6.5 or 338LM
- Thread starter disker
- Start date
Farlsincharge
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
The same job, energy wise?
Ok having been able to see a lot of new stuff coming out to my shoots. The latest and nicest is the 7mm ultra, 7mm wssm and 7mm STW. The 6.5 is capable of the mile but the 7mm is on my wish list. Way cheaper to shoot than the 338. Maybe 7mm-284 ha I have to get a heavier gun.
Pretty much any centerfire gun will shoot out to a mile. Just use a scope with lots of come ups. As to energy levels, the answer is "no". - dan
I couldnt decide either so I just went with both of them.
6.5x47 Lapau and a 338 Lapua (which still needs to be scoped before I can shoot it)
The 6.5 isnt expensive to shoot and with a heavy barrel on it, the recoil is pretty much non-existant which is nice so you can focus on shooting technique instead of being punished by your rifle.
6.5x47 Lapau and a 338 Lapua (which still needs to be scoped before I can shoot it)
The 6.5 isnt expensive to shoot and with a heavy barrel on it, the recoil is pretty much non-existant which is nice so you can focus on shooting technique instead of being punished by your rifle.
- Location
- Virden, MB
If you already have a 6mmBR and are happy with it. Then yea, get a boomer. I am always worried that new comers to the LR game think they need a big gun to shoot LR and get a magnum and get discouraged quickly because of the price. Its nice to have a smaller caliber and a magnum when you really want to do some damage.
I found myself that the 7mmRM was nice to shoot LR on windy days but I shoot the 6mmBR more just because it is cheaper and more pleasant to shoot.
Although I am going with a 260 for my next build.
I found myself that the 7mmRM was nice to shoot LR on windy days but I shoot the 6mmBR more just because it is cheaper and more pleasant to shoot.
Although I am going with a 260 for my next build.
All long range shooting hurts the wallet. The only difference between case selection is how fast it hurts. The end result being the total of the wallet pain will be close to the same, regardless of case selection.
R.
R.
The .338LM with the 250gr Lapua Scenar bullet pops out the the hole in the end at 3000fps and makes just under 5000 ft lbs.
It's a whale of fun out to the limits of the range that we use here in UK - 2500m - and beyond, with the current world-record sniping shots having been made with the L115A1 AI in november 2009, just beating M/Cpl Rob Furlong's 2002 record by 70m. HE used a McMillan .50cal BTW, as I'm sure you all know.
Trouble is, even if you reload, that there is no economical way to shoot this calibre - bullets are pricey and you won't get many reloads out of a pound of powder at ~90gr per shot......brass is also a mite costy, at US$280/C.
But hey, you're a long time dead and who cares if it costs $4 a shot?
Good luck!
tac
It's a whale of fun out to the limits of the range that we use here in UK - 2500m - and beyond, with the current world-record sniping shots having been made with the L115A1 AI in november 2009, just beating M/Cpl Rob Furlong's 2002 record by 70m. HE used a McMillan .50cal BTW, as I'm sure you all know.
Trouble is, even if you reload, that there is no economical way to shoot this calibre - bullets are pricey and you won't get many reloads out of a pound of powder at ~90gr per shot......brass is also a mite costy, at US$280/C.
But hey, you're a long time dead and who cares if it costs $4 a shot?
Good luck!
tac
blacktailslayer
Regular
- Location
- Ladysmith, B.C.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
The best 'value" in LR plinking right now in a larger cal are the 7mm's. The ballistics edge out the 6.5 nicely but don't have the recoil of the big 30's and 338's.
However, when only cost is factored in, the 6.5 is less money and the 7's and 30's about the same.
If you plan on shooting alot AND don't mind heavy rifles and/or muzzle brakes. The moderate sized 30's and 208gr Amax are quite an economical way to go and bore life will be better then both the 6.5's and 7's in larger cases.
There are trade offs
I am been twirling around the numbers and options for my next LR rock smacker and I think I am going with a 7-08 case and maybe improving it, long throated and load the 162gr Amax.
30" 9 twist barrel should get me into the 2700/2800's. At distances beyond 1000yds, it all drifts and you will need a bunch of elevation so see no point in burning much more powder and cooking my bore faster for another 100fps and maybe 1/2 min less drift.
Other options would be 284, 7x57 Mauser or 280. But these three will just eat up the bore faster.
However, I am still having a hoot tossing 22cal 90gr bullets out to 1500yds so may just change my scope base to gain a whole bunch more elevation and push it to a mile. In moderate air, 1500yds is a no brainer for the 223.
Jerry
However, when only cost is factored in, the 6.5 is less money and the 7's and 30's about the same.
If you plan on shooting alot AND don't mind heavy rifles and/or muzzle brakes. The moderate sized 30's and 208gr Amax are quite an economical way to go and bore life will be better then both the 6.5's and 7's in larger cases.
There are trade offs
I am been twirling around the numbers and options for my next LR rock smacker and I think I am going with a 7-08 case and maybe improving it, long throated and load the 162gr Amax.
30" 9 twist barrel should get me into the 2700/2800's. At distances beyond 1000yds, it all drifts and you will need a bunch of elevation so see no point in burning much more powder and cooking my bore faster for another 100fps and maybe 1/2 min less drift.
Other options would be 284, 7x57 Mauser or 280. But these three will just eat up the bore faster.
However, I am still having a hoot tossing 22cal 90gr bullets out to 1500yds so may just change my scope base to gain a whole bunch more elevation and push it to a mile. In moderate air, 1500yds is a no brainer for the 223.
Jerry
So it is.
I have 400 lapua 6.5-284 brass and I am in the process of rebarreling a Savage 6.5-284 that the barrel is shot out. It will stay in the 6.5-284 cal.
Chinbullco
Regular
- Location
- NW Alberta
Got to agree with the bigger 7mm,s. Money saved on 338 brass and bullets will buy more barrels, maybe more rifles.
I have used the 7mm-08 and the AI version a fair bit, and played with the 7mm's in general a lot. If 2700-2800 is your goal, you will achieve that with the 7mm-08 AI handily. The 7x57 AI will do it as well. I have been reading about the 7mm WSSM lately that would add about 100 fps to that. I think I'll start looking for a reamer. - dan
By ammortizing the cost of my 50cal brass by 5-6 loadings maybe more, I got the cost of shooting my 50BMG down to just over $2.00/rnd and at least I'm still busting rocks at the end of a mile. That's not bad. Barrel life is great, recoil isn't bad.
