Short Action Long Range Hunting Calibers

Just from doing a few quick google search I'm seeing that people are giving the 6.5 cm a max hunting range for whitetail of 600 yds caliber wise. Any other calibers that can either match this or push that distance further?
 
saltbait said:
Just from doing a few quick google search I'm seeing that people are giving the 6.5 cm a max hunting range for whitetail of 600 yds caliber wise. Any other calibers that can either match this or push that distance further?
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I believe online theorists also put the effective range of the .308 out to 600 yards with correct bullet selection.
 
All of my builds thus far have been put together rather quickly. I am kind of drawn to buying a stock rifle and seeing what each step towards the final tweaked and customized rifle accomplishes in terms of accuracy and overall performance.
 
Or just run a lower velocity 6.5CM load to preserve barrel life? But then again, say you shot one animal for every 100 rounds fired, that’s 25 animals. How many animals can you take in a year over there? Is this really a problem? Surely after that many rounds you could splurge on a new barrel, if it’s even lost enough accuracy to make a difference in a hunting rig. 308 is my calibre of choice, but barrel life has nothing to do with it. No offense meant, just playing devils advocate. Bottom line, you need a 6.5, a 308, a 300 and... why not a 416 barret too. Science.
 
saltbait said:
Also....someone convince me that buying a 300win mag is a good idea.
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I'm looking at getting one to put together a "budget" elr rig. With the Bergers 230s, the .300WM performs pretty damn close to the .338 Lapua Magnum. ####ty barrel life but you can't have your cake and eat it too... You could take a white tail pretty damn far with a rig like that ;)
 
If I wanted to push the effecting hunting range beyond the theorized 6.5cm / .308 600 yds I'd be looking at the .300wm. Not sure why you might be down on it but that would be my choice for the role.

What's the general consensus on .300wm barrel life ? .338 Lm seems to be about 2500 rounds.
 
I’m trying to build the same thing. 243 is what I’ve decided on. If you’re allowed to hunt with it in your province, i think it’s one to consider.
 
I just recently had a 7-08 built buy ATRS.26" 5r barrel. My initial load development with 162 gr ElD-x is 0.5-0.75 moa at 2710fps using Varget. I'm sure there might be ways to push faster but i am more than pleased with my results for the time being. It should have greater barrel life that most of the 6.5 calibres and will hit a little harder at distance. In the conditions i shoot it's supersonic out to a little over 1100 meters. and still retains 1800 fps(what most bullets require for adequate expansion) and about 1200 ft-lbs out to 700m. A very efficient and under-rated cartridge that has been shadowed by the new whiz-bang 6.5 cartridges.
 
Don't worry about speed and barrel life, get a high BC bullet like the ELD-X(like mentioned) and it will hold enough go-go out far and still fragment, it is designed for this purpose , I'm still not a huge fan of Hornady but that's just personal issues.

7/08,260,308 - common chamberings and likely get 4000+ rounds of barrel life.

Want to burn faster , 270/7mm WSM, 284 Win , your fast 6.5's.
 
cody182005 said:
I just recently had a 7-08 built buy ATRS.26" 5r barrel. My initial load development with 162 gr ElD-x is 0.5-0.75 moa at 2710fps using Varget. I'm sure there might be ways to push faster but i am more than pleased with my results for the time being. It should have greater barrel life that most of the 6.5 calibres and will hit a little harder at distance. In the conditions i shoot it's supersonic out to a little over 1100 meters. and still retains 1800 fps(what most bullets require for adequate expansion) and about 1200 ft-lbs out to 700m. A very efficient and under-rated cartridge that has been shadowed by the new whiz-bang 6.5 cartridges.
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There are ways. Slower powder in that longer barrel. I use h4350 in mine also 26" and have eldx up to 2850fps. I was getting very close to 2700 in a 22" barrel with the same powder and bullet.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Don't worry about speed and barrel life, get a high BC bullet like the ELD-X(like mentioned) and it will hold enough go-go out far and still fragment, it is designed for this purpose , I'm still not a huge fan of Hornady but that's just personal issues.

7/08,260,308 - common chamberings and likely get 4000+ rounds of barrel life.

Want to burn faster , 270/7mm WSM, 284 Win , your fast 6.5's.
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Read several stories of some .308's holding their accuracy for 10,000 rounds.
 
Im running a 6.5 SAUM and the 143 ELDX. Getting 3050fps with a mild load. Expecting 2500-3000 rounds out of this barrel from all reports. Running H1000 at the low pressure node extends the barrel life. Feeds no problem from AICS mags. Fast and flat.

But there are dozens of good SA rounds for hunting.

260 remington
6.5x47 Lapua
6.5 Needsmoor
7-08
308
300WSM
270WSM
7mm WSM
6.5 SLR
260 Ackley Improved
7mm SAW
284 Winchester (limited to light bullets for SA)

Decide what caliber (6.5mm, 7mm, 30cal) you want and then go from there. I usually let brass decide what I am building (Lapua) and whether or not I want to form brass or be able to buy off the shelf.

My hunting rifle is a 6.5x47 Lapua getting 2750 from the 139gr bullets. My competition rifle is a 6.5 SAUM. Meh.......
 
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