Ideal caliber for 200-300 yard paper punching?

[kala_azar]

So my range goes out to 800 and I'm happy with my 6.5CM and 300 WSM there.

I'm starting to think I would enjoy focusing with a new gun on tiny tiny groups, not so much for competition, but just on my own. Sort of a way to really focus on case prep, etc, and really make done big holes.

I had been thinking on a bigger bore, like a 338 or 35 WSM, but I'd almost rather switch gears and go more for short range ultra-accuracy, something that's easy on the shoulder, easy on the powder budget, and has decent barrel/case life.

Any suggestions?

 

[jelrod1]

6BR fits those needs perfectly. Here are some 300 yards groups from mine during load development. Largest is .842 and smallest .415. Fun caliber to shoot and very accurate.

Here is the gun.

 

[jasonk]

223 is a better round than most people give it credit for, I'd lean that way. Bullets and brass are plentiful. If you want a factory rifle look at the Tikka Varmint.

 

[Tyler Kemp]

223, 22PPC, 22BR, 6mmBR, all are easy to make/acquire, all are superbly accurate in a quality gun.

 

[RugerSlinger]

223 is a better round than most people give it credit for, I'd lean that way. Bullets and brass are plentiful. If you want a factory rifle look at the Tikka Varmint.

This +1000
I have both the Rem 700 SPS Varmint and Tactical. I shoot both regularly at 300 and I have no problem getting 1.5 to 2" groups with either. The Varmint I am launching the 40gn bullets to 3800fps and it takes 3 MOA from 100 yd zero to get there.

 

[mkollman74]

Lots of good advice here already. Many calibers will give you excellent 200-300 yard accuracy. To me, final selection would depend on whether I wanted to do anything else with the rifle, or just 200-300 yard paper puncher. In your shoes, I'd go .223 or 6br (or one of the variants thereof).

 

[triceratops3]

+1 on the .223. Mine is pretty accurate for a factory rifle with handloads. could be a lot better with better optic, barrel, stock, etc.

 

[DirtyDave]

223 or maybe 6x45

 

[smschulz]

50bmg

 

[TRAAV]

Id say 223 as well. Loaded with the appropriate bullet they can even be fun out further

 

[kala_azar]

I don't think 223 is going to do it for me, although I'm sure they can be made to drive tacks.

If only FN made their .223 bolt guns with a 1/7 twist instead of a 1/9!

 

[ORD]

I don't think 223 is going to do it for me, although I'm sure they can be made to drive tacks.

If only FN made their .223 bolt guns with a 1/7 twist instead of a 1/9!

Don't overlook the Tikka Varmint that Jason recommended above. They are 1:8 twist tubes which is more than sufficient to drive 80gr pills and perhaps even slightly heavier at respectable velocities and punch tiny groups out to the ranges you are looking at (and beyond). They are a great bang for the buck if the .223 is something you are willing to consider.

 

[kala_azar]

That's the thing, I can already get .5s, even .3 and .4 on a good day with my Creedmoor. I don't know if I know what i want!

I'm not an aspiring bench rest guy, just hoping for something easier to shoot than my 6.5CM (if that's even possible!) that has good barrel life and consistent top accuracy.

If a 223 can do that maybe that would work. Price for the components is certainly right

 

[JGorski]

Since my 6 Creedmoor shoots like this [MENTION=89035]300[/MENTION]yds, I'll take that.

 

[garandman]

Why reinvent the wheel? My 6.5CM shoots tiny, tiny groups - 0.30MoA-ish.


But if ya just hafta have something new, I'd go with .223. Lots of components, relatively cheap and easy to find, its darn near the perfect 300 yard paper puncher. (it bounces off cardboard, ya knows)

 

[ashiha]

Why not 308? It's insanely available and has a maximum effective range beyond what you mentioned. Are you planning on fighting a lot of wind?

