” entry-level.50 BMG rifles capable of decent accuracy. Price ranges for rifles in this category can range from $2,000 for AR-15 conversion uppers and $2,600 for single-shot rifles.
Higher-end rifles can go for $10,000 and up. In this category of long-range precision, there’s no getting around an expensive entry fee into the club.
Hornady’s 750-grain match-grade A-Max provides outstanding accuracy for this caliber, and I’ve achieved consistent hits at 1,000 yards on a 15” x 15” steel target. With a G1 ballistic coefficient of 1.050, this bullet can go a long, long, long way.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Shooting .50 BMG gives you quite a bit of bang for your buck due to the availability of surplus ammunition. With some .50 BMG precision rounds costing about six or seven dollars a piece, it’s nice to throw some cheaper 660-grain FMJ into the chamber. This is the way for punching massive holes in targets for fun or offering a friend an opportunity Instagram-worthy picture.
There is no substitute for the sheer energy and destructive capability of the .50 BMG, nor is there a substitute for how cool it is to tell people you own one.
But do your research first before considering laying down the big bucks. State restrictions, local range restrictions, and distance considerations can all be valid reasons as to why a .50 BMG may not be in the cards for everyone.
3. 6mm Creedmoor – Best for Long-Range Competition
Let’s get this out of the way right at the beginning: the 6mm Dasher is an excellent cartridge for competition. It is ballistically superior to 6mm Creedmoor.
But I didn’t pick the 6mm Dasher because this article is aimed at the beginner/intermediate shooter. You can’t just walk into the local sporting goods store and get ammo or even a rifle in 6mm Dasher.
Conversely, the 6mm Creedmoor has been on the market long enough that there is a variety of ammunition selections, and it is generally available in most gun shops.
The Nosler RDF Match grade ammunition has produced some of my tightest groups.
The 6mm Creedmoor can handle bullet weights ranging from 55 to 115 grains. Most match bullets are likely to be in the 105- to 108-grain range.
For example, the Nosler 105-grain reduced Drag Factor (RDF) bullet has a G1 ballistic coefficient of .571. And when hand-loaded, the 6mm Creedmoor can reach blistering speeds of over 3,000 fps.
The 6mm Creedmoor’s recoil is quite low, allowing the shooter to see what happens downrange without any effort. Combined with excellent ballistics, it almost seems unfair.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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However, this cartridge will burn through barrels if used for high-volume matches. Factor that into your considerations when picking a cartridge.
4. 6mm ARC – Best Long-Range AR-15 Cartridge
The AR-15 is more than capable of hitting targets to the 1,000-yard mark using its native 5.56 NATO chambering.
But if you want to add a little zip, Hornady’s 6mm ARC (Accurized Rifle Cartridge) makes it even easier to hit at ranges 1,000 yards and even beyond.
When trying to increase the ballistic capabilities of the AR-15, there are three calibers that provide better performance than the .223/5.56 while still being able to fit in the AR-15 platform.
These are the 6.5 Grendel, .224 Valkyrie, and 6mm ARC.
The .224 Valkyrie is a competent and accurate selection. However, it lacks the down-range energy of the heavier 6mm and 6.5mm cartridges. This limits the hunting capability of the round at extended distances.
Comparing the remaining 6.5 Grendel and the 6mm ARC, you nearly have to bust out the microscope to split the differences in ballistic capabilities of the two rounds, depending on the loadings you select.
For this comparison, I examined the two most common match-grade loadings of each cartridge. The 6mm ARC 108-grain ELD Match has a G1 ballistic coefficient of .536, with a listed muzzle velocity of 2750 fps.
At 1,000 yards, the 6mm ARC is still cooking along at 1358 fps with 442 foot-pounds of energy and only 342” of drop. The 6.5 Grendel 123-grain starts at 2580 fps at the muzzle and is at 1212 fps, producing 401 foot-pounds of energy with 413” of drop at 1,000 yards. So, a slight edge goes to the 6mm ARC.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Because the 6mm ARC is the new kid on the block, there aren’t many options. But this cartridge has lots of promise as it provides a decent middle ground for shooters who might want to have a capable cartridge for hunting medium-sized game while still being able to print super-tight groups at extended range.
5. .308 Winchester – Most Versatile
Several modern long-range riflemen are most likely clutching their chests and breathing heavily into a paper bag after reading this.
