Long range rifle choices.

[BTSDOG]

Nice. I was thinking about getting one of those.

Also:

1. I just noticed where you are shooting. I love that range.

2. Aren't you worried the ring on the handguard could cause issues with accuracy?

1. Yes, its a nice range. Hardly anyone there during the week. Especially on 300....

2. Nope, not worried. She shoots sub moa at 100 and 300. If anything is off kilter, its me, not the gun....Havent tried her at 600 yet, but will in the near future....

 

[45BPCR]

So there's no love for the 45-90 here.
A 540grn bullet at around 1200 fps only needs about 120 min elevation on the back sight to reach 1K

 

[teamRR]

Talking to PRS shooters when I was getting ready to build my rig I consistently was told 2500-3000 rounds max on a 6.5 CM barrel. At the time I was like, that will take a while to shoot that many rounds. In actuality, not so long.

Sure, I've shot out a .308 barrel in that round count (bad barrel to start IMO). But most people are going to spend a lot more on ammo than an occasional barrel.

For 600 yards, steel for fun, the barrel you choose probably won't be > $500. Is a reasonable expense after say $3000 in ammo - won't be barrels that blow your budget anyway. This is a saying.

I don't know what half decent 6.5 Creedmoor runs now days, my rifle in that is collecting dust, not a reloader myself - just don't have the time, even if reloading it saved me $800/month I'd spend more paying someone else to work on my boat, truck, fix my reels etc etc

 

[Broc Tuah]

So there's no love for the 45-90 here.
A 540grn bullet at around 1200 fps only needs about 120 min elevation on the back sight to reach 1K

BPCR is too much for most of NES.

 

[Broc Tuah]

Talking to PRS shooters when I was getting ready to build my rig I consistently was told 2500-3000 rounds max on a 6.5 CM barrel. At the time I was like, that will take a while to shoot that many rounds. In actuality, not so long.

How many rounds have you shot?

If you are shooting enough 6.5cm factory ammo to need a new barrel, the cost of replacing the barrel is insignificant.

 

[PatMcD]

I go back to my original recommendation of a 223 AR. I can put a $250 barrel on there, and any steel you fail to hit at 600 will be your fault; not the barrel/caliber/platform.

 

[lukewarm_fuzz]

I go back to my original recommendation of a 223 AR. I can put a $250 barrel on there, and any steel you fail to hit at 600 will be your fault; not the barrel/caliber/platform.

Do you have a favorite manufacturer for barrels in that price range?

 

[PatMcD]

Do you have a favorite manufacturer for barrels in that price range?

Just go to White Oak Armament. John's 1-7 Wilson will do everything you need it to do out to 600.

 

[paul73]

I go back to my original recommendation of a 223 AR. I can put a $250 barrel on there, and any steel you fail to hit at 600 will be your fault; not the barrel/caliber/platform.

sure can. but next you will want to load 77gr nosler rdfs or 80.5gr bergers that are not going to fit into the AR mag.
Not if you have to, but, well.

 

[Rockrivr1]

Just go to White Oak Armament. John's 1-7 Wilson will do everything you need it to do out to 600.

Another recommendation for White Oak Precision. I had them put together a Highpower Rifle for me. Still have that rifle and it much more accurate than I am.

 

[Road_Clam]

Just go to White Oak Armament. John's 1-7 Wilson will do everything you need it to do out to 600.

Listen carefully best advice stated above. WOA barrels just shoot amazing with 77's or 80's and a dose of Varget or R15 ! Pair a WOA barrel with a Geissele trigger to suit your need and you have a hell of an accurate rifle.

 

[paul73]

Listen carefully best advice stated above. WOA barrels just shoot amazing with 77's or 80's and a dose of Varget or R15 ! Pair a WOA barrel with a Geissele trigger to suit your need and you have a hell of an accurate rifle.

Or forget .223 and go with 6 arc and 105 or 108 bergers or hornadies

Top AR-15 Cartridges for Long Range Shooting - RifleShooter

What does the data say is the best AR-15 cartridge for long-range shooting, hunting, competition and plinking Top AR-15 Cartridges for Long Range Shooting

www.rifleshootermag.com

 

[AllaSnackbah]

Surprised as this is NES, no one chimed in with something like "the only choice for long range is a AI custom chambered in 338 lap it up". The choice of real operators.

View attachment 932964

I wasnt going to say anything...



...but since you did, here is an AI generated sunset photo.

If you dont put a LRF on top that costs as much as the rifle and the optic combined you dont even operate and will never hit a target at 600yds.

 

[AJK129]

I never understood the hate for a certain caliber. It's always from somebody who didn't understand ballistics. All ANY caliber does is propel a certain diameter bullet at a certain velocity.
I had a minor arguement this morning on fb "maine deer hunters" with a guy who said the 6.5cm is a trash caliber because his buddy shot a deer with one and never recovered it. He said 6.5 bullets don't work on deer until AFTER 600 yds. I had to end the conversation with "have a nice day".

Show him my deer from Maine with a 6.5 at <50 feet?

 

[G4Y4HK]

I wasnt going to say anything...

View attachment 933390

...but since you did, here is an AI generated sunset photo.

If you dont put a LRF on top that costs as much as the rifle and the optic combined you dont even operate and will never hit a target at 600yds.

With a gun like that you'd have to factor in the rotation of the earth too right?

 

[PatMcD]

sure can. but next you will want to load 77gr nosler rdfs or 80.5gr bergers that are not going to fit into the AR mag.
Not if you have to, but, well.

