1200 yd caliber

[NJRaised]

For nothing but a target/tactical style rifle, what caliber would you go for for up to 1200yds.

Non competition. Strictly making hits on steel. Without going overkill like a 338.

Target rifle. Seems like 6.5creed is a great choice, but it gets a lot of hate here for some reason.

Seems like a lot here is competition related.

 

[The D]

If you only want to shoot factory ammo; 6 or 6.5 creedmoor

If you reload(you should); eh, just pick something… But seriously, almost any .22, 6, .25, or 6.5 can be built relatively economically enough for banging steel as a hobby

But as for my personal rifle plans. I have a 700 in .30-06 that I plan to buy a cabinet-full of remage barrels for. I can potentially see me buying barrels chambered in;

22GT
6x47 Lapua
25 creedmoor
260 rem
280ai
.30-06 but a throat with the Serengeti reamer

 

[Rob01]

6.5 Creedmoor gets hate because it came in fast and became popular. Some idiot will probably come in and call it the "6.5 Man Bun" or other stupid name. Just a lot of hate for no reason but it's popularity. If you were looking for a solid 1200 yard round the 6.5 will easily do it. You building the rifle?

 

[ma smith]

For nothing but a target/tactical style rifle, what caliber would you go for for up to 1200yds.

Step 1) Go to your ballistic calculator of choice, stick in any bullet you like, with a realistic (documented) muzzle velocity. Now enter @ 10mph wind, left to right. Any combo with wind correction under ± two and a half mils at distance is good to go.

Step 2) Never (ever) look at the cost of this ammo or its barrel life.

 

[DocRDS]

We all pretend to hate 6.5 Creed because secretly we all are gay and have one. I have 2.

The hate is all an internal joke. When the ATX from AI came out it was offered in 6.5 Creed. No one complained. Yeah lots of guys spun up barrels for their favorite calibers, but no one said it was a dumb idea.

In the class I took, everyone was shooting 6.5 or 6. We had a single 308.

6.5 is the 21st century 308. It's the default choice. And yes a great round to 1200 yards.

I'm out and I'm proud

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

So far the longest range I shoot at has targets to 1100 yards. This little MPA tags it easily, in front of witnesses.

Not real clear on my post, so far this 6.5 Creedmoor, is good to 1100 yards. Sorry for the misconception. Little to me is anything smaller than a .35. I likes em big, but at my age, I shoot the 6’s, 25’s and 6.5’s a lot better.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is in the background with the latest scope. The Mark V makes a difference.

 

[hafejd30]

6.5 will treat you well in your case. Your friends will appreciate it to

 

[ACard]

I shoot out to 1275 a couple times a week. I have great success with 6XC, 260, 6.5CM, 6.5 PRC, 300 NM. That said the ones I shoot the most are far and away the 6XC followed by the 260. The 6XC is so fun launching 115 DTACS at 3150 and no recoil to speak of. Make no mistake, the 300NM is a hoot but noticeable recoil and expensing to shoot.

 

[Delicatessen]

There are many good choices, 6.5CM is a valid choice the jokes are mainly because many people overhype it. But yeah 7-08, 6.5 cm (or 260) or virtually any similar 6mm, 257, 6.5mm or 7mm will work and some 22 etc (30s work too just more recoil etc). If you are buying factory ammo the 6cm or 6.5 cm really make the most sense; hand loading you have a lot of options.

 

[Chickentoast]

Pick a projectile and work backwards. I like the 220 LRHT for 30 cal, and the 153.5 for 6.5. Decide on velocity based on the windage you can tolerate, and you'll know what case capacity you need to get it done - at least on paper. My 6.5 Max has equivalent ballistics to my 300 RUM on paper, but in gusty conditions, the RUM will get me ~50% more hits, especially first rounders. 300 WM with a 208 eld-m is approx equivalent to the 6.5 Max w/ 153.5, in terms of hits in nasty wind.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Why would anyone call the Creed a Manbun?

