I'm not currently into a LRP platform yet, but am still on the periphery looking at my options. I do not have the time or desire to hand load and wanted to ask the experienced crowd here what they would choose if they wanted to shoot to 1k and use factory ammo. Thanks for your time.
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If you could only shoot factory ammo what caliber would you pick today for LRP?
- Thread starter atepointer
- Start date
30-06. Available any and everywhere.
I have a BAR, 03A3, two garands, and my LR rifle is 30-06 so............ plus a basement full of factory ammo.
I have a BAR, 03A3, two garands, and my LR rifle is 30-06 so............ plus a basement full of factory ammo.
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I made my choices a year ago and would make the same decision today. I chose 6.5 Creedmoor and have settled on Hornady 147 gr. ELD-M factory and now have 500 rounds of once fired brass I am working up with reloads. I managed to shoot out to 600 yards a couple times and out to 1000 once and put all ten rounds on a 20" target.
If I can hand load rounds that perform as well as the factory 500 rounds I shot this Summer I'll be a very happy camper.
VooDoo
If I can hand load rounds that perform as well as the factory 500 rounds I shot this Summer I'll be a very happy camper.
VooDoo
My buddy has one he loves as well. This is a 1000% LRP rifle. I'm keeping my eyes on the 224, but as of now it looks like I gotta hand load from what I read to get to 1000. 6.5 seems to have the 'kinks' worked out.
.308 and buy 175 FGMM from PSA at $16.99/box by the pallet load when on sale.
You probably cant reload that cheap if you cost your time and if you learn to read wind you will not be a slouch amongst the 6.5 world.
You probably cant reload that cheap if you cost your time and if you learn to read wind you will not be a slouch amongst the 6.5 world.
I chose 6.5 creedmoor. My zero at 100 yards is the same with Hornady match 140 eldm as it is with the 143 eldx for hunting. I can find the ammo for it even at the up north mom and pop shop that is closest to camp, albeit at almost double the price I would pay online ( I handload anyway), but they do have it.
If I were only shooting to 600-800 yards but occasionally to 1000 it would be hard not to choose a 308win and it doesn't hurt that it has great barrel life.
If shooting routinely to 1000 yards or possibly further I would choose the 65 Creedmoor.
Both have excellent factory match ammo with good availability.
If shooting routinely to 1000 yards or possibly further I would choose the 65 Creedmoor.
Both have excellent factory match ammo with good availability.
I also shoot mostly factory ammo out of my rifles for now. For me, 308 is always a great caliber (not the best for 1000 yds though) for hunting, practice for wind calls, and barrel life. 6.5 CM for less recoil, also a great hunting cartridge, barrel life not as good as 308, but 1000 yds+ is nothing for this caliber.
When I shot 308, I stuck mainly with 175gr FGMM. For my 6.5CM’s, I’ve had awesome results with Federals 130gr Berger load, and Hornady’s 140gr ELD-M.
When I shot 308, I stuck mainly with 175gr FGMM. For my 6.5CM’s, I’ve had awesome results with Federals 130gr Berger load, and Hornady’s 140gr ELD-M.
I shot a match not too long ago and was squadded with a guy that shot factory Hornady 6.5 Creed ammo. He took 3rd place.
I should have qualitifed that I don't plan on shooting matches. LR is just an itch I've always wanted to scratch. We can shoot to just shy of 600 at steel on the hunting lease, but I always wanna go back more! Like you 308 has been my goto such a great hunting round. In point of fact rifle season opens tmrw morning!
Although a classic cartridge, I got out of 308 for now and have a few hundred+ rounds of quality factory ammo if you’re in need of some (mostly various weight hunting rds). I sold my 308 rifle so no longer need the Ammo. Just wanted to throw it out there.?
A lot of the factory 6.5CM Ammo shoots awesome! I’ve been hesitant to get into handloading because I consistently get 3/4 moa groups, with lots of 1/2 moa and smaller groups. For me, I don’t need or want to spend the time loading ammo in the hopes of getting a load that’ll shoot consistent 1/4 moa groups. It’s always nice to get those tiny ass one hole groups, but for my purposes, it’s not necessary. If I was a hardcore competitive shooter or an ELR shooter, then yes, I could see the benefit of loading your own rounds. But for my purposes, I’ve been very happy shooting good match grade factory ammo...YMMV.
I've shot two boxes of the 140gr ELD-M out of my Tikka and it's ok @ ~.75" 5 shot groups. My hand loads with the 143gr ELD-x are half that size. I only say that to suggest there's room for improvement.
