I\m also a huge fan of Ron Spomer so well done for the recognition of his great work too. The 300 Win Mag is definitely on the list. Sight in 3" high at 100 yards and 6" low at 400 yards. In ballistic terms, a 235-grain .375 bullet at 3,000 fps exits the muzzle with lots of energy: 4,695 ft-lbs. A 30-06 will take any game on the NA Continent. Do we compare the fastest factory loads or top end handloads from select handloading manuals? Id consider a base of: Among these cartridges, the 25-06 offers the highest MPBR (Mean Point Blank Range) or the max distance that you can adjust a scope to and be +-3 with the most common bullet weights per caliber. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. No, this is merely a fun exercise in ferreting out the cartridge/bullet combination that shoots the flattest at reasonable hunting distance with a bit of extreme range (1,000 yards) thrown in for spice. This is one of the flattest shooting bullets available on the market, with a plethora of different size bullets available that range from 75 grains for small game, all the way up to 120 grains for deer. The 6.5300 Weatherby magnum, as its name suggests, is based on the 300 Weatherby mag and has a case capacity of 98 grains of water. Well, Im done Adulting for Today and Tomorrow. If you had to choose one cartridge to hunt with for the rest of your life, you could do a whole lot worse than the .30-06 Springfield. The company set out to push the limits with this thing, designing it as a flat-shooting 6.5mm cartridge with performance capable of taking full advantage of the newest long-range shooting reticles used in today's scopes. Its also based on the 220 Russian/7.62x39mm Russian cartridge, but unlike the Valkyriewhich uses a 0.223-caliber bulletthe Grendel is yet another 6.5. Manners thumbhole stock, trigger tech trigger at around a pound. He has managed multiple gun ranges, and has hunted around the world. Something like a 7mm Ultramag shooting a 120 TTSX would be pretty flat shooting to 500. It shoots as flat as a Kansas prairie and holds its velocity way out there. Well placed shots seem to work and poorly placed shots tend to fail. Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ELDX at 2,960 fps. Appropriate hunting bullets may not reach these levels of B.C. The Chey-Tac M200 Intervention is the bolt-action rifle built to handle this round, and shooters have been documented firing a group of 3 shots within 16 inches at 2,321 yards. Hornady Precision Hunter 212-grain ELD-X at 2,860 fps. Still, a flat-shooting cartridge will often perform well with wind as well, because it is in the air for less time between the shot and hitting the target. RELATED: 6.5 Creedmoor: The New King of Cartridges? But again, that just my opinion. It makes for easy reading in an \all in one place\ comparison, rather than spending time trying to find this data all over the internet. Again great job !!!!! Love it Jim ! and MV do. If youre after deeper penetration, look at the 139-grain Barnes VOR-TX Long Range load. due to its larger diameter which increases drag. These cartridges all drop less than 255 at 1,000 yards. Generally, a 300 Win Mag's 150 grain bullet delivers a 3,260 fps muzzle velocity, while its 180 grain bullet achieves approximately 3,000 fps. I was surprised at the distance, so I asked my PH Thats just 155 yards? He got a stunned look on his face and said, No, TWO hundred fifty-five yards! Our miscommunication during the shot sequence didnt matter a bit, because I was shooting a .28 Nosler, which put the shot only 2.8 low at that distance. The .224 Valkyrie is the flattest shooting 0.224 caliber cartridge . I thought Id run an article on the flattest shooting rifle cartridges to compare and contrast both whats popular, as well as a few of the high performance options out there. Commissions are earned for links to Brownell's, Amazon, MidwayUSA, GoHunt, OpticsPlanet, Sportsman's Warehouse, and other retailers. Surprisingly, even with all the extra recoil and muzzle blast, this cartridge will not shoot any flatter than most 6.5s. But dont waste your time trying to convince us a slower cartridge in any caliber can shooter flatter than the ones weve identified as category leaders. 