With all the advancements in recent cartridge designs, why would I label the .308 Winchester as the most versatile long-range cartridge when there are cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor that offer a variety of bullet types, is flatter shooting and less affected by wind?
Well, because it has a tenured reign as a hard-hitting cartridge capable of delivering outstanding accuracy. It is the standard against which nearly all modern cartridges in its class are judged.
The 6.5 Creedmoor seems to be slowly taking the top spot from the .308 Winchester. But I truly believe that .308 is still tough to beat for its overall versatility and availability and has a few more years before it finally dethroned.
With all of the legislation and economics surrounding shooting sports in today’s society, it’s safe to say that as ammo prices rise, we probably won’t see a drop in ammunition prices anytime soon.
Our parents used to say “remember when gas was $1.29?” Well I remember when surplus AK ammo was $4.99 a box. Comparatively speaking, the .308 Winchester has been able to stay affordable compared to some of the newer cartridges that do not have as much long-time manufacturer support.
If you reload or plan on trying it out, finding good deals on reloading components for the .308 Winchester is much easier than other cartridges.
The .308 Winchester also offers excellent barrel life compared to some of the newer cartridge designs.
My first sniper rifle hit somewhere over the 7,000-round mark (a combination of government-supplied ammunition and hand loads) with diligent and consistent care before the barrel was completely shot out.
Some of the small caliber high powder volume cartridges are simply not able to reach those numbers before a barrel needs to be replaced. So, if you are planning on being a truly high-volume shooter, the .308 Winchester won’t let you down in that area.
Another valuable benefit to this cartridge is the availability of a variety of single-shot, semi-automatic, and bolt-action rifles, which are chambered for this cartridge.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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The .308 Winchester has good ballistics, especially when loaded with the 168-grain or 175-grain BTHP. When moving down to a 168-grain bullet, you can expect velocities of approximately 2650 fps with 2600 foot-pounds of energy.
Compared to some of the newer cartridge designs, like the 6.5 Creedmoor, there will be noticeably more recoil, but it is not overwhelming.
Whether you’re trying to bag a North American game animal or shooting in a match, the .308 Winchester will always have a rifle and bullet combination that will fit your needs.
.308 / 7.62x51mm Ammo In Stock
Ballistic Coefficient and Why It Matters
The current trend for new cartridge design is to launch a long, sleek bullet with a high ballistic coefficient at scorching speeds through a barrel with fast twist rates.
This combination ensures that the bullet will shoot flatter, be less affected by wind, and remain stable longer in its flight path before passing under the speed of sound.
For those unfamiliar, ballistic coefficient is a measure of the ability of a projectile to overcome air resistance along its trajectory.
It is measured using a standard form factor projectile designated as the G1 or G7 and is usually expressed in a three-digit number.
For example, the ballistic coefficient of the legendary Sierra 168gr Hollow Point Boat Tail Match King bullet utilizing a G1 form factor is .462 above 2600 fps.
It is important to note that the ballistic coefficient will also change as velocity is reduced, and many manufacturers will have a data list for coefficients for several velocities.
The subject of ballistic coefficients is complex and lengthy, so if you want to bust out the slide rule and launch into the world of long-range science, check out our article: Ballistic Coefficient: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know.
Meet the Experts
Heading up this article is PPT contributing writer Nick Stake. Nick is a retired law enforcement officer, having served as a detective sergeant, jail deputy, patrol deputy, field training officer, department range master, counter-sniper instructor, and handgun instructor. In addition to his extensive LEO career, Nick also owns a law enforcement consulting company and is an avid outdoorsman and recreational shooter.
Editing this article is one of our Editors, Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor, long-range shooting, and hunting. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He loves carrying a wide variety of handguns and, by necessity, has tried a wide variety of holsters.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
It’s truly hard to narrow down the amazing cartridges that are available to the modern long-distance shooter. For every application, there is a group of niche cartridges that will probably perform exactly to the standards you need.
Hornady managed to land two great cartridges on this list this year. But I’m sure there are some great cartridges still being developed in research facilities that rival the security of Area 51, which may unseat some of these cartridges from the list by next year.
What’s your favorite long-range cartridge? Let us know in the comments below! Interested in getting into reloading to save money on ammo? Check out our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Reloading Ammo!
