Favorite long-range caliber

[Jon]

6.5 Creedmoor and I don't care that it's become the PSL of calibers. It's popular for a reason: low recoil, great ballistics, ammo everywhere, barrels last forever. Yeah it's not exotic but I'm hitting targets at 1000 yards without developing arthritis. I vote for function over ego...

 

[Robin1]

Hard to argue with results. I’ve shot 6.5 Creedmoor out to distance too, it is easy on the shoulder and it just flat-out works.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

The 6.5 PRC is definitely an improved version of the 6.5 "Needmore" and one of my favorites.

I have used the 6.5 PRC successfully on both deer and elk at long range.

The other is my .28 Nosler which is a bit more poop than the standard 7mm and knocks down elk nicely at long range.

But in all seriousness, the 6.5 Creedmoor does what it's designed to do nicely and efficiently!!

 

[Tabby]

Well, as usual I am one that probably disagrees with a lot of you, but the reason is that I no longer do any competitive long range rifle shooting, and when I did it was at 600 and 1000 yards. 600 yards was done with a M14, (308/7.62 x 51) or at 1000 yards a Winchester Model 70 Match rifle in 300 H&H Magnum. As for the 6.5 Creedmoor, it's ok for punching paper, but for long range hunting it is very much inferior to the good old 270 Winchester, which at normal hunting ranges and out to about 800 yards on paper does just as well as the Creedmoor, this is despite there not being any match bullets available in .277. My Tikka T3x in 270 Winchester shooting 140 gr Nosler partitions shoots 0.8 inch groups on a regular basis out to at least 300 yards which is the longest range that I have regular access to. I've never tried the 140 gr Accubond, but I suspect that they might shoot tighter groups and if RDF bullets were available the 270 might give the 6.5 Creedmoor a run for it's money. Beyond 1000, I would suspect that the 6.5 would do better at punching paper, but since there are no super accurate bullets made in 270 that may never be proven. I have a Backstop recoil pad on my Tikka and there is very little difference in felt recoil between the two. Screw a muzzle brake onto the barrel and the 270 might even have less recoil than the Creedmoor. Maybe someone, some day will develop a high BC match bullet for the 270, would be interesting to put them head to head beyond 600 yards, simply because inside of 600 yards and at hunting distances the 6.5 Creedmoor is a baby sister to the 270.

 

[white eagle]

Not a 270 and where the 270 is lacking is bullet selection
for serious long range work I go for the 280 Ackley Improved
7MM's are the sweat spot along with the 22 cal ballistically if you were to go by BC's and that sort of thing
the 280 AI outperforms both the 270 and 30-06
what's not to like

 

[Tabby]

Not a 270 and where the 270 is lacking is bullet selection
for serious long range work I go for the 280 Ackley Improved
7MM's are the sweat spot along with the 22 cal ballistically if you were to go by BC's and that sort of thing
the 280 AI outperforms both the 270 and 30-06
what's not to like

I don't see such a great selection of bullets, at least in factory ammo. I find a greater abundance in 270 and a much greater number of bullet selections in 30-06 or any 30 caliber for that matter. I did not do an exhaustive search for match grade ammo in 280 AI, but I didn't find any factory match ammo either. Then there is the price, $70 to over $100 for a box of factory ammo. Availability??? not all that readily available on a local basis. None of the local gun shops have any in stock, that is including the local Bass Pro Shop. My local gun store, who usually stocks everything there is including the newest stuff out and a lot of oddball ammo didn't have any 280 AI. One thing that I use for my selection of both rifles and ammo is the availability of factory ammo. Can I find ammo without having to mail order it or drive hundreds of miles to some store that may just happen to have it in stock. Just for the record, and you may feel free to check this out on your own, but the 277 caliber bullets used by the 270 and 6.8 Western do fall under your so highly touted 7mm sweet spot and also offer ammo with G1 Ballistic Coefficients up to 0.617 in HUNTING AMMO

 

[white eagle]

obviously you rely on someone else to make your ammo and that is fine a whole bunch of people do
I never have, and the selection of 7mm bullets far out numbers 270 bullet choices but if you rely solely on what's on the shelf the may be a disadvantage to finding ammo for the 280 AI
I thought the comparison was between those two but you brought in the 6.8 Western and 30 cal
so between the 2 the 280 ai is way better

 

[Tabby]

Well, we all have our own opinions, and that is good. It would be a dull world if everybody thought exactly the same. I reload most of my ammo, but there may be times when that is not possible or it would be good to have something that shoots a military caliber round, thus the 30 caliber. The 6.8 Western is simply a 270 on steroids, or think of it as a 270 magnum. Neither are military, but with the military changing their weapons and calibers as often as they do, which has included the 277 Fury maybe the 270 isn't so far off base. To each our own, as long as you are happy with your 280AI that is all that matters.
Everyone else also has their idea of, first of all...what is long range. Secondly what is their favorite cartridge to shoot at their desired long range.