numbers which are not quite as accurate as G7 numbers in predicting trajectories of todays wildly long, sleek bullets. Required fields are marked *. Hunters can take advantage of flat shooting rounds to extend maximum point blank range, the distance over which a center-of-target aim results in the bullet remaining within the kill zone, never climbing above it at mid-range and remaining in it until maximum point blank range is reached. This cartridge is the .270 GIBBS and is based on the 30.06 case with the shoulder moved forward and at a 35 degree angle. The 220 Swift would be my pick for coyotes, rodents, and probably pronghorn if it werent for the wind deflection issue. Does it matter if there are -30 of drop or -40 of drop if the answer is simply to spin the turret a few extra clicks? 10 Best Long-Range Cartridges of All Time (2023) - Gun Digest Drops just 11.6 inches. To be fair to the 30-378, itmurders everything else for flatness way out there, staying feet above most other cartridges and carrying enough energy to take a deer at just over 1000 yards. Just dont try to enumerate its downsides to anyone who knows anything, because there arent any that matter. Something like a 7mm Ultramag shooting a 120 TTSX would be pretty flat shooting to 500. I have used it also in a Ruger #1 with a 26 barrel and thoroughly enjoyed the distance it affords me. It will push a 90-grain Fusion bullet to 500 yardswhich is probably the limit for . The .308 Winchester round shoots pretty flat out to 200 yards when it starts to drop. Misjudging a 5mph crosswind as 8mph will make a 5.3 difference at 500yd with my favorite varmint load (BC0.400/MV3,400). Forums. Most common calibers are just fine for regular range shots under 300 yards. Is flatest of all youve listed. Death in the Long Grass: A Big Game Hunter's Adventures in the African Bush .by Peter H. Capstick, Dino Paravano, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders (Volume 1) Paperback, The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game, Horn of the Hunter: The Story of an African Safari Kindle Edition, Use Enough Gun: On Hunting Big Game Hardcover, Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail: Upland Birds and Small Game from Field to Feast Hardcover March 1, 2018, The Easy Venison Cookbook: 60 Simple Recipes for Deer, Elk, and Moose Kindle Edition. When it came out in 1925, 300 yards was considered about the max distance for shots on game, and the .270 Winchester was quickly recognized as one of, if not the, best commercial option for that. Posted: 12/20/2020 9:01:19 AM EST [#22] There is a simple . bullet 12 inches at 500 yards, a low B.C. Your email address will not be published. In general, lightweight bullets driven very fast shoot flatter than heavier bullets with better aerodynamics (high B.C. Since I have shot my .270 Winchester primarily with the Hornady 150gr spire point and I know at 500 yards it drops close to 50 inches. This is an example of how different loads in different rifles can produce different results. It seems a bit odd to consider a .22-caliber cartridge of any design suitable for long-range hunting of even smallish big game. Below is the information Ive gleaned from 17-caliber through 338. Thoughts on this? Generally, a 300 Win Mag's 150 grain bullet delivers a 3,260 fps muzzle velocity, while its 180 grain bullet achieves approximately 3,000 fps. 26 Nosler Cartridge: The Flattest-Shooting 6.5 Ever? You can compare these numbers with your favorite cartridge using Backfires own table of flat shooting cartridges and you will see that the numbers indicated are in the absolute upper tiers. Again great job !!!!! Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. With a growing choice of ammo from 90-130 grain projectiles and the benefit of a great ballistic coefficient with the 6.5mm bullet, 500+ yard shooting can be almost boring. I appreciate the kind comment. Factory rifles and ammunition options are limited here, too, but based on the ballistic abilities of this cartridge, thats likely to change sooner rather than later. 10 Varmint Rifles for Small to Medium Predator Animals - Wide Open Spaces But you did such an awesome job with this data. Flattest at 1,000 yards Heres where things start to change. The good news is that these bullets might shoot even a tad flatter than these numbers indicate. Obviously Weatherby and Nosler, but are there other manufacturers, vendors, builders to consider? I would like to see a chart on down range energy. I mean, its the flattest shooting cartridge around, but you took a huge bump in recoil over the 300 win mag or even 270 WSM for 41 more usable yards of MPBR. In ballistic terms, a 235-grain .375 bullet at 3,000 fps exits the muzzle with lots of energy: 4,695 ft-lbs. 17. Second, we are not encouraging extreme-range shooting at game. The muzzle velocity is a plus in windy conditions, with the bullet arriving on target with minimal drift. rating, that 100-grain bullet is hanging in there. The biggest deficit is the roughly 57 feet of drop at 1,000 yards. 270 and 30-06 carry enough power out to 700 yards, 7mm pulls a bit further, and 300 win mag pulls a bit further still. Save big on firearms, accessories, tactical gear, clothing, and ammunition from now until March 29. For all practical purposes, the 25-06 would be a better competition round at 1000 yards. Commissions are earned for links to Brownell's, Amazon, MidwayUSA, GoHunt, OpticsPlanet, Sportsman's Warehouse, and other retailers. I noticed in your video that your chart also listed energy and recoil. wins again with just 218.5 inches of drop, the 27 Nosler moves into second place with its 150-grain bullet falling only 225.8 inches. Choosing the flattest shooting rifle cartridge in each caliber category seems fair, fun, and revealing, so well do that before identifying the all time top dog. The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. Its a top choice of military snipers and can launch heavy bullets with high speed and exceptional precision. Top inherently accurate 2000 yard calibers | Sniper's Hide Forum projectiles begins to add up and they shoot flatter at extreme range. 223 Remington, or 5.56 NATO is more than capable of shooting over 500 yards with accuracy. http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator. that are blowing the ceiling off gun sales, instead of 6 5 CDM? bullet twice that far. Just want to extend my sincere gratitude to you for all of the hard work, time, and incredible effort that you put into this, and so many other endeavors that you have undertaken to give us so much useful information and education, and doing so in a carefully detailed and professional manner! Yep, me too. Indeed, the .223 WSSM vies with the .220 Swift for the title of the centerfire rifle cartridge with the fastest bullet velocity. By the time the 6.5 Creedmoor started gaining popularity, interest in the .270 WSM was fading. At 500 yards even the flattest shooting rounds are going to be dropping somewhere around 30". 223 Wylde chambered, 20" barreled rifle. When considering cartridges for their ability to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical. You still need excellent range finding equipment and preferably have tested drops in your rifle in case your bullets have exaggerated BC claims. The Amazing 22 Creedmoor: A Wildcat Worth a Hard Look A bullet starts to drop as soon as it leaves the barrel. "Animal Instinct ammunition is optimized to deliver . But you wouldnt want to hunt with it. 4 Stunning Long-Range Rifles That Will Shoot Past 1,000 Yards ), Hornadys Precision Hunter 178-grain ELD-X at 2,600 fps is probably the best long-range option, but look also at the new 168-grain Berger Hybrid Hunter load from Federal, RELATED: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Winchester. So its not like the flattest shooting rifle gives you a lot more leeway on ranging errors for super long range shots. And is it fair to include Risky Ralphs overstuffed, compressed-powder loads that exceed the highest handloading guides top loads by 400 fps and leave primers looking as if theyd been squashed on a train track? Its muzzle velocity is 1880 fps, and muzzle energy is 2355 ft. lbs. Thanks Jim. Generally, traditional Weatherby Magnum cartridges perform slightly better than their Winchester or Remington magnum counterparts. What are some of the most flat shooting calibers at 500 yards? Run those numbers on JBM. The best long-range cartridge in the world might be the .408 Chey-Tac. due to its larger diameter which increases drag. Thats true, but the bullets have been vetted. In 2019, Nosler submitted the cartridge to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Institute (SAAMI) for approval, and in 2020, you can expect to see Nosler and other ammunition manufacturers offering factory loaded ammunition and even rifles for it. What I have come up with is the .270 Weatherby Magnum with a 135gr Sierra Matchking and 7828. Notice that it is only 3 grains lighter than the 150-grain .264 atop that Weatherby. Top A 30-06 will take any game on the NA Continent. As much talk as there is about the .270 Winchesters ability to shoot flatly, it does not compare with these three flat-shooting options. Great work mate including .22LR what a hoot (Incoming!) This is the allure and benefit of a flat shooting bullet. . I am looking for a really flat shooting cartridge up to 500 yards for a Remington rebarrel project I have. Recoil statistics are offered for reference. Mag. What caliber is the flattest shooting? | The Muzzleloading Forum That's impressive but misleading. That kind of long-range accuracy comes at a hefty price with this model starting at $11,700 from the manufacturer. Please, keep up the great work! It's muzzle v. 260 Rem Its just physics. All three cartridges also offer ample case capacity, allowing enough powder to send bullets at drag-defying velocities. 3 Flattest Shooting Rifle Cartridges - LiveOutdoors Of course, the .270 Win was developed in 1925 when 1000 yard shots were effectively unheard of. The flattest shooting caliber and load I could find was the .300 RUM shooting a 150 grain bullet. The flattest-shooting cartridges usually have Nosler or Weatherby in their name, and the top three flat-shooting cartridges were created by those respected companies. You can't go wrong with a .308 for a 500 yard rifle. Any cartridge that drops less than 40 inches at 500 yards or close to 200 inches at 1000 yards should be considered a flat shooting cartridge. This cartridge existed in a cloak of obscurity for a long time; only recently have hunters began to see the potential it offers. Hornady Precision Hunter 212-grain ELD-X at 2,860 fps. Equally, cutting through the air slows the projectile down, eating away at its energy. Fast and flat shooting b#%ds. For most calibers, such as a 45 getting the impact to be on target at 75 yards, the impact at 50 will be an inch or so high and an inch or so low at 100 and 4 to 6 inches or more low at 200 yards. Might be of interest and I have used the cartridge in a Ruger M77 with a 22 barrel. The story of an old humpback Browning that's Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Its clear that flat shooting is directly proportional to overbore. I stopped there because few hunters are going to tolerate the recoil or rifle weight needed to operate a flat shooter above 338-caliber. Once again great effort appreciated. He has managed multiple gun ranges, and has hunted around the world. If you are looking for the flattest shooting caliber to 500 yards, you should read anything else. The vast offerings of ammo and rifles on the market today is why the 338 Winchester Magnum is probably one of the best elk cartridges a hunter can carry. A 3 mph breeze at the shooter can become a 20 mph roar in the canyon halfway to the target. It takes 200 rounds to fully break in a barrel, so theyd finish it off in just 2-3 competitions (where you fire 200 rounds in a weekend). Check out their concise ballistics charts. Antelope Cartridges - CHUCKHAWKS.COM Impeccable analysis here. Flattest shooting round for an ar15 sized gun? Varmint gun? - AR15.COM 264 Winmag I too am a huge fan of Ron Spomer. Awesome indoor range. The result of this work was a flat shooting and hard hitting sniper cartridge with 200 to 400 yards of extended reach compared to the 7.62mm M118. 3. As magnums go, the .257 Weatherby is a mild kicker, and it's a great long-range cartridge for deer, pronghorn, sheep, and the like. With the 6.5 PRC, Hornady has created a better version of the old barrel-burner. From 600 to 1000 yards they use a 300 Winchester. Also, I used something called G1 B.C. However, the .220 Swift and the .22-250 have been used to take deer out to distances a lot of folks got no business shooting, for a long, long time. It is an ideal choice for deer-sized game in open country, and a fine choice for mountain game. I dont get it. Not sure if the OP is considering them or not. 7 Top Modern Long-Range Cartridges - RifleShooter Before we check that out, let's give a nod to the 240 Wby. The non-bonded bullet should deliver good terminal performance up close and at distance. Caliber choice for 600 yards | Long Range Hunting Forum Most shots are taken at short range, but some experienced marksmen with good rifles, known distances, and good conditions may need to make connections at longer distances. On the other hand, wind speed and direction are inconsistent. Top 10 Low-Recoil Hunting Cartridges - SkyAboveUs Our margin for distancing error at 700 yards just went from 12 yards with the 30-06 to 25 yards with the 30-378. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. If it makes you feel better to hate the 6.5 Creedmoor, go ahead. I know its a great round, but its by a long shot the best selling rifle chambering of the last several years. These are all under my extreme heading, because theyre all brutal on cost and recoil. Think 30-30 necked down to a .25 cal. The wise longer range shooter errs on the side of a higher B.C. The Liberty Ammunition .308 Win. The company set out to push the limits with this thing, designing it as a flat-shooting 6.5mm cartridge with performance capable of taking full advantage of the newest long-range shooting reticles used in today's scopes. Just $1 per month , These rounds have the reach and the power to put down big-game animals way out there, By Great chart and thanks for what must have been an incredible amount of work. i've heard the .17 hmr are real flat shooting. Links or names greatly appreciated, Thanks! Bullets of this diameter are easily configured to have extremely high ballistic coefficients. The final two cartridges above are mislabeled. I'm not a huge fan of basing my decisions on bullet energy. I\m also a huge fan of Ron Spomer so well done for the recognition of his great work too. I suspect Weatherby got wind of Noslers work on its superb 26 Nosler, so they released Roys old wildcat to steel some of Noslers thunder. Unless youre shooting really far. drops 6.7 inches at 300 yards and just under 20 inches at 400 yards. Best Cartridge for out to 500 yds??? - Long Range Hunting Forum If not. Just curious if you included the 300 Norma or maybe I missed it. The lesser charge is a flatter, close group load. Ditto the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5-300 Wby. But what are the flattest shooting rifle cartridges? A benefit of that, you can fing .308 ammo off-the-shelf for any practical application. I realize that you looked at several different loads for each cartridge to figure out which one was the flattest shooting. At 1000 yards a .308 Winchester will have dropped around 400 inches (30 feet) where it has lost 55% of its velocity. New Rifle Cartridges for the Modern Hunter - Game & Fish You are using an out of date browser. Ballistically, the cartridge is very similar to the 6.5 PRC, but unlike the PRC it uses a standard 0.473 rim diameter like the .308 Winchester. 8 Underrated Long-Range Cartridges - Guns and Ammo Now, one manufacturer specializes in fast, powerful, ridiculous cartridges, and thats Weatherby. Excellent job. So, Winchester slightly modified the .270 WSM case so it was a bit shorter and then specified barrels with a faster twist. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Hello Jim, What Does A .308 Ballistics Chart To 1000 Yards Look Like? Therefore the .17 Remington is the round for you. If youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX Long Range load. Meantime, lets enjoy our deeper dive into flat shooting hunting cartridges (hand carried and shoulder fired. The 6 mm ARC flattens the curve, and as a 2020 introduction, it could be nicknamed the "Corona Cartridge." . It shoots as flat as a Kansas prairie and holds its velocity way out there. The 147-grain ELD-M bullet has a sectional density of .301 and a G1 Ballistic Coefficient of .697, which is arguably the highest ballistic coefficient of any 6.5 Creedmoor bullet. Velocity, drop, energy and the use of bullets with their own factors which create their ballistic coefficients all should be considered. What is the flattest shooting rifle? - RWrefuge Warm greetings from S.W. .468 BC, 1. What caliber rifle shoots the flattest? - Curvesandchaos.com Based on the now almost-forgotten .284 Winchester, the 6.5-284 Norma was originally a wildcat cartridge and a very popular one, especially in bench-rest competitions. UPS has officially stopped shipping guns? What bullet weight did you select for the .270 Winchester? The wildly overbore 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum wins or places near the top of the flat-shooter podium at most ranges to at least 1,000 yards. But truth be told, every Weatherby cartridge is a long-range cartridge. What about the guy who wants to go long with his AR-15? What rifle cartridge has the flattest trajectory? - Quora First, some boundaries. 10 Things We All Hate About flattest shooting caliber to 500 yards What Ive done with this deep dive review is use the highest Handloading Manual velocities Ive discovered, trusting that you, gentle reader, will understand that your mileage may vary. Mag., according to Noslers Handloading Guide 9. I thought Id run an article on the flattest shooting rifle cartridges to compare and contrast both whats popular, as well as a few of the high performance options out there. Accuracy, knowledge of your rifle and its drops at different ranges, and knowledge of the conditions will dictate your very long range shots. Just hoping my bad experiences might inspire you to avoid some of your own. Thanks, 26 Nosler 127 gr LRX 3602 Ft./Sec. So since it doesnt work AT ALL for serious shooters, it doesnt get much air time, and then the average hunter who only shoots 2-3 boxes per YEAR never hears about it. Still, by using G1 across the board, we are on a level playing field. Four Great Calibers for Elk | The Outdoor Line Blog Noslers first proprietary cartridge is basically a steroid-monster 6.5 Creedmoor. The actual rain is pretty old-school, not digital distances and whatnot, but it's cheap and the people who work there are great. From an external ballistics standpoint, it cannot compete with any of the cartridges on this list, but in the field where it matters, it works wonders, and only the 6.5 Creedmoor has less recoil. But if it isnt, go read the article again. Because it was used in the Civil War, the term "flattest" is not an exact description. modifies results at some point. .45-70 shoots like a Rainbow compared to even a Win 30-30. I took multiple loads from each, but identical sources. I see there are some others like 300Win mag as well and thats a very popular cartage so it should be there as well I would think. Brownings 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing load has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2835 fps and a very high ballistic coefficient. Its bullets will remain supersonic out past 2,000 yards. Always amazing to me its not even on those lists. And yes, the .223/5.56 even dominates that match. The smaller calibers drop like a rock past 500 yards. of energy at that distance more than enough to drop a deer humanely. Required fields are marked *. Sight in 3" high at 100 yards and 6" low at 400 yards. I subscribed to your Feed as well. Outstanding job!! For example, the .50BMG and the 6.5 Creedmoor both launch bullets at approximately the same muzzle velocity of 2,700fps. The RPM does not have a belt or the customary Weatherby radiused shoulder, and it was designed to go with an ultra-light hunting rifle. I've heard that too! Like the 6.5 Creedmoor, the .280 Ackley Improved can remain supersonic out to 1,400 yards. But if you can shoot this cartridge well, with its supersonic speed out beyond 1,650 yards, youre just about unstoppable at distance, and there are lots of factory loads and riflesaffordable and expensiveto choose from. Light bullets driven fast shoot flatter over shorter distances. Now if you pulled all of your data from Nosler and they shot their bullets out of the same length of barrel then I would trust the ballistics youre speaking of. Don't want it too heavy. At 600 yards, most common cartridges are running out of juice to take down larger game like Elk or Moose, though the 300 win mag/300 WSM still have a bit left in the tank. Is it possible to show those on your web site list? The best varmint rifles are capable of accurate, repeated medium to long range shots from a fixed position, and are usually found in light, fast calibers that have a flat trajectory. Another and even better option for reaching out to a big game animal with an AR15 is the 6.5 Grendel. the max load is the distance load. And that light recoil not only makes you a better shot in the field; it also makes practicing more fun and productive. It's not until you get farther out that BC starts making a big difference. With its rebated rim and 1/2-inch diameter at the base, it is essentially a longer version of the 6.5284 Norma; ballistically equivalent to the .264 Winchester Magnum. Great work here. . I love your work and what you share with us. 95% of your shots will be inside 500 yards, and probably 80% inside 300. . Since nearly all long-distance shooters today use a laser rangefinder, does it even matter which cartridges shoot the flattest? Normas 180-grain BondStrike Extreme at 3,084 fps is new and very flat-shooting. projectile that you might crown that one King, especially since that 100-grain sounds a bit more reasonable for deer-sized game. Obviously this list doesnt include every possible bullet/BC/MV combination, but it gives us a pretty good picture of the likely winners at three distances. The newest addition to the Nosler line of proprietary cartridges is the 27 Nosler. Well, theres really only one option in .22-caliber and thats the .224 Valkyrie. Manners thumbhole stock, trigger tech trigger at around a pound. The spin rate helps to stabilize the projectile along its path, cut through drag and higher case capacities give the projectile more velocity thus delivering the bullet to the target more quickly. In fact, we may say that its the only thing that matters; however, factors that lead to time of flight changes are important to consider. The Best Long Range Caliber For Any Situation in 2022 Recoil is stiff and some find it hard to master. Again, I, as well as so very many other folks Im certain, am very grateful! So, if you want to go long, there are some clear choices here. Do you have any of the data on the weight of the bullets, the brand of the bullets, the BC, any of the information related to the data youre posting? Not a lot of difference in drops between the cartridges though; you need accurate yardage readings to get your drop correct. (For anyone who gets worked up about the fact that the .30/06 isnt on this list, feel free to swap it with this one, as long as you dont mind the extra kick. Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. The issue with the Nosler cartridges is barrel life. The caveat here is that fastest becomes a bit murky. | It's a shame the .25-06 is in decline at the moment. Why? All the following data was computer generated as if all loads were fired from a (simulated) dead flat (level) barrel, so these are pure drops. RELATED: How the Brand-New 27 Nosler Revives the .277. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Top 6 Long-Range Competition Cartridges - Guns and Ammo Enforcermj, Im not sure if your comment is sarcastic or not. Its really tough to spot impacts with that much recoil, and thats becoming increasingly important for shooters. Nosler Trophy Grade with a 130-grain Nosler AccuBond at 2900 fps. But its so close to the 6.5-300 Wby. Muzzle velocity certainly makes a difference in how fast the bullet reaches the target, but it is by no means the only factor to consider. 2023 Backfire LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. The 257 Weatherby Mag. Yes I know its a barrel burner but so is the 300RUM and others on the list. Hornady's Precision Hunter 145-grain ELD-X at 2,950 fps is the flattest-shooting .270 Winchester load. I know it is very uncommonly talked about. Target Rifle- Caliber Question. And while that pokey 300 grain 338 Lapua round drops quite a bit compared to the others in the list, its carrying a lot of energy: enough to take a deer at 1775 yards. What do you guys think the flattest shooting caliber would be for hunting I have heard 6.5x284 but the bullet CE appears better on a 270. Want to run your own ballistics numbers? p.s. But lets have a round of applause for our antiquated 220 Swift, just 0.2-inch off the record!
Will Dispensaries Take Expired Ids, Articles F