Post by: jeff100 on November 26, 2008, 12:16:59 PM
With the recent proliferation of new short magnum cartridges, and rifle cartridges in general, excluding the .50 BMG cartridge, what would you consider the 'ultimate' long range cartridge for short action and long action rifles? Given the performance and success of short fat cartridges for long range shooting (e.g. 6mm PPC), I'm thinking one of the new short action magnums would be the best choice, but I have no experience with any of them, nor do I want to buy a rifle in each caliber to make an assessment. :o
What cartridge would you guys pick? Thanks!
Jeff
Post by: 270Shooter on November 26, 2008, 12:51:18 PM
And for short actions 6.5-284. :twocents:
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on November 26, 2008, 01:54:18 PM
Post by: jdb on November 26, 2008, 02:20:10 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on November 26, 2008, 02:26:23 PM
30/378 or 338/378. JB:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Post by: thinkingman on November 26, 2008, 02:35:28 PM
408 Chey Tac
Post by: Big10gauge on November 26, 2008, 02:39:52 PM
My first choice would be the 300 WM just because IMO it's a proven long range factory cartridge that's hard to beat. Now if your talking a really custom chamber I would go with one of the necked down 338 or 378 wildcats just like JDB said. Expensive to load and shoot would be the only drawback.
Post by: JoshT on November 26, 2008, 02:50:50 PM
Post by: BrushChimp on November 26, 2008, 03:06:59 PM
Post by: Bofire on November 26, 2008, 03:18:03 PM
Post by: high country on November 26, 2008, 05:26:56 PM
Post by: bobcat on November 26, 2008, 06:08:24 PM
Post by: Gutpile on November 26, 2008, 06:08:58 PM
Post by: actionshooter on November 26, 2008, 06:17:08 PM
.338 Lapua
30-378
for smaller calibers.
6.5-284
For a short action magnum the 7WSM is WAY underated, very good round.
Post by: ICEMAN on November 26, 2008, 07:08:22 PM
I'd just keep it simple and go with the 300 Rem. Ultra Mag.
x2
Great rifle,....love mine.
Post by: BC CHASER on November 26, 2008, 09:04:20 PM
Post by: Bearhunter on November 26, 2008, 10:12:25 PM
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Post by: jeff100 on November 27, 2008, 01:47:13 AM
The most accurate gun I've personally owned to date was a Ruger M77 (original model) in .300 Win Mag.
That gun was laser accurate with the right reloads. Easy sub MOA at 100 yards, cover three shots with a nickel. Had a beautiful walnut stock on it too, very pretty rifle...
While I wouldn't really take a shot beyond 400 yards as I consider stalking close as part of the skill of being a hunter....but for this discussion I'd want the option to shoot effectively out to a max range of 600 yards.
IMO...that distance eliminates the lighter bullets as they just don't have enough energy to buck the elements and be effective on big game beyond 400 yards. Whoever suggested the 7mm WSM is thinking along the same lines I am. Maybe a 6.5mm or 6mm with the WSM case? How do you calculate the right rifling twist rate for a wildcat like this?
On the other end of the spectrum, I was very impressed with the .416 Barrett...if you haven't seen this video...it's worth seeing...
Post by: 270Shooter on November 27, 2008, 08:03:26 AM
Maybe you should look into the 7mmRUM or 7mmWBY for long actions. But for short actions I think a 6.5 on a WSM case would be a great cartridge. I really like the SD and BC of those 6.5 bullets, so they should buck the wind pretty well.
I saw an article on the .416 Barrett in one of the gun mags. cool round.
Post by: JPhelps on November 27, 2008, 09:03:25 AM
Long Action = You almost have to use a .338 because of the ballistics of the available bullets.
Now the .338 Edge for a semi wildcat (no fireforming brass)
I feel the ultimate long range hammer is the .338 Allen Mag. A .408 Chey Tac necked down. The numbers are amazing out of this gun.
Post by: Ghost1941 on November 27, 2008, 09:14:39 AM
Post by: high country on November 27, 2008, 11:28:45 AM
I would say i you have a sub moa gun and lots of practice, you will be fine with any choice.
Post by: shag on November 27, 2008, 03:37:32 PM
A Kimber or a TI in 300wsm and a 200gr NP
Post by: Bofire on November 27, 2008, 05:36:51 PM
Carl
Post by: GEARHEAD on November 29, 2008, 06:20:54 PM
in short, and on the cheap, keep that 300, and just put a customized BDC turret on your/a scope (i.e. leupold custom shop, $175.00). get the rangefinder, (i have a bushnell 1500 with arc $400.00).
simply range your target, dial and shoot. I have a 7mm-08, and have shot two bucks at 402 and 456 yards, one shot drops. i have shot paper and rocks out to 836 yards so far accurately. good luck and have fun burning all that money.
Post by: cascademountainhunter on November 29, 2008, 06:42:12 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on November 29, 2008, 06:44:02 PM
Post by: Charlie on November 29, 2008, 11:07:46 PM
Post by: norsepeak on November 30, 2008, 08:39:27 PM
Post by: Intruder on December 01, 2008, 10:28:52 AM
Off the shelf.... 300 RUM is awful tough to beat. 30-378 is also a good choice but I'd probably go RUM.