81 Leave a Reply
I HAVE A 300 WEATHERBY 33"BAREL I STEP UP FROM 3300 F/PS TO 4000WHIT 150 G BULETS WHAT LOAD DO YOU RECOMENT VV 550 ORE 74 G 570
Belted mags are out of fashion, but the 7mm Rem Mag and 7-08 are both top tier long range cartridges. This is one of those articles meant to entertain rather than educate ( I hope for the author) . Two separate .224's and the .308 Win gets honorable mention.
I knew this wouldn't be my kind of article when the first "long range" cartridge named was a 223, but to leave 6.5cm as the top is a mistake. 300PRC will shoot past a mile with factory ammo. It is roughly a 300wm with better bullets.
Everyday Man Practicality: .22, 9mm, 5.56, .308, 12 gauge At 1,000 yards with good glass the .308 can work. If I want to be a sniper, .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 Cheytac, and .50 BMG are good choices, but in a SHTF or WAR I'll stay with NATO rounds 5.56 (.223) / 7.62 (.308).
I will forever be a 7 rem mag guy, hornady sat 162 driving tacks at a mile, may be a tad more expensive but results are worth it
i have used 6 mm remington for everything from woodchuks to whitetail 100 bullets no problem out to 300 yards. the other a 300 winchester mag, for heavier game flat shooting rifles both of them the 300 win mag is the heavyweight. both good shooting rifles
.223 first, .308 honorable mention for long range and magnum calibers skipped completely? I usually turn to PPT for good info, but this one's a joke.
This display of calibers is or was just one man opinion, there are literally dozens of cartridges that could have been mentioned. After reading his review it was effective in choosing cartridges that are reasonable priced easy to obtain and affordable. Not every one can build a 4000 plus dollar rifle with the latest wildcat cartridge, using custom made bullets and working up loads from scratch. That is best left up to those who have the experience and unlimited cash flow. I respect his position, and applaud his guts for stepping forward. In the days of armchair quarterbacks, with limited experience its easy to put someone down, or blister them with negative comments. I have chosen a different path, one of pure interest. I found his recommendation reasonable, while they didn't include many cartridges that are popular he did stick with his reasonable approach.. Thank you for being brave..
I find it a biased and commercialized article.....most rounds are poor choices for long range and dont actually perform well. You left out the most honorable and time tested 243 win mag and its outstanding accuracy. How about the time tested 30-06?? The 06 blows the 308 away in EVERY aspect....every aspect. Your ADVERTISEMENT for theses cartridges is troubling and misleading to dumb readers, as you let money and advertising cloud your better judgement for bragging up most of these crap rounds. No, its not just my opinion either, FACTS!!!
Hey Nacho, sorry to hear you weren't enthused by the article by the article but I can sure you't not an advertisement. The recommendations are based on the author's experiences. Thanks for the feedback.
30-06 MAY blow away the .308 in all BUT ONE ASPECT. WAR. .308/7.62 NATO is all over, try finding 30-06 when the SHTF. But, strictly hunting I have to agree.
300Win an honorable mention? There's no world where any of those rounds out preform 300win
Worth mentioning: 7mm-08 has flight ballistics comparable to 6.5 Creedmoor with better terminal ballistics, all with relatively mild recoil (less than .308). The 25-06 is also a screamer. Of course, Hornday's PRC developments as well as Nosler's cartridges are worth a look if you like long range and don't mind spending the money.
Interesting that the 338 RUM was not mentioned. It is expensive to buy and reload but effective to reach out there where the few are not afraid to go. Great long range cartridge for just about anything that breathes.
The 300 win mag should be listed too :)
no mention of 338 lapua? not a fave I take it
guess you didnt read the whole article.
Curious what your thoughts are about the Win 300 WSM
Need to recheck your math when you were talking about the .416 Barrett clinking at 5497m.
That's about 55 Statues of Liberty (305'), not 20.
Accuracy matters.
59.1344262 Statues
I was going to ask about the 7mm’s as well. Also the 300 Win? A 180 grain bullet traveling over 2300fps at 500 yards?
7mm Magnum is what I use out here on Guam, USA
Are going to forget about 6.5 rem mag again?
