flattest shooting caliber to 500 yards flattest shooting caliber to 500 yards

Time of flight impacts bullet drop more than anything else. It was also a resounding success and has remained popular with hunters looking to stretch their effective range. again. Enjoying many of your video\s whilst stuck in lockdown. The Barrett 416 or CheyTac exceeds this - I have witnessed it first hand - then you get into the wildcat cartridges. You are cordially invited to any of our matches. At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Long Range Calibers in 2022 Best for Beginners: 5.56mm/.223 Remington Minimal Recoil: 224 Valkyrie Best for Long Range: 243 Winchester Best for Seasoned Shooters: 6mm Creedmoor Best Value: 6.5mm Grendel That's why the three best rifles we have sorted have a 500-yard impact range below 40''. Feb 17, 2023. And for all of you whove just learned your flat shooting champion really isnt, sorry. I hope this report clears up some trajectory confusion and perhaps settles some old arguments. I already have a Swarovski Z6 3-18 bt. always means more wind deflection. With its rebated rim and 1/2-inch diameter at the base, it is essentially a longer version of the 6.5284 Norma; ballistically equivalent to the .264 Winchester Magnum. Yes I know its a barrel burner but so is the 300RUM and others on the list. Again great job !!!!! Could you add a little explanation of why/how twist/spin rate make any given bullet/velocity shoot flatter? the max load is the distance load. inherent in 6.5mm (.264) caliber bullets. First, some boundaries. I see there are some others like 300Win mag as well and thats a very popular cartage so it should be there as well I would think. | However, it proved to be mostly a flash in the pan. I have a 27 3/4" barrel 264 Win mag that shoots 130 Accubonds 3350 fps with Retumbo. Therefore my velocity is up to around 3175fps, BC .434 G1 and the 500 yard drop is 23 with a 300 yard zero sight in. And that light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field; it also makes practicing more fun and productive. The advent of precision rifle competitions and the laser rangefinder has increased the publics desire to go long. But as with the 6.5 PRC, there are not a lot of factory-ammo options to choose from. Always amazing to me its not even on those lists. All are welcome. that are blowing the ceiling off gun sales, instead of 6 5 CDM? The .223 Remington will easily take care of any varmint out to around 500 yards, but at extreme distances loses its punch. At 500 yards . The 243 Winchester and 6mm Remington have reputations for shooting flat, but the lesser known 240 Weatherby magnum fires the same bullets at higher velocities, so its the flattest of the 24-calibers. I had to calculate this one out, as Weatherbys ballistics charts dont go past 500 yards. Know your trajectory curve and nail the shot distance with a range finder and you can offset huge rates of drop. Just saying, excellent job to tell the nature of all calibers for hunting from 100 to 700 yards for medium game. Somehow stumbled onto this article. YMMV RELATED: How the Brand-New 27 Nosler Revives the .277. Just hoping my bad experiences might inspire you to avoid some of your own. But dont waste your time trying to convince us a slower cartridge in any caliber can shooter flatter than the ones weve identified as category leaders. Its a top choice of military snipers and can launch heavy bullets with high speed and exceptional precision. The 147-grain ELD-M bullet has a sectional density of .301 and a G1 Ballistic Coefficient of .697, which is arguably the highest ballistic coefficient of any 6.5 Creedmoor bullet. Weatherbys The .224 Valkyrie is the flattest shooting 0.224 caliber cartridge . Want to run your own ballistics numbers? Granted I do live in New England, and we dont have that many long shot opportunities here, but you would think someone would want to have there firearms chambered in such a flat shooting cartridge. But lets take a quick look at a historically popular flat-shooting cartridge, the .270 Winchester. So, Winchester slightly modified the .270 WSM case so it was a bit shorter and then specified barrels with a faster twist. 223 Wylde chambered, 20" barreled rifle. 