Best round for 200+ Yd shooting.

[hey_poolboy]

My buddy and I shot steel (10"x3/8" ar500) at 425 two weeks ago. I was using my 22-250. Had no problems hearing the ding with my ears on. It was a lot of fun too. He was shooting 300 win mag.

My personal preference would be .308, but since I don't have one .22-250 works just fine. I've used .270, .243, and 30-06 as well. Anything that will reach out that far will be fine and fun. Heck, I've shot steel plates at 100 yds with my 1911. That's a LOT of fun! A little tough too.

No, I didn't put every round on steel at 100yds, but I finally got 5/7 on target.

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[NRAforLIFE]

I agree with velojym; the .243 is the affordable option. Ammo is always available somewhere, which is a real plus right now. Wind drift is much less than the .22's, but if you drop back to one of those, you might try the lowly deuce (.222 Rem.). Ammo is plentiful for that cal., and cheap as well. It's a tack driver in the older guns.

 

[Trent]

Tech, please tell where did you get 880rds for $190 shipped?!?!? I would jump on that in a second if its still in stock! Thanks.

Here's a source, dunno if in stock. $10 higher than AIM was 6 months ago, per 440.

http://centerfiresystems.com/AM54R440.aspx

 

[coloradokevin]

Also, as far as the ding of steel is concerned, I've often found that I get a better ding out of the larger plates (10-12") than I do out of the smaller plates (4-8"). So, I think that might be a consideration as much as caliber choice is for making a sound.

 

[Centurian22]

Thanks Trent! Seems to still be in stock! Hopefully I can place an order before it sells out.

 

[Cee Zee]

that the impact has to cause to vibrate. 10" at 500 yds is going to get missed, a lot, if there's any sort of wind or mirage, and using anything but a benchrest.

If you don't have a really good rifle for long range shooting you're still going to miss most of the time shooting a 10" target at 500 yards. But there are rifles that will do it consistently if the wind isn't real strong (as you said niho). I just wouldn't expect most AR's to do it. But a good bolt action will do it with any caliber .223 and above (and some technically under a .223. A .22 Hornet will probably do it.I'm sure they will if you have the right rifle.

 

[theblakester]

270 and 7mm mag are both popular and they have great long distance ballistics

 

[savanahsdad]

If you don't have a really good rifle for long range shooting you're still going to miss most of the time shooting a 10" target at 500 yards. But there are rifles that will do it consistently if the wind isn't real strong (as you said niho). I just wouldn't expect most AR's to do it. But a good bolt action will do it with any caliber .223 and above (and some technically under a .223. A .22 Hornet will probably do it.I'm sure they will if you have the right rifle.

so your saying My AR 15 in post#8 is not MOST ? awh.. your going to hurt my feeling !! lol... great budget gun too.

 

[Aaron1100us]

.22lr, way cheap and still fun.

Check out this video (not mine). .22lr @300 yards. Besides .22lr, I'd say .243, .308, 7.62x54R, 30-06. How about .338 Lapua ? J/K

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xAkOzr6cDx0

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[savanahsdad]

.22lr, way cheap and still fun.

Check out this video (not mine). .22lr @300 yards. Besides .22lr, I'd say .243, .308, 7.62x54R, 30-06. How about .338 Lapua ? J/K

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xAkOzr6cDx0

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338Lapua wont ring steel, it just go's CLICK, and you see light through the hole! at least at 100yards it dose , so did my 7mmWSM (1/2" thick 2'X2' steel plate)

 

[dubbleA]

The type of steel has a huge role in stopping bullets.

The 6 inch round on the left is 1/2 inch AR500 while the plate on the right is 1/2 inch A36 which is common mild steel.

Both were shot with a 338 Lapua handload of mine at 400yds, do you see a difference?

 

[tech30528]

Tech, please tell where did you get 880rds for $190 shipped?!?!? I would jump on that in a second if its still in stock! Thanks.

