stupid question.. cartridge selection

[manscout]

I've been looking into doing up a gun for 2000+ yds. I imagine some are going to cringe when they see what i'm asking for help with, but here it goes. I'm trying to find the cartridge with the best "value". That is to say, something that is worth having a rifle chambered in that is efficient and cost effective to reload with very minimal reloading equipment (pretty much a just a press and die...) "has decent barrel life (oh i know i know..)" and is overall fun. and yes, i know, "compromising is bad and buy once cry once.." na, stepping stones.

I'm familiar with the notion that cartridges have misunderstood limits, i.e. shooting really far with a 223 or 308.. but i have those things and was looking for the "next step." My pee brain had something like a 7mm, 300 or maybe a short action magnum (i have a savage short action that is begging to be rebarreled). Also, when comparing things like the 6.5 saum / gap 4s or whatever it's going by now to the likes of the 7mm mag or 300 win mag or maybe even the 7mm-300 practical sheebang, is it worth doing a gun from the ground up rather than just rebarrelling the gun i have now in a saum? I've looked at the ballistics on paper for all the mentioned cartridges but that doesn't take into account the "value" and equipment aspect. I understand that saum brass is a pain in the whazoo to make without much equipment. I know that hornady has "factory" brass for it but i've only seen bad things about it. Copper creek is offering saum brass now as well.
ps. as yall can most probably tell, i'm cheap. yes. too cheap to be taken seriously by most, but i don't believe i have to spend $8000+ on a rig to shoot. i have always looked for the best value rather than the best option for things not life or death. SOOOOO... to summarize the question, what is the best dollar for dollar value given my situation?

Ok. That's about it i think. Thanks for reading this mess and a gracious, heart-felt gesture to any who reply.

 

[diverdon]

While I have not done it myself, I think you are going to need a big bullet to get that far. 50 BMG might be the ticket, or you could consider a .416 Barrett or a .408 Chey Tac. I think those will be the easiest way to get to 2,000 yards. If you are looking to do it as a stunt then you might be able to get away with a .338 Lapua. Assuming that you want to be able to hit a target at that range (rather than a mountain) I'm not aware of a frugal way to do it.

 

[1J04]

Agree with diverdon, you're gonna have to face the reality of spending $$$$ to get there with any consistency. You'd be well served to go to the ELR section since this isn't really a "stupid" question. Those boys over there are schooled in what you seek. They'll not steer you wrong. Goodluck with your pursuit of awesomeness.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...vance-marksmanship-unit/elr-beyond-1000-yards

 

[AIAW]

This is a double-post. It was posted over there before it was posted here... tisk tisk!

Agreed though - not really a stupid question. More of a physics dilemma : )

 

[1J04]

This is a double-post. It was posted over there before it was posted here... tisk tisk!

Agreed though - not really a stupid question. More of a physics dilemma : )

And here's the guy I was gonna point the OP to. Copy that scooter. Now wash that finger.

 

[AIAW]

And here's the guy I was gonna point the OP to. Copy that scooter. Now wash that finger.

Hehe, thanks. I replied over there to it just now!

Finger has been bathed : )

 

[chevyman368]

Looonnngg distance is never cheap. But a big heavy bullet not a great choice. I would look into the 6mm Dasher. Brass is getting easier to find, or make yourself. Very soft shooting cartridge. Will due 1500 no problem. You can build $3500 rig in this cartridge less scope.

 

[vh20]

Looonnngg distance is never cheap. But a big heavy bullet not a great choice.

Then why are all the go-to ELR calibers shooting big, heavy bullets (375 CT, 338-whatevers, 300 NM, etc)? Unless you mean, "not a great choice because they're expensive"?

 

[chevyman368]

300 grain bullet .800 bc at 2650 drops 1921 inches at 2000y. 105 berger vld at 3150 .532 bc drops 2066 in at 2000y. Yes as far as price the dasher would be a cheaper entry level to 2000 yards. But personally am not a 2000 y shooter, just my 2 cents. If I was really really into that distance yes I would drop the big bucks and shot 338 or something along those calibers.

 

[lash]

Looonnngg distance is never cheap. But a big heavy bullet not a great choice. I would look into the 6mm Dasher. Brass is getting easier to find, or make yourself. Very soft shooting cartridge. Will due 1500 no problem. You can build $3500 rig in this cartridge less scope.

Okay... But how is that little 6mm going to hang in there at 2000+ like the OP wants to shoot? I'm not saying that it's not possible, but there is a huge difference between 1500 and 2000 yards when it comes to drop and ability to buck wind.

 

[Sheldon N]

300 grain bullet .800 bc at 2650 drops 1921 inches at 2000y. 105 berger vld at 3150 .532 bc drops 2066 in at 2000y. Yes as far as price the dasher would be a cheaper entry level to 2000 yards. But personally am not a 2000 y shooter, just my 2 cents. If I was really really into that distance yes I would drop the big bucks and shot 338 or something along those calibers.

Yeah, but that little 105gr bullet will have over 8 feet more wind drift in normal 10mph conditions, will only hit the target with the energy of a 22lr (ie you wont know you hit it) and there's no way you're getting 3150fps from a Dasher.

 

[delfuego]

Saying the Dasher is a 2k yard cartridge is ridiculous. I shoot the Dasher, it is a 1000 yard BR cartridge. In that design, it is excellent. Beyond 1k it cannot compete. It will make 1 mile, but if your wind call is off by 1mph you will not hit your target. Going from 1k to 1 mile is a very big step. Going from 1 mile to 2000 yards is an even bigger step. It is all about wind, not drop. If you look at your wind charts you will see the problem. I wish my wind skills were good enough to estimate 1mph at 2000 yard...

 

[vh20]

...And, 2650 for a 300 gr. 338 mag is low. My 338NM sends 300SMKs @ 2704 with a conservative load. Drop @ 2000 is 1901 in. But, I definitely get that it can be done cheaper. Not as well, but done, nonetheless. Similarly, it can be done much better if one is willing to spend even more.

 

[manscout]

I appreciate the replies guys. from what i've seen, it seems as though 300 wm or 7mm mag are the best options for what i'm specifically going for. they allow me to use the rifle "cheaply" with "normal" loads and switch to the newer bullets to try to really stretch and test it out. so the "value" is there going with one of those.

 

[lash]

You are probably right. Only you really know what you want and with the newer projectiles and powders available they can really stretch their legs on demand.

 

[Matthew488]

Sometimes it's not just about whether a given cartridge will get there to the longer ranges but whether or not you can see your hits/misses at that distance. Good example is that it's very difficult to see impacts from my 204 ruger at even 500yards. I would also agree that one of the factory options in 7mm or big 30s sounds like a good option for what your looking for. The 7mm Rem and 300WM being the common and cost effective while the 300 Rem mag and 30 Nozzler being good to consider as well.

 

[Sig Marine]

.284 in a long action throated for the longer 7mm bullets will handle the occasional outing to 2k.

 

[manscout]

Sometimes it's not just about whether a given cartridge will get there to the longer ranges but whether or not you can see your hits/misses at that distance. Good example is that it's very difficult to see impacts from my 204 ruger at even 500yards. I would also agree that one of the factory options in 7mm or big 30s sounds like a good option for what your looking for. The 7mm Rem and 300WM being the common and cost effective while the 300 Rem mag and 30 Nozzler being good to consider as well.

i was considering the 30 nosler as i liked the concept. however, it seems as though the cartridge is quickly dead. as in nosler and shooters in the like have lost interest and the focus now is the 28 nosler and their 22 nosler. With all that said, how does the 300 wsm stack into all of these different options?