28 Nosler cartridge For decades, the Nosler cartridge has ruled the world of a flat shooting range with complete dominance. And is it fair to include Risky Ralphs overstuffed, compressed-powder loads that exceed the highest handloading guides top loads by 400 fps and leave primers looking as if theyd been squashed on a train track? That should be pretty close to flat. If you had to choose one cartridge to hunt with for the rest of your life, you could do a whole lot worse than the .30-06 Springfield. It has the best BC and is hands down the flattest shooting of the AR15 calibers. Heres a chart from my Popular Hunting Cartridges Compared article. When a bullet is fired, many forces are immediately working against it: gravity, wind, and atmospheric drag. Also look at Federal Premiums 180-grain Nosler AccuBond offering at 2,960 fps. Im going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new details about once a week. Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ELDX at 2,960 fps. . A good hunting cartridge has to fit in a rifle thats comfortable to carry all day and wont kick you so hard that you cant shoot it well. Hunters can take advantage of flat shooting rounds to extend maximum point blank range, the distance over which a center-of-target aim results in the bullet remaining within the kill zone, never climbing above it at mid-range and remaining in it until maximum point blank range is reached. What I have come up with is the .270 Weatherby Magnum with a 135gr Sierra Matchking and 7828. But can it defend that title at 1,000 yards? Great information you have come up with. The best varmint rifles are capable of accurate, repeated medium to long range shots from a fixed position, and are usually found in light, fast calibers that have a flat trajectory. Flattest Shooting Hunting Bullet 257 Weatherby Vanguard 26" pipe. Should you have other helpful info, please send it to me by email: [emailprotected]. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. Your email address will not be published. In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. But if it isnt, go read the article again. A 30-06 will take any game on the NA Continent. At 500 yards even the flattest shooting rounds are going to be dropping somewhere around 30". You can argue that you can get the 243 WSSM shooting flatter, but that cartridge is already considered obsolete. For example , the chart I used showed about 67-70 drop for .270 at 600 yd.. Muzzle velocity certainly makes a difference in how fast the bullet reaches the target, but it is by no means the only factor to consider. Thanks again. With a flatter trajectory and less wind drift the .300 Win Mag offers a useful step up in performance in a similar size rifle. Only B.C. (A bullet far from optimum for shooting elk.) J. Nosler Trophy Grade with a 150-grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range at 3300 fps. I love your work and what you share with us. What Is The Best Hunting Cartridge To 500 yds. Barrel length will change MV. I was once hunting plains game in Africa when my PH told me, holding a rangefinder, that the wildebeest was 155 yards away. I noticed in your video that your chart also listed energy and recoil. It takes 200 rounds to fully break in a barrel, so theyd finish it off in just 2-3 competitions (where you fire 200 rounds in a weekend). Id consider a base of: Among these cartridges, the 25-06 offers the highest MPBR (Mean Point Blank Range) or the max distance that you can adjust a scope to and be +-3 with the most common bullet weights per caliber. It may not display this or other websites correctly. (For anyone who gets worked up about the fact that the .30/06 isnt on this list, feel free to swap it with this one, as long as you dont mind the extra kick. Surprisingly, even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than most 6.5s. Terry Cross. again. However, the .220 Swift and the .22-250 have been used to take deer out to distances a lot of folks got no business shooting, for a long, long time. Thats what makes a long-range hunters heart go pitter patter, and its what has kept Weatherby in business since 1945. All Rights Reserved, My Group Therapy: Shooting Log Book | 100 pages (6"x9") | Record Target Shooting Data & Improve your Skills and Precision Paperback June 13, 2019. However, I have a question to ask you. Best Ive been able to do is run ballistic charts on many combinations, knowing that muzzle velocity is of major importance and bullet B.C. BUCK DOYLE Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: .260 Remington (130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM . Lots of hunters consider the .270 Winchester one of the best all-purpose, short- and long-range cartridges of all time. Have fun hunting! It was introduced in 1962 and essentially knocked the .264 Winchester Magnum several notches down on the popularity list after hunters and shooters put the 7mm Mag to the test. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Whether or not thats true, my own success rate at 1,000 yards informs me to always stalk closer if I can and to forego shots at any distance unless Im supremely confident I can make them. This is the allure and benefit of a flat shooting bullet. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Hornadys Precision Hunter 145-grain ELD-X at 2,950 fps is the flattest-shooting .270 Winchester load. Despite its relatively low B.C. Check out ShootersCalculator.com. Some of those 26 and 28 Nosler rifles only have 600-900 shots of total barrel life. A rifle is suitable for flat shooting as long as the 500-yard impact range of the rifle falls below the 40''. Perhaps you, dear reader, can provide the formula! In any caliber the cartridge that attains the highest muzzle velocity wins the flat shooter award, so theres no sense arguing that the 6.5 Grendel might shoot as flat as the 27 Nosler. Fantastic information. .25-06 AI with a Berger 115 VLD that's moving 3,600 fps That should be pretty close to flat. But to do this, it must launch a heavy bullet and that means recoil can be stiff; from an 8-pound rifle, it generates more than 33 foot-pounds of recoil, which is more than twice that of the 6.5 Creedmoor. It is capable of sending a 55-grain bullet from the muzzle at 3,700 fps. Despite its relatively low B.C. But lets have a round of applause for our antiquated 220 Swift, just 0.2-inch off the record! drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 400 yards. The goal with the 6 mm ARC was to provide the flattest-shooting cartridge compatible with an AR-15. The lesser charge is a flatter, close group load. If the hunter is looking for a flat shooting caliber with good energy and speed of distances around 400-yards, then the .270 would be the obvious choice. The URSA gongs are 37 inches round and if you get 4 out of 10 you advance in 500 yard increments. If you dont have good range finding equipment, youre hooped either way; humans will have extreme difficulty judging 700 from 725 without physical land markers or other range finding signs. 1. . Cheers. So if you take flat shooting to mean aiming right at something far away and hitting it, theres not really enough difference between the main popular cartridges to get out of bed for. Share: Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Share Link. Fun? No howitzers or tanks.). The flattest-shooting cartridges usually have Nosler or Weatherby in their name, and the top three flat-shooting cartridges were created by those respected companies. Trust but verify. The quicker it gets to 200 yards the less time gravity has been working on it and the less it will drop. If it makes you feel better to hate the 6.5 Creedmoor, go ahead. Though that shot didn't take advantage of the 7mm Mag's flat trajectory, it convinced me of the cartridge's superior qualities. Thanks, 26 Nosler 127 gr LRX 3602 Ft./Sec. Beyond 600 or 800 yards, however, the efficiency of the high B.C. Therefore the .17 Remington is the round for you. With the 30-06, we can only overcome 12 yards of ranging error at the same range before we miss the 6 of vitals. Kind of underwhelming, right? The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. (Essentially, you don't have to arc the 300 Win Mag's bullet trajectory in order to strike a target up . Before we check that out, lets give a nod to the 240 Wby. This is the darling diameter for American big-game hunters. What caliber rifle shoots the flattest? Yeah, 6.5s are all the rage, and their blinding popularity has taken some shine off the old .270, but the latter is still one of the very best long-range hunting cartridges. 6.5mm calibers By the time the 6.5 Creedmoor started gaining popularity, interest in the .270 WSM was fading. Norma offers a 156-grain Oryx load that wont shoot as flat but provides great terminal performance. Obviously Weatherby and Nosler, but are there other manufacturers, vendors, builders to consider? Thats true, but the bullets have been vetted. I asked around a few years ago and found 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum as the most overbore commercial cartridge. Accuracy, knowledge of your rifle and its drops at different ranges, and knowledge of the conditions will dictate your very long range shots. If youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX Long Range load. Now, the .280 AI is finally a SAAMI-approved cartridge, and while ammunition options are sparse, its performance is right there with the 7mm Remington Magnum. As for targeting game at extreme distances, yes, I realize there are thousands of dedicated, well-trained long range shooters who are as good at 1,000 yards as many of us are at 500 yards and some of us at 200 yards. What about the guy who wants to go long with his AR-15? Pronghorn hunters have driven the search for flatter shooting cartridges for a long time. Hunters and shooters should also know that wind deflection of bullets is a more challenging part of hitting what you shoot at than is drop. and .30 caliber bore . Links or names greatly appreciated, Thanks! So dont assume that youll be shooting the worlds flattest rifle cartridge and bullet until youve verified your MV and bullet B.C. Published Apr 14, 2022 12:07 PM EDT. THANK God for analysts like you Jim your passion for statistics really help us guys with our difficult choices and how we spend our hard earned money.. Im definitely sold on the 6.5-300 wby mag its definitely the new Era 270 in my books. However, at 400 yards it increases to 11.2 inches. With the highest BC bullets, the 26 Nosler remains supersonic beyond 1,750 yards. He just never made it official. Once again great effort appreciated. lotsa guys on the internet claim 500 yards is no problem . Gravity impacts all objects the same. The .22-250 is accurate, fast and delivers devastating performance at long ranges. It makes for easy reading in an \all in one place\ comparison, rather than spending time trying to find this data all over the internet. Forums. But the premise is based on my farm, where distances are limited to 560 or so yards. It will push a 90-grain Fusion bullet to 500 yardswhich is probably the limit for big game with this cartridgewhile still retaining enough velocity to initiate expansion. Nope, pretty much matches a 308Win to 500 yards. When considering cartridges for their ability to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical. Not only are new loads being offered, new ARs and even bolt action rifles for the Grendel are being introduced. And while that pokey 300 grain 338 Lapua round drops quite a bit compared to the others in the list, its carrying a lot of energy: enough to take a deer at 1775 yards. In fact, we may say that its the only thing that matters; however, factors that lead to time of flight changes are important to consider. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. Thanks Will! Mag. It is an ideal choice for deer-sized game in open country, and a fine choice for mountain game. This article covered not only objective but the subjective topics my buddies use to caliber shame my 5.56. With the 6.5 PRC, Hornady has created a better version of the old barrel-burner. The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. That's pretty dang flat. I\d be curious to know what the minimum cost is for just the rifle or a quality budget build. For a moose and caribou combo hunt, it's certainly an easy choice..270 Winchester - Like the 30-06, this is a classic caliber that can take on any of North America's big game species. If youre planning on buying a gun to shoot long range shots this is recommended reading. I normally go for high BC and heavy for cal but one place I do run light is I'll shoot a Barnes 110 TTSX 3600 fps in my 270 WSM, for light game and coyotes it's very effective! Shooting a 180-grain bullet (.507 G1 BC) at 2,960 fps and sighted in 1.5 inches high at 100 yards, the .300 Win. A few specialty matches, such as the Farr trophy at Camp Perry, are fired at 1,000 yards. . Im not sure Im reading this right but there seems to be a decimal missing. However, the .50BMG bullet will reach the target with 143 less drop than the 6.5 Creedmoor, because it has more mass which leads to a higher BC, and that higher BC given the same velocity, makes it slow down less during flight. Montana! The story of an old humpback Browning that's Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Most service rifle matches include stages at 200, 300 and 600 yards, from various positions, some timed, while others are slow-fire. From an external ballistics standpoint, it cannot compete with any of the cartridges on this list, but in the field where it matters, it works wonders, and only the 6.5 Creedmoor has less recoil. Choosing the proper ammunition and knowing your own capabilities at those distances is most important. i've heard the .17 hmr are real flat shooting. The newest addition to the Nosler line of proprietary cartridges is the 27 Nosler. Outstanding job!! Must be true since it was posted on the internet. A popular western big-game cartridge, the 7mm Magnum doubles as an excellent tool for long-range target shooting. To even things out, Ive zerod all cartridges at 100, drops are listed in feet and cartridges that fell below 1000 ft-lbs didnt get past the next 100 yard clip. A 25 yard miscalculation at that distance will vary your hit by half a foot and outside our 6 imaginary circle of vitals. The final two cartridges above are mislabeled. He is a well-known entrepreneur, having started many successful online brands, and lives in St George, Utah. I thought Id run an article on the flattest shooting rifle cartridges to compare and contrast both whats popular, as well as a few of the high performance options out there. So it Im guessing to summarise it doesnt really matter what you shoot as long as you know distance to target & your maths plays a major roll in trajectory, but is second in significance to muzzle velocity. Its like a shorter, beltless version of the .300 Winchester Magnum. The Creedmoor carries more velocity and energy downrange with less recoil than any other factory cartridge. A 10 mph right angle wind at 500 yards can divert even a fast, high B.C. He has managed multiple gun ranges, and has hunted around the world. I took the shot prone and then stood up after the wildebeest tipped over after a perfect shot. You still need excellent range finding equipment and preferably have tested drops in your rifle in case your bullets have exaggerated BC claims. The rifle has five caliber offerings . What bullet weight did you select for the .270 Winchester? Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. The biggest deficit is the roughly 57 feet of drop at 1,000 yards. .25-06 AI with a Berger 115 VLD that's moving 3,600 fps. The multiple loads for each cartridge are not at all pulled at random. But truth be told, every Weatherby cartridge is a long-range cartridge. . Most of the calculators out there show larger drop rates then your table. My name is Steve and I have just viewed your video on the Flattest Shooting Cartridges. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range, 175-grain AccuBond Long Range at 3,125 fps. All same bullets for each of the numbers that are then averaged. For some reason it pushed Noslers 125-gr. Many people found it informative, but some of the hunters wanted to know if you have any statistics available on the calibers as listed above. My third point is to remind you that this is not a scientific, Newtonian examination of all possible permutations of cartridges, bullets, muzzle velocities, and Ballistic Coefficients that determine bullet drop over all distances. And yes, the .223/5.56 even dominates that match. Its muzzle velocity is 1880 fps, and muzzle energy is 2355 ft. lbs. The longer the bullet is in the air, the longer gravity can pull on the object. I've heard that too! That, combined with their relatively small size, means that compared to cartridges of similar powder capacity, the 6.5s will almost always do more, in terms of external and terminal ballistics, with less recoil. I stopped there because few hunters are going to tolerate the recoil or rifle weight needed to operate a flat shooter above 338-caliber. This is about an alternative to a .308 for those snipers who will likely never even see a 100-yard deployment and do not need the overpenetration or down range effect. +Nick Strother, he TOLD you right up front he was only including cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. Often theyre inflated. Still, a flat-shooting cartridge will often perform well with wind as well, because it is in the air for less time between the shot and hitting the target. The .277 is an oddball bullet diameter, in that it doesnt fall into the much more common 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30-caliber categories. Thanks for your video and the information on your website. Precision, varmint, big-game, and dirt cheap NATO surplus ammo for plenty of cheap shooting. I know its a great round, but its by a long shot the best selling rifle chambering of the last several years. Equally, cutting through the air slows the projectile down, eating away at its energy. I subscribed to your Feed as well. Thank you for the time it took to work all this data up in an easy to absorb article, where are you getting your information for the bullet drop? Caliber Flattest Shooting Load BC; 7mm R Mag: Hor 139 gr InBd HvMag.480: 270 WSM (1) Fed 130 gr Nosler BT.428: 300 Win Mag: Hor 150 gr InBd . So it ends up being a very fair comparison. If Ive left out an obvious winner or near winner, write in and state your case. My take away on all this number crunching? The flattest shooting caliber and load I could find was the .300 RUM shooting a 150 grain bullet. With their Vanguard line you can do it for less than $900. I still just dont understand why it isnt the 26 or 28 Nos. What are the best long-range cartridges: .22-250 Remington .308 Winchester .300 Winchester Magnum .338 Lapua Magnum .300 Weatherby Magnum 6.5 