Wildcat.... lots of options. A good friend of mine just built a 30-338 Lapua. I really like the way it shoots. 1200 yard shots would be doable w/ it based on the loads he's been able to work up.
Post by: Coasthunterjay on December 01, 2008, 10:56:59 AM
Post by: Wenatcheejay on December 05, 2008, 03:53:30 PM
http://www.longrangehunting.com/
Post by: huntnphool on December 05, 2008, 04:07:37 PM
Post by: Intruder on December 05, 2008, 05:33:03 PM
Post by: Wenatcheejay on December 05, 2008, 10:59:58 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on December 06, 2008, 04:43:43 AM
Post by: dbllunger on December 06, 2008, 12:13:35 PM
Post by: high country on December 06, 2008, 04:29:57 PM
Post by: boneaddict on December 06, 2008, 05:10:16 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on December 07, 2008, 03:33:22 AM
Post by: rasbo on December 07, 2008, 04:56:51 AM
Post by: boneaddict on December 07, 2008, 06:21:23 AM
Post by: SagebrushStalker on December 07, 2008, 09:18:24 AM
Post by: Charlie on December 07, 2008, 02:47:04 PM
Quote
He was going coyote hunting and I found out about it so I asked him to go with me, and took him to a place where there wasn't any coyotes.
Now that would have been a sound strategy Bones, if you would have got one! :chuckle:
Post by: dbllunger on December 07, 2008, 03:37:18 PM
Post by: high country on December 07, 2008, 07:58:11 PM
I want what ever the american sniper used in Iraq to make the mile and a half kill ,might have been afganistan..Cudos to him
that is called luck. I have never seen anyone that could reliably make hits once the bullet went subsonic. good shot, absolutley a skilled shot, and very lucky too.
Post by: dbllunger on December 07, 2008, 08:11:08 PM
Post by: Intruder on December 08, 2008, 08:13:22 AM
Sierra .338 300 grain MatchKing has a BC of .76. In a .338 RUM It still has over 1900 ft/lbs of energy at 1000 yds. :dunno:
Sure, but you're not likely to shoot that bullet over about 2700 fps. You can shoot the 220 MK in the big 30s at or over 3200.... and it has sumthin like a 625 BC. I've never run those .338 numbers through a ballistic calc but I gotta think that at 1000 yards there's gonna be more than 4 feet of differece in drop between the 2.
Also, I'm not sure if everyone commenting on this is is thinkin the same thing in respect to the question. Are we talking about a practical long range hunting cartridge or just long range in general? My statements are based on hunting cartridges.
Post by: Wenatcheejay on December 08, 2008, 09:32:13 AM
Now, have I made a 1000yd shot? No. My Father in Law got me into long range shooting several years ago. He shoots 1000 yd events and has made several shots at over 800 yards. His longest shot was 985 yards. He is also a gunsmith and made my rifle. He shoots the .338 Lapua and that is the sh&!. While elk hunting I could have tried my shot at 1000 yds but decided to move in closer and took it at 550 yds with a one shot kill. That is a range more comfortable for me but, I can punch paper at 850yds. I am sure that for some people even 500 yards is to far, I understand that and say to each of us our own. I have also called elk into with in five feet of me, I love all angles of hunting, long range hunting is one way. If we each know our capablilites let things be.
If you were to ask what is the best .30 caliber cartridge I would ask for opinions of the 30-06 ackley improved? I want one. Then I would ask if you really get more out of the 200gr vs the 168's? I have a .30 barrel and when I get a long action that is what it is going to become.
Post by: S.O.B on December 08, 2008, 08:45:44 PM
Post by: actionshooter on December 08, 2008, 09:20:49 PM
Post by: Wenatcheejay on December 09, 2008, 08:28:28 AM
All I was sharing is what has worked for me beyond anything I thought possible. I paid to have it build, did my homework, built up loads, and IRL testing including "in the field. All that was offered is what has worked for me.
Post by: norsepeak on December 09, 2008, 06:44:35 PM
270 Allen Mag.
169.5 grn. Wildcat H.P.C.J. (U.L.D., R.B.B.T., F.B.)
Burning 98 grns. at 3300fps.
B.C. of .740
Post by: BC CHASER on December 09, 2008, 08:06:40 PM
Post by: Bearhunter on December 09, 2008, 08:52:40 PM
Post by: JACKALL on December 29, 2008, 03:25:02 PM
Post by: deaddog on December 29, 2008, 04:46:20 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on December 30, 2008, 08:01:00 PM
Post by: Jamieb on December 31, 2008, 07:00:48 AM
Who built your rifle?
Your setup and site in sounds like one of Dave's guns.(Harbor Guns?)
Post by: buckhorn2 on December 31, 2008, 10:10:06 AM
Post by: haugenna on December 31, 2008, 07:21:02 PM
It is for windy days when getting closer is not an option.
Wind and distance are not a good combination.
Hats off though to the 338-378. That...in my opinion, is the ultimate long range hunting rifle. I have is 30 cal little brother. The 338-378 destroys almost all of the 338 calibers. The lapua doesn't hold a candle to this one. Neither does the RUM.