A 108-grain 6mm Creedmoor bullet with a ballistic coefficient of .536 fired at the same velocity carries 300 more foot-pounds of energy at that distance, and the difference in wind drift is pronounced: the .243 bullet drifts 22 inches at 500 yards in a 10 mph crosswind while the Creedmoor drifts just 15.7 inches. This high-performance magnum cartridge loaded with the most popular Weatherby factory hunting 250-grain bullet with a BC of .482 can reach a muzzle velocity of 3,060 fps and muzzle energy 5,197-foot-pounds. Recoil is stiff and some find it hard to master. If you're shooting a military surplus rifle with a worn-out barrel with internal parts that went out of tolerance, precision will remain mere luck and chance. Based on the 7.6239/220 Russian cartridge case, the Valkyrie changes the personality of the AR-15. Great work here. (not the bullet Id choose for this beast, just puts it nicely in line with the others), What does that do for you at regular ranges? Its 225-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 262 meters per second, generating 500 Joules muzzle energy. Depending on the bullet style, it can be argued that the .22 Nosler is the fastest- and flattest-shooting AR-15 cartridge. Barrel twist rates spin the bullet out of the muzzle in a spiral much akin to a quarterback throwing a football. J. Scott Rupp takes a first look at the Springfield M1A Loaded rifle chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. I have found that when talking about these large caliber hunting rounds, there is not a tremendous difference in bullet drop. Zeroing for 100 yards or farther will change drop significantly. The flattest shooting rifle cartridges are listed in this video to help shooters determine what cartridges have the best ballistics. Mag. The Nosler AccuBond is one of the best all-round big-game bullets offered, and Weatherby has smarly offered the 140-grain version for their 6.5 RPM cartridge. And that light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field; it also makes practicing more fun and productive. Now virtually every new centerfire rifle offered in chambered for the round, and it single-handedly accomplished something that many firearms experts believed couldnt be accomplished: it made 6.5s mainstream. Just dont try to enumerate its downsides to anyone who knows anything, because there arent any that matter. The .17 Winchester Super Magnum 20-gr. Before the arrival of other 6.5mm rounds like 6.547 Lapua and 6.5 Creedmoor, the .260 Rem was once the dominant 6.5mm cartridge in competitions out to 1,000 yards. I mean, its the flattest shooting cartridge around, but you took a huge bump in recoil over the 300 win mag or even 270 WSM for 41 more usable yards of MPBR. While many authors describe it as a 6.5 Creedmoor on steroids, the .26 Nosler wasnt designed as a long-term target cartridge because of short barrel life and more noticeable recoil. The .277 bullet earns a lower B.C. rating, that 100-grain bullet is hanging in there. Give a Gift The .338-378 Weatherby Magnum is one of the flattest shooting and hardest-hitting calibers, most useful for long-range shooting and transferring energy into targets. This caliber is a favorite of hunters on the big game, but also it is preferred by military snipers. Hunters and shooters should also know that wind deflection of bullets is a more challenging part of hitting what you shoot at than is drop. The good news is that these bullets might shoot even a tad flatter than these numbers indicate. Im going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new details about once a week. wins again with just 218.5 inches of drop, the 27 Nosler moves into second place with its 150-grain bullet falling only 225.8 inches. That's nearly 10% more compared to the .338 Lapua. Both are of course bolt-action rifle cartridges. When it came out in 1925, 300 yards was considered about the max distance for shots on game, and the .270 Winchester was quickly recognized as one of, if not the, best commercial option for that. You can argue that you can get the 243 WSSM shooting flatter, but that cartridge is already considered obsolete. . To make the .224 Valkyrie compatible with the AR-15 platform, Federal based it on the 6.8 SPC case, which is necked down to accept .224-caliber bullet. Its bullets will remain supersonic out past 2,000 yards. In comparison to .300 Win Mag factory loads, the 300 PRC ammunition is loaded with either 212gr or 225gr bullets. 25-06. Cartridge and chamber specifications helped improve accuracy, and recoil was manageable. http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator, 338 Lapua with a 300 grain projectile (you can run 250s in the Lapua as well, but most run a 300). No howitzers or tanks.). Im going to set a restrictive definition on common and only include cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. 