My barrel from May 2021

 

[M4orturnate]

223

 

[redneckbmxer24]

6.5 CM if you don’t load. If you load it’s still a good choice as is 6BR, 6Dasher, 6.5x47L and even 223.

 

[LR1845]

6,5 Creedmoor gets hate because it came in fast and became popular. Some idiot will probably come in and call it the "6.5 Man Bun" or other stupid name. Just a lot of hate for no reason but it's popularity. If you were looking for a solid 1200 yard round the 6.5 will easily do it. You building the rifle?

Are we talking about the 6.5MB?

Just kidding....I bagged on the Man Bun(jokingly)...UUhh I mean Creedmoor...for years when I reloaded. I sold all my gear a few years ago and have started over from scratch and refuse to start loading again so I'm shooting an ARC Nuk and an SP-10 in 6.5 Creed.
I've always known the 6 and 6.5CM are accurate but when it comes to a caliber that is only going to be used with factory ammo its hard to beat(if not impossible)the Creeds.

 

[psharon78]

I'm a fan of the 260 remington. Got the dies and components before the creedmoor really took off. Either of those calibers will be fun to make impacts out to 1200 yards.

 

[Potsy]

6.5 Creedmoor is soooo the easy button. Not the route I went, but the older I get, the more I want a barrel for it…….

 

[hafejd30]

I'm a fan of the 260 remington. Got the dies and components before the creedmoor really took off. Either of those calibers will be fun to make impacts out to 1200 yards.

If a person reloads 260 is my pick. For factory 6.5

 

[Rob01]

If a person reloads 260 is my pick. For factory 6.5

Old way of thinking. People said that when only Hornady made brass. You can load the Creedmoor as easy as a .260 and have the option of factory ammo.

 

[hafejd30]

Old way of thinking. People said that when only Hornady made brass. You can load the Creedmoor as easy as a .260 and have the option of factory ammo.

I’ve been able to achieve better speeds in my 260. Where I run into pressure with 6.5 (flattened primers/ejector swipes etc) before reaching the same in the couple 6.5 I’ve reloaded for. Both Lapua brass running 142/143 class bullets/H4350/CCI 200

I feel like a longer throated 260 setup with proper mag length would be the ideal 6.5

To each their own

 

[Rob01]

I’ve been able to achieve better speeds in my 260. Where I run into pressure with 6.5 (flattened primers/ejector swipes etc) before reaching the same in the couple 6.5 I’ve reloaded for. Both Lapua brass running 142/143 class bullets/H4350/CCI 200

I feel like a longer throated 260 setup with proper mag length would be the ideal 6.5

To each their own

The velocity difference is always brought up also but it’s minimal and no real advantage shooting to 1200 yards.

Yup to each his own but when he is asking the question he needs to get the answers he needs to make his decision.

 

[4O6shootist]

I live out west, winds get gusty and switchy. I like heavier bullets larger diameter past 1k yards. I have fast high BC 22s, 6s 25s 65s, whatever. Personally if I had to build one rifle for everything I'd prob run a 7saw with 162eldm for steel. If it was a match, I'd prob whip up something salty with the 166atip. 340g7 at 2800fps is a wind busting bullet and low recoil.

 

[hafejd30]

The velocity difference is always brought up also but it’s minimal and no real advantage shooting to 1200 yards.

Yup to each his own but when he is asking the question he needs to get the answers he needs to make his decision.

For HIS use I’d go 6.5 CM

 

[Rocketmandb]

For nothing but a target/tactical style rifle, what caliber would you go for for up to 1200yds.

Why are you limiting yourself to 1200 yards? Is there a local competition that goes that far? Is that all you think you want to shoot? Or is that the limit of what you have nearby?

Frankly, if it's anything other than the last one, you will want to go past 1200 yards the minute after you make your first 1200-yard hit.

Non competition. Strictly making hits on steel. Without going overkill like a 338.

The reason I ask the questions above is because many things are overkill if 1200 is all you're ever going to do, including the bigger 30s.

Target rifle. Seems like 6.5creed is a great choice, but it gets a lot of hate here for some reason.

6.5CM gets its hate because so many shoot it and many that do espouse it to be the best round ever. It's a solid all-around cartridge that has gobs of factory ammo available (likely - and I only say "likely" - second only to the 308 for what you're looking for). If I were to get a rifle in the 6.5 CM class, it would be something that gets a little more speed - perhaps a 260, or even a 260 AI. But to do so, you really need to reload.

