What is your go to cartridge for 1500+

After proving that consistent hits at 1500 and 1600 with 6 and 6.5 Creedmoor were "low probability shots" (obviously conditions dependent) I had a 7SAUM (planning on shooting 180 class bulllets) and a .300 Norma (planning on shooting 215 or 220 Bergers) chambered up by Insite Arms. They should be here this week. Not that we can see that far now anyways. I could barely make out my 830 yard target through the smoke this afternoon...
 
Have had alot of success shooting 6.5X284 and even my FTR in 308 to 1 mile. I have used a 6.5 Mystic (260AI variant) beyond 2000yds.

How far is far?

If you are building for a shooting game, then likely a bigger boomer is helpful... if just shooting for S&Gs, you don't need a cannon ... you just need to be selective on your bullets

Jerry
 
I shot a 300 PRC In January. If I were to set up a gun for long range S&G,and Jerry put it, I think thats where I would start looking, if money was no object.

IF I actually had to pay for it myself, I think I'd honestly be good seeing how far I can Shoot a 6.5 CM.
 
While I've taken my 6.5 creedmoor out to 2,200 yards successfully, my dedicated long range rig is a .300NM.

Unfortunately I haven't had much opportunity to really unleash the .300NM, I need to make some contacts and find a good spot around AZ to really stretch it out.
 
A lot of factors go into what works as well. In my case, most of my targets being in logging slashes, splash from smaller bullets (6 and 6.5) or with very little energy left (.308) can be really hard to spot. Throw in some funky lighting and some switchy winds and you have a recipe for a low hit rate, hence up-sizing. Depends on target size as well, my 1500 and 1600 yard targets are a 24" diamond and 24" square. At 1600 yards a 1mph wind change is the width of the plate with my 6.5 Creed (140 ELDMs at 2820).
 
I was giving the 6.5 and 300 prc a hard look but brass is nowhere to be found. Thought about a 338 lapua, but can only shoot this far a couple of times a season and cost per round is insane. 300 win mag might be the round for now. I quickly checked the ballistics and even the 300wm lacks past 1500. I’m sure it will get there with a better chance of splash, I’m just wondering if it makes more sense to stick 6.5 anything and have a year round rifle
 
scuba52 said:
I was giving the 6.5 and 300 prc a hard look but brass is nowhere to be found. Thought about a 338 lapua, but can only shoot this far a couple of times a season and cost per round is insane. 300 win mag might be the round for now. I quickly checked the ballistics and even the 300wm lacks past 1500. I’m sure it will get there with a better chance of splash, I’m just wondering if it makes more sense to stick 6.5 anything and have a year round rifle
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For S&G, find a wide sandy/dusty patch and have fun with your 6.5. There are a few bullets that are happy to make the trip. Yeah, it is going to drift so you just have to be on your toes to wind conditions but it will get the job done.

I do suggest 30cal cause there are many bullets that can make the trip AND the heavier slug will kick up far more dirt. For S&G, is a magnum really that much better? Not really.

To test, take any suitable 30cal bullet from 200 to 230gr... compare the drift at 2600fps, 2800fps, and 3000fps at distance from 1400 to 1800yds. Quickly you will see an obvious trend wrt to drift vs distance.

then figure out how big a case you need to push this bullet at those speeds and compare costs, recoil, wear and tear.

for my mag fed build, I ended up with a 30-06....and I was more then willing to build a magnum.

YMMV

Jerry
 
I built up a .300 WM with a 26" 1:10 twist McGowen barrel (with help from Jerry at Mystic Precision) a few years back, which slings 210 VLD's way out there- we've made consistent hits to 1805 so far.

You'll get better performance out of a .338, but the cost of bullets/components goes up astronomically for a slight performance increase compared to a fast .30 with heavy bullets. If I were to do it again, I'd like to get away from the belted case and go to either .300 PRC or Norma, and go to a faster twist yet as well.

Of course as Jerry said, for casual plinking just for shiggles, nobody says you can't hit stuff out there with a 6.5-class cartridge, it's just gonna take some more hold :)
 
Mystic Precision said:
For S&G, find a wide sandy/dusty patch and have fun with your 6.5. There are a few bullets that are happy to make the trip. Yeah, it is going to drift so you just have to be on your toes to wind conditions but it will get the job done.

I do suggest 30cal cause there are many bullets that can make the trip AND the heavier slug will kick up far more dirt. For S&G, is a magnum really that much better? Not really.

To test, take any suitable 30cal bullet from 200 to 230gr... compare the drift at 2600fps, 2800fps, and 3000fps at distance from 1400 to 1800yds. Quickly you will see an obvious trend wrt to drift vs distance.

then figure out how big a case you need to push this bullet at those speeds and compare costs, recoil, wear and tear.

for my mag fed build, I ended up with a 30-06....and I was more then willing to build a magnum.

YMMV

Jerry
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Out of curiosity, Jerry, what bullet and at what speed are you pushing it at with your 30-06?
 
Trevor60 said:
Evening

300 Norma seems to be the most popular for extended long range. This relates to hit probability. adamg pointed to a good resource
https://precisionrifleblog.com/2020/08/27/best-rifle-elr-caliber-cartridge/
here is a match for extended long range
https://precisionrifleblog.com/2020/07/12/nightforce-elr-steel-challenge/

300 PRC could be an alternative if you don't want to get a dedicated magnum bolt face. there are extensive comparative debates

Cheers
Trevor
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300 prc would be ideal, no components in canada
 
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