The 257 Weatherby Mag. Case capacity is literally and figuratively the driving force here: Both Nosler offerings are based on the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum and both boast case capacities of 93.5 grains of water. Just what the perfect balance between MV and BC is remains unanswered by me. Don't get me wrong, but 45-70 are very accurate and can travel quite well buckin' the wind, In ballistic terms, a 235-grain .375 bullet at 3,000 fps exits the muzzle with lots of energy: 4,695 ft-lbs. For example , the chart I used showed about 67-70 drop for .270 at 600 yd.. 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. Just saying, excellent job to tell the nature of all calibers for hunting from 100 to 700 yards for medium game. Feb 17, 2023. It will be built on a stiller predator action, carbon wrap or #4 fluted stainless at 26 inches. I'm trying to find the best round from the muzzle to 500yds as far as trajectory. 6.5-300 WBY (-204) Great info but my 7mm rem mag with Nosler 120 grain BT (.417bc) @ 3600fps has anything on this chart beat pretty soundly. The way in which cartridge manufacturers develop rounds to overcome these forces is the twist rates of the barrels in the rifles the cartridges are chambered in, developing longer, more aerodynamic bullets with narrower ogives and case capacity. You are cordially invited to any of our matches. The result of this work was a flat shooting and hard hitting sniper cartridge with 200 to 400 yards of extended reach compared to the 7.62mm M118. Light bullets driven fast shoot flatter over shorter distances. I appreciate the kind comment. Answer (1 of 5): Trajectory flatness is a function of muzzle velocity. I love that you have gone above and beyond here and I see tremendous value in this knowledge. For good reason. For deer and lesser critters, its a solid 500-yard cartridge. What do you guys think the flattest shooting caliber would be for hunting I have heard 6.5x284 but the bullet CE appears better on a 270. Beyond 600 or 800 yards, however, the efficiency of the high B.C. For most calibers, such as a 45 getting the impact to be on target at 75 yards, the impact at 50 will be an inch or so high and an inch or so low at 100 and 4 to 6 inches or more low at 200 yards. It is an ideal choice for deer-sized game in open country, and a fine choice for mountain game. . This is one of the flattest shooting bullets available on the market, with a plethora of different size bullets available that range from 75 grains for small game, all the way up to 120 grains for deer. They have 1 particular cartridge thats something of a hot-shot for flat shooting, long distance devastation; the Weatherby .30-378. Not many of us can afford the ammo, let alone the rifles and scopes that chamber it, in such calibers as 375 CheyTac, 408 CheyTac, or 416 Barrett. Below is the information Ive gleaned from 17-caliber through 338. Zeroing for 100 yards or farther will change drop significantly. I prefer larger calibers for elk, but the .270 is perfectly adequate for elk, and I have personally used it for elk all the way to 400 yards with no problems. 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. Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. 1. . And for all of you whove just learned your flat shooting champion really isnt, sorry. 17. 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? Shot from SAAMI-mandated 1-8 twist barrels, the 6.5s long, slender bullets seem to almost defy wind and gravity and allow this cartridge to deliver clean kills at distance. This article covered not only objective but the subjective topics my buddies use to caliber shame my 5.56. The .277 bullet earns a lower B.C. Despite its relatively low B.C. bullet to offset wind deflection. .25-06 AI with a Berger 115 VLD that's moving 3,600 fps. +Nick Strother, he TOLD you right up front he was only including cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. What I have come up with is the .270 Weatherby Magnum with a 135gr Sierra Matchking and 7828. Its just human nature to celebrate and admire the biggest, bestest, and flattest. Before we check that out, lets give a nod to the 240 Wby. I\m also a huge fan of Ron Spomer so well done for the recognition of his great work too. At 1000 yards a .308 Winchester will have dropped around 400 inches (30 feet) where it has lost 55% of its velocity. The 300 PRC in 225G exceeds this and the 338 Lapua Magnum by a noticeable difference. It's wide-open so anyone from beginners to pros, 25 caliber pocket guns through to race guns. Even at 500 yards the Hornady 225 SST is traveling over 2,000 fps and carrying over 2,000 ft/lbs of energy. = 3002 inches = 250 foot = 76m above target at 1000 yds now thats a challenge ! Death in the Long Grass: A Big Game Hunter's Adventures in the African Bush .by Peter H. Capstick, Dino Paravano, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders (Volume 1) Paperback, The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game, Horn of the Hunter: The Story of an African Safari Kindle Edition, Use Enough Gun: On Hunting Big Game Hardcover, Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail: Upland Birds and Small Game from Field to Feast Hardcover March 1, 2018, The Easy Venison Cookbook: 60 Simple Recipes for Deer, Elk, and Moose Kindle Edition. Equally, cutting through the air slows the projectile down, eating away at its energy. The non-bonded bullet should deliver good terminal performance up close and at distance. I was surprised at the distance, so I asked my PH Thats just 155 yards? He got a stunned look on his face and said, No, TWO hundred fifty-five yards! Our miscommunication during the shot sequence didnt matter a bit, because I was shooting a .28 Nosler, which put the shot only 2.8 low at that distance. It seems a bit odd to consider a .22-caliber cartridge of any design suitable for long-range hunting of even smallish big game. . So it ends up being a very fair comparison. Nosler is loading the 27 with their famous AccuBond, which is one of the best big-game bullets ever crafted. What caliber rifle shoots the flattest? rating) driven more slowly. For example, the .50BMG and the 6.5 Creedmoor both launch bullets at approximately the same muzzle velocity of 2,700fps. Mag. A 10 mph right angle wind at 500 yards can divert even a fast, high B.C. All same bullets for each of the numbers that are then averaged. It's not until you get farther out that BC starts making a big difference. (Curiosity? So since it doesnt work AT ALL for serious shooters, it doesnt get much air time, and then the average hunter who only shoots 2-3 boxes per YEAR never hears about it. At 600 yards, most common cartridges are running out of juice to take down larger game like Elk or Moose, though the 300 win mag/300 WSM still have a bit left in the tank. Noslers first proprietary cartridge is basically a steroid-monster 6.5 Creedmoor. Thanks. 3. (Essentially, you don't have to arc the 300 Win Mag's bullet trajectory in order to strike a target up . Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. It was also a resounding success and has remained popular with hunters looking to stretch their effective range. 260 Rem The 7mag is one of the calibers he mentioned for the original 7 in the test. The muzzle velocity is a plus in windy conditions, with the bullet arriving on target with minimal drift. Backfire LLC owns and operates this website. Thanks Precision, varmint, big-game, and dirt cheap NATO surplus ammo for plenty of cheap shooting. Then look at the available options for reloaders, nearly endless, bullets for every application imaginable. A 100 yard miscalculation short or long will vary your hit by a vertical of 2.3-2.9 feet, enough to completely miss or wound the deer. The .204 will work quiet well at 500 yards with good shot placement. Fantastic information. Flattest Shooting Hunting Bullet 257 Weatherby Vanguard 26" pipe. Again great job !!!!! At a 100 yard zero sight in the 500 yard drop is 37. bullet 12 inches at 500 yards, a low B.C. Not to mention the different variations in grains in each individual caliber,Ogive and BC. With a recent elevated popularity, due in no small part to the rise of the six-fives, the Grendel is now getting the attention it deserves. Its also based on the 220 Russian/7.62x39mm Russian cartridge, but unlike the Valkyriewhich uses a 0.223-caliber bulletthe Grendel is yet another 6.5. Something like a 7mm Ultramag shooting a 120 TTSX would be pretty flat shooting to 500. I noticed the WSSM family was not on your list I assume because of the higher velocities they would be higher than the standard calibers. Hornady 123-grain SST at 2580 fps. That should be pretty close to flat. Since nearly all long-distance shooters today use a laser rangefinder, does it even matter which cartridges shoot the flattest? If I am mistaken, I am sure someone will chime in and let us both know. Lots of hunters consider the .270 Winchester one of the best all-purpose, short- and long-range cartridges of all time. It will push a 90-grain Fusion bullet to 500 yardswhich is probably the limit for . That does not appeal to my simplified physics understanding of the subject. Great information! Unfortunately, the .223 WSSM has fallen by the wayside in recent years. Yep, me too. Besides recoil, the downside is the limited availability of factory ammunition and rifles. If you like the idea of a six-five for going long, but hate the Creed and want something a bit different, the 6.5-284 Norma is the way to go. Since this article originally went live, several excellent long-range big-game cartridges have it the market. The RPM does not have a belt or the customary Weatherby radiused shoulder, and it was designed to go with an ultra-light hunting rifle. But the 7mm Remington Magnum will remain supersonic out to 1,400 yards or a bit more, making a good choice for cross-canyon hunting. From 600 to 1000 yards they use a 300 Winchester. Your Knowledge is greatly appreciated! The 300WM with the 210 VLDs at 2950fps is pretty good also. Developed form the military, Winchester . Why is the 7 MM Ultra Mag also called the 7RUM not on your lists? I\d be curious to know what the minimum cost is for just the rifle or a quality budget build. 30-378 weatherby (214). 500-yard drop: 45 inches (based on a 100-yard zero). So dont assume that youll be shooting the worlds flattest rifle cartridge and bullet until youve verified your MV and bullet B.C. And here they are: Flattest at 300 yards 240 Wby. Accuracy, knowledge of your rifle and its drops at different ranges, and knowledge of the conditions will dictate your very long range shots. I love your work and what you share with us. Twenty years ago, Winchester introduced the .270 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum). Take a look at the MPBR column and note how close they all are. Your email address will not be published. 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. Thats what makes a long-range hunters heart go pitter patter, and its what has kept Weatherby in business since 1945. In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. 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). ), Hornadys Precision Hunter 178-grain ELD-X at 2,600 fps is probably the best long-range option, but look also at the new 168-grain Berger Hybrid Hunter load from Federal, RELATED: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Winchester. At 500 yards, 5.56 will have roughly 339 ft-lbs of energy which drops to roughly 75 ft-lbs at 1,000 yards. Good video! Deciding on the three best flat-shooting cartridges does not come down simply to one statistic, but a combination of all the factors inherent to a cartridge. The 50 BMG is still supersonic past 1200 yards. And that light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field; it also makes practicing more fun and productive. I believe the 6.8 SPC is that alternative. Thank you. (not the bullet Id choose for this beast, just puts it nicely in line with the others), What does that do for you at regular ranges? I subscribed to your Feed as well. The 220 Swift would be my pick for coyotes, rodents, and probably pronghorn if it werent for the wind deflection issue. Both are of course bolt-action rifle cartridges. Meantime, lets enjoy our deeper dive into flat shooting hunting cartridges (hand carried and shoulder fired. Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ELDX at 2,960 fps. 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. | My grandkids have a poem for this photo: Cartridge cartridge on the table, choose the flattest if youre able. Of course, the .270 Win was developed in 1925 when 1000 yard shots were effectively unheard of. And yes, the .223/5.56 even dominates that match. I took the shot prone and then stood up after the wildebeest tipped over after a perfect shot. Shooters have no real idea how much drop a bullet has at long ranges like 1500 yards. Thanks Jim! You cant pull data from different sources with different lengths of barrels and different loading methods and expect to get true results. I dont get it. Below is a chart indicating the three best flat-shooting cartridges and their muzzle velocity, drop, energy levels, and felt recoil. I blog often and I truly appreciate your content. MM Like the 26 Nosler, the 28 is based on the 404 Jeffery case and will remain supersonic out past 1,750 yards. I know it is very uncommonly talked about. We like the 257 STW we're loading 115 gr bullets around 3600fps with 1/2" groups.We can run it hotter and a Berger vld would be pretty flat. Im going to set a restrictive definition on common and only include cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. RELATED: The 10 Best Rifle Bullets for Long-Range Shooting. However, it proved to be mostly a flash in the pan. BUCK DOYLE Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: .260 Remington (130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM . 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 I know its a great round, but its by a long shot the best selling rifle chambering of the last several years. Could you add a little explanation of why/how twist/spin rate make any given bullet/velocity shoot flatter? A long-time favorite of snipers, the .308 Winchester will remain supersonic out to around 1,200 yards. If going after larger game is the preference and the hunter is looking for real stopping power within 300-yards, then the .308 would be the go-to caliber. However, the lead that the 25-06 has is pretty small. Mag. Should you have other helpful info, please send it to me by email: [emailprotected]. Check out ShootersCalculator.com. As with Hornadys two recent 6.5 caliber introductions, it has found favor with long-range competitors, but also with hunters who like to hit at distance with heavy bullets. The spin rate helps to stabilize the projectile along its path, cut through drag and higher case capacities give the projectile more velocity thus delivering the bullet to the target more quickly. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range with a 129-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet at 3,400 fps. However, I fully admit that that a flat shooting cartridge is not nearly as important as a cartridge which is resistant to wind deflection. I still shoot a .270 caliber cartridge and the same 150gr bullet, but with a 3gr powder charge boost. Want to run your own ballistics numbers? Thats true, but the bullets have been vetted. For bigger game, I could easily hunt with either the 240 or 6.5-300 Weatherbys. He just never made it official. After Weatherbys 6.5-300 Magnum did not win as many hearts and minds as theyd hoped, Weatherby rethought the 6.5mm cartridge and developed the 6.5 RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum). Enjoying many of your video\s whilst stuck in lockdown. This cartridge existed in a cloak of obscurity for a long time; only recently have hunters began to see the potential it offers. By way of comparison, the .270 Winchester (based on the .30-06 Springfield) offers a case capacity of 67 grains. But if you can shoot this cartridge well, with its supersonic speed out beyond 1,650 yards, youre just about unstoppable at distance, and there are lots of factory loads and riflesaffordable and expensiveto choose from. Great chart, I appreciate all your work on this. A big 7mm like the 7rum can put a 140 with nearly a .500 bc downrange at over 3500 fps or a 120 with about a .400 bc in the 3600+ fps range. With the exception of the 7mm Remington Magnum, cartridges of this diameter have never been as popular in America as they should bemaybe because this was the caliber of the Imperial German Army and the Nazis. All are welcome. You still need excellent range finding equipment and preferably have tested drops in your rifle in case your bullets have exaggerated BC claims. No, its not a 6.5 Creedmoor, but few things are. The quicker it gets to 200 yards the less time gravity has been working on it and the less it will drop. You can't go wrong with a .308 for a 500 yard rifle. The new Federal Premium, 130-grain Terminal Ascent load with a muzzle velocity of 2825 fps shoots flat and the bullet is tough enough to handle up close impacts while still delivering good. The flattest-shooting popular rifle cartridge at 1,000 yards is the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, followed by the .26 Nosler, the .28 Nosler, the .22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. Yeah, yeah, I know theyre cartridges and not calibers, but lots of people call them calibers so I thought Id roll with it. again. A 30-06 will take any game on the NA Continent. At 300 yards it has dropped around 13 inches, and at 500 yards it's just under 60 inches (5 feet). That's pretty dang flat. Obviously Weatherby and Nosler, but are there other manufacturers, vendors, builders to consider? Ballistically, the cartridge is very similar to the 6.5 PRC, but unlike the PRC it uses a standard 0.473 rim diameter like the .308 Winchester. Also, same bullet, but a .257 Wby Mag will also work if you hit the same velocities. via the Davenport formula. So what can we learn from these numbers? 1 Normal load using the most popular factory ammo, one heavy load for each, one light load. Its drop at 1,000 yards is 330.30 and at 500 yards its drop is 50.00. Underwood Ammos 110-grain Lehigh Controlled Chaos bullet at 2800 fps is another great option. I also appreciate the realistic exposition of the relevant comparison between effects of flat-shooting cartridge vs judging cross-wind! Flattest at 500 yards Weatherbys wildly overbore 6.5-300 wins again! Flattest at 500 yards Weatherby's wildly overbore 6.5-300 wins again! The rifle has five caliber offerings . Pronghorn hunters have driven the search for flatter shooting cartridges for a long time. Fun? 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? 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. 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. The 27 Nosler bests the .270 Winchester by about 400 fps with 150-grain bullets. The .22-250 is accurate, fast and delivers devastating performance at long ranges. Nope, pretty much matches a 308Win to 500 yards. I've been looking at the .257 weatherby that drops about 34" with a 100gr bullet at 500 yards and the .22-250 is another at around 36" with a 50gr bullet. Excellent job. The round is on the cusp of energy at 300 yards, but it is a favorite among short to mid-distance deer hunters. . All the following data was computer generated as if all loads were fired from a (simulated) dead flat (level) barrel, so these are pure drops. Is it possible to show those on your web site list? 