264 Winmag It can also handle Hornadys low drag 250-grain A-Tip .308 bullet with a G1 BC of .878, which bucks the wind extremely well. Assorted 5.56 Rounds (XM193, XM855, Gold Medal 69gr) While this may not be the first cartridge that comes to mind for long-range shooting, with an appropriate bullet, the compact .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO is more than capable of shooting over 500 yards with accuracy. Flattest at 1,000 yards Heres where things start to change. If you think that's the product of the latest technology, know that Winchester introduced this cartridge in 1935! All in all, here are six bonus cartridge, all highly capable of reaching way out there. Its no accident this round became so popular. Accordingly, the Weatherby .338-378 can launch any given projectiles weight out the muzzle faster than any other .33-caliber cartridge. If it makes you feel better to hate the 6.5 Creedmoor, go ahead. The 257 Weatherby Mag. But it is also a fact that it can't compete with the modern cartridge ranges designed for flat shooting. Surprisingly, even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than most 6.5s. The .300 PRC was developed in 2018 when the US Army announced a competition for the new sniper system that will provide a 50-percent hit chance on a man-size target at 2,000 yards. It's because they have less drop than one with a less efficient shape like a round nose or a flat point bullet. These numbers indicate that one of the flattest shooting commercial cartridge at sensible hunting ranges is the 220 Swift. modifies results at some point. As soon as a projectile leaves the muzzle, the earths gravity instantly begins to affect the trajectory of the round. On the other hand, wind speed and direction are inconsistent. Based on the now almost-forgotten .284 Winchester, the 6.5-284 Norma was originally a wildcat cartridge and a very popular one, especially in bench-rest competitions. Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. It nearly matches the ballistics of the Winchester Magnum, but does so in rifles with faster-twist barrels and modern powders that extend barrel life. The 55-grain Ballistic Tip at about the same speed is ideal for varmints, coyotes and such. Only B.C. At the peak of the market-hunting era, waterfowlers We interviewed fourth-generation master flintlock rifle maker John From forcing cones to action bars, here's a Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. And while that pokey 300 grain 338 Lapua round drops quite a bit compared to the others in the list, its carrying a lot of energy: enough to take a deer at 1775 yards. Wind also affects bullets differently, and a cartridges ability to overcome these three forces makes it better or worse for shooting flat and far. All the following data was computer generated as if all loads were fired from a (simulated) dead flat (level) barrel, so these are pure drops. Dear Adriel, please be so kind to provide statistics on the following calibers as well: Volquartsen UltraLite Semi-Auto Rimfire Rifle - Best Competition .22 LR Rifle. Besides hunting and military use, .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge is mostly used for long-range cross-country disciplines and 1,000-yard slow fire matches. What are the best long-range cartridges:.22-250 Remington.308 Winchester.300 Winchester Magnum.338 Lapua Magnum.300 Weatherby Magnum; 6.5 Creedmoor; 6.5-284 Norma; 26 Nosler Both cartridges have been designed as the long-range busters. Faster velocities mean flatter trajectories. It functioned with heavy-for-caliber, high ballistic coefficient bullets that, because of the neck design, didnt rob case capacity and were well-suited for long-range hunting and shooting. Its not all hype. But, as an extreme range competition shooter recently told me, the number of cold barrel, first round hits he sees at 1,000 yards in competition is well below 50%. There are the two most common ballistic standards called the G1 and G7. For example, the .50BMG and the 6.5 Creedmoor both launch bullets at approximately the same muzzle velocity of 2,700fps. So if you take flat shooting to mean aiming right at something far away and hitting it, theres not really enough difference between the main popular cartridges to get out of bed for. Somehow stumbled onto this article. However, it was somewhat a bad timing, since the frenzy for long-range shooting and everything in 6.5mm exploded a couple of years later. Fantastic information. The accurate, potent .300 PRC also makes a great long-range target round. | Federals EDGE TLR .270 Winchester is another outstanding option. Always be open to new possibilities. Those features are granted to the high velocity of 3,000 fps and 230gr Berger Hybrid bullet with an incredible 0.743 Ballistic Coefficient (BC). Bullet B.C. With their Vanguard line you can do it for less than $900. Ive posted your article on my wildlife and hunting group on FB. 1. Required fields are