I hate to be so critical here but when you start a list of "best long range cartridges" with the 5.56 you have immediately started off by being disingenuous. What were your extra parameters here? Cost, ease of part acquirement, availability, things you can run in an AR platform, or a perceived "coolness" factor?
You must adequately define these currently nebulous extra parameters that lead you to make these statements and pass them off as informative. Everything on this list at the face value of the descriptor "long range" can be beaten out by better rounds, all of them. Don't need to be a super-awesome-Operator or competitive shooter to know this.
That he us army has recorded kills with a 5.56 using black hills 77 grain ammo at 1800 yards?
Write your own article.
Define your own parameters.
Change your name to Karen.
Best comment
I'm looking for some 303 ammo
My go to for long range hunting are the 7mm STW and 6.5-300 weatherby. Both are far more exceptional than the 5 you chose.
7 mm. rem. mag. the flattest cartridge I can find. we started testing in VIET-NAM, they were great, even at LONG range.
john cooperi have 7mm browning a bollt what is the best over the counter round you can buy
No doubt!
Out here on Guam, I use a Browning BAR 7mm Magnum and has NEVER let me down...
25-06...nobody ever talks about it. First deer rifle ever since I was 13 and I keep going back to it (37 now). It shoots flat and just drops the deer.. Doesnt quite pack the punch needed for long range elk hunting though.
I have a 2506 killed a deer at 840 yards one shot !! Used 85 grain Winchester preamumbalistic tip
No one ever mentions the .270 Win. It out performs the 6.5 Creedmore and the .308
So true. Shoots flatter than a 243- wheich already kicks a 6.5 cm was. Barrel life is longer, packs more energy at all distances too!!!
when it comes to long range hunting I have to stick to my 7mm mag custom made bolt action, an extremely flat trajectory and shots at over 1000 yards are very common. I also like my 6.5 CM I is a very good 1000 yrd gun but when it comes to big game 7mm mag is the way to go, when you are hunting two legged 200 lb game the 6.5 Creefmore is my choice I used to own a .338 win mag and a 300 win mag but got tired of the beating my shoulder was taking from them.
I fully AGREE. tried in NAM late in the conflict, but great results.
I wish we had as much long range shooting locations as they do out west. In the East it is rather limited. There are not many places you can shoot 500 yards. And that requires lengthy driving and an annual membership fee to a club. They usually start at around $300. Some much more. Throw in the extra expense of spotting scopes, expensive scopes and precision rifle builds, time for reloading sub MOA cartridges, etc., and one can see a lot of time, money and devotion are required. Not to mention lugging all the equipment and having spotters. But lack of convenience is certainly the Big Kahuna. All the other factors combined still don’t add up to that one huge deterrent. I’m drawn to this new interest in long range. Prior this I’ve been an old school kinda guy, shooting offhand and making sure I can hit what I aim at out to 300 yards. In the old way of thinking that was good because I could achieve that consistently. But this long range is a whole different ball game. The adjustment to supported shooting won’t be so involved, but the light triggers may ironically take some work. The technique of holding the butt rather than the fore end - not too difficult,
but the whole free recoil thing and light grip will require some attention also. I’m curious and find myself being sucked in- LOL
Honestly I love my 7mm win mag 1000 yard shots, I have a Thompson center venture 7mag with a vortex viper 6.5-24x50 scope and have dropped coyotes at 800 yards. Love the caliber. Been shooting this particular caliber since I bought my first legal rifle at the old age of 18 lol. 30 years later still shooting this caliber even though I do have the 6.5 CM too. Both are great game droppers. Just took me a 600+ pound cow elk 1 shot with my creedmore 200 yards away. Anyway be safe shoot str8 and God bless
If this is a discussion on long range rifles rounds and the rifles that shoot them, then the .308 shouldn’t be in the discussion. It drops almost 400 inches at 1000 yards and drifts 100 inches at the same with a 10 MPH full value wind. The same thing with the 556mm. To me, those are akin to lobbing footballs at something. For long rang range hunting my list would go .257 Weatherby Magnum, the flattest shooting hunting cartridge period, Next the 6.5-.300 Weatherby Magnum, it outperforms any other 6.5 period, The .30-378 Weatherby holds 120 grains of water and outperforms any other .30 caliber cartridge and has the longest point blank range of any .30, including the Lazzeroni’s. Those are the hunting rifles, see a pattern? In reference to the gentleman saying a hunter shouldn’t take a long range shot, what he mean’t was He shouldn’t take a long range shot. It is the responsibility of any hunter to put down game as quickly and humanely as possible with a single shot. If that is 100 yards for him fine, it might 1200 yards for me given my skills , equipment, training, & practice.. Some people take their rifle out two weeks before the season and fire a dozen shots, these people probably fall into the 50 or 100 yard category.
