No. Ammo is available online, however, it is not cheap. It provides whats needed for the mind to persuade itself and make a decision. Head to Head: .22-250 Remington vs. .224 Valkyrie | An Official Journal Of The NRA, First Look: Mission First Tactical Multi Mount, Is It Right For You? Average MV for a .223 is 3100 fps. However, for less bullet size, you can get a much better performing Long Range caliberand for a lot less money too. The 6.5 PRC joined an ever-expanding field of 6.5mm (.264 in.) Ammo Availability: Factory ammunition can be found nearly anywhere for about 30 cents per round but as stated before, prices range greatly. From what can be expected, the .224 wears a little bit more than the .223, approx. 1,500m: 362 ft-lbs. With an aggressive muzzlebrake, its possible to spot your own impacts on downrange steel targets. During its launch in 1997, the .260 was still on par with other wildcats. Extreme-distance shooters typically opt for obscenely powerful cartridges such as the .338 Lapua, .375 Cheytac and .416 Barrett, but I crunched the ballistics of the 7mm SAUM pushing a 180-grain Berger VLD at 3,000 fps in sea-level atmospherics and again at my home elevation of 5,000 feet. Savage Model 10 BA Stealth 8. Recoil Condition: With a muzzle brake and/or suppressor, the .300WM can feel similar to a .308 Winchester. So for those of you seeking a bolt-gun build, keep in mind that your standard factory options will be very limited. Is your rifle shooting steel or live targets? Ive always liked the .260. Mag. Answer (1 of 8): It depends on a number of things. Somewhere in-between an AR-15 and AR-10. The overall purpose of the Grendel was to deliver extended accuracy and range of the .223/5.56 NATO in the same AR-15 platform. For target shooting, the lighter recoiling Creedmoor is probably a better choice, but for hunting and tactical application at distance, the PRC hits harder. What a cool story herethe Norma Magnum comes to us as an improvement on the Lapua Magnum. The last time a .270 Win. 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. Its arched trajectory can make a rainbow look flat, and a grasshoppers sneeze will drift its bullets off course, but if its all youve got, you make the most of it. Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 1,456 ft-lbs 500m: 660 ft-lbs 1000m: 248 ft-lbs 1500m: 162 ft-lbs. The .338 Lapua Magnum offers very impressive external and terminal ballistic performancebut at a steep cost. In his spare time, he is an avid gun collector, hunter, and outdoorsman. Reloading is also expensive because the brass isnt cheap. You are looking at the 1,500 to 2,000 round mark for consistent accuracy. Tikka T3 CTR Tikka rifles are excellent shooters. This allows 300 PRC rifles to handle ultra-long .30-caliber bullets with high ballistic coefficients. Several other .30 cal magnum rounds were designed at the time, but the .300 Winchester Magnum was the only one of the lot, to stand the test of time. The average cost per round of .260 Remington online will be around $1.70. 1,500m: 295 ft-lbs. Yeah, itll work in a bolt gun, but in the AR-15 it is the undisputed best cartridge for stretching distance. Its overall length is 3.7 inches, which is almost a half-inch longer than the .300 Winchester Magnum. This round was developed in conjunction with the AR-15 rifle in the early 60s. Its moderate recoil, inherent accuracy, and proven lethality is why it is such a great choice for new hunters. The 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is another Hornady introduction and could be called the 6.5 Creedmoor Magnum. Recoil Condition: This round is special just like the other 6.5mm projectiles in its class. The 6.5 Grendel comes to us in 2003 from Alexander Arms. Projectiles will be available but brass might not be. The new bullet remained supersonic longer than the 190-grain Mod 0 load, and didnt give up much downrange performance to the .338, while generating less recoil and being much more cost effective for the military to adopt, which it did in 2010. A big selling point to the 6CM is that from its inception, and from the help of GA Precision, its use in the AR-10 platform has been immensely popular among PRS shooters. This last factor will doom the cartridge, in and of itself if no one else picks up the torch for brass production (which isnt likely). Cross-Platform Use: .300 PRC is strictly a bolt action caliber at the moment. Cross-Platform Use: Multi-platform builds do exist in the .260 Remington. Barrel Life: As with other magnum cartridges, the average barrel life is expected at 1,500-2,000 rounds. I think this cartridge will prove useful to the long range community in the future. However, most off-the-shelf Long Range rifle manufacturers are chambering their flagship rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor (and for less than $1,200). Also because of how popular and available it is, the 6.5 comes in around $0.75 to $1.25 per round, making it very affordable to shoot compared to other high-performing LR calibers. At 5,000 feet altitude? Invest the money and invest the time in solid training from reputable