Starter caliber for distance shooting...

[Watch_this71]

I'm sure this has been discussed, but my search fu is limited due to the servers here in Kuwait being overloaded by facebook siccophants needing their facebook fix.

I'm getting a GOOD "distance" gun and just asking for opinions about calibers. Do I start at .308 and work up to .300WM or just jump in feet first and get the .300? Yes I do reload and I'll be reloading whatever caliber I end up with...

THanks in advance...

 

[KYS]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

ummm baby steps. Start small and work your way up.

 

[Rifle Barrel Blanks]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

.243

 

[remau308]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

The .308 is widely used as the primary starter caliber for quite a few reasons. The recoil is mild, the ammunition is very common, it's relatively cheap to shoot, it's accurate, and the barrel life outlasts most other rounds. Now, you have to decide how much recoil you are comfortable shooting with (since a slight flinch before a trigger pull can be detrimental to accuracy), how much the cost of ammunition is going to impact your decision, how long can you afford your barrel to last, and if you actually have very long distances to shoot at often. If your range is very long, you can shoot whenever you want, you don't care about ammunition cost, and barrel life is not an issue to you, I would recommend the 6.5 Creedmore since you will be reloading anyways. If your range is a maximum of 800 yards or less I would just stick with a .308 and shoot the hell out of it. Regarding your two choices though, I would choose the .308, but a .300WM wouldn't even be considered before a .260. Just my opinion anyways.

 

[Jhnmdahl]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: remau308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would choose the .308, but a .300WM wouldn't even be considered before a .260. Just my opinion anyways. </div></div>

My first thought was something like a .260 or a 6.5 Creedmoor as well, with a .308 being a compromise caliber given that ammunition can be found anywhere but the bullet's larger and less ballistically efficient.

 

[RTS]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

I'd go with the .308. You will see tremendous benefits working up a load. If you have a range with easy access beyond 700-800 yards, there are a few other rounds I'd look at before the .300WM.

 

[HSNARC]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

I was in this situation about a year and a half ago, and after quite a bit of research i decided to go with .260. 260 is easy to load for especially if you are just starting out. The bullets in 6.5 fight the wind much better than .308 so actually hitting your target at distance in the breeze becomes less of a chore. There is a tremendous amount of load data here for the .260, and more than a few guys that shoot them alot. Oh and the recoil of a 260 with a brake is non existant in IMO.

But whatever you choose doesnt really matter nearly as much as basic marksmanship, wind reading ability, and trigger time.

 

[steve123]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

For the most part it's about the BC of the projectile.A higher ballistic coefficient makes for a bullet that sheds velocity slower and blows less in the wind.

If you don't reload and want decent ballistics then 6.5 Creedmoor would be a great choice.

If you built a 7SAUM,7WSM,7mmRM you would have a good combination of high BC,energy and speed.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

I would get a .308 built on a long action. This can then be rebarreled up to .30-'06 or down to .260, while retainimg the same boltface diameter (nominally .473"). The .30-'06 can be loaded to reproduce some of the 'lesser but equal' .300WM loads, and the .260's trajectory will generally reproduce the same curves, etc., as the .300WM, while delivering <span style="font-style: italic">more</span> energy than the .308 at the longer distances. If you want o get the most out fof the .30-'06 case capacity, I'm finding quite a lot of that with the .280 rem, essentially a 7mm-'06, delivering supersonic 1000yd performance out of a 150gr bullet

Brass for the .30-'06 is simply ubiquitous; if you can't find any, you're looking in the wrong place. 260 brass can be bought OTC or made up by simply running .243 or 7-08 brass through a regular .260 Rem F/L die. I do that myself with Win brass, no hardships needing to be endured.

I know there can be a fascination about shooting smart recoilling rounds like the .300WM, but unless you're needing to anchor ripsnortin' beasts with astounding alacrity, the 'lesser' chamberings are just as accurate, a tad less expensive to shoot, and simply bypass the recoil issue. If you really, really gotta anchor something majestic, the .35 Whelen will fit into the same mechanical footprint as the .30-'06, essentially. That oldy is still a flat-out goody.

I have been forced to observe friends while they indulge their preferences for the 'big ones', only to find themselves being outscored by something a good bit more tame. If I really thought there was some uniquely unbeatable advantage to enduring that additional recoil, I'd be riding up front on that bandwagon. But there isn't, as far as I can see.

Meanwhile, until then, the .308 is ideal as a starter chambering.

If you don't have a reliable basic bolt action .22LR, I'd strongly suggest one. That's yet another ideal tool for the working out the basic nuts and bolts of marksmanship development. That task is never complete.

Greg

 

[Supersubes]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

You having a custom built or something off the rack?

If custom, do a .260 remington(or the 6.5 creedmoor). Id drop the thought of the 300WM now. The .260/creedmoor will shoot right along with the WM in drop and drift, with much less drama.

.308's are fine but since you are making your first step into LR, loading the 6.5's offer no addition pitfalls. You'll just be gaing a huge ballistic advantage.

Shooting a .260 along side your buddies with .308's is going to feel like cheating.

 

[Series 70 Colt]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cpl Snafu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shooting a .260 along side your buddies with .308's is going to feel like cheating. </div></div>

shooting a certain 223 along side your buddies 308 is like cheating. Shooting your 260 or 6.5Lapua just pours salt in the wound

Listen to Cpl Snafu and build a 260 / 6.5. Unless you are a glutton for punishment and want to use the excuse "I am practicing how to read the wind" when you miss a shot

 

[Dirty D]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

300 RUM in as light of a rifle as you can find and don't worry about any sissy muzzle brakes.

 

[KTDLS7]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

Everyone needs at least 1 (probably more) .308

Though you do reload, you can always buy good .308 match ammo most anywhere.

Kevin

 

[Gruff]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

Anything in 7mm and you're at the top of the heap.

 

[Supersubes]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

James, I have a fluted blank and my own reamer sitting here for you whenever you're ready to cheat too.

I'm tired of screwing on the .308 barrel out of guilt!

Aaron

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

243 or any of the 6.5 offerings mentioned above.

 

[Tunanut]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

243, 260, 6.5 CM, or 7mm-08. All are easy on the shoulder and accurate as hell. 308 if you don't reload.

 

[SouthPawShooter]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

I would go with a 260 Remington or a 7mm-08 or maybe a 264 Win Mag they are great performers and will flat smoke a 308 in every aspect. Just my $.02 worth. Never been a 308 fan.

 

[Tangodown911]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

.308 is popular cause it works for the .mil so well. One must ask themselves why do I want a .308 when countless other chamberings spank it's ass? Cause .308 is easy to buy match over the counter ammo. Since you reload I would no longer entertain the idea of dumping money into a .308 build. Go straight .260 or 6.5creedmore for a low recoil gun that runs circles around most everything else. If you want more power, more recoil, less barrel life, go 7SAUM. I would skip the .300 and .308. If I wanted something on the level of a .300winmag and I would go straight to the 300 NormaMag. Now that's something.

I am a stern believer in the .260 for what it is. I doubt you will be disappointed. In fact I have never heard someone speak ill of the .260 or be upset that theirs wouldn't shoot.

 

[kengel2]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Series 70 Colt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">shooting a certain 223 </div></div>

Which 223?

 

[Supersubes]

Re: Starter caliber for distance shooting...

Just a standard .223 with 77 smk's.

Sometimes I whip it out and it does this from a cold bore:
730 yards

I just put it away after that and move on to something else.


600 yards

A number of people have seen this particular rifle shoot some amazing small groups, even well past transonic range, on many different occasions. It also happens to track very similarly to a .308 to about 850 yards.