New Long Range Caliber?

[sgreen3]

Well fellas Ive been thinking of taking on a new caliber for long range work. I have been shooting 308 for my long range work for a number of years now an looking to step it up. Now granted the 308 will do anything I need it to do and has done it very well but as most of us we get tired with the same thing and just want to try something different. So Im thinking of going with a Savage based rifle in 260rem any thoughts on this caliber? Or would there be another caliber Im not thinking of. I also thought about possibly doing one in 243 I know the 6mm cartridges are somewhat the gold standard for longer range shooting. This would be strictly a long range paper puncher off the bench. Well let me know what you guys think, thanks!

 

[30calmachinegunner]

6.5x.284

 

[jajwrigh]

6.5 grendall, 6.5 x .284, .338 laupua are a few...

 

[pierce195]

260 Remington is a great round. It's has a lot less drop at 1000 yards over the 308 Win. If you don't reload you might look at the 6.5 Creedmoor. A lot better factory loads available for that round.

 

[threedhuntr]

Something in 6.5mm ...... and fast. Nobody has asked yet, how "long range"?

 

[dugsagun]

338winmag

 

[Dirty Steve]

For strictly paper punching as you described, 6.5x284, .260 or .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6BR will all shine. It's more an issue of wheter or not you reload.

Dirty Steve

 

[IndyGunworks]

LOVE my 6mm.... but I only went with .243 because of recoil... I can shoot the thing off a bipod free recoiling w/out the stock touching my shoulder, and still make good groups.... this little recoil allows my wife to shoot the rifle easily. If you are not recoil sensitive, the 260 is a pretty awesome round as well.

 

[42769vette]

When I made this decision years ago first I narrowed it down to 6.5mm for what I wanted to do. Inside of that I ended up torn between the 6.5x284, and 260 (this is pre creedmor). I chose the 260 because I shoot to much and cant afford the barrels a 6.5-284 would go threw. The 6.5-284 has better ballistics than the caliber I chose, but I believe practice trumps ballistics.

I still shoot 308 a lot, but no matter what you pick (obviously with in reason) you will be amazed at the ballistic advantages over the 308). Just a few days ago I shot a 308 next to a 243 (indygunworks's) at 300 yds. Both rifles had 200 yds zero's, and the 243 dropped 1 moa, the 308 dropped 2 3/4moa.

 

[cedarthicket]

How about the brand new 26 Nosler? A 6.5 MM pushing a 129 grain bullet at 3400 ft/sec could certainly be used for long range work.

The 26 Nosler ? Nosler

 

[42769vette]

How about the brand new 26 Nosler? A 6.5 MM pushing a 129 grain bullet at 3400 ft/sec could certainly be used for long range work.

The 26 Nosler ? Nosler

That will burn a barrel even faster than the 6.5x284. That's to fast for me, unless you only shoot 100 rds a year, or dont mind re barreling a couple time's a year.

 

[top hat 45]

last wednsday shooting USA tv show had f-class highlites and the winners were shooting a variety of 6 mm rounds. the winner was shooting a 6 mm brx. obviously handloading is a must for custom calibers.

 

[threedhuntr]

How about the brand new 26 Nosler? A 6.5 MM pushing a 129 grain bullet at 3400 ft/sec could certainly be used for long range work.

The 26 Nosler ? Nosler

That will burn a barrel even faster than the 6.5x284. That's to fast for me, unless you only shoot 100 rds a year, or dont mind re barreling a couple time's a year.

my thoughts also. bet that round will be scorching the throat.

 

[avboiler11]

See my signature line - replace 260 Rem with 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x47 Lapua, as appropriate.

I have a 20" 1:8 McGowen prefit on a Savage 10 action and 43.0gr H4350 gets me 2700fps with 140gr Hornady HPBT...substantially better wind drift at extended ranges even when compared to a 26" 308 pushing more expensive 155s hard.

 

[avboiler11]

Also, if you wanna get exotic, think about the GAP 6.5 4S - George Gardener's pet 6.5 SAUM.

 

[Niles Coyote]

I started with a 308, tried a factory Remington varmint 243 and that made me wonder why I still used a 308... Then I went to a couple custom 260's... Love the 260 and still enjoy the challenge of the 308. Truth is with anything long range, you are going to want to load your own ammo. Yes you can use the factory match stuff but if you are really into it you are going to want the control reloading gives you...

 

[throttletony]

well, they've listed all the calibers I can think of, except maybe a 6.5 Swede - unless I missed that in a list somewhere. (Creedmore listed as well)
there's also the 6BR and its variants.
AccurateShooter.com 6mmBR.com -- Best Guide to Precision Shooting and Precision Rifle Accuracy
Other calibers could include the 25WSSM, or the .25-06, and even the .257 Weatherby
26 Nosler looks like a blast as well. Time will tell.
For me, I'd get a fast twist 243, handload heavy-for-caliber bullets (100gr+) and call it a day.
But yeah, if you already do the .30 family (308, 30-06, 300WM, etc), then get down in the 6mm, 6.5mm, and 7mm families for fun.
.260 Rem is a good cartridge, as is the 6mm, and even the humble .270 when loaded right can really perform well, although you won't have quite the bullet selection that you will in .

 

[IndyGunworks]

For me, I'd get a fast twist 243, handload heavy-for-caliber bullets (100gr+) and call it a day.

Thats what i did. 27 inch brux barrel 1x8 twist.... slightly longer throat... slightly long throat for 105's, and slightly short for 115's



Rifle is for sale, but it aint cheap.

 

[monitor51]

7.62 R54

 

[IndyGunworks]

7.62 R54

you mean 7.62x54R? Never heard of an R54... must take them magazine clips