the best long range varmint caliber

[Varmint Hunter]

I'll go the opposite route, thank you.

I'm shooting a 22-243AI w/8" twist barrel. I can shoot 80gr JLK's @ 3,600 ft/sec without enduring much recoil.

I haven't bothered to compared the drop table or wind drift against the other recommended cartridges but it would be interesting to see how they compare out to 1,000yd.

Just my thoughts.

VH

 

[