500-yard drop: 45 inches (based on a 100-yard zero). The best varmint rifles are capable of accurate, repeated medium to long range shots from a fixed position, and are usually found in light, fast calibers that have a flat trajectory. The .25-06 is the flattest shooting, hardest hitting, lowest recoiling cartridge available. is the fastest at 3,500 FPS, and exits a rifle with a muzzle energy of 2,700 FPE. By way of comparison, the .270 Winchester (based on the .30-06 Springfield) offers a case capacity of 67 grains. Before we check that out, let's give a nod to the 240 Wby. Shots are usually quick. Backfire LLC owns and operates this website. Answer (1 of 5): Trajectory flatness is a function of muzzle velocity. But can it defend that title at 1,000 yards? Recoil is stiff and some find it hard to master. Beyond 1000 yards they use either the 338 Lapua or the 50 BMG. Flat shooting, minimal recoil and low noise, the .17 HMR is one of the top performing cartridges for shooting ground squirrels out to 200 yards easily. But lets take a quick look at a historically popular flat-shooting cartridge, the .270 Winchester. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Your email address will not be published. If you are looking for the flattest shooting caliber to 500 yards, you should read anything else. . Its just human nature to celebrate and admire the biggest, bestest, and flattest. In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. Not to mention the different variations in grains in each individual caliber,Ogive and BC. The .223 Remington will easily take care of any varmint out to around 500 yards, but at extreme distances loses its punch. The Barrett 416 or CheyTac exceeds this - I have witnessed it first hand - then you get into the wildcat cartridges. Muzzle velocity certainly makes a difference in how fast the bullet reaches the target, but it is by no means the only factor to consider. Check out ShootersCalculator.com By Adriel Just saying, excellent job to tell the nature of all calibers for hunting from 100 to 700 yards for medium game. The story of an old humpback Browning that's Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. +Nick Strother, he TOLD you right up front he was only including cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. My father has been shooting a 6.5300 wby we had made for him in the early 80s and it was only limited by bullet construction. Indeed, some deer also live in places where a 50-yard shot is much more likely than a 500-yard shot. And for all of you whove just learned your flat shooting champion really isnt, sorry. These lists are awesome to go over. Below is a chart indicating the three best flat-shooting cartridges and their muzzle velocity, drop, energy levels, and felt recoil. And is it fair to include Risky Ralphs overstuffed, compressed-powder loads that exceed the highest handloading guides top loads by 400 fps and leave primers looking as if theyd been squashed on a train track? Since I have shot my .270 Winchester primarily with the Hornady 150gr spire point and I know at 500 yards it drops close to 50 inches. RELATED: The 10 Best Rifle Bullets for Long-Range Shooting. With the exception of the 7mm Remington Magnum, cartridges of this diameter have never been as popular in America as they should bemaybe because this was the caliber of the Imperial German Army and the Nazis. The rifle snobs might whine. A popular western big-game cartridge, the 7mm Magnum doubles as an excellent tool for long-range target shooting. The newest addition to the Nosler line of proprietary cartridges is the 27 Nosler. Mag. bullet 12 inches at 500 yards, a low B.C. But can it defend that title at 1,000 yards? Deciding on the three best flat-shooting cartridges does not come down simply to one statistic, but a combination of all the factors inherent to a cartridge. Good points, which are all things Ive considered. When it came out in 1925, 300 yards was considered about the max distance for shots on game, and the .270 Winchester was quickly recognized as one of, if not the, best commercial option for that. Nevertheless, flat shooting cartridges have long fascinated hunters and driven cartridge development and sales. A 25 yard miscalculation at that distance will vary your hit by half a foot and outside our 6 imaginary circle of vitals. 