sources. Please do a review on 7MM calibers. The .308 Win used 175s with a higher BC than the .30-06s 168 grain Sierra. History. The 6.5 PRC was born at the 2018 SHOT Show. 10. Give a Gift Ballistic Co-Efficient: Using Berger 140gr VLD projectiles G1: 0.593 G7: 0.304, Remaining Energy: Muzzle: 2,266 ft-lbs 500m: 1,174 ft-lbs 1,000m: 535 ft-lbs 1,500m: 296 ft-lbs. Military sniper rifles are still utilizing this classic cartridge. Likewise, there are .338 projectiles available, even during the Great Shortage, that hit the .800 BC mark that should have the big .338s looking even better. However, a variety of match-grade .300 Win. For a rifle platform, this caliber is great for building a highly modular and dynamic setup. The Long Range community has been pushing the envelope more and more. This caliber was designed and intended strictly for the semi-auto AR-15 platforms. It was introduced in 1963 to augment the series of belted magnum cartridges that Winchester based off the .375 H&H. This caliber has even won military contracts from SOCOM in 2017, which I specifically took part in. I predict the 6.5 Weatherby RPM and 6.8 Western to be busts. If you want to shoot flat and hit hard, this is the cartridge; at 1,000 yards it hits with more than 1,500 foot-pounds of energy. Each can be proven to be above par either by history, by track record or by engineering features and calculated ballistics. The average price per round is $3.00-$4.25. Ballistic Co-Efficient: As with MV, .223 projectiles vary greatly. The average price per round will be $1.25. The only advantage of the upcoming 6.8 Western is that ammo and brass has been on store shelves awhile and there are still no guns available. 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. The .300 Win. So like the 6.5 Creedmoor, if you have a .308, you can have two calibers in one rifle action with a new barrel. It is a wildcat custom-build-only proposition that has no ammo available and has to have brass formed unless you are lucky enough (and rich enough) to find some ADG made for this round and even then, variations will exist in reamer design to render the ADG brass only marginally more useful than formed 300 Ultra brass. To experiment with load developments to craft the ultimate 6.5 bolt gun cartridge. Coming from my military background, I was always reluctant to stray from the 7.62x51mm or .300 Winchester Magnum. Bolt gun fans are especially in luck because as of right now, the PRC is very limited in the gas-gun world. Out to 600 yards, the .308 is very capable, and by finessing the load and holding your tongue just right, 1,000 yards is doable. The .300 PRC tries to deliver to a market that doesnt need what its selling. Its not the fastest, farthest, or most accurate roundbut it will certainly get the job done with less headache and wallet-ache. The lighter 140gr range projectiles dont enact enough felt energy rearward like the 175gr+ class of projectiles from bigger bores. That changed in 1997 when Remington standardized many 6.5 wildcats based on the .308 Winchester. One of the selling points of this round, when it was introduced, was its light recoil for a deer gun. Best for Beginners: 6.5 Creedmoor Best for Precision Shooting Matches: 6mm Dasher Most Accurate: .30 Stewart Best Long Range Calibers: Reviews & Recommendations Best for Hunting: .308 Winchester Nosler SEE IT Key Features Well balanced Proven track record Pros Moderate recoil Widely available Great bullet selection Cons Less forgiving trajectory I have used it on more big game animals than any other cartridge since 2007. 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. Muzzle: 4,029 ft-lbs. Ill admit, I fancy myself a bit of a marksman. This was partly because it could deliver bullets to great distances with very flat trajectories, but also partly because it could do so with less recoil than other popular long-range cartridges. The 6 mm Creedmoor is simply another telling of the 6.5 Creedmoor story, but with different cartridges. Muzzle: 3,819 ft-lbs. When firing with the .300NM at 1,000m, you get that same feeling. For most amateurs, it is not feasible to swap barrels every 1,500-2,000 rounds. My bias steers clear of the wildcat calibers. From PRS shooters to Long Range hunters, the Creedmoor has made a name for itself. Subscriber Services. What I can tell you is that choosing the right caliber in relation to recoil can make or break your performance as a shooterespecially if youre new to the game. Caliber Comparison: 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 Springfield. The average life will be anywhere from 4,000-7,000 rounds. Thinking that its deficiencies compared to newer calibers are mainly its moderate BC bullets due to cartridge length, I thought I might try reloading long with something like the 225gr ELDM. Give this round a few years for the market to catch up. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns with the .308. I had read other raving reviews about the 6.5 Creedmoor but I really didnt expect it to be the top choice of an experienced marine who had used the .308. 