 

[James n TN]

A 30BR is ya best route for pure accuracy

sent from RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk Pro

 

[kala_azar]

Why not 308? It's insanely available and has a maximum effective range beyond what you mentioned. Are you planning on fighting a lot of wind?

Really, just because it doesn't do anything my 6.5 and WSM don't do already. I'm sort if hankering for a pure accuracy rig, with bonus points for long barrel and case life, and extra bonus points for low recoil

That said, anything can shoot well

 

[kala_azar]

Why reinvent the wheel? My 6.5CM shoots tiny, tiny groups - 0.30MoA-ish.


But if ya just hafta have something new, I'd go with .223. Lots of components, relatively cheap and easy to find, its darn near the perfect 300 yard paper puncher. (it bounces off cardboard, ya knows)

That's how I feel about my Creedmoor too. I guess I've just got the itch for something new

 

[BALLISTIC]

For pure accuracy I would go with the 6BR.

 

[The_FNG]

.222

 

[long range newbie]

223ai

 

[M.rolen]

223 would be my pick

 

[Magstang1]

.223 Tikka. 1:8 twist and a sweet action right out of the box.

 

[Jhnmdahl]

Another vote for .223 - super easy to find information and reloading supplies, and pretty inexpensive to shoot.

 

[Sonic Crack]

PPC or BR flavored with 22, 6mm, or 30 cal boooooooooolits

 

[fx77]

100-200 yeards and super accuracy....6PPC

 

[Sonic Crack]

^^^^^ 6PPC is the KING of 100-200 yard small groups. Check out AccurateShooter.com 6mmBR.com -- Best Guide to Precision Shooting and Precision Rifle Accuracy Lots of good read

 

[farmerbrown]

Hi,

Yep 100-200 is 6PPC.

300 might be a more interesting discussion, maybe 6BR or a variant.

But for real accuracy (ie benchrest), less than 300, PPC would be the first choice.

.223 isn't serious. No real benchrest shooter uses it.

Lotsa good info at www.6mmbr.com

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[kala_azar]

6mmbr is where I'm leaning, or 6xc or something. Hard to beat a 6 for sheer accuracy, and if I wanted to stretch it out later it would be easy to do!

 

[BangBangBlatBlat]

6mmbr is where I'm leaning, or 6xc or something. Hard to beat a 6 for sheer accuracy, and if I wanted to stretch it out later it would be easy to do!

6XC works good in magazines. Its also a popular 300m round in Europe. 6BR is more popular, but is problematic in magazines. So I have been told.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[kala_azar]

6XC works good in magazines. Its also a popular 300m round in Europe. 6BR is more popular, but is problematic in magazines. So I have been told.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Magazines, as in DBM, or as in anything besides single feed in a non-repeating action?

I'm not worried about this one being "tactical" with a DBM, but I would like it to BR a repeater...

 

[BangBangBlatBlat]

Magazines, as in DBM, or as in anything besides single feed in a non-repeating action?

I'm not worried about this one being "tactical" with a DBM, but I would like it to BR a repeater...

My understanding is that its any mag because of the case design. I am sure with enough work it could be made to work somewhat. I know Gary Eliseo was making special 6BR mags for his chassis system.

But the 6XC is designed to work from a magazine, and has a know track record in Highpower as a good round that is easy to work with.

6.5 Lapua would be another one; its been marketed as a 300m competition round also.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[triceratops3]

if you want something different then maybe a br cartridge would fit the bill but the .223 will still give great accuracy to 300 and beyond, be cheap, low recoil, highly available and massive selection of components and can be easily mag fed (IIRC, br cases have trouble feeding from mags?). why go through the extra expense when the .223 will get the job done? Or your 6.5 will also do the job?

 

[JByrd]

223 is a better round than most people give it credit for, I'd lean that way. Bullets and brass are plentiful. If you want a factory rifle look at the Tikka Varmint.

that is an awesome rife and those actions feel like there on ball bearings. good stuff!

