I'm looking for opinions as to the beast choice for a long range cartridge not only for punching paper but medium size hunting task .

Not Elk or Deer but Antelope Coyotes Etc.

Question:
What long range 600 meters plus cartridge would you prefer and why ?.

Choices:
A 6.5 X 47
A 6.5 X 284
A 300 Mag
A 6mm BR
A 7mm

 

257R, 25-06.

Roberts for me. Excellent velocity in bullet weights well suited to antelope or smaller game.

Also fine for deer.

Same could be said for the 25-06, but it is more of everything. A bit too much more for my choice.

JPK

I voted for the 6.5x47 assuming you meant the Lapua target round. I'd also consider the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 260 Remington - if your rifle's magazine is long enough to accommodate a 140 VLD seated properly. You didn't list it but quick twist 243 might be fun with 105 VLDs and 107 Matchkings.

A 6.5x284 in a long action because of the great bullets available and I know that it will take coyotes cleanly out past 700 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
A 6.5x284 in a long action because of the great bullets available and I know that it will take coyotes cleanly out past 700 yards.

X 2, and a deeper throat to match the longer action and magazine. roger

My personal choice is a 260 Rem up to a 264 Win Mag if you just have to have that last few fps velocity.

Owning 3 of them, I'd support the suggestion for a 260 Rem...

no need for a 6.5 x 47 unless you are out to impress someone with an exotic cartridge that most will have never heard of...

actually since you are leaving deer out of the mix.. a good 243 or 6mm Rem would be hard to beat....( and they will work on the deer anyway...)

25-06 or 260 rem. but with what you mentioned go with the 6.5x284..What 7-MM are you asking for.

Gidday Doc,

6.5/284 only because that is what all the f class boys here are using for the long range stuff.

Not only will it clean up the dogs but will handle deer and elk with ease if you so desire.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Hey Doc, I went with the old 300WinMag simply because I've used one for a lot of years at long distances with excellent results.

Never had a 6.5, so I can't comment on them. Other than the 6.5s in the higher weights do seem to have on paper some impressive Ballistic Coefficients for their size.

Have had a few 7mms of various sizes and still have a 7mm-08 and a 7mmRemMag. The 7mmRemMags I've had tended to be a bit pickier about finding constantly accurate Loads than the 300WinMags. But a different shooter might see just the opposite with his rifles.

Best of luck with your choice.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
Never had a 6.5, so I can't comment on them.

You're missing out on a very fine caliber!

25-06 is perfect for that task !

quote:

Originally posted by bighatnocattle:
My personal choice is a 260 Rem up to a 264 Win Mag if you just have to have that last few fps velocity.

yup.

though I voted for the 6.5/284 since I have the worlds best-est one!

[QUOTE]Choices: Since I see this going a little far afield I may as well throw my thinking into the ring.
A 6.5 X 47 ( not bad but a little weak on the long range side.
A 6.5 X 284 The best choice of what is given but a scosh over powered
A 300 Mag ( absolutely more than needed)
A 6mm BR (Just not enough for the job)
A 7mm (Again too much)

Anything from a 6mm Reminton to a 6mm-06 IMHO is what is needed roger

quote:

Originally posted by Ingvar J. Kristjansson:
25-06 is perfect for that task !

Ditto

Since you didn't list .25-06 I had to go with 6.5-284.

I have a confirmed one shot kill on a groundhog at a lasered 813 yards and a confirmed one shot kill on a prairie dog a lot further than that with my .25. Plus it's taken deer at well over 400 yards a bunch of times.

Still, I'd like to have a 6.5-284.

Not sure what 7mm is being considered, buy I'd go with a 7mm Mag for long distance work, followed VERY closely by the 6.5-284.
Actually, I have a 284 Winchester in addition to 7x57's and the 7mm Mag. The 284 I have is on a Mauser 98 action with a heavy barrel, and it was built for long distance work.
My bias here is towards the 7mm's as I just like them, however that 6.5-284 is sure tempting.

Don

It appears out of the listed cartridges I posted the 6.5 X 284 is the clear choice !.

As I own several different caliber rifles including a couple of 6.5 X 55 ,

7mm and .308 3006 .300 .338 .375 . I'm not particularly fond of the 6mm's as I already have

a few varmint rigs in .222 .223 never have been a fan of the .243 !. I remember having to track

deer when I was younger that had been shot with .243's I never pulled the trigger however !.