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. Its a thankless job, but somebodys got to point you toward the best of the best. To take the 6.5CM and add MV to the equation, pure joy happens. More important is consistency, and the mild-mannered .308 demonstrates that in spades. Im not going to dive too deep down that rabbit-hole, or even techniques to help. I would argue, these are two of the most important questions to ask/answer when talking about the best Long Range roundwhat is the ammo availability like, and/or do you reload? Steve has sorted the data by bore diameter. A quarterback must spin the football in a way to achieve a tight spiral. Overall Practicality: If you are looking for exceptional, hard-hitting, flat performance, you might want to consider the .300 PRC. Mag., .338 Win. Reloading is also expensive because the brass isnt cheap. Because it uses aerodynamically efficient 6.5mm bullets it has outstanding downrange capabilities. Since it was undisputed that the .30-06 has a higher powder capacity and the same maximum chamber pressure, it should be entirely possible to replace the 168 grain Sierra with either a 185 grain Berger or 190 grain Sierra with more modern powders and out-pace the .308 Wins best trans sonic distance by at least 50 yards, taking the 06 to 1000yds or better. Cross-Platform Use: To date, the .300 NM will be a bolt action system only. still possess remarkable capabilities. 1,000m: 786 ft-lbs. You will get more bang for your buck choosing the .308 Winchester as your next Long Range caliber. The Mueller Target Rifle Scope is a great 1000-yard scope with a solid magnification of 8-32x, giving a great field of view at well over 1000 yards. As to be expected, the 6mm Creedmoor is still a young cartridge. Designed in 2003 by Alexander Arms and based on the .220 Russian/7.62x39 mm Soviet cartridges, the Grendel remained mostly a cult cartridge until it was formally recognized by SAAMI eight years later. They wanted a superior hunting and LR cartridge with similar trajectories as the .300 WM, but with less powder use and recoil. When we think of benchrest, our minds instantly go to the 6 PPC, which has been a dominant cartridge in benchrest since the 1980s. I argue that you will not find a more practical Long Range caliber in this list. No issue finding it. Due to its age and relevance today, the .308 has proven itself for over 65 years! Surprisingly due to the case volume to bore area ratio, barrel life is impressive for a cartridge of this size. Im not going to dive too deep down that rabbit-hole, or even techniques to help. Do you intend to run the same caliber across bolt and semi systems? The .300 PRC delivers phenomenal Long Range performance. Barnes, Hornady, Federal, and Berger all make loads ranging from $0.60-$1.30 per round. I like the ability to swap barrels on the same action as a .308 or .300giving you great anti-personnel effects, while also being capable of anti-material mission capabilities with the .338. 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. Get the gist? A lot can actually affect the observed recoil of a Long Range rifle. Without a muzzle brake or suppressor, the .338 Lapua Magnum offers a challenging recoil experience. Im referring to cartridges that have been custom designed by people in the industry who squeeze every drop of performance out of a round. Mag, which were rolled out in 1958. I love this caliber for AR-15 shooters who want to take their target shooting to the next level. For off-the-shelf accuracy, the 6.5 Creedmoor is tough to top, no matter how much the Creeds detractors might howl. Now, this parameter may not be too important to most of you out there, searching for the best Long Range caliber. Not ideal for beginners or those who do not reload. Also, terminal performance on larger targets has proven weak at best (one large reason the .243 never caught on with the military). I still think this cartridge might be a bit on the wildcat side of the market (expensive to shoot and a barrel burner). The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. For those lucky enough to be able to own and fire a .338 rifle, you know what I mean. Availability in stores could be troublesome unless shopping at a Cabelas/Bass Pro Shop. The average price per round will be close to $2.00. The shape of the football does not allow sustained flight if the ball is thrown end over end. 500m: 2,115 ft-lbs 1,000m: 937 ft-lbs. As for PRS shooters, with great flat trajectories and low-recoil, follow-up shots are a breeze. Vastly improved barrel life by having a good case volume to bore volume ratio, and pushing longer bullets through the tube. Since the beginning, the 6.5 has taken off as one of the best LR cartridges to date. A lot of the newer, ultra-flat cartridges take a good deal of reloading knowledge to successfully harness their ability. This caliber is one of the most popular and widely used centerfire cartridges in the world. A pencil barrel and light-weight wooden stock, the .308 can feel pretty sharp. [Editors note: Thats about 90 feet of wind drift at 4,134 yards.] However, the 6.5 Lapua and .308 Winchester do share the same bolt face. 