For the OP, I'd say 6.5c is an easy choice for a number of reasons.
For the OP, I'd say 6.5c is an easy choice for a number of reasons.
I have an AI AT and I shoot both 7.62x51 (.308) and 6.5 Creedmoor.
The deals on .308 are amazing. I saw FGMM 175 grain at $17/box. That is 85 cents a round and I usually get 15-20 cents net of shipping for the brass since I don't reload. That means 65-70 cents a round. With a barrel life of 8,000 rounds and the skill you will get at understanding wind effects, you are so far ahead, it isn't funny. I have shot .308 for over 20 years and the lessons are priceless.
The deals on .308 are amazing. I saw FGMM 175 grain at $17/box. That is 85 cents a round and I usually get 15-20 cents net of shipping for the brass since I don't reload. That means 65-70 cents a round. With a barrel life of 8,000 rounds and the skill you will get at understanding wind effects, you are so far ahead, it isn't funny. I have shot .308 for over 20 years and the lessons are priceless.
.224 Valkyrie will do fine out to and past 1000 yards with some of the available factory loads. I don’t blame anyone for wanting to see it settle down before committing, but do not doubt that it is a fine and capable round. Some of us are doing well with it.
I have yet to handload it, but most likely will before the next year is out. Yet I’m not really driven to do so when I can get Hornady 88 ELDM for less than $20/box and Federal 75 American Gunner for $10/box. Both perform very well in my AR.
My bolt is .260, the .224 Valkyrie is a 22” barreled AR I put together using a Craddock barrel. I consider the .224 to be my fun rifle. There’s just something about shooting it that I enjoy.
I am with the 6.5 Creedmoor crowd. Im new to the long range game as well. I got my 308 first and loved it, it’s a factory Sako rifle. I then decided to get deeper into the long range world. Had the what caliber to build search for a month and settled on the creedmoor, because I don’t have to reload for it and it shoots well with multiple brands and bullets. I can shoot 130’s to 147’s and from multiple ammunition companies with pretty good ballistics and accuracy. The 308 has tons of offerings but everyone will just about say only one bullet for long range in factory ammo and it’s the 175 MatchKing. So then it kinda reduces your factory ammo choices. Just my reasoning anyway.
All great stuff guys thanks for the detailed posts this helps me a lot. I've got a few months until I can even have a place to shoot long enough to matter and you have all given me a lot to think about. Gonna stuff a doe in the freezer tomorrow and dream of 1000 steel shooting to pass the time.
well, 308 did well for me too when I shot that. the federal GMM was a great round
6.5 Creedmoor. accurate with a high bc and much less affected by wind than say .308. not extremely hard on barrels, ammo relatively cheap for the performance, compared to a magnum cartridge.
I'd steer towards .308 or 6.5 CM. Both have tons of options for ammo and you should be able to buy both almost anywhere.
I agree with what has already been written above. I run a 20" 308 for 600-800 yard stuff with FGMM 175's. Wonderful trainer. For 800 on out, 260 Rem handloads. Both rifles are set up identical.
If you are shooting in a high DA environment, a 308 will perform fine out to 1K. In a low to negative DA environment, the 6.5's are the clear winner.
If you are shooting in a high DA environment, a 308 will perform fine out to 1K. In a low to negative DA environment, the 6.5's are the clear winner.
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I think 6.5cm or .308 is the only choice if you dont reload, the better question is why not reload? I realize you say you dont have the time or desire to handload but to me thats a HUGE part of it. If you dont have the time to reload a few rounds do you really have the time to invest into an activity that requires quite an investment in time to do? But the answer to you question is probably 6.5cm and hope to God your rifle likes the factory load (then buy about 1500 rounds of it because it may not like the next lot).
Purposely look for 6.5 ammo when I’m in little towns in the middle of nowhere.....damned if it isn’t always there. For me and learning, it made more sense to get the 6.5 as it gave me a little more room to grow for distance. Lot to be learned with the 308 in the wind but why make it harder than it has to be. JM2C
Good advice here, reminds me of Gene Hill's great comment about shooting kit, that if you "find a good piece, you better buy another because they are sure as hell going to discontinue it next year". Given that the life of a quality 6.5 CM barrel may be 4,000 rounds, you might consider buying more than 1,500......
I’d recommend to buy enough from one lot to burn a barrel out. Lots of up front cost but a lot less headache on the back end.
I have a 6.5 I shoot for distance and one for hunting. But I still have a lot of fun with my 308. The FGMM is the tried and true. But that Federal Berger load is fantastic.