I thought I would draw on experiences of others as to what they preferred !.

I thank all of you who participated !!. I know 25/06 and 257 R are excellent cartridges ,

I've always preferred my 7 Mag and for limited benching my .338 Lapua is accurate but a bit rough

on the shoulder for multiple shots now days .

The 6.5 X 284 is my choice as in all likely hood this may be my last rifle !.

I spent the last two days taking inventory and somewhat organizing the reloading room bullet wise

any way . I have discovered that much more shooting time on my part is required to expend my current

supplies of components !!. Possibly 15 -20 years for powders and bullets at 5 or 8K per year !!!.

Purchasing components has ceased !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

quote:

Purchasing components has ceased !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

There goes the economic recovery!

I am in the same sort of boat, but smaller, with what seems a friggin' life time supply of .458" bullets.

Funny, but I don't recall ordering that many...

JPK

Doc,

I was able to test out a 6.5 x 284, when I was building a long range shooter, with a heavy barrel that I thought I needed...

I also tested velocity potential out of my 6.5 x 55, my 260s and even a 6.5 x 57 and a 6.5/06..

I got no more real world velocity out of a 6.5 x 284 ( built on a Rem Long Action), than the swede or the 260 ( throated out) was giving me..
same with the 6.5 /06 I was able to test, and the 6.5/06 AI....

Speaking with Sierra's techs, they indicated best accuracy, even at long range with 6.5 bullets was an MV of 2800 to 2900 tops regardless of bullet weight..

my testing with all of these calibers verified that advise to be sound.

i didn't go with the 6.5/ 284, because of brass availability etc...it only duplicated the Swedes I already had, and only got about 50 fps higher than the 140 and 142 grain match bullets were giving me for velocity...

in the end, I built a 6.5 x 57.
I could just neck up plentiful 257 Roberts brass.. built the rifle on a Model 70 long action with a 28 inch PacNor heavy magnum contour barrel with a one in 8 twist...

This was even after I had already purchased a set of Redding 6.5 x 284 dies...

I went also with the 257's .473 bolt face, since 6.5 x 55 brass has different diameter bolt faces...

just passing this on, since if you still have some of your 6.5 x 55 stuff, you already have what the 6.5 x 284 will give you, plus you won't have the brass availability problems, nor will you need to purchase dies etc...

in some informal `1000 yd shoots, my 6.5 x 57 competed on par with guys having 6.5 x 284s, 7 Rem Mags, 300 Win Mags, 30-338 Win Mags and 338 Lapuas...

The 140 match bullets even need less elevation on then at 2850 fps, that the guys with the MAGS were having to use, utilizing 190 and 200 grain match bullets...

afterall, all we were doing is putting holes in paper....

just thought I'd pass on info and the benefit of all the testing that I did on my project...

the only reason I didn't go with the 6.5 x 55 swede was bolt head variations in diameter.

and even on a short action the 6.5 x 284 gave me exactly 50 fps over the 260 Rem, and considering the availability of 308, 7/08, 243 brass to neck up or down to 260 Rem, the extra idiosyncracies of the 6.5 x 284 were not worth gaining 50 fps MV... heck on click on scope elevation more than compensated for the trajectory differences...

just passing on my findings...potentially it can save you a few bucks...sure did for me...
and I was lucky to know a few people who loaned me access to their rifles to test all of this out...

Thanks SeaFire ; It's under advisement now as I shall revisit ballistics stats !.

Those of us who know mag recoil and powder consumption begin to appreciate efficient low recoil

accurate cartridges after 40 years of self inflicted abuse !.

I still enjoy shooting them all, some just less frequently then others . Or perhaps better put

not shooting them so many times in a single day !!.

Thank Again ;

I have a friend who has a 6.5 x57 Ackley. Awesome round and still fun to shoot.

600 meters!! I can't even see that far much less shoot accurate and deadly projectiles. What ever happened to ethical hunting? You remember, don't you? Stalk into sure kill range and make a clean kill. Maybe I'm just too old (fashioned) and need to mind my own business, eh?

7mm STW with 140 grain bullet at 3500 fps is as good as it gets.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeMichalski:
600 meters!! I can't even see that far much less shoot accurate and deadly projectiles. What ever happened to ethical hunting? You remember, don't you? Stalk into sure kill range and make a clean kill. Maybe I'm just too old (fashioned) and need to mind my own business, eh?