marked *. Ive included different bullet weights/BCs for most rounds to illustrate how BC changes drop at longer ranges. I subscribed to your Feed as well. The 338-378 Weatherby Magnum started as the wildcat cartridge using the .378 Weatherby Magnum as a parent case by necking it down to .338 inches. A good ballistic coefficient depends on many variables such as bullet type and shape, weight, or muzzle velocity. bullet 12 inches at 500 yards, a low B.C. With a muzzle velocity of 2,860 fps the .300 PRC 212-grain ELD-X load generates 3,850 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and carries over 2,200 foot-pounds of punch at 500 yards. spitting a 100-gr. So, if you want to go long, there are some clear choices here. The .224 Valkyrie is the flattest shooting 0.224 caliber cartridge you can put in an AR-15. Shot from SAAMI-mandated 1-8 twist barrels, the 6.5s long, slender bullets seem to almost defy wind and gravity and allow this cartridge to deliver clean kills at distance. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range, 150-grain AccuBond Long Range at 2,930 fps. A bullet with bigger BC will fly farther and faster than one with a lower coefficient. Flattest-Shooting Cartridges by Caliber (Ron Spomer) In this 15-minute video, hunting expert Ron Spomer examines a variety of standard and wildcat cartridges from .17 caliber all the way to .338 caliber. Also, youll find more ammo options for the .308 Winchester than any of the others. At the time, "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "The Rifleman," and dozens of Western films were celebrating horses, lever-actions, and revolvers. The reverse, however, could . The following table averages multiple loads for each cartridge and shows an average amount of drop at . . When I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. Lots of hunters consider the .270 Winchester one of the best all-purpose, short- and long-range cartridges of all time. Still, a flat-shooting cartridge will often perform well with wind as well, because it is in the air for less time between the shot and hitting the target. Twenty years ago, Winchester introduced the .270 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum). I have not identified bullet make and type because that doesnt change impact drop. He has managed multiple gun ranges, and has hunted around the world. Other than that, excellent site! A 25 yard miscalculation at that distance will vary your hit by half a foot and outside our 6 imaginary circle of vitals. Drop is constant at the gravitational pull of 32 feet per second accelerating at 32 fps. Despite its relatively low B.C. The 6.5 PRC can remain supersonic out beyond 1,600 yards or so, but ammunition options are limited. There have been several other new cartridges released since Hornady launched the 6.5 Creedmoor that have also done well. Yes, the article most definitely included the 7mm Mag, but the specific cartridge mentioned by Nick is what the original article would have included as an exotic version, NOT something found chambered in most any rifle. Just saying, excellent job to tell the nature of all calibers for hunting from 100 to 700 yards for medium game. Using the larger .378 Weatherby case, the .338-378 get a 20-percent more case capacity than .338 Lapua and thus gained higher muzzle velocity. That was the first gun I fired other than a .22 calibre. If youre after critters deer-size and up, the field is dominated by .30-caliber, 6.5mm, and 7mm cartridges, with the best long-range options remaining supersonic out to at least 1,400 yards. The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. As we all know, the long-range accuracy is a combination of the rifle, the ammunition, and the shooter. Backfire LLC owns and operates this website. A 338 Lapua will have 40 inches of drop at 500 yards, 265 inches of drop at 1000 yards and 780 . Based on the antique .404 Jeffery cartridge case, the 27 Nosler is the first new .277-caliber rifle cartridge since the .270 Winchester Short Magnum, which was introduced almost 20 years ago. . Even an average shooter can reliably hit a target from hundreds of yards away using this caliber, and the flat-shooting ability of the cartridge makes it a fan-favorite amongst hunters of varying experience levels. But its so close to the 6.5-300 Wby. Mag. In any caliber the cartridge that attains the highest muzzle velocity wins the flat shooter award, so theres no sense arguing that the 6.5 Grendel might shoot as flat as the 27 Nosler. loads. The BC calculations are made in relation to the particular standard projectile shapes by measuring how efficiently they overcome air resistance in flight and how well retain velocity and energy as they travel downrange. 2023 Backfire LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. The .300 Win Mag initial loading was 180-grain, and whereas it remains today, shooters use the same weight but with modern bullet construction and improved ballistic coefficient (BC). The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. If youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX Long Range load. You may be an outstanding expert rifleman using a match grade ammo. The .45 Colt possesses almost the same ballistics as the .45 ACP. RELATED: The 10 Best Rifle Bullets for Long-Range Shooting. Hornady's Precision Hunter 145-grain ELD-X at 2,950 fps is the flattest-shooting .270 . So what can we learn from these numbers? Originally developed as a black-powder revolver cartridge, the .45 Long Colt (LC) functioned as the official US military handgun from 1873 to 1887. While there are not a lot of ammunition choices for the 6.8 Western, there are some good ones. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The .300 Norma Magnum was introduced in 2009, and soon, it has begun to gain popularity in the long-range shooting community. bullet. Although its going to be easier to estimate drop for a 700 yard shot with a 30-378, compared to a 30-06, you still need to range your animal within +/-25 yards using the 30-378 to hit vitals. Like the 6mm, the 6.5 Creedmoor with high ballistic coefficient bullets has less wind drift than other 6.5s that shoot lighter bullets, and its no secret that the 6.5 Creedmoor is very accurate. How about our drops on the cartridges that made it? . He began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 1990s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. A 100-grain .243 bullet with a G1 ballistic coefficient around .400 at a muzzle velocity of 2,960 carries just over 800 foot-pounds of energy at 500 yards. The .17 Remington, introduced in 1971, was the first .17-caliber cartridge offered in both factory rifles and commercial ammunition. Thats what makes a long-range hunters heart go pitter patter, and its what has kept Weatherby in business since 1945. There are countless rifle models from which to choose and a wide selection of ammunition, and the Creedmoor outcompetes stalwart target rounds like the .308 Winchester at long range. The .25-06 Rem offers a flat trajectory, and outstanding accuracy and low recoil for maintaining good shooting habits. But what are the flattest shooting rifle cartridges? Below is the information Ive gleaned from 17-caliber through 338. Based on the old .404 Jeffery case, its the same length as the .30/06, which means it works in standard-length actions. Bullet selection means alot. (This is essentially what Hornady did to the .260 Remington to make the 6.5 Creedmoor.) So you got started in long range precision shooting and you're looking for the best precision rifle calibers with outstanding performance and accuracy. When sighted in 3.9 inches high at 200 yards with that load the 6.5-300 is dead-on at 300 yards and drops just under nine inches at 400 yards. Ditto the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5-300 Wby. Normas 180-grain BondStrike Extreme at 3,084 fps is new and very flat-shooting. The 300WM with the 210 VLDs at 2950fps is pretty good also. But the PRC uses a larger case thats based on the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum instead of the .30 TC case that spawned the 6.5 Creedmoor, and the PRC therefore has a higher powder capacity. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Thank you. Your email address will not be published. Created from the ground up for competition and very little hunting, the 6.5 Creedmoor has several advantages over the .308 and the other .30-caliber cartridges. Brownings 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing load has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2835 fps and a very high ballistic coefficient. It has flipped positions with the 6.5, losing by a mere 1.4-inches. The .308 Winchester will win no ballistic awards; its simply a shorter version of the time-tested and beloved .30/06. Been there done that, so Im not playing holier-than-thou. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Almost 80 years later the company introduced the .270 WSM, which has also been successful, but recently the company unveiled the newest member of its .277-lineup, the 6.8 Western. 308. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. Flattest at 500 yards Weatherbys wildly overbore 6.5-300 wins again! HOLOSUN HS510C 2 MOA Dot Or A 65 MOA Ring Open Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red HOLOSUN HS507C X2 Circle Dot Solar Failsafe. By way of comparison, the .270 Winchester (based on the .30-06 Springfield) offers a case capacity of 67 grains. 1.Humans are more important than Hardware. Hunters can take advantage of flat shooting rounds to extend maximum point blank range, the distance over which a center-of-target aim results in the bullet remaining within the kill zone, never climbing above it at mid-range and remaining in it until maximum point blank range is reached.