 

[jbell]

The 6mmBR or the 30BR is the winner IMO, they will shoot with the PPC's at short range and smoke it at a little bit further out. IMO the 6MMBR would be my go to out to 600 yards and it will hold its own out to 1K. So 6mmBR for me.

 

[nchunter243]

Pick a PPC or BR in either 22 or 6mm, I have serious doubts that you can find a something more inherently accurate ( possibly the 222), they are low recoil long barrel life and thats what the guys on the benches use and you can't really argue with them when it comes to tiny holes. All that said unless you are competing the ppc's can be finky to work with, I doubt without a full bench rest style setup that you would see a difference between a 22ppc, 22br or 223. You could go even lower and do a 204, 20br, 20 practical or 17 mach iv but you will be giving up barrel life with these. My pick would be 6 TCU, 22br, 20 practical or a 17 mach iv depending on which bullet you want to send.

 

[jakelly]

.222

+1 Now that is an underrated cartridge. Still the 100 yd smallest group. I would go with the 6, though.

 

[Northman]

222 : Worlds smallest 100yard group. Easy to load for. Very competetive against the 6ppc at 200 yards. Perfect for 300 yard varmints. Easy to feed in several actions Looooong barrel life! Very low recoil.

223 : Never shoots as well as the 222, but with faster twist barrels, it gets out further with more speed.

6ppc : Most winning 1-200 yard cartridge. Will shoot further with right bullets. Lots and lots of case work and fireforming to get that accuracy. Sako 75 has magazine and action for it. Competetive barrel life low, 1-2000 rounds, varmint accuracy much longer.

6br : Easy to load for, put powder, primer and bullet in a new lapua case and shoot tiny holes. Difficult to feed in most actions, but superior from 300-1000 yards.

30 br : Easier then the 6br to load for, competetive barrel life 7-8000 rounds! Very accurate!


These are the "smaller" but accurate rounds out there. 6,5x47L, 6,5x55, 308 all shoot very tiny groups at these distances, but more recoil. If you are planning on sitting and enjoying this, I would choose a small cartridge that is easy to load for, and low recoil. My choice would be, either a 222 inside 300yards or 6br if you want to venture out further later.

Here is a list of used BR guns. Even if you are not interessted in a full blown BR rifle, you get very good discounts on these rifles, compared to what they cost new!

http://benchrest.com/shooterscorner/2013-Gun-List.pdf

 

[jbell]

222 : Worlds smallest 100yard group. Easy to load for. Very competetive against the 6ppc at 200 yards. Perfect for 300 yard varmints. Easy to feed in several actions Looooong barrel life! Very low recoil.

223 : Never shoots as well as the 222, but with faster twist barrels, it gets out further with more speed.

6ppc : Most winning 1-200 yard cartridge. Will shoot further with right bullets. Lots and lots of case work and fireforming to get that accuracy. Sako 75 has magazine and action for it. Competetive barrel life low, 1-2000 rounds, varmint accuracy much longer.

6br : Easy to load for, put powder, primer and bullet in a new lapua case and shoot tiny holes. Difficult to feed in most actions, but superior from 300-1000 yards.

30 br : Easier then the 6br to load for, competetive barrel life 7-8000 rounds! Very accurate!


These are the "smaller" but accurate rounds out there. 6,5x47L, 6,5x55, 308 all shoot very tiny groups at these distances, but more recoil. If you are planning on sitting and enjoying this, I would choose a small cartridge that is easy to load for, and low recoil. My choice would be, either a 222 inside 300yards or 6br if you want to venture out further later.

Here is a list of used BR guns. Even if you are not interessted in a full blown BR rifle, you get very good discounts on these rifles, compared to what they cost new!

http://benchrest.com/shooterscorner/2013-Gun-List.pdf

very accurate and good information there...

