Non magnum for 1500 yards

[Jmccracken1214]

Have been wanting a 300prc but a match I want to shoot is 3 days and goes out to 1500 yards, but they don’t allow magnums.

What caliber would you guys run for that distance? My friend is building a 6.5x284 for this match.

Just looking for opinions.

 

[Bandit31]

280 ackley

 

[Jmccracken1214]

280 ackley

Does that feed from mags?

 

[Bandit31]

Yes, so does the 6.5x280ai.

 

[Steel head]

280AI or 284 would be my first choices.

 

[stello1001]

30-06
280 AI
6.5-280 AI
6.5-06
7-06
7-06 AI
6.5-284 Norma

That list above should have some possible contenders. Decide what it is exactly you need such as, barrel life, energy, MV, which bullet you want to run, etc. Then pick one of those based on your preferences.

 

[Powder_Burns]

Wanted to do a 7 shehane for a long time but always found 6.5-284 brass and never 284 win brass to fireform with. Its basically a blown out 284 win ai.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

Wanted to do a 7 shehane for a long time but always found 6.5-284 brass and never 284 win brass to fireform with. Its basically a blown out 284 win ai.

Peterson makes 284 brass

 

[Chickentoast]

Shehane gets the most energy per grain of powder burnt that I've seen. Combine that with high BC 7mm bullets and there's nothing better on a standard boltface for distance. You can certainly make more energy on a magnum or lapua boltface, but not with the same efficiency.

 

[Ankeny]

Peterson makes 284 brass

Still a bunch of Norma floating around.

 

[Chickentoast]

FYI If going 284/Shehane, brass choice also affects reamer - I'm going with .318 to do no-turn necked-up Lapua and/or light-turn Peterson, with a 250 freebore for the heavies - COAL should be ~3.2 with longest projectiles. If set on Peterson and want no-turn, I've been told .320 neck is needed.

 

[Sig Marine]

While the 6.5x284 is a great round, barrel life leaves a little to be desired. According to some of the F-Class guys I know, 800-1200 rounds was about the limit. Of course there's always some shooter who claims he got 3500 rounds from his barrel but the majority of guys will tell you, it's a "burner". Another option is a straight .284 with a .220 freebore to shoot the Berger 180 Hybrids which has decent barrel life and no fire-forming as is necessary with the Shehane's; either will do the job well though.

 

[Geno C.]

My 284 shehane isn’t a speed Demon but it is extremely accurate

 

[Steel head]

My 284 shehane isn’t a speed Demon but it is extremely accurate

Bullet barrel length and speed?

 

[Deleted member 10043]

.257 Blackjack bullet

 

[Geno C.]

Bullet barrel length and speed?

Funny thing about that... I haven’t started my 180 loads. My 175 forming loads were running 2700 and hit 9 for 10 at 1750 in solid winds. I’m sub 2800 with formed brass and 180s but accuracy is there. 28” Krieger.

 

[Steel head]

Funny thing about that... I haven’t started my 180 loads. My 175 forming loads were running 2700 and hit 9 for 10 at 1750 in solid winds. I’m sub 2800 with formed brass and 180s but accuracy is there. 28” Krieger.

Pretty mild but mild is ok
I’m pretty mild with 190’s in my 7 saum.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

The 284 is a good choice with an interesting history.

 

[fdkay]

6.5x55 AI

 

[Geno C.]

Pretty mild but mild is ok
I’m pretty mild with 190’s in my 7 saum.

Not mild in my gun sadly. I’m into overpressure at 2800. Pretty sure I just have a slow barrel though. This was all with norma brass. I have some Lapua I’m going to try next.

 

[86alaskan]

second the 131gr 257 Blackjack. Run it from a 25-308, 25 creedmoor, 25-06 with a fast twist barrel and you'll love it. Low recoil, excellent ballistics and decent barrel life. I'm up around 1500rds on my 25 creedmoor and it's running a nice smooth 2950fps. At that speed with a .340 g7BC, you're in business.

 

[Steel head]

Not mild in my gun sadly. I’m into overpressure at 2800. Pretty sure I just have a slow barrel though. This was all with norma brass. I have some Lapua I’m going to try next.

I hope the brass helps

Haven’t been impressed with norma brass.

 

[Geno C.]

Who knows. Not the end of the world if it shoots slow. It’s extremely accurate

 

[Steel head]

Who knows. Not the end of the world if it shoots slow. It’s extremely accurate

Even at those speeds ballistics are pretty damn good.