600 Yard Gun

[Terry Brady]

I have ordered a 6.5 1-8 twist barrel.We are going to start shooting 600 yrds.in January.What would you chamber it in that would give me the most accuacy at 600?

[milanuk]

In HighPower competition, the 6.5mm cartridge that dominates the choices for across-the-course shooting is the 6.5-08, or .260 Remington. Great accuracy, gets the high B.C. bullets going plenty fast, and you can still hang onto the thing, and you can shoot all season (2-3k rounds for serious competitors) long w/o having to replace the barrel.

If you anticipate shooting fewer rounds, or have deeper pockets to pay for barrels, the 6.5-06AI and 6.5-284 are popular choices. All are plenty accurate for long range shooting and competition. Pick yer poison [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Monte

[chris matthews]

I'll back up what milanuk said.
260 for a lot of rounds and if you handload.
I don't know of any match quality factory stuff available for it.
6.5-284 for less rounds handloaded or fed Black Hills ammo. BH does catalog it but they do make it, you'll have to call 'em for availability.

[BountyHunter]

Are shooting the NRA Highpower or the new IBS Benchrest 600 format?

Depending on which one, that will determine caliber. The Highpower does not care where in the 10 or x ring as long as in it, in the 600 BR they better be sub 2.5" or better group to win a relay.

High power guys are not worried about "the most accuracy" they need "acceptable accuracy" and long barrel life, BR looks for the highest accuracty first.

two different goals and will demand two different cartridges in most cases.

Pick your goal first.

BH

[milanuk]

<snip heavily edited post>

Ahhh... I think those who discount the caliber choices in HighPower just because of the method of scoring are making a big mistake. I'd wager many 'match' rifles are more accurate than you might think, as most shooters want every point they hold for, even w/ iron sights. At distance, wind is the big devil, not the mechanical accuracy of the gun or load (after a certain point) and the only way to over come that is thru time behind the trigger, i.e. more rounds down range. Me, I resent the time that *my* gun is away at the gunsmiths even more than I do the cost of a new barrel. But feel free to choose based on your own criteria.

Monte

[ 11-12-2003: Message edited by: milanuk ]

[blaster]

Terry,

I would look at the 6.5x55 or the 6.5x55AI Steve Shelp is shooting like a house a fire with his AI at 1000 yd BR.

Mark

[a.JR]

Terry...,Mark is exactly right in regards to the 6.5x55AI,this can be loaded down to the level of the 6.5x08 or up to the 6.5x284 with out surrering in either accuracy or barrel life....The difference between 600yd and 1K bench does not exist,if you go to the line with a 1/2 minute gun unless you are a lucky person you will not win ...On the other hand if your ideal aiming point is a 10 inch dia circle a score of 200 .20x is there for the taking...An ideal load @2900 to 2950fps in the 6.5x55AI will also give longer barrel life than the 260r thats being pushed..Go with the 4350 powder series for all round best results..JR..Jeff Rogers