Frankly, with the information you've given, there are too many variables to give you a solid answer.

- Are you recoil sensitive?
- Are you price sensitive? (ammo/component cost)
- Do you reload, or are you going to get into it?
- Will you ever shoot 1500, mile, mile+?
- Where you shoot, can you easily spot misses (e.g. dry dirt), or is it grassy or wet dirt?

The list goes on and on.

 

[NJRaised]

I’m out in NJ. Finding a range past 1200 requires serious driving (add in a newborn at home which makes that super tough).

I reload, but I am no expert. I like having the ability to run factory ammo if I want to.

I run about 6 competitions a year. I personally don’t care where I sit on the leaderboard as long as I’m shooting well and having fun. I just don’t have time/resources for competitions right now.

 

[Rocketmandb]

Finding a range past 1200 requires serious driving (add in a newborn at home which makes that super tough).

I reload, but I am no expert. I like having the ability to run factory ammo if I want to.

I run about 6 competitions a year. I personally don’t care where I sit on the leaderboard as long as I’m shooting well and having fun. I just don’t have time/resources for competitions right now.

If you want to run with factory ammo, even part of the time., then 6.5 CM is probably the best choice. There are also a lot of good bullet choices in 6.5 for reloading.

 

[TylerN]

6.5cm is best solution because it's a great balance of a lot of factors. However, I shoot out to 1300 often and can tell little difference in hits on steel or misses in the dirt between my 6.5cm and 6 Dasher and prefer the Dasher at those distances or anything closer. 6mm Creedmoor or 6GT would also be a good choices if you want to stick with something that has factory ammo available.

 

[parshal]

Out to 1200 I'd be using a 6mm in 105 grains or more. The 6.5 is only going to give you more recoil and it doesn't give you meaningful gains at that distance.

 

[Skeptic1]

308 with juggernauts or 175 smks

But but a 308 falls out of the air past 600 yards Mr.

Yeah I've heard that shit the last 20 years that I've been shooting f class with a 308

 

[hafejd30]

308 with juggernauts or 175 smks

But but a 308 falls out of the air past 600 yards Mr.

Yeah I've heard that shit the last 20 years that I've been shooting f class with a 308

 

[Rocketmandb]

But but a 308 falls out of the air past 600 yards Mr.

Why didn't you tell me that before I got my new shorty 308?!?!

 

[The D]

View attachment 8085208

I thought it got dizzy from too much spin drift?

 

[reelserious]

If you don't load just get 6.5 creed and call it a day.

 

[The D]

Op, something else to consider. If you can justify some extra cost, there are smaller ammunition makers that have good recipes in other cartridges. You just need to do some more digging. Sorry, and you’re welcome

 

[jbuck88]

The 6.5cm is definitely the easy button. I have a couple for my kids and I to shoot. Easy to load for, light on recoil, good barrel life and decent ammo or component availability.

My 6year old shoots just fine although not to 1200yds. My 9yo shoots steel to 1000yds fairly easily. My oldest and I shoot out to 1,150yds.

There plenty of other cartridges that you could tweak enough to argue they are very slightly better. However the Creedmoor does 99% of the same off the shelf.

 

[Chickentoast]

"His pristine 6.5 manbun wore a beautiful Nightforce NX8, slipped into a sleek carbon fiber case, custom fit for his Tesla."

 

[Holliday]

6,5 Creedmoor gets hate because it came in fast and became popular. Some idiot will probably come in and call it the "6.5 Man Bun" or other stupid name. Just a lot of hate for no reason but it's popularity. If you were looking for a solid 1200 yard round the 6.5 will easily do it. You building the rifle?

I love mine. If you like to shoot a lot, I consider it an easy button. In terms of components and barrel life it’s also seems reasonably cost effective. I find the components fairly easy to find, as well. Certainly easier and cheaper than my 280 Ackley.

 

[bobby1028]

6.5 is the easy way out, any good 30cal projectile from 175 thru 210 gns will buck the wind considerably better at that range and beyond....given you're a good shooter and able to plot the right firing solution.