2. By the way, while the 6.5-300 has been on the market just five years, Roy was shooting it in the mid-20th century. Ditto the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5-300 Wby. I noticed in your video that your chart also listed energy and recoil. Im not sure Im reading this right but there seems to be a decimal missing. MY 45 cal ball travels at 1633fps with a standard charge, and 74-5gr for a full charge (2040fps). Run those numbers on JBM. While there are not a lot of ammunition choices for the 6.8 Western, there are some good ones. Not sure if the OP is considering them or not. The amount of drop is directly influenced by velocity, energy, rifle barrel, and bullet design. After Weatherbys 6.5-300 Magnum did not win as many hearts and minds as theyd hoped, Weatherby rethought the 6.5mm cartridge and developed the 6.5 RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum). I have a 27 3/4" barrel 264 Win mag that shoots 130 Accubonds 3350 fps with Retumbo. Its clear that flat shooting is directly proportional to overbore. What Ive done with this deep dive review is use the highest Handloading Manual velocities Ive discovered, trusting that you, gentle reader, will understand that your mileage may vary. Unfortunately, the .223 WSSM has fallen by the wayside in recent years. Now, you might think this cartridge is new and unproven. Developed form the military, Winchester . When you havent time to engage a laser rangefinder, knowing you can reach the kill zone with a dead-center hold at any distance out to 373 yards is pretty comforting. 28 Nosler cartridge For decades, the Nosler cartridge has ruled the world of a flat shooting range with complete dominance. Your email address will not be published. This old timer remains a phenomenon, flat-shooting and effective. Norma offers a 156-grain Oryx load that wont shoot as flat but provides great terminal performance. It will push a 90-grain Fusion bullet to 500 yardswhich is probably the limit for . 1. . Time of flight impacts bullet drop more than anything else. Im going to set a restrictive definition on common and only include cartridges that can be found chambered in most any rifle. Nor could most of us scrape up a good excuse for owning one. Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range with a 129-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet at 3,400 fps. The lesser charge is a flatter, close group load. The goal with the 6 mm ARC was to provide the flattest-shooting cartridge compatible with an AR-15. At 300 yards it has dropped around 13 inches, and at 500 yards it's just under 60 inches (5 feet). For example , the chart I used showed about 67-70 drop for .270 at 600 yd.. Its a top choice of military snipers and can launch heavy bullets with high speed and exceptional precision. . However, the .220 Swift and the .22-250 have been used to take deer out to distances a lot of folks got no business shooting, for a long, long time. Gravity impacts all objects the same. It is a flat shooting cartridge, able to hit a target at 300 yards with negligible hold over. Also, same bullet, but a .257 Wby Mag will also work if you hit the same velocities. It just murders your shoulder, ears, and pocketbook at the same time . unfair comparison, Hornady makes a 139 grain BTSP for the 7mm mag very flat shooter, Great info, thanks for your difficult work. The .308 Winchester round shoots pretty flat out to 200 yards when it starts to drop. Montana! Twenty years ago, Winchester introduced the .270 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum). However, the .50BMG bullet will reach the target with 143 less drop than the 6.5 Creedmoor, because it has more mass which leads to a higher BC, and that higher BC given the same velocity, makes it slow down less during flight. The flattest-shooting popular rifle cartridge at 1,000 yards is the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, followed by the .26 Nosler, the .28 Nosler, the .22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. To be fair to the 30-378, itmurders everything else for flatness way out there, staying feet above most other cartridges and carrying enough energy to take a deer at just over 1000 yards. If you use a very good long range 6mm bullet like the 115 DTAC with a BC of .585 and a velocity of 2950fps, which is easy to get, it wipes the floor with the .308 with a 175 at 2700fps. Accuracy, knowledge of your rifle and its drops at different ranges, and knowledge of the conditions will dictate your very long range shots. Most common calibers are just fine for regular range shots under 300 yards. These rifles can hardly be considered to be flat shooting. We like the 257 STW we're loading 115 gr bullets around 3600fps with 1/2" groups.We can run it hotter and a Berger vld would be pretty flat. Its like a shorter, beltless version of the .300 Winchester Magnum. Depending on the caliber you are using, a long-range shooting may be at 1,000 and more yards, but if you are committed to rimfires than 200-300 yards is very long-distance shooting. A 10 mph right angle wind at 500 yards can divert even a fast, high B.C. Jim, While that incredibly fast 6.5-300 Wby. In 2015, Mann began contributing to Field & Stream to cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and hunting. The vast offerings of ammo and rifles on the market today is why the 338 Winchester Magnum is probably one of the best elk cartridges a hunter can carry. Based on the 7.6239/220 Russian cartridge case, the Valkyrie changes the personality of the AR-15. Top muzzle velocities with the same combination of powder, primer, and bullet can vary by 100 to 200 fps. Just want to extend my sincere gratitude to you for all of the hard work, time, and incredible effort that you put into this, and so many other endeavors that you have undertaken to give us so much useful information and education, and doing so in a carefully detailed and professional manner! Thanks. Your Knowledge is greatly appreciated! The Liberty Ammunition .308 Win. Thoughts on this? This is an example of how different loads in different rifles can produce different results. Thursday nights they do IDPA. RELATED: How the Brand-New 27 Nosler Revives the .277. It will be built on a stiller predator action, carbon wrap or #4 fluted stainless at 26 inches. A 100 yard miscalculation short or long will vary your hit by a vertical of 2.3-2.9 feet, enough to completely miss or wound the deer. How can I get all the data in a spread sheet form like you showed in your video? Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: 6.5 Creedmoor Preferred Rifle And Optic: A Rainier Arms precision rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and enhanced by H&H Precision with an Orias chassis from Killer Innovations. Below is the information Ive gleaned from 17-caliber through 338. I truly don't believe a senseable person would use ANY .22 caliber rifle for deer hunting. I see lots of Wildcats mentioned here. 270 and 30-06 carry enough power out to 700 yards, 7mm pulls a bit further, and 300 win mag pulls a bit further still. Omg I wish I seen this alot earlier than I did.. Ive literally spent hours on hours on ballistics calculators trying to figure out which new cartridge was the flattest shooting but also had enough energy for an ethical kill at long range and it took me countless hours to basically come up with what your chart told me in seconds grrr.. Flattest Shooting Hunting Bullet 257 Weatherby Vanguard 26" pipe. Great chart, I appreciate all your work on this. With a flatter trajectory and less wind drift the .300 Win Mag offers a useful step up in performance in a similar size rifle. Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. = 3002 inches = 250 foot = 76m above target at 1000 yds now thats a challenge ! It seems a bit odd to consider a .22-caliber cartridge of any design suitable for long-range hunting of even smallish big game. the max load is the distance load. Flattest at 500 yards Weatherby's wildly overbore 6.5-300 wins again! It takes 200 rounds to fully break in a barrel, so theyd finish it off in just 2-3 competitions (where you fire 200 rounds in a weekend). I've heard that too! Must be true since it was posted on the internet. Enforcermj, Im not sure if your comment is sarcastic or not. Unless youre shooting really far. I know its a great round, but its by a long shot the best selling rifle chambering of the last several years. I would think this data is slightly skewed unless the bullets are shot out of the same length of barrels and the same practices of reloading. Dear Adriel, please be so kind to provide statistics on the following calibers as well: Might be of interest and I have used the cartridge in a Ruger M77 with a 22 barrel. inherent in 6.5mm (.264) caliber bullets. . http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator. For example, the 7mm Weatherby Magnum will shoot the same bullet as a 7mm Remington Magnum, but it will do it about 10 percent faster. The .17 HMR is based upon the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire casing, necked down to .17 Caliber. The following table averages multiple loads for each cartridge and shows an average amount of drop at 500 yards and 1,000 yards for each cartridge. Most service rifle matches include stages at 200, 300 and 600 