Top 5 Rounds

[RichardCranium]

Hey all,
I'm curious what peoples opinions are. In terms of long range precision shooting as well as hunting what would your top 5 rounds be? Pretty much if you had to have one rifle to do it all what would it be chambered in?

 

[clark33]

Oooo that’s tough, I’d go with a 6.5PRC with the Berger 156.

 

[hafejd30]

Depends on what range you’ll be shooting while hunting. I prefer my 300 WM for long range hunting. But I have a 260 for long range target. I’ve shot deer over 1,000 with both and 260 had a lot to be desired compared to the 300 for that range. Also owned a 338 Lapua for a while and killed over 1,000 with that as well. Better yet but more $/recoil etc which usually means less practice for most people.

So a 1,000 yd + do-all rifle?
My choice is 300 WM. Have used for about 10 years now with great success

If just starting out 300 PRC is a good option. So are many 7mm options that I’m sure will pop up below.

6.5 or in my case .260 is a good option if hunting will be inside 600 yards. I’ve shot deer out to 1121 yds with the 260 and in my opinion it just doesn’t have the knockdown power I want for whitetail

So a couple questions to help us help you,

How far will you want to shoot in a hunting scenario?

What will you be hunting? My answers would vary if it’s a prairie dog vs elk etc

 

[RichardCranium]

Depends on what range you’ll be shooting while hunting. I prefer my 300 WM for long range hunting. But I have a 260 for long range target. I’ve shot deer over 1,000 with both and 260 had a lot to be desired compared to the 300 for that range. Also owned a 338 Lapua for a while and killed over 1,000 with that as well. Better yet but more $/recoil etc which usually means less practice for most people.

So a 1,000 yd + do-all rifle?
My choice is 300 WM. Have used for about 10 years now with great success

If just starting out 300 PRC is a good option. So are many 7mm options that I’m sure will pop up below.

6.5 or in my case .260 is a good option if hunting will be inside 600 yards. I’ve shot deer out to 1121 yds with the 260 and in my opinion it just doesn’t have the knockdown power I want for whitetail

So a couple questions to help us help you,

How far will you want to shoot in a hunting scenario?

What will you be hunting? My answers would vary if it’s a prairie dog vs elk etc

I'd like to be able to knock down a elk at no less than 600yds but would also like to shoot 1000 yds for target shooting. Ive been looking more and more into the 300 Win Mag and am impressed with the ballistics. Obviously the 6.5 Creedmoor is the choice for long range target stuff but im in the mentality of practical/tactical.

 

[RichardCranium]

Does a round exist that can be accurate for long range matches but also have the knockdown power to hunt medium to large game?

 

[RichardCranium]

As of now I'm shooting .308 with Hornaday ELD Match 168gr

 

[Bkultra]

Does a round exist that can be accurate for long range matches but also have the knockdown power to hunt medium to large game?

David Tubb came out with a "nose ring" cutter that would allow you to turn match grade bullets into viable hunting rounds... Assuming you didn't mind making a mess. There are some videos that show the damage and it's not pretty.

In fact I recently emailed him to see if they are avaible for sale, because I can't find it on his site.

 

[db2000]

Run a ballistics app on .300 WBY Mag or WM Nosler AB 165 or 180 and 6.5 PRC with 156 Berger EOL's. You'll see the PRC beats them both at 600+ yards and equal at 500 with way less recoil. That being said, real world experience I've dropped an elk in CO at 514 with my 300 WBY Mag and 180 Nosler AB. Broke the front leg and nice wound cavity. I'll take my PRC next time.

 

[sierracharlie338]

300wm and 215 hybrids are hard to argue with. If you don’t reload the 300prc might be an option.

 

[RichardCranium]

I do reload and would like a round to keep that up with.

 

[moosemeat]

Top 5 rounds for me
223- varmints, targets to 600 yards
6mmbr- I dont have one but varmints, deer sized game, and targets to 1000 yards, on my short list
308(3.0. HATE) anything out to 1000 yards, except large game, my one rifle solution if I had to have one
300wsm/300PRC- both are 1400+ yard rounds and my 300wsm would be my go to hunting rifle for anything bigger than Mule Deer. 300 PRC is just a better long action 300win mag. I may build one.
338something magnum- as big as I would ever need. Dont own any, but definitely fills a void.