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. Mag. That one-millimeter difference means a large increase in MV. The lack of factory offerings is one reason the 6 GT might overtake the Dasher. Muzzle Velocity: Using the 140gr ELD Match, 2,750 fps. 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. 1,500m: 630 ft-lbs. Initial Thoughts: I see another wildcat come to the limelight. Inside 1,000, shooters dont really need its horsepower. The bench rest shooting community usually pushes the boundaries and concocts the wildcats. Is it the fastest? You can build a .223 rifle in almost any rifle action. Initial Thoughts: Again, this round is such a classic. That lineup started with the .264 Win. I was an early adopter of this round because it seemed to hit a sweet spot for the kind of hunting I like bestthe open country of the West, where long shots in windy conditions on mule deer, elk, and other game are the norm. If you are already familiar with shooting sports the cartridge you use has a lot to do with personal preference. As said before, the standard rifle manufacturers have not caught up the .224 Valkyrie. The .284 Winchester (7MM) is very popular with bench rest shooters. What Caliber Is An AR-15? History: The .338 Lapua comes to us in the 80s as an extreme Long-Range rifle caliber intended to extend the snipers capabilities in desert and mountainous terrain. Any shooter of any age can comfortably shoot the Valkyrie without feeling recoil fatigue. Like the .308 Winchester, ammo availability and reloading components are everywhere. The .25 had the .25-06 glaring it in the face, while the .223 was known as a barrel eater supreme (I say as I build a .22 Creedmoor). This can get expensive so choosing my first is very important. The components for reloading are also readily available. Bolt gun fans are especially in luck because as of right now, the PRC is very limited in the gas-gun world. Mag. (1,269) combining for more than 2,000 yards . Like most calibers with projectiles lighter than 150 grains, the recoil can be considered light. In the competitions I shoot, we regularly stretch the shots to 1,300 yards or so. Any seasoned long-range shooter will tell you that understanding the dynamics of Transonic Range (TR) is critical in overall success. 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. I still like this cartridge for a bolt gun though. No issue finding it. Why not mention the 7mm Remington Mag? The moly does extend the cleaning interval a little bit, probably 20 percent or so. Though its unlikely the 6.5 PRC will ever be as popular as the 6.5 Creedmoor, it has been well received and several new 6.5 PRC loads were introduced for 2021. Initial Thoughts: The first time I fired the .300NM I was blown away. The higher the BC number, the more aerodynamic and better performing the projectile will be. Inexpensive to shoot and easy on barrels, the little cartridge provides a great venue to polish your positional transitions, wind calls, corrections and shot executions at minimal cost. The average price per round will be $1.25. This is partly because of modern rifles and optical sights, but also partly because of the availability of laser range finders and very accurate, easy to operate, ballistic programs that work on smart phones. It was dark and, at 17-power, that 6-foot plate at 4,100 yards was very small. But isnt that what makes it awesome? 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. 1,000m: 585 ft-lbs. You are definitely going to feel less recoil than a .308. quickly established itself as a go-to hunting round for Western big game and international hunting. Another rapidly growing competitive discipline is the .223 only PRS-type match. And in slow-fire matches, neither recoil nor barrel burning is really an issue. Meet the all-new Taurus Judge Executive Grade, a revolver featuring a hand-polished satin finish, presentation-grade wood grips, a brass rod front sight and an exceptional hand-tuned trigger. No. It is also a winner as a competition round, especially as a lighter ELR (extreme long range) round on targets out to 2,100 yards. 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. NRA Women | Is Ballistic Coefficient Irrelevant? The .224 Valkyrie takes the benefits from the .223 and extends its range performance drastically. 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). Most off the shelf set-ups are going to be on the high end of the market so the 6mm CM is not ideal for a beginner shooter. So guys who reload might fall into brass availability problems. So when I speak of overall practicality, I would steer people towards a round that is attainable in an easily bought rifle. or .30/06 could make that claim was an age ago. The .30-06 is such a classic sniper rifle round, I could not leave it out of the running. The .300 Norma Magnum comes to us from the .338 Norma Magnum, necked down to accept a .30 cal projectile. Ballistic Co-Efficient: For optimum LR performance, the 108 ELD Match projectile; G1: 0.515, G7: 0.268. Give this round a few years for the market to catch up. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. Reloading components can be found nearly anywhere. Currently, G1 through G8 and GL is the only mathematical models to express BCs. The 6.8 Western sounds like a great idea, except that in the .277 genre, even the 175 grain Sierras lag behind in BC compared to lighter bullets in the 6.5 arena. Wont do that again. 500m: 1,212 ft-lbs. Snow The short case body allows long, aerodynamic bullets to be seated far out, eliminating bullet-base intrusion into powder capacity, while still fitting comfortably in standard short-action magazines. 500m: 2,755 ft-lbs. Mag. Muzzle velocity is somewhere around the 2800 2900 range with 26 barrel. Based off of the .375 Ruger Compact Magnum, the PRC tries to deliver the best performance in its case range. Published Mar 29, 2021 5:12 PM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. 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. History: Unlike the previous cartridges, this is the first one that has no parent case. Vastly improved barrel life by having a good case volume to bore volume ratio, and pushing longer bullets through the tube. 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. Is Hornady's 6 mm ARC the Best AR-15 Round Ever Made? He used .30-caliber BIB 114-grain bullets made by Randy Robinett (loaded over H4198 powder for a 2980 fps muzzle velocity). I think the 6.5 Grendel does a great job at that, however, as to be expected, the Grendel is limited in range and does not fit into the 800m+ world. Since the most common .223 projectile for LR performance is the Sierra Match King 77gr OTM, we will use that; G7 BC ~ 0.202. Overall Practicality: With things like barrel life and ammo availability into consideration, the 6mm Creedmoor is a perfect option for the more seasoned and able LR shooter who doesnt mind reloading consistently and replacing barrels often. Expect that to change as ammunition manufacturers start to get a handle on the current ammunition shortage and catch up with the times. Of the large calibers is the 50 BMG the best choice based on ammo cost and availability vs the Chey Tacs and Barrett. For all-around optimal performance, the projectile weight needs to be in the 140gr+ range. Over the years the round has set numerous records in 600- and 1,000-yard benchrest competitions, so when the PRS started to catch on in 2012, it wasnt long before those shooters started looking at this stubby little round. Military sniper rifles are still utilizing this classic cartridge. Overall Practicality: Unless you are a military sniper, this round has almost zero practicality. During benchrest competition the targets have a paper backer that is moving placed behind them. They are great long-range guns, but not known by the our Armed Forces community. Many, even most, will average half-MOA groups out of an accurate rifle. You can expect to pay about $1.00 per round at most online retailers. I talked to the score keepers watching the target cameras and they confirmed they could see what looked like an impact on the plate as well. .308 vs. 5.56 Make the Best Choice for Yourself! The Dasher was the brainchild of benchrest shooters Dan Dowling and Al Ashton (Dasher is a mashup of their names) who developed it in 1999. Muzzle Velocity: Using the 225gr ELD-Match, MV: 2,840 fps, Ballistic Co-Efficient: 225gr ELDM G1: 0.712 G7: 0.365. The .30-06 is such a classic sniper rifle round, I could not leave it out of the running. | As a serious LR shooter who intends on needing terminal performance or wanting a modern tactical build, I would leave the .243 behind in the 20th century where it belongs. For the average shooter looking to get into Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the smaller guys. Those of you who reload can stretch the Valkyrie by playing with different powders, bullet seating depths, and projectile types. Several factors like powder temperature sensitivity, barrel length, ammunition consistency, and atmospheric conditions will all change your MV value. When a heavy 6mm Creedmoor match rifle is paired with an aggressive muzzlebrake, it barely jars when the shooter fires, making self-spotting easy. You most likely will have to compromise on certain aspects. And that my friend required outstanding composition and masterful communication skills, not to mention the aforementioned qualifications. 1. For the average shooter looking to get into Long Range shooting, turn away and run to the smaller guys. It shoots far and flat, it doesnt kick, and it doesnt break the bank. History: Introduced to us in 1955, the .243 was designed as a sporting and target rifle round. The .308 Win case has a nice even powder burn and has readily available brass for reloading. It has less case volume, traditionally firing a heavier bulletBUT still retains energy over range better and maintains a longer Transonic Range than its bigger brother. Back in 2013, Mike Stinnett bested a benchrest record that stood for nearly 40 years when he shot a 5-shot group in competition at 100 yards that measured .0077 inches. With low case volume and slower MVs, the Grendel is an ideal cartridge for barrel life.