Which Long Range Caliber for 1600 Yards?

As I said, thought experiment. Take any bullet, run the ballistics at these 3 very obtainable velocities. Compare the downrange results (this is all about 1600yds) and see what you get.

how you wish to pursue the final decision on balancing all the pros and cons is entirely up to you. As I said, I have been down the big route and today, I am running much more humble options.... but you dont have to. Use whatever makes you happy :)

What has not been discussed is the bullet itself. Everyone is assuming that every single high BC pointy thing will maintain a cone of happy happy at 1600yds and all that is needed to decide is the case to launch it.

Again, refer back to that data... and see what options slow to or below 1300fps.

Only testing will prove how bullets are going to track. Some will... some will not. If you want to shoot really far, there are more things to consider then just muzzle velocity... or action specs

Happy shooting.

Jerry

For reference, JBM predicts Berger 6.5 156gr at 2930fps is 1144fps at 1600yds. Is that good or not? anyone shoot this bullet accurately that far and under varied conditions (I have not shot this bullet)?
 
Last edited:
That dig about the Rem 783 got me thinking so I dug up a take off barrel from years back. For S&G, I dropped the ammo I used in my FTR rifle and lo and behold, it went right into the chamber. Both Berger 200-20X and Sierra 200gr MKs fit the throat

So, is it possible for this combo to reach 1600yds? Yep

All manner of factory rifles in 308win and 6.5 CM can reach out. Maybe the factory barrel isn't going to be that accurate or stable when it heats up, but choose suitable bullets and dial up the scope.

If the rifle and ammo with suitable bullets can shoot sub MOA at 200 to 300yds consistently, the hard work has already been done.

Jerry
 
Last edited:
My 6GT slinging 105 Bergers made it to 1630m at RFMA, but it was with a top spotter helping me in high winds. It wasn’t repeatable.

When the wind was below 8mph, and Furlong was spotting for me, I shot a tiny group about 3” at 700m, then he had me put a nose on the 500m IPSC. My rifle is solid.

Different day with high wind, and beyond 900 was tough with the switching wind throwing the baby bullet around. Rags was describing the insane arc of the bullet trace as it went way up to the left, then turned and came down to the right. I think the wind was about 18mph then (active wind calling 3-man team shooting).

I saw firsthand how my lightweight bullets are like lasers when the wind is low, and like popcorn when it’s windy.

Wallz has to choose something less drastic than that for himself, but still, it’ll have to be what he is comfortable with and fits with his goals.

FWIW, Rob Furlong does like the 6.5PRC for shooting at a mile, (I talked to him about that), but he also has the wind calling skills to make it work.
 
I shoot down at nose hill, they have steel out to 1410 yards, my 6mm creedmoor can get to 1050 OK but starts to struggle a bit after that, if there is any wind at all man it's a struggle at 1410, my 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC on the other hand much better, way easier to dope the wind and make consistant hits at 1410
 
yodave said:
options.......

I shot your 1000 yard buffalo offhand with my 7mm short creedmoor AI last august, might try it again this august, mid month, if you're free, come say hi
Click to expand...
Yea for sure, as I'm usually out at the range Sat mornings. That said my June is going to be busy. Anniversary the 1st weekend; 2nd, I'll be going scouting for a moose hunting spot; 3rd plan on blackjack challenge; last be heading to Vancouver for sons graduation.

More great points to ponder for sure with all this knowledge.
 
wallz said:
Yea for sure, as I'm usually out at the range Sat mornings. That said my June is going to be busy. Anniversary the 1st weekend; 2nd, I'll be going scouting for a moose hunting spot; 3rd plan on blackjack challenge; last be heading to Vancouver for sons graduation.

More great points to ponder for sure with all this knowledge.
Click to expand...
June 27/28 in Vancouver?

If you have time around then, you’re welcome to join me at the Abbotsford or Chilliwack ranges to try out my 300PRC to see what you think of the recoil in a config like I have.
 
jimbo14 said:
My 6GT slinging 105 Bergers made it to 1630m at RFMA, but it was with a top spotter helping me in high winds. It wasn’t repeatable.

When the wind was below 8mph, and Furlong was spotting for me, I shot a tiny group about 3” at 700m, then he had me put a nose on the 500m IPSC. My rifle is solid.

Different day with high wind, and beyond 900 was tough with the switching wind throwing the baby bullet around. Rags was describing the insane arc of the bullet trace as it went way up to the left, then turned and came down to the right. I think the wind was about 18mph then (active wind calling 3-man team shooting).

I saw firsthand how my lightweight bullets are like lasers when the wind is low, and like popcorn when it’s windy.

Wallz has to choose something less drastic than that for himself, but still, it’ll have to be what he is comfortable with and fits with his goals.

FWIW, Rob Furlong does like the 6.5PRC for shooting at a mile, (I talked to him about that), but he also has the wind calling skills to make it work.
Click to expand...