 

[jbuck88]

6.5 is the easy way out, any good 30cal projectile from 175 thru 210 gns will buck the wind considerably better at that range and beyond....given you're a good shooter and able to plot the right firing solution.

No.

My 140gr 6.5cm is flatter and has less wind drift then my 300wsm shooting 210gr bergers. It does it with less recoil, muzzle blast and a lot less powder.

 

[bobby1028]

No.

My 140gr 6.5cm is flatter and has less wind drift then my 300wsm shooting 210gr bergers. It does it with less recoil, muzzle blast and a lot less powder.

Flatter no doubt, windage with the right projectiles I beg to differ having shot side by side in difficult winds against friends 6 and 6.5 chambered rifles

 

[Holliday]

6.5 is the easy way out, any good 30cal projectile from 175 thru 210 gns will buck the wind considerably better at that range and beyond....given you're a good shooter and able to plot the right firing solution.

Nothing wrong with the .308 . I ran 155 Lapua Scenars over Varget getting around 2960 fps (if memory serves). Had no problem banging IDPA silhouette at 1160 yards in 25 mph winds. Damn economical to shoot too and 30 cal bullets seem much more available, when others aren’t. Barrel life is much better as well….

 

[jbuck88]

Flatter no doubt, windage with the right projectiles I beg to differ having shot side by side in difficult winds against friends 6 and 6.5 chambered rifles

Still no.
Again we are talking short magnum to standard short action.
Drift with 10mph wind
300wsm =2.4mil
6.5cm = 2.3mil

I don't have a dog in this fight. But facts are facts.
And you went from "any good projectile " to "with the right one"

 

[Rob01]

Still no.
Again we are talking short magnum to standard short action.
Drift with 10mph wind
300wsm =2.4mil
6.5cm = 2.3mil

I don't have a dog in this fight. But facts are facts.
And you went from "any good projectile " to "with the right one"

And that’s with a 210 in a short mag. Go to the 175-190grn bullets most shoot in a .308 and it’s not close.

 

[Chickentoast]

^That's really conservative loading, short barrel, or something else. My lowly 308 is 2.2 mils wind @ 1200 yds with a 208 eld-m. My RUM is 1.2 mils wind @ 1200 with a 250 A-Tip. My 6.5 Max is 1.6 mils wind w/ Berger 153.5's, and 1.3 mils with Badlands 135's. My WM is 1.5 mils with a 220 LRHT, and 1.7 mils with a 208 ELD-m. Even shooting 208's, my WM gets more hits, especially first round, than the 6.5.

 

[jbuck88]

That's what I have for my hunting load for my 300wsm berger 210's VLD hunting. Around 2800fps, which is definitely not pushing it hard, but right about where factory ammo shoots as well.

Your RUM must be cooking. My 300Norma with 250gr ATIPS is only getting around 2988fps. Which is still 1.4mils drift.

 

[bobby1028]

Nothing wrong with the .308 . I ran 155 Lapua Scenars over Varget getting around 2960 fps (if memory serves). Had no problem banging IDPA silhouette at 1160 yards in 25 mph winds. Damn economical to shoot too and 30 cal bullets seem much more available, when others aren’t. Barrel life is much better as well….

Barrel life and bullet availability factor into my equation...I'm a casual long range shooter, just my observation

 

[Chickentoast]

That's what I have for my hunting load for my 300wsm berger 210's VLD hunting. Around 2800fps, which is definitely not pushing it hard, but right about where factory ammo shoots as well.

Your RUM must be cooking. My 300Norma with 250gr ATIPS is only getting around 2988fps. Which is still 1.4mils drift.

29" Bartlein throated for 4.1" COAL and ADG brass - she'll do 3110 or so, but my best load is around 3075.

 

[CarbonMTN]

6.5 skuldryl is a solid choice for ELR.

 

[Rob01]

OP is only shooting out to 1200 yards. Not ELR and no need for magnums or even long actions.

 

[reelserious]

OP is only shooting out to 1200 yards. Not ELR and no need for magnums or even long actions.


well put

 

[Old Man with Gun]

6.5CM is a solid pick. More energy has more recoil, but easier to see splash and hear hits. Less energy easier to be your own spotter, but less splash to spot.