Which of these calibers for a pair of long range rifles?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Why the need for all the selection...once you find a load, thats it...all those other offerings are just taking up space.

.277" and 6.5mm are close enough to be considered equals where ballistic performance is concerned....and the .277" just might have a slight edge for what its worth. The .277" caliber is catching on and more bullets are being offered.

But seriously...what else would a person need that couldn't be covered by a bullet weighing from 100-150 grains, with the 150's having a VERY good ballistic coefficient.

Long range rifles are specialized tools firing specialized loads...you'll find yourself shooting only one type of bullet most times.
 
Thank you Mav - you got it straight! :D

RR, your last two posts are diametrically opposed to one another (hey, go .280 AI -- hey the .270 does it all, so why not stick with it), and thus make no sense to me when taken together. But maybe I'm missing something.

However, thank you for the .280 AI recommendation - I'll consider it; very interesting. :)

I have already explained in some detail why I will not consider any .277 caliber, so that's out, period - thanks but no thanks. Yes, it's catching on but I'm not gonna wait around hoping that a slough of great bullets will be made. There's a few to be sure, but not enough to cover the bases to make sure that each rifle finds one it likes very well, with the ballistics I want, one in hunting, and one in target bullets.
 
Last edited:
Ok so you had to change the list of acceptable cartridges:D IMHO since the 6.5x55 is in consideration forget about the rest. The sweede will give you longer barrel life than any of the others on the revised list and it has that certain cool factor about it to boot. Heck even federal lists match ammo on their website now. Go ahead and get your rifles chambered in 6.5x55 and enjoy life and a true classic.
 
I'm lusting after a .280AI for a "long range" hunting rifle myself. I'm very intrigued by the soon to be coming Kimber 84L, in .280AI, of course. Nosler is making brass and loaded ammunition for it in the 140gr Accubond and 160gr Partition.
 
Dr. Tad,

2 different points there... one was that the 280 AI gets you up into 7mm mag territory without a belt.

The other was that the .277" caliber can do what you want with the available bullets.

I understand that you don't want a 270...just making a decent argument to make sure you're sure...:)


I'm not very good at all sometimes with saying what I mean in an understandable fashion...been that way my whole life. LOL

Get the 280 AI and don't look back...
 
Last edited:
If you choose the 6.5x284 here is something that might come in handy (but there is only 1 left at that price, so make up your mind quick). ;)
 
large and very large game hunting,
Click to expand...

You don't have anything there that will 'reliably', 'safely' do this...! Go ahead, tell me I'm duh!....but it aint happening with what you list there on a regular basis! lol hehehehe

for very long range target shooting in the same caliber
Click to expand...

6.5-.284 Norma...it'll do deer also, and at range IF you can get the shot, and get the shot where it needs to be!

6.5-7mm WSM>>>>>> I was reading something to the effect that the WSM and the SAUM's did not lend themselves well to the 6.5...the article said both Winchester and Remington, along with an independent ammunition company tried this combination and the results were poor...don't know why, I think it would be killer!


7mm RSAUM>>>>>> Best of the 7mm bunch....used by more than a few for looong range stuff, take a read over at 6mmBR.Com.
The longer neck will be an asset for you when you start messing with bullet position.

Should I forget the idea of same caliber
Click to expand...

You better believe it...!! What your after, a round that will preform at long range, AND anchor the moose beast AND exhibit low recoil AND not be any bigger than a 7mm.....Tad, please...! lol hehehe

I just plain ol' don't understand the....'brass' issue...! Do you spend ALL your time behind a $2000 + long ranger...? No? Well standard run brass aint gonna hurt ya! lol

If you would limit your biggest beast to the 'large deer' category, and taking the 'long range target' work into thought, I'm still seeing the 6.5-284 Norma Longrangerbeastziblastzen!

You want a 'do all' type rifle...?>>>>>>.487 siberian buttstomper!! Can't beat it! hehehe
 
Last edited:
My long range rifle is a 7 STW I have not seen it mentioned yet. The rifle does kick I think a bit harder than my .300 win mag. With a 139 grain berger I am running a average of 3325 fps. Plenty of long range knock down power for just about anything in North America.
 
I'd go along with the 6.5-284 or just use a 264 winchester because it is probably more common and has as good and better external ballistics. The 6.5 would seem to be perhaps a little easier on the shoulder and therefore fun to shoot.
 