Creedmoor 6.5-284 Norma 26 Nosler Nonetheless, 7mm bullets can be extremely aerodynamic and, as legendary elephant hunter Karamojo Bell proved, effective on even the largest animals. But there is a big contender missing I think. Was sad to not see the .300 H&H Magnum, though I doubt it would measure much different than the .300 Win Mag. great to see bullet drops and equate them in inches of drop brings home the reality of how much impact good old gravity has on ballistics.even with the flattest cartridges still aiming the height of a house above the target @1000 yds Normas 180-grain BondStrike Extreme at 3,084 fps is new and very flat-shooting. Well, Im done Adulting for Today and Tomorrow. Even though high-BC .30-caliber bullets need to be heavy and pushed hard to shoot flat, many American hunters love them enough to tolerate the recoil. So what if we shoot further than 300? Its just human nature to celebrate and admire the biggest, bestest, and flattest. I work at a very large and popular firearms dealer, and I have sold dozens (if not hundreds) if the 6.5, but I havent sold 1, or had anyone even ask about the top 3 in this list. It nearly matches the ballistics of the Winchester Magnum, but does so in rifles with faster-twist barrels and modern powders that extend barrel life. Then look at the available options for reloaders, nearly endless, bullets for every application imaginable. Below is a chart indicating the three best flat-shooting cartridges and their muzzle velocity, drop, energy levels, and felt recoil. That's pretty dang flat. The .25-06 is fast, shoots flat at 200 yards, and has just a 6.5-inch drop at 300 yards. And it gets there with a lot less powder the either of the two Weatherbys. This should be recommended reading for all shooters learning to shoot long range shots. Shots are usually quick. The 300WM with the 210 VLDs at 2950fps is pretty good also. While at the High Bar Homestead with PSA, I was able to stretch their 6.5 Grendel out to 1,000 yards with Federal Premium 130 grain Bergers. Low B.C. Again, I, as well as so very many other folks Im certain, am very grateful! Required fields are marked *. A 100-grain .243 bullet with a G1 ballistic coefficient around .400 at a muzzle velocity of 2,960 carries just over 800 foot-pounds of energy at 500 yards. For example, the 7mm Weatherby Magnum will shoot the same bullet as a 7mm Remington Magnum, but it will do it about 10 percent faster. flat-shooting, and light recoiling cartridge was extremely effective on deer-sized game. With a muzzle velocity faster than 3000 fps, it offers great external and terminal ballistics. Heck, I cant even find agreement on maximum muzzle velocities in handloading manuals from Speer, Hornady, Nosler, Berger, Swift, Hodgdon, Norma, Sierra, Barnes Furthermore, just because the manual lists those speeds does not mean your rifle will deliver them. Check out more F&S long-range shooting coverage, including advice for getting started in long-range shooting competitions, the reason why rifle groups keep shrinking, how Heavey did at Gunsite Academy, and what makes long-distance shooting so difficult. Zeroing for 100 yards or farther will change drop significantly. Kind regards. Loaded with a 130-grain bullet, it will carry more than 1000 foot-pounds of energy out past 600 yards. It will be built on a stiller predator action, carbon wrap or #4 fluted stainless at 26 inches. . Underwood Ammos 110-grain Lehigh Controlled Chaos bullet at 2800 fps is another great option. The 26 Nosler cartridge was designed with the high ballistic coefficient (B.C.) Most common calibers are just fine for regular range shots under 300 yards. Think 30-30 necked down to a .25 cal. It shoots as flat as a Kansas prairie and holds its velocity way out there. I\m also a huge fan of Ron Spomer so well done for the recognition of his great work too. Your email address will not be published. If youre after critters deer-size and up, the field is dominated by .30-caliber, 6.5mm, and 7mm cartridges, with the best long-range options remaining supersonic out to at least 1,400 yards. On the other hand, wind speed and direction are inconsistent. No exotics just yet, theyll come later. Thank you for the great content you provide. The muzzle velocity is a plus in windy conditions, with the bullet arriving on target with minimal drift. At 300 yards, the hold over (assuming a 250 yard zero) is only 2.6 inches. Drop is constant at the gravitational pull of 32 feet per second accelerating at 32 fps. MY 45 cal ball travels at 1633fps with a standard charge, and 74-5gr for a full charge (2040fps). Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear())