Its well-suited for long-range target shooting, especially since there are numerous 140+ grain bullet options and plenty of factory rifles available. However, it proved to be mostly a flash in the pan. At 500 yards the 165-grain load carries 1,856 foot-pounds of energy, more than Winchester .300 WSM or .300 Win. 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. 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. After Weatherbys 6.5-300 Magnum did not win as many hearts and minds as theyd hoped, Weatherby rethought the 6.5mm cartridge and developed the 6.5 RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum). Originally billed as the world's fastest 30-caliber cartridge, the .30/378 will push a 165-grain bullet close to 3,500 fps. If there was ever a cult cartridge, the .280 Ackley Improved is it. The new 6.5-300 Weatherby is the sole belted magnum on this list, and as the name implies its a .300 Weatherby case necked down to hold 6.5 bullets. Thanks for the half baked artical. The 10 Best Long-Range Hunting Cartridges - MSN Its no accident this round became so popular. 500-yard drop: 45 inches (based on a 100-yard zero). 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. The .270 Winchester created the .277-inch cartridge market, and its been a popular choice among hunters since 1925. This is the allure and benefit of a flat shooting bullet. Though it's primarily a hunting round, the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum will also work for shooting long-range targets. The best long-range varmint caliber would likely be the .22-250 Remington. Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. The .17 Winchester Super Magnum 20-gr. As for the wind drift, at 200 yards, the .17 WSM has almost reduced in half wind drift compared to the popular .17HMR. The 26 and 28 Nosler as well as the 6.5300 Weatherby Magnum all utilize heavy for caliber bullets with high ballistic coefficients that are stabilized by barrels with fast twist rates. The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, commonly known as the "Twenty-Two Win Mag," was hatched back in 1959. If you like the idea of a six-five for going long, but hate the Creed and want something a bit different, the 6.5-284 Norma is the way to go. If you think that's the product of the latest technology, know that Winchester introduced this cartridge in 1935! 260 Rem Have fun hunting! But if it isnt, go read the article again. In comparison to .300 Win Mag factory loads, the 300 PRC ammunition is loaded with either 212gr or 225gr bullets. Subscriber Services. Your email address will not be published. Moreover, a manufacturer advertises at 400 yards their 6.5mm projectiles maintain the same velocity as the .260 Remington generates at the muzzle. 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. Is flatest of all youve listed. Only a handful of .277-caliber cartridges are made today, but the .270 Winchester is still by far the most popular, given all the guns and loads out there for it. Im going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new details about once a week. bullet boasts a blistering 3,000-fps muzzle velocity making it a laser beam compared to 2,400fps from its slightly older .17 HMR counterpart. Coyote Cartridges: .223 Rem. Vs. .22-250 Rem. Vs. .243 Win. - Outdoor Life (This is essentially what Hornady did to the .260 Remington to make the 6.5 Creedmoor.) Not many of us can afford the ammo, let alone the rifles and scopes that chamber it, in such calibers as 375 CheyTac, 408 CheyTac, or 416 Barrett. Top 7 Best .22 LR Rifles To Buy in 2023. It will push a 55-grain E-Tip bullet to 3,300 fps, which is more than sufficient for deer hunting. A flat shooting cartridge matters. So, if you want to go long, there are some clear choices here. While the .338-378 round will still be capable of supersonic velocity at 1,500 yards, it will have 831 foot-pounds of retained energy at the same distance. Time of flight impacts bullet drop more than anything else. I was surprised at the distance, so I asked my PH Thats just 155 yards? He got a stunned look on his face and said, No, TWO hundred fifty-five yards! Our miscommunication during the shot sequence didnt matter a bit, because I was shooting a .28 Nosler, which put the shot only 2.8 low at that distance. The main reasons are very flat trajectory coupled with a supersonic speed out beyond 1,650 yards. Since nearly all long-distance shooters today use a laser rangefinder, does it even matter which cartridges shoot the flattest? Tips, techniques, and equipment are applied to these classroom discussions on how to become more proficient and successful at making long-range shots while hunting with AR-platform rifles. The .25-06 is developed by simply narrowing down the case neck of the .30-06 to fit a .257-inch caliber bullet. Todays top seven long-range cartridges get the job done on big game and targets at great distances. 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. in this thread in this sub-forum in the entire site. Low B.C. At greater distances the variation in wind drift is even more pronounced. To conclude, as a superb rifleman, you can make precision shooting at reasonable distances with a conventional rifle and quality factory ammunition. Best Long-Range Hunting Cartridges of 2023 | Field & Stream There are some 22 caliber and 6.5 caliber bullets with a BC over .700 - that is extremely flat shooting! Flattest Shooting Hunting Calibers | The Hunting Gear Guy