Sorry, haven't been around in a while. The site was AIM Surplus. I got to talk to a rep there after they sent me an email that they needed proof of age to ship it. He says it is not likelt there will be any shortage of this stuff, it's still coming in in big quanitities. The one I just got was two spam cans in a wooden crate with a can opener. Still has the metal band on it.

 

[Centurian22]

No problem on the delay. Thanks for the info. Glad to hear there isn't a shortage especially in these times of empty shelves. At least I can still shoot something.

 

[Cee Zee]

so your saying My AR 15 in post#8 is not MOST

Well of course not! Everyone knows that don't they?

 

[tech30528]

SGAMMO has the same deal. There seems to be no difference between the the Russian 1971 and 1986 production and the Bulgarian 1971 except the Bulgarian has a silver tip. Both 147 grain mild steel core, I see no difference at all out to 400 yards. I couldn't find the Bulgarian on 7.62x54r.net in their ammo section so I used the data for the Russian 60 over 86 head stamp and it matched perfectly. In last week's testing they are drilling 1/4 of 400 series steel at 100 yards so don't use this on someone else's plates. Don't know how far out you have to be to ring in instead of drilling it.

 

[ID-shooting]

Seems to me that ammo selection isnt as big of a deal as platform selection. If you arent worried about killing power for game, as your post indicates, any .223 and up will work.

I like to play "sniper" with my mini-30 (7.62x39). It is real satisfying to hear the 500yd gong when I am resting he rifle on my pack and I get the lob just right.

If you want bolt, 7.62x54r out of a scoped Mosin would be fun or 8mm out of a scoped Mauser would be as well. Scoping an SKS is easy. If you want American, CMP Garands in 30-06 can be found, especially for a non-collector grade that you would scope.

Modern production becomes endless in options. If current ammo availability is your primary concern, hit the local retail points and see what is available, buy all you can afford then buy a rifle that matches and is comfortable for you.

 

[Cee Zee]

Scoping an SKS is easy.

It is? What have I been missing for 21 years? The only ways to scope an SKS well are to replace the rear sight with a scope mount or to drill holes in the side of the receiver and mounting a scope on the left side of the rifle. Dust cover based scope mounts are a real pain. They move around too much.

 

[savanahsdad]

It is? What have I been missing for 21 years? The only ways to scope an SKS well are to replace the rear sight with a scope mount or to drill holes in the side of the receiver and mounting a scope on the left side of the rifle. Dust cover based scope mounts are a real pain. They move around too much.

scoped SKS , yep piece of cake now the stock work , well thats another story

 

[Paul7]

In the San Antonio area as of yesterday Feb 8,2013 Walmarts had plenty of .223 Rem ammo. The lower priced stuff was a whooping $7.97. Area Academy's also have plenty of .223 but limit the amount you can purchase.

I would bet your whatever you want, truck, gun collection, gold, cash, house that I could walk into anyone of the 50+ area wallyworlds and pick up more 223 ammo in a variety of brands/loads and cheaper than 6.5x55 any day week period.
Not that the 6.5x55 is a bad round it's just not as popular and available as the 223 and never will be. Yes the dimunutive 223 will do everything the OP listed and it will do it cheaper with either factory or handloaded ammo.

You can get Privi Partizan 6.5x55 for $13 a box online, which is where I buy all my ammo anyway. Last week I had a .75" group at the range with it, and I'm not the best shot. Yesterday killed this Barbary Sheep with it. Rifle was a Sako 85 Finnlight with a Zeiss Conquest scope. It dropped like lighting hit it, the round entered the left side of the face, through the neck and out the right shoulder. I won't tell you where I was aiming.

 

[hawk45]

.22 cal is fun at 200yds. But in centerfire, .223/5.56 is the way to go for cheap shooting. After that .308. If you can reload I'd say .260 can do anything from 100yds to 1500yds.