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. Ive posted your article on my wildlife and hunting group on FB. Recoil is stiff and some find it hard to master. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. But lets have a round of applause for our antiquated 220 Swift, just 0.2-inch off the record! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Taylor's formula calculates a less-inspiring TKO number of 37. Thanks Jim. With the popularity of this cartridge due to America's favorite rifle, the AR15, more and more people are stretching the . Still, by using G1 across the board, we are on a level playing field. etc. 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. And they can change in your rifle and will change at different velocities. But again, that just my opinion. Ive updated the chart description so its more clear that it isnt in inches. Somehow stumbled onto this article. . A bullet starts to drop as soon as it leaves the barrel. .45-70 shoots like a Rainbow compared to even a Win 30-30. again. Mag. Normas 180-grain BondStrike Extreme at 3,084 fps is new and very flat-shooting. 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! Cheers. that are blowing the ceiling off gun sales, instead of 6 5 CDM? 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. Mag. Kind regards. With the highest BC bullets, the 26 Nosler remains supersonic beyond 1,750 yards. No exotics just yet, theyll come later. Well, nothing will save you if you mistakenly range a deer at 700 yards thats really at 800. I've heard that too! 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. With a flatter trajectory and less wind drift the .300 Win Mag offers a useful step up in performance in a similar size rifle. http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator. . That kind of long-range accuracy comes at a hefty price with this model starting at $11,700 from the manufacturer. It takes a lot of practice to learn the aim point to bring the rifle on target. 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. We are not going to include here the esoteric military sniping rounds engineered for 1,000 yards, 2,000 yards, even 3,000 yards. Its like a shorter, beltless version of the .300 Winchester Magnum. Before we check that out, let's give a nod to the 240 Wby. This is the allure and benefit of a flat shooting bullet. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range, 175-grain AccuBond Long Range at 3,125 fps. A flat shooting cartridge matters. Norma offers a 156-grain Oryx load that wont shoot as flat but provides great terminal performance. Also, I used something called G1 B.C. Here we go! The rifle snobs might whine. Well placed shots seem to work and poorly placed shots tend to fail. They are normalized within caliber. The .277 is an oddball bullet diameter, in that it doesnt fall into the much more common 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30-caliber categories. is the fastest at 3,500 FPS, and exits a rifle with a muzzle energy of 2,700 FPE. Indeed, some deer also live in places where a 50-yard shot is much more likely than a 500-yard shot. The goal with the 6 mm ARC was to provide the flattest-shooting cartridge compatible with an AR-15. i've heard the .17 hmr are real flat shooting. The URSA gongs are 37 inches round and if you get 4 out of 10 you advance in 500 yard increments. Also know that not all manufacturer-claimed B.C. A few specialty matches, such as the Farr trophy at Camp Perry, are fired at 1,000 yards. So I find it strange you dont have it on any of the lists from what I have seen. Choosing the flattest shooting rifle cartridge in each caliber category seems fair, fun, and revealing, so well do that before identifying the all time top dog. due to its larger diameter which increases drag. [wd_leadmagnet type="dressing"] So it Im guessing to summarise it doesnt really matter what you shoot as long as you know distance to target & your maths Know your trajectory curve and nail the shot distance with a range finder and you can offset huge rates of drop. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. The flattest shooting caliber and load I could find was the .300 RUM shooting a 150 grain bullet. Your email address will not be published. Was sad to not see the .300 H&H Magnum, though I doubt it would measure much different than the .300 Win Mag. Most often you just have to buy a Weatherby rifle to get one, and while that used to be an expensive proposition, its not anymore. projectiles begins to add up and they shoot flatter at extreme range. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Another issue is recoil.
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