 

[Deadshot2]

For pure simplicity and economy give serious thought to .223 or .308 calibers. .308 can be crazy accurate at those ranges. My .308 is a sub .250 MOA rifle at those ranges. The .308 cartridge and bore diameter are almost perfectly matched for long barrel life. 10K rounds on my old .308 barrel before consistent accuracy climbed above .5 MOA.

I actually have both now as I picked up an SPS-Tactical for a strictly 300 yards or less rifle (My choice, not the limits of the caliber by any means).

 

[6.5BR]

Northman +1

Never liked the 223 as my 222 and 221 always outshot them, and 6BR.

I would do a 223 in a quality rifle simply for economic reasons of brass, bullets, and it might do better at the 300 yd line than the slower 222/221. If building I would fast twist for heavy bullets for wind.

6BR - had many - great round. Twice bore life of say a 243, but a factory quality 243 rifle is cheaper than a custom bbl and can shoot very well, inc. in the wind.

Factory - 223, and 243 in that order

Custom 223 fast twist, or 6BR

Could do alot worse in accuracy, loading costs, bore life, and recoil.

 

[DropinLead]

Look at Palma guns for f class tr. 223 and 308 are all that is allowed. Really accurate. That is shooting of bipod and bag too not clamped into a a bench. Gazillion options parts rounds and info on loading. Information a plenty, those guns are built for pure accuracy. Sounds like what you want. You can go 6mm variants too that would be open class, heavier, sophisticated rests, almost no touching the gun. Point is 223 and 308 are widely available accurate and precise. Actually savage sells those guns, out of the box they are ready to go, may be an option. They are dedicated target rifles.

Also, figure out what kind of shooting you want to do. Do you want to handle/shoot the gun or clamp it in and test equipment and ability to set it up.that makes a difference.

Buy a few different ones.

 

[7GRT]

30BR is the best option IMHO

 

[Deadshot2]

30BR is the best option IMHO

If you don't mind having to "Make" your own cases and then shoot light weight bullets in a 30 Cal

Can't argue about the accuracy. Local BR shooter has been literally "shooting out the lights" with his while the rest of the club was off playing with their 6mm variants. 30BR plays much better in the wind.

 

[6.5BR]

30BR better in the wind with what weight bullets at what velocity? I understand folks shoot very slow twist and light bullets. I would put up a well built 6BR against a 30 all day.

 

[Shanerbanner10]

.223 or M28 Davy Crockett

 

[kala_azar]

222 : Worlds smallest 100yard group. Easy to load for. Very competetive against the 6ppc at 200 yards. Perfect for 300 yard varmints. Easy to feed in several actions Looooong barrel life! Very low recoil.

223 : Never shoots as well as the 222, but with faster twist barrels, it gets out further with more speed.

6ppc : Most winning 1-200 yard cartridge. Will shoot further with right bullets. Lots and lots of case work and fireforming to get that accuracy. Sako 75 has magazine and action for it. Competetive barrel life low, 1-2000 rounds, varmint accuracy much longer.

6br : Easy to load for, put powder, primer and bullet in a new lapua case and shoot tiny holes. Difficult to feed in most actions, but superior from 300-1000 yards.

30 br : Easier then the 6br to load for, competetive barrel life 7-8000 rounds! Very accurate!


These are the "smaller" but accurate rounds out there. 6,5x47L, 6,5x55, 308 all shoot very tiny groups at these distances, but more recoil. If you are planning on sitting and enjoying this, I would choose a small cartridge that is easy to load for, and low recoil. My choice would be, either a 222 inside 300yards or 6br if you want to venture out further later.

Here is a list of used BR guns. Even if you are not interessted in a full blown BR rifle, you get very good discounts on these rifles, compared to what they cost new!

http://benchrest.com/shooterscorner/2013-Gun-List.pdf

Great breakdown, thanks! Look like some awesome deals at that link

 

[Toast]

50bmg

+100

 

[Jig Stick]

6ppc if wind isn't bad. 6 dasher if it is. Nuff said