The long range military rifles on my list would start with the .338 Lapua, .375 Cheytec, .408 Cheytac, the .416 Barrett and finally the .50 Bmg. That is just my opinion. I competed in many 1000 yard and 1500 meter competitions. I’ve not done the King of 2 mile thing but if I were younger it would have appealed to me. Bill Poor recently claimed to hit a target at 5280 yards/4837 meters or 3 miles. I wasn’t there to see it actually happen, but I don’t doubt that it could have. At that range everything comes into play, Spin drift of the bullet, altitude, relative humidity, the 9-11 second flight time of the bullet, the Coriolis Effect ( spin of the earth ) etc. All of those things and more must be perfect. Even then you’re talking about a 1/4 MOA Shot.
I can only second what Rick says about the .257 Weatherby magnum. It's disconcerting to me that this cartridge always gets left out of the conversation. I've often read gun writers saying something like [As a kind of afterthought], "...the unmatched reach and accuracy of the 6.5 Creedmoor, and the heavy-hitter quality of the .50 BMG or the Lapua, etc. ( The Weatherby 257 is also greatly favored by Western hunters...)." That's it. One afternoon, after shooting a nice antelope at about 500 yards, I was walking back to the truck with the guide, and we were discussing quarter-bores, with the guide extolling his 25-06, the best of the lot. That's a fine caliber, I said. "Of course, he said quietly, it can't reach out and flatten antelope like your Weatherby, but..." Can't tell you how many times I've gone back to the ballistic tables to make sure I'm not going crazy. Yup, the .257 beats everybody in speed and long-range accuracy, at least out to 500-600 yards (except the .22 Swift, and it drops off after a couple of hundred yards) . When I first got my Weatherby, I went to zero my scope. I zeroed it at about 2 inches high at 200 yards. I then went about correcting it for the 300-yard target. Still, 2 inches high was all it needed. Then the 400 yard. No real adjustment necessary. I sincerely am ready to listen to reason: Why is the .257 Weatherby ignored in these discussions? It just my rifle? Is it under a spell? It sure isn't my spectacular marksmanship.
You sold me. Ill start with the .257 for my first bunting rifle. Been looking at everything for a while now, you're not crazy.
I would love if you had any info on a ar-10 or 15 barrel in bolt replacement that would fit in my palmetto guns for the 6.5 prc ????
What about 22-250? I really love my Sturm Ruger M77, and couldn't believe a 34 gr bullet could achieve 4000+ FPS muzzle velocity! I would like to see how other people have loaded that round for various purposes
The 22-250 has never been considered a long range cartridges because the cartridges have very light bullets and rifles offered have always had slow twist rates. If you handloaded the same heavy bullets used in the 224V and had a custom rifle built with a faster twist rate (1:8), it would either match or slightly beat the 224V. (I looked into it once but can't remember exactly.. I think it slightly beats the 224V)
I'm from Italy. Your words is like a Bible. I have many rifle, 6,5 x 57 R 6,5 x 68, 7 x 64 30- 06, 7 RM but the very big satisfaction is shoot. At 100 yards with black powder 50 kaliber
I kinda thought 7mil rem mag would be there somewhere. I use it long range and it does just fine. So who is going to tell me how bad it is. I know someone will. Hoping to hear some good things about it too.
Nothing wrong whatsoever with the 7mmRM. Newer cartridges do offer better ballistics, but at the expense of more recoil, shooter barrel life and less off-the-shelf cartridge selection. Caliber selection is all about figuring what trade-offs make the most sense for what you want to accomplish.
Looks like another article telling us it's ok to shoot at an elk from 500 yards away. I have news for you, it's not ok! I don't care if you have a Win Mag or a Creedmoor and can hit steel from a mile away with it. I know plenty of people who can actually do that and even they won't shoot at game beyond 300 or 400 yards, depending on the wind. Why? There is too much to go wrong and game animals aren't targets or enemies. The problem with articles like this is that it gives younger readers (whose experience likely includes playing call of duty or watching American sniper) the false impression that any of these rounds will simply do the trick without a great deal of training and practice. Those folks who actually do have that great deal of training and practice, once again, know better than to take outrageously long shots on our valuable big game animals.