If I could only have 1 it would be 308 because I shoot F T/R and it's my passion in long range shooting. I could also M1A and still shoot service rifle.

 

[BBVDD]

Deer hunting in the south the .308 is a really good caliber. I have a couple and also a couple of 6.5cm.
If I were hunting out west I’d definitely want something bigger. The only way to knock down an animal or “anchor” one is to hit something structural as in shoulder or backbone.
for that I’d want at a minimum a .300wm andwould probably prefer a .300 prc or .300 Norma.
.338 win mag or even a .338 lapua wouldn’t be a bad choice.
I’ve been researching the 7mm saum. That seems to be a pretty neat caliber.

 

[Prebanpaul]

260 remington

 

[Steel head]

260 remington

Broke my personal rifle mile cherry with the fabulous 260.


280AI is also a contender,168 and 180’s

7 saum if you reload, I’d shoot 168’s for hunting and 180-190’s for long range.
7 saum with 190’s is pretty amazing at a mile.

 

[RTH1800]

For hunting I prefer a 22LR Eley Tenex EPS for squirrels For elephant I prefer a .470 Rigby. For other stuff, something in between.

 

[338dude]

6.5 x 284 Norma or 338 Lapua

 

[Ledzep]

6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, .284 Winchester, .300 PRC, .280 Ackley

7 SAUM honorable mention. Just not a fan of the (lack of) industry support.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

From the "Hunting" aspect...... It all depends on how good of a hunter you are. After all the bow hunters collect quite a few trophy animals.

Hobo

 

[Steel head]

6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, .284 Winchester, .300 PRC, .280 Ackley

7 SAUM honorable mention. Just not a fan of the (lack of) industry support.

Shame on me for forgetting 284 Winchester.

 

[Slab74]

No love for the good old 7mm mag? Less recoil than the 300 wm and no animal will know the difference.

 

[Vargmat]

The one I am most curious to try out is the 6.5x284 Norma or the 7mm Remington Magnum.
But alas, I am happy with my three oh hate, and 300 win mag, they do all I can think of, and I have plenty of bullets, brass and powder stocked for them.

 

[BadAccountant]

Hey all,
I'm curious what peoples opinions are. In terms of long range precision shooting as well as hunting what would your top 5 rounds be? Pretty much if you had to have one rifle to do it all what would it be chambered in?

.280 Ackley, .260 Ackley, .284 Win, .300 PRC, and any 7mm magnum (7mm mag, 7 SAUM, etc.) if I can't get the .280 AI.

 

[338dude]

The one I am most curious to try out is the 6.5x284 Norma or the 7mm Remington Magnum.
But alas, I am happy with my three oh hate, and 300 win mag, they do all I can think of, and I have plenty of bullets, brass and powder stocked for them.

Norma

 

[DetroitRearView]

Pretty much everything mentioned will do the job, given good shot placement. I live and rub shoulders with the life altering Grizzly bear and therefore require something great for LR deer, antelope, elk etc plus great energy to break down the bear. Therefore my choices are 300 win; 300N and 338L. They also give me the added advantage of passing through and Elk lengthwise with a full stomach of grass and still make a DRT shot.

 

[Chargerguy]

No love for the good old 7mm mag? Less recoil than the 300 wm and no animal will know the difference.

Yup, if I had to choose one chambering to do it all for me it's the 7 Rem Mag.

 

[acudaowner]

well my favorites are 223/556 fun and cheap , 6.5 creedmoor it's gods favorite round after all , 30 mm who don't like to smile , 105mm cause tanks are just plane fun , and 406mm cause well I just love old battle ships and a shell as heavy ass 2,048 pounds (929 kg) explosive has to be a hell of a thing to see go off bigger is better .

I think we got em.

 

[hereinaz]

Does a round exist that can be accurate for long range matches but also have the knockdown power to hunt medium to large game?