77's can't be loaded to fit in a magazine? That's news to me. Yes, 80's and 80+ need to be single-loaded, but 77 has been my magazine bullet for 20+ years.

 

[50wt]

He said Nosler 77s , not Sierra 77's, dont fit in the magazine so they must have a different profile.

 

[PatMcD]

He said Nosler 77s , not Sierra 77's, dont fit in the magazine so they must have a different profile.

Of course they can. Done it.

Edit to expand on that: we tried the Nosler RDF's at mag length and decided they suck. Can't get enough powder in the case, if that was the problem. The whole point of using 77's of any brand is to have a solid 300yd load. We'd shoot H80 ELDM's at 300 if they would fit in a mag, but they can't. So to summarize, the N RDF is a bullet that solves a problem that doesn't exist.

 

[paul73]

we tried the Nosler RDF's at mag length and decided they suck

any other reason to that, other than that they are not supposed to sit that deep in the case? why do they suck?
i've shot them, and they worked consistently enough for me. here, even found the sample:

 

[PatMcD]

any other reason to that, other than that they are not supposed to sit that deep in the case? why do they suck?
i've shot them, and they worked consistently enough for me. here, even found the sample:
View attachment 933443

As a mag-length bullet we consistently got better accuracy with virtually every other brand 77.
As a 600yd bullet, if loading them long, there is no reason to use them over better long-line bullets like Berger 80.5's or 82's, Hornady 80ELDM's, etc.

Like I said earlier; I'm not sure what problem they were meant to solve.

 

[paul73]

what problem they were meant to solve

give a better option to people who are not using 1:7 twist rate?

 

[Broc Tuah]

So, it is settled.

Either a Tikka T3X in 6.5cm, a 700 in 6.5cm, an AR15 in 223/556 or an AR10 in 6.5cm.

 

[Mesatchornug]

So, it is settled.

Either a Tikka T3X in 6.5cm, a 700 in 6.5cm, an AR15 in 223/556 or an AR10 in 6.5cm.

Or a T3X in 223

 

[PatMcD]

give a better option to people who are not using 1:7 twist rate?

Well, for 600yds, it's useless to have anything slower than 1-8 because a 1-9 just won't reliably stabilize 75 and 77's. And obviously, its useless to use anything lighter than those bullets out at 600. MOST 1-8 barrels will utilize the same bullets as a 1-7, with the exception of the 88's and 90's. So I would recommend the same bullets regardless whether it's 1-8, 1-7, 1-6.5, or 1-8-6.5 gain twist.
People are free to try the Noslers if they want, but I won't recommend them because of the reasons i already gave.

 

[Broc Tuah]

Or a T3X in 223

Yes.

Either 223/556 or 6.5cm.

 

[paul73]

So, it is settled.

Either a Tikka T3X in 6.5cm, a 700 in 6.5cm, an AR15 in 223/556 or an AR10 in 6.5cm.

it`s good to have options, ain`t it? and as of tikka/savage/bergara - it`s is a matter of taste. tikka does not fit into my wardrobe, does not mean it should not be in yours. whatever.

 

[AJK129]

So, it is settled.

Either a Tikka T3X in 6.5cm, a 700 in 6.5cm, an AR15 in 223/556 or an AR10 in 6.5cm.

Bergara > 700, same footprint so all the same aftermarkets but better QC (allegedly?)

 

[PappyM3]

Well, for 600yds, it's useless to have anything slower than 1-8 because a 1-9 just won't reliably stabilize 75 and 77's. And obviously, its useless to use anything lighter than those bullets out at 600. MOST 1-8 barrels will utilize the same bullets as a 1-7, with the exception of the 88's and 90's. So I would recommend the same bullets regardless whether it's 1-8, 1-7, 1-6.5, or 1-8-6.5 gain twist.
People are free to try the Noslers if they want, but I won't recommend them because of the reasons i already gave.

According to calculations, the 80gr ELD-M loses some BC in a 1:8 or 1:7.5. Not much, like a 4% loss in a 1:7.5, but still a 1:7 would be better. But I don’t have a Doppler radar to confirm.

Your point stands though. Just sharing info.

Edit: it may be fine due to some of the length being the ballistic tip that is minimally contributing to the distance between center of gravity and center of pressure.

 

[teamRR]

So, it is settled.

Either a Tikka T3X in 6.5cm, a 700 in 6.5cm, an AR15 in 223/556 or an AR10 in 6.5cm.

Haha yes or .308.

Actually in my limited experience, I swear .308 is the most well rounded of the bunch as far as accuracy with most ammo. ie when I load up mil spec in a good rifle it's typically within 1.5 moa.

.223, again my limited experience, any rifle I've tried to get all anal about that I own - the ammo matters a lot more.

6.5 CM I still think is the ideal round. And I personally would enjoy semi auto a lot more for the OPs goal of steel. Bolt action just isn't going to be quite as fun.

 

[paul73]

I personally would enjoy semi auto a lot more for the OPs goal of steel. Bolt action just isn't going to be quite as fun

it depends. i have all of them, and so far, both of my best bolt rifles can make 300yds groups of a same size that my gas guns usually do at a 100.
of course barrels in my gas guns are rather average, and bolt guns are premium, but, it still holds true for the outcome.

so if 'fun' is the smallest group possible, with a 1lbs fine trigger, then bolt gun is the better way.