Yea, the one pic I posted was hitting the 1370ish M with my 6 dasher shooting the 109 Bergers. The 1380 is the top target at the trees, and I was going for the lower one in the dirt, to help spot my missing. I think 2 times in 20 hits, but I just had to see what it was going to do. I could spot 85% of my shots out there, and had my daughter helping me on the spotter, but she is a new shooter with no real spotting exp. There were some dark areas out there with no real dirt trail on the miss.

The 7SAUM will get me a bit better bullet than the 6.5PRC. I have to swap the barrel anyways, Brass I have a bit of new 6.5 PRC, but for what it is worth going to get new brass anyways. Really just a set of dies will be the new expense. I have a new arbor press so will want an inline seater, so that was going to be new anyways. Bullets will be so close in $$ that its not worth the discussion, as I only have some 156gr for hunting. Powder to me is mute as well, and not a huge expense to find the one that is best in the combination. Primers (cci250's) sitting on the shelf.
 
jimbo14 said:
June 27/28 in Vancouver?

If you have time around then, you’re welcome to join me at the Abbotsford or Chilliwack ranges to try out my 300PRC to see what you think of the recoil in a config like I have.
Click to expand...

Heading out 24th, and probably back the 27th. His ceremony is the 25th, and I hate sitting in Vancouver longer than I have to.

Thanks for the offer.
 
wallz said:
Heading out 24th, and probably back the 27th. His ceremony is the 25th, and I hate sitting in Vancouver longer than I have to.

Thanks for the offer.
Click to expand...
I’m off work then, so if you want to try it out, send me a note when you’re in town. 👍
 
I tried and gave up on the 6mm years ago as it was common to have 'irratic' behaviour as distances stretched out. This is less of a drift/wind issue and more of a bullet issue I have mentioned before.

for reference, my light LR setup is the 22 creedmoor shooting the Sierra 95gr MK at well under 3000fps (start load). It hammers all the way to 1500+yds and can get to 1600yds depending on ambient conditions (DA). High winds do not deter this combo

For those with 6mms, try the Berger 108gr BTs and the 107gr MK. These might be more stable as speeds slow. A bit more twist doesn't hurt either.

YMMV

Jerry
 
Mysticprecision said:
I tried and gave up on the 6mm years ago as it was common to have 'irratic' behaviour as distances stretched out. This is less of a drift/wind issue and more of a bullet issue I have mentioned before.

for reference, my light LR setup is the 22 creedmoor shooting the Sierra 95gr MK at well under 3000fps (start load). It hammers all the way to 1500+yds and can get to 1600yds depending on ambient conditions (DA). High winds do not deter this combo

For those with 6mms, try the Berger 108gr BTs and the 107gr MK. These might be more stable as speeds slow. A bit more twist doesn't hurt either.

YMMV

Jerry
Click to expand...
Jerry did you ever try the heavier 112 or 115 gr in any 6 mm s at LR ?
 
I have never tried anything heavier than 112gr and it shoots them OK have not played around with them a lot as I have a great load for the 105gr and I now have enough bullets for life of barrel so I'll just stick with the 105's
 
I've run the 110SMKs in a few 6 creed barrels and the 115RDF in 1 barrel. Have had (and continue to have) great results with the 110s around 2900fps, had mediocre results with the 115. Shot the 110s out to 1600 a few times and they performed well, biggest issue is spotting splash from smaller bullets (as expected). The perform excellently 1200 and in.
 
Just a quick post of our range, sitting at the benches. The trees at top are 1380M.

The flag near the road in right is at 300M. Next flag just left of that is 500M. Targets right of that flag at corner of road are 830M, and what looks like on the road are 600M. The 600M targets sit on top of a 40-50M tall berm, just to get enough height to see from the benches.

Targets just to left of this flag are the 1000M targets. 2 large white ones with several in between.

Far left flag is 400 M. Targets behind (to the right of flag) at tree line are 700M. Again sitting on berm height of around 20-30M. White ram targets are 500M silhouette targets. The 700M are the 3 small ones at tree line.
IMG_9469.png
 
IMG-8266.jpg
I love your range. 🍻

This pic is from July 2023 when I brought my 6BR there. Low wind, and I was nailing that small target at 1000m over and over. I think it is 18” x 18”.

My 6GT that I brought there last summer was nailing the 1168m target at will. I couldn’t see splash for the 1380m so never got a hit.

I’m looking forward to seeing the upgrades to the range when I’m there this summer.
 
jimbo14 said:
IMG-8266.jpg
I love your range. 🍻

This pic is from July 2023 when I brought my 6BR there. Low wind, and I was nailing that small target at 1000m over and over. I think it is 18” x 18”.

My 6GT that I brought there last summer was nailing the 1168m target at will. I couldn’t see splash for the 1380m so never got a hit.

I’m looking forward to seeing the upgrades to the range when I’m there this summer.
Click to expand...
I believe that target is 12"x12", the three targets to the left of the buffalo are 18"x18"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom