For longrange, what standard cartridge in a factory rifle?

[quadrafire]

I have a nice little .260 rem i'd sell ya

[Curly]

7mm rem mag!

 

[CaNINE]

Since you have a magnum go with the 6.5CM or 7mm-08. Both will do the trick 500 yards on the game you listed is doable with good bullet selection.

I agree with Carp

[Curly]

No wildcats, no aftermarket rifles or barrels, whats your pick for cartridge? Spike elk would be the largest animal out to 600 yards.

I just bought a 300 WM, that will be my "big" gun. Once the 300 is up and running, I'll be trading my 7RM for something "smaller", I'm thinking 270, 7-08, 6.5CM.

I change my mind from the 7 Rem mag now that I read your post closer.

I now change my mind to the 280 Ackley Improved.  I don't think of the 280AI as a wildcat anymore.  You can buy factory ammo for the 280AI, so is it really a wildcat?  I say no.

You can get close to 7RM performance with less recoil.  What's not to like?

[theleo]

Personally I'd go with a standard weight 270 WSM.

[theleo]

I now change my mind to the 280 Ackley Improved.  I don't think of the 280AI as a wildcat anymore.  You can buy factory ammo for the 280AI, so is it really a wildcat?  I say no.

You can get close to 7RM performance with less recoil.  What's not to like?

It's still a handloaders round. It was SAAMI spec'd by Nosler, so it's definitely not a wildcat anymore but factory selection on ammo stinks. That being said it's a great round if you reload and is my go to for hunting open country.

[elkaholic123]

Personally I'd go with a standard weight 270 WSM.

[bobcat]

You want a "standard" cartridge, the 270 Win is about as standard as you can get. It's been around since 1925. It's the classic long range cartridge. The would be my choice of the three you mentioned.

[Woodchuck]

I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 7-08 that shoots lights out with factory ammo, It does have an A/M trigger in it.

[Bob33]

To each his own, but if you want enough energy to cleanly kill elk at 600 yards I think some of the cartridges being recommended are on the marginal side.

[bearpaw]

To each his own, but if you want enough energy to cleanly kill elk at 600 yards I think some of the cartridges being recommended are on the marginal side.

  I missed killing elk at 600 yards, with that consideration I think he is asking for a lot. The standard calibers can kill at that range but I think 400 yards is a far more reasonable expectation from standard calibers. I also hope he does a lot of long range shooting, from my experience most hunters are not very accurate past 200 or 300 yards.

[MHWASH]

To each his own, but if you want enough energy to cleanly kill elk at 600 yards I think some of the cartridges being recommended are on the marginal side.

  I missed killing elk at 600 yards, with that consideration I think he is asking for a lot. The standard calibers can kill at that range but I think 400 yards is a far more reasonable expectation from standard calibers. I also hope he does a lot of long range shooting, from my experience most hunters are not very accurate past 200 or 300 yards.

I do practice regularly, I know what I'm capable of, that's why I said 600 limit. I'm all set to load 270, 7-08, and 308. So most likely stick with one of those three, but if the right 6.5CM came along I'd scoop it up.

[bobcat]

My 270 Win loaded with 140 grain Berger VLD's and using Reloder 26 gets 3100 fps with a 22 inch barrel. At 600 yards it's down to about 2100 fps but I certainly don't think it would bounce off an elk at that lower speed. That's about the same velocity a 30/30 with a 150 grain bullet would have at around 75 yards. I bet a lot of elk have been killed with a 30/30 at that distance.

[bryg_12]

Wait till factory ammo comes out for 6.5 PRC and production rifle will follow. early 2018.

[JDHasty]

My 270 Win loaded with 140 grain Berger VLD's and using Reloder 26 gets 3100 fps with a 22 inch barrel. At 600 yards it's down to about 2100 fps but I certainly don't think it would bounce off an elk at that lower speed. That's about the same velocity a 30/30 with a 150 grain bullet would have at around 75 yards. I bet a lot of elk have been killed with a 30/30 at that distance.

It may not bounce off an elk, but it is also not necessarily going to have a high likelihood of killing it either.  The bullet you mention has a reputation for not expanding at those velocities in that range. 

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