Mike, shooting targets accurately at 600 meters is not that hard anymore with the right equipment. 35 years ago before my eyes started to go it was a lot harder to do, but we didn't have today's equipment.
Hunting at 600 meters? No, I've done it. I get a bigger thrill when I'm within feet not yards.
Maybe we're just too old or old fashioned and need to mind our own business.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeMichalski:
...Maybe I'm just too old (fashioned) and need to mind my own business, eh?

quote:

Originally posted by ColeK:
...Maybe we're just too old or old fashioned and need to mind our own business.

Yeah, I go by that myself. I never post ANYTHING controversial, nor that ANYONE could take exception to.
-----

At what distance do you all think it is OK to fling a Bullet?

My favorite 600 meter cartridge (not big game hunting) is the 223 wssm with 75 grain bullets @ 3500 fps.

MikeMichalski
one of us

Posted 16 April 2009 22:02 Hide Post
600 meters!! I can't even see that far much less shoot accurate and deadly projectiles. What ever happened to ethical hunting? You remember, don't you? Stalk into sure kill range and make a clean kill. Maybe I'm just too old (fashioned) and need to mind my own business, eh?


NRA Life Endowment Member

Mike ; I can see fine beyond arms length , it's reading in which I now must wear glasses !.

I've learned several things over the years , one of which is If it's posted on this forum

it is everybody's business !!.

I'm not and never have been an advocate for hunting Animals over 500m . Deer or Elk or Any plains

game with the exception of Antelope . ( Just my personal belief )

As I've always been one to shoot once , drop what I've hit and not have to track or make excuses for

missing . So 500m and under odds are in my favor !.

I simply wanted the opinion of others as to what they would prefer for a paper puncher 600-1000 m

that would still be capable of dropping an Antelope Coyote or smaller varmint out to say 800m .

Most of my Mags are 7m .300 or .338 including my Lapua which is more than capable , but it also

sets you back after banging a box or two on paper . I'm not talking $$$'s either !!!.

I like the idea of 6.5 it's a proven cartridge regardless of case dimensions .

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MikeMichalski:
...Maybe I'm just too old (fashioned) and need to mind my own business, eh?

quote:

Originally posted by ColeK:
...Maybe we're just too old or old fashioned and need to mind our own business.

Yeah, I go by that myself. I never post ANYTHING controversial, nor that ANYONE could take exception to.
-----

QUOTE]I'll readily vouche for that...

quote:

I can see fine beyond arms length , it's reading in which I now must wear glasses !.

Mmmmm.... Me too! I have 20/20 long distance vision. (I also have 20/20 hind-sight!) I pick up a lot of "need my glasses/arms not long enough" cracks because I go out without my reading glasses!

quote:

Originally posted by seafire2:

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
...Yeah, I go by that myself. I never post ANYTHING controversial, nor that ANYONE could take exception to.
-----

I'll readily vouche for that...

I say get the 300 Winchester Magnum. There are more thirty caliber bullet choices than for almost any caliber. Not counting the accelorater, the choices are from 90 to 220 grain in almost every style of bullet. Whatever you want, you can roll your own. And, you can pick a velocity between 2500 and 3500fps.

I bought a pre 72 sako in 264 win mag, it really preforms well at long distances. I also have a 25-06 in the same make and model which is high in my favorites. With out a doubt the 264 will do all that the 25 will only much better. Both guns are very accurate even with factory ammo. Having shot a couple hundred animals with the 25 and then using the 264 win mag - the difference is very substantial,however; the recoil is somewhat different too. Hard to pick a favorite.

I've burned out a 6.5/284 and knw what it will do. Gotta have another

700 yards is too far for any of those cartridges with a one shot one kill mentality. You might hit 40% given wind, temp diffrences, sweat or frost in your eyebrows. Try a 223 on the ar platform and adjust fire until he falls. Surprising what that little 65 grain pill will do at that distance.

The first thing I did after graduating from college in 1957 was to have a 7mm Ackley Magnum built. My course was plotted!!!
The 7mm Rem mag wasn't on the scene then, so I had to do the case forming thing for the Ackley. I used that one and only rifle I had for EVERYTING..Deer, groundhogs and paper punching. There's just something about 7mm chamberings that float my boat. Ya get attached to something like 7mm's and ya can't quit. It's addictive. I'm addicted.

Don