The 6.5x55 is another great choice, especially for the paper puncher. The 6.5x284 seems to loose its guilt edge accuracy anywhere from 700-1200 rounds. That is an eternity to a moose/deer hunter but it is fairly quick for a paper puncher. 6.5x55 is a lot easier on barrels and should go 3000 rounds if you don't abuse pressure. I'm sure many people have stretched 6.5x284 life longer using lower pressure loads but that puts you right into shooting a 6.5x55. From a cost point of view the barrel life of a 6.5x284 needs to be considered for the paper puncher. I understand that having two rifles built isn't going to be the cheapest thing in the world but having to rebarrel every 700 rounds would keep me away from a 6.5x284, though that is about the only issue. I love the speed and the bullet selection. Hard to argue with it's history punching paper. If you do go with the 6.5x284 for the target gun I would look at having a couple spare barrels done up at the same time with the same reamer. Should make life easy down the road.
 
The 6.5x284 barrel life is more like 1000-1200 rounds and there are ways of extending that. Keep in mind that we are talking ACCURACY when we talk about barrel life, not as if the barrel is going to die and fall off.
 
Did I miss suggestions of .260 Rem (AI)? That is hard to beat at long range, near duplicate of the 6.5x55 ballistics with the advantage of being based on a .308 so barrel swaps are all that is required.

Picking between 6.5x55 and 6.5-.284 would seem to come down to how long you want to be able to use the rifle. For a hunting rifle you'd have to hunt many lifetimes to shot the barrel out, for a target rifle not so much. If you want the extra push and can afford the new barrel then the 6.5-.284 would be an excellent choice, but then again so would all of the others on your short list as well as the .260 Rem with or without Ackley's help.
 
Keep in mind that we are talking ACCURACY when we talk about barrel life, not as if the barrel is going to die and fall off.
Click to expand...
LOL...like a whittle flower, it wilts and falls off.

The 260 Remington is a good round.
Click to expand...
Yes it is, but I don't think it is suitable for very large game...perhaps a .260Rem. and .280Rem. would be the best LR target/LR hunting combo.

:)
 
Another fan of the 6.5x55 Swede here. I was tired of being pounded to death with my 30-06. You know the feeling sighting in ever year? After 3-4 shots one finds himself saying, "well that's good enough." I wanted a gun I could shoot and enjoy all year long yet still bring down big game. The Swede fit the bill for me. Hawkin's recoil chart places it as equal to the 30-30, the Europeans have been shooting all of their big game, (even Moose), with it for 13 years longer than the 30-06, it was and is currently the most popular 300 yard range competition caliber in Europe and features one of the best BC's. The history of it's terminal performance is great. The mystery of great terminal performance from a small diameter bullet is largely attributed to the long shanked bullets. Plenty of bullet mushroom and plenty of shank left to ram the mushroom deep into the hole. What's not to like?
My current pet load is yielding 5/8 inch groups at 100 yards.
 
The 260 Remington is a good round.

Yes it is, but I don't think it is suitable for very large game
Click to expand...

don't tell the Nordics, they've been using the 6.5x55mm (long action parent of the .260) for animals up to moose forever...it is to them what the 30-06 is to America, their battle cartridge, their hunting cartridge and their target cartridge
 
don't tell the Nordics, they've been using the 6.5x55mm (long action parent of the .260) for animals up to moose forever...it is to them what the 30-06 is to America, their battle cartridge, their hunting cartridge and their target cartridge
Click to expand...
Very true, and they also use it for Brown Bear as well IIRC...but it wouldn't be my choice for either. I am in no way accusing it of being anemic, and am a big proponent of both the .260Rem. as well as the 6.5x55Swede, I just feel that a larger caliber (7mm or greater), with a good powder charge would be better suited to larger game at long distance.

:)
 
my personal theory is if a 6.5x55mm, or equivalent, won't handle it, it's time to break out the .375 H&H Mag.

FWIW: grizzlys give moose a wide berth...even during salmon season
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Z
  • Locked
Best TC Barrel/Caliber for Long Range Shooting
Replies
13
Views
7K
EShell
E
RPRNY
  • Locked
Help me choose a caliber!
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
AKElroy
A
D
  • Locked
My long-range chambering choice: Redux / Revamped / Revisited
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
Zak Smith
Zak Smith
B
  • Locked
Hunting Rifles
Replies
11
Views
922
Cosmoline
C
98s1lightning
  • Locked
Bore Diameter Effects on Recoil 30cal vs 28cal
Replies
22
Views
709
Art Eatman
A
Back
Top