Any 7mm magnum will do it, and mostly beat the 300 wm with better BC bullets. Run the 175 to 180 7mm bullets and you get fantastic BC and sectional density. You also reduce recoil. I ran the 7 rem mag, but switched to the 7 Sherman Short Mag, which is basically a 7 SAUM improved. I run the 180 vld at 3020 with about 6 grains less powder than the 7 rem mag at 2950. It is an efficient and accurate round. Me and my buddy smoked 2 caribou and 3 deer in Alaska. Two at 575 and one at 435ish. One shot and they all dropped like a sack of potatoes.

Look at the environmental numbers where you hunt, and the velocity will likely be high enough out to 900 for Berger's to expand. Go to higher elk country, and it could go past 1000 yards. It is transonic well past 1000 yards for matches.

The 300 wm edges it out on barrel life. But, for a hunting rifle, barrel life isn't a big deal.

 

[BytorJr]

Outside of 2000m I prefer 120mm through a smoothbore tube.

 

[Jscb1b]

.22lr and dial. ALOT!

 

[moosemeat]

well my favorites are 223/556 fun and cheap , 6.5 creedmoor it's gods favorite round after all , 30 mm who don't like to smile , 105mm cause tanks are just plane fun , and 406mm cause well I just love old battle ships and a shell as heavy ass 2,048 pounds (929 kg) explosive has to be a hell of a thing to see go off bigger is better .
View attachment 7352816 I think we got em.View attachment 7352817

Wish I could like more than once.

 

[acudaowner]

would have thought in 2020 that all homes in the United States would have at least on battle ship turret in there front yard by now at least as a motion sencers to scare off unwanted guests lol Instead we got phone apps and scummy people looting and burning homes and business and stealing what they want with impunity .

 

[99106]

7 SAUM, 6.5 creed, 6BR, .308, 223

 

[The D]

My theoretical barrel quiver will be , in no particular order: 6br, 6.5x47 Lapua, 7 saum, .30-06, & 300prc

 

[TRG65]

For one round hunting and match shooting, I like my 6.5 Addiction. 6.5x284 velocity in a short action. It is a bit much for match shooting, but gets the job done and can still get 12 in an ARC mag with 419 base.

picking 5
22-great training and small game
6GT-seems like a good round for matches and some hunting should have decent barrel life without needing to fireform or use special mags. I almost said 6creedmoor but the lower barrel life made me say gt.
6.5 Addiction/6.5PRC/6.5x284-a 6.5 bullet in this velocity range is about perfect, downside is barrel life
7RM-great hunting round when I used this I can only remember 1 time an animal went more than 20 yards.
338WM-my currently preferred hunting round, elk know they’ve been hit and the damage on deer is incredible with the right bullet.
338LM just more of the 338wm

 

[MaximusDecimusMeidius]

7RM if I can only have one for a bolt action

If I can choose five bolt action calibers:

22LR
6 Creedmoor
308WIN
7RM
338 NORMA

If the five is for rifle calibers in general then:

22LR
223/5.56
308
7RM
338NORMA

 

[StLPro2A]

Hey all,
I'm curious what peoples opinions are. In terms of long range precision shooting as well as hunting what would your top 5 rounds be? Pretty much if you had to have one rifle to do it all what would it be chambered in?

Hmmm......two related but very different requirements....PRS and hunting. The first is only about external ballistics. The second adds the requirement of terminal performance......a critical step up the performance mountain.

 

[10X Rifles]

.300 WSM or .300Win mag with 180 AB's for critters. 190 Match King for paper. .260 med game. .223 grass rats.

 

[6brshooter]

Without fail, lol

 

[nutter89]

View attachment 7355142
Without fail, lol

This is the 6.5cm hipsters haha!

 

[Powder_Burns]

The 5 30-06’s below the magazine cut-off in my 03A3.

 

[BadAccountant]

The 5 30-06’s below the magazine cut-off in my 03A3.

In the process of turning an old sporter 1903 into a .280 AI. Should be really cool.

 

[Powder_Burns]

That rifle is a beast. Especially with that 16” bayonet and steel buttstock.

 

[hunter1959]

no particular order, just the top 5 :

338 lapua magnum
300 Weatherby Magnum
7mm Weatherby Magnum
6.5 Creedmoor
Springfield 30.06