yards, from various positions, some timed, while others are slow-fire. The rifle has five caliber offerings . Terry Cross. For the Top 5 you have listed, what manufacturers offer a complete rifle in those calibers? It's still possible to get factory ammo for the cartridge, but current production .223 WSSM ammo normally uses heavier 50 or 55 grain bullets at . View Quote. All the following data was computer generated as if all loads were fired from a (simulated) dead flat (level) barrel, so these are pure drops. Just hoping my bad experiences might inspire you to avoid some of your own. Yes, the article most definitely included the 7mm Mag, but the specific cartridge mentioned by Nick is what the original article would have included as an exotic version, NOT something found chambered in most any rifle. JOHN BUOL Preferred Caliber For 500 To 1,000 Yards And Beyond: 5.56mm NATO. However, the lead that the 25-06 has is pretty small. I know you won't find them in the US, but just wanted to mention them because it's fun. (Essentially, you don't have to arc the 300 Win Mag's bullet trajectory in order to strike a target up . Mag. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. This cartridge is the .270 GIBBS and is based on the 30.06 case with the shoulder moved forward and at a 35 degree angle. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Granted I do live in New England, and we dont have that many long shot opportunities here, but you would think someone would want to have there firearms chambered in such a flat shooting cartridge. The advent of precision rifle competitions and the laser rangefinder has increased the publics desire to go long. However, at 400 yards it increases to 11.2 inches. Ive updated the chart description so its more clear that it isnt in inches. 243 and 25-06 had to be left out because it didnt have enough at 600 for even deer. Before we check that out, lets give a nod to the 240 Wby. Most often you just have to buy a Weatherby rifle to get one, and while that used to be an expensive proposition, its not anymore. That should be pretty close to flat. A big 7mm like the 7rum can put a 140 with nearly a .500 bc downrange at over 3500 fps or a 120 with about a .400 bc in the 3600+ fps range. 3. Loaded with a 130-grain bullet, it will carry more than 1000 foot-pounds of energy out past 600 yards. The flattest-shooting popular rifle cartridge at 1,000 yards is the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, followed by the .26 Nosler, the .28 Nosler, the .22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. bullet to offset wind deflection. All Rights Reserved, My Group Therapy: Shooting Log Book | 100 pages (6"x9") | Record Target Shooting Data & Improve your Skills and Precision Paperback June 13, 2019. Thanks When the .264 Winchester Magnum was introduced about 60 years ago, it became a sensation with shooters looking to extend their reach in the field. All three cartridges also offer ample case capacity, allowing enough powder to send bullets at drag-defying velocities. numbers are accurate. Lots of hunters consider the .270 Winchester one of the best all-purpose, short- and long-range cartridges of all time. Now, one manufacturer specializes in fast, powerful, ridiculous cartridges, and thats Weatherby. Its biggest disadvantage, in some people's opinion, is .25 caliber bullets have low BCs. Great information! Second, we are not encouraging extreme-range shooting at game. When considering cartridges for their ability to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical. .25-06 AI with a Berger 115 VLD that's moving 3,600 fps. The flattest shooting caliber and load I could find was the .300 RUM shooting a 150 grain bullet. However, I have a question to ask you. Prairie dogs?). The 26 Nosler cartridge was designed with the high ballistic coefficient (B.C.) 1.5" high at 100, would be dead-on at 250, and only drop 30" at 550. The non-bonded bullet should deliver good terminal performance up close and at distance. Zeroing for 100 yards or farther will change drop significantly. Besides recoil, the downside is the limited availability of factory ammunition and rifles. The 6 mm ARC flattens the curve, and as a 2020 introduction, it could be nicknamed the "Corona Cartridge." . (A bullet far from optimum for shooting elk.) At 500 yards, the 27 Nosler drops almost a foot less than Jack OConnors sacred cartridge. I ran the numbers with the 180 grain Ballistic tip at 3420 fps.