I may be wrong, and its ok for me to be wrong. But where in the article does he even mention big game hunting. For me a guy who likes hitting steel at long range this article was extremely helpful. The article is "7 Best Long-Range Cartridges: Hit Stuff Really Far Away". He didn't say Elk or Deer or Hogs or Trolls. He said stuff. You are not wrong in your thoughts. I just think this article was not specifically a hunting article. There are many of us who have rifles to attempt to master the art of long range steel shooting. Just my 2 cents plus change.
Where? Right here: ".300 Winchester Magnum is a favorite of hunters around the world for big game at long range. Need to drop an Elk at 500 yards? .300 Win Mag is your ticket. While still a great long-range precision shooting cartridge, it is starting to lose ground to newer and softer shooting cartridges."
Chief, I certainly respect your opinion, but having hunted out west I'd like to make a counter argument for you and others to consider. I don't expect to change your mind, but think respectful conversation is a good thing. I don't know if you're from the east, but that argument is typically made from someone who lives in the east and hunts woods. My first successful hunt with a rifle was an antelope (ie, very small kill zone compared to an elk) shot at 330 yards. In the open plains, 300 yards in 15 mph winds is the starting place. Maybe 250 if the stars align. Don't even come play if you can't consistently make that shot. If you've only shot 150 yards in the woods, that shot may seem really tough. If you have a laser range finder and know the exact distance, its not. In my opinion, 300-600-ish isn't an unethical shot for those who are genuinely skilled enough to make the shot because people are consistently successful all the time at those distances. I mention 600 fairly arbitrarily because we owe it to the animal to try to get as close as we can. When you are really far away (let's say 800), it's almost always possible to close the distance without spooking the animal. (The main exception would be shooting canyon to canyon - you may not be able to get closer) I personally won't take shots that have a time of flight of about .5, .6 seconds so time of flight becomes an issue also. Bottom line, I agree its in our best interest and the animals' best interest to get as close as we can. I don't judge those who take longer shots, but encourage people to know their limits. I also encourage others to understand that their limits legitimately aren't limits for other people sometimes. Quick story.. I've been teaching my dad how to shoot. He had never shot beyond 200 yards (and only shot very little at 200). He recently got a new rifle and scope so I took him to my shooting club. He sighted in his rifle and we immediately dialed to 400 yards. His first 5 shots were all hits. That's not really far, but it goes to show you that having the right gear and understanding the science behind it all makes it possible to shoot very far with a very high degree of consistency. Happy Hunting!
Nathan, I got to say I really appreciate that defense. I grew up in Montana,hunting both in the mountains in the West and in high school out in the flats in the East part of the state. The difference between hunting in the forested mountains and chasing deer out where the deer regularly start running away 400 yards out if they see you creates a whole different experience. At the end of the day, your skill and time on a rifle is a much larger factor on how ethical a shot is.
Speak for yourself only. There's plenty of people that are just fine a 500 yds. That's mid-range, not even long-range, by many people's standards. There's plenty of setups out there where 500 yd shots are simple things.
thanks and what of the 6.5cm PRC you have a picture of it but dont mention it. Is it the 6.5 CM on steriodes but with out the kick of the 300 win mag? wanting to hunt with it as wells a compete win PRC Im thinking it is all that Ineed and a little more. more... do I really need more ??? what are your thoughts ??
It's basically 6.5cm on roides, yes. We haven't gotten any trigger time with it yet, but I'm hoping to do some testing soon. Right now options are really slim and ammo prices are really high.
Ditto for the .300 PRC, which fixes every shortcoming of the .300 Win Mag and as the name implies (PRC - "Precision Rifle Cartridge") was made for accuracy at extreme long distance.
I always favored the .264 Win Mag. A great flat shooter. I guess because it was my dad's and the first long distance rifle I was taught with. It's a pre-64 and well it's not used much now. It will be passed down to my son and so forth. Although it will always be there and ready if the need arises. Oh, I also on a 300 Win Mag too, just in case I get lucky enough to go elk hunting.
To build off of the PSA .224 Valkyrie Upper you recommended is there any other changes needed to a standard AR-15 lower assembly? In other words, can I just remove my .223 Wylde/5.56 NATO223 upper assy and install the PSA .224 Valkyrie upper?
Yes, you can. .224 Valk just needs a new barrel and a new bolt. The only thing about the lower would be magazines, .224 Valk uses 6.8 SPC mags.
You sure can. It's a quick and easy swap. All you need is a magazine for the .224 round and the 6.8 SPC mags do a very good job.
I wish there was more talk around 308 since you've established it as the baseline by which all long range cartridges are judged.
Here you go! Best .308 Ammo
With new( in the works)bullet designs the .308 surpasses the .300 win mag and is closing in on 6.5 ! Reloaders take notice don't give up on the .308 yet good things to come.
Umm.. the .300 mag is far superior to the 308. According to the ballistics charts on the boxes.
Wrong on all accounts. Unless the 300WM was down-loaded to unsafe levels, the 308 will never beat it. They shoot the exact same projectile, but the 300WM does it much faster. Regarding the comment on the 6.5C, the laws of aerodynamics don't agree with you. The 6.5C shoots bullets that are more aerodynamic (higher BC) and at faster speeds.. I don't hate the 308 at all, but it's been surpassed. The 308 is a good round and in many cases there's no reason to replace it with a 6.5C unless you just want to.. On the other hand if you're starting fresh, there's not much reason to buy a 308 over a 6.5C. (The only reasons I can think of to buy the 308 is if you are going compete in a competition that requires that caliber or you already have plenty of reloading gear for the 308 and you don't want to change that over also.)
1) no
2) even if that were true .308 and 300 win mag use the same bullets...so 300 win mag would see the same increases and would stay just as far ahead
So many variables and I think the age old "it depends". Cost, purpose, reload or not, competition or not, etc... If I am just putting holes in paper at 1000+ I'd go 6mm Creed, 6mm Dasher, or 6x47 Lapua. If I want to be a King of 2 Mile shooter .375 Cheytac hands down followed by a .50 BMG, if I want to overwatch an infantry squad either .338 Win Mag or .50 BMG, if cost isn't an issue Anzio Ironworks 20mm (yes 20mm), Barrett, AI, or a full up custom build. If I reload then a wildcat cartridge like 6x47 Lapua. If im trying to hunt, 300 Win Mag, 338 maybe a 7mm. So it just depends , but I wouldn't lump 556, 224, etc into this category. Look at what the best are shooting in PRS, pretty much 6mm and variants.
You would be surprised at what my .25-06 Rem will do.
No mention of the new 300 PRC??
It's new, very little data out about it. Not much else to say, sorry.
My favorite for many years is the 7mmX300 Weatherby on a Ruger No.1 with a Schillen @ 24'' a long with the 264 Win. Mag. Model 70 with a 24" Medium wt. bbl.
I still like my 300 Win. Mag Browning Eclipse using 208 Grain Hornady Match Bullets and am having a good time with my new DPMS with a Geissly Trigger and custom Muzzle brake with the barrel cryogenically treated hitting golf balls at 200 yards.
Surprising how many people seem to have forgotten the .264 W mag
This is probably my inexperience talking but I have to ask why, when evaluating long range potential, the evaluations are always limited to flight path and ringing steel? Shouldn't penetration at the point of termination be a consideration?
That is also something to take account of with regards to a hunting bullet. But that can also vary from projectile to projectile.
Effective accuracy range is much different than effective and ethical killing range on game, but that is something to take into account if the rifle will be used for hunting.
Generally, long-range shooting is pure sport and for sport the effectiveness of the round on target is moot. USSOCOM did just adopt 6.5 Creedmoor as their new go-to cartridge though.
A rather odd collection but since anytime we have a "best" of anything its all subjective. We could go into all sorts of great cartridges that frankly its hard to find anything that is a clear cut winner in the group. They each have pros and cons. This "best" list is a list of "best" for the author, others mileage may vary.
Definitely agree with that statement. There are far too many cartridges out there to narrow down, let alone the shooter's need factored in. I tried to pick out some popular ones on the market currently based on typical ranges most shooter's shoot out too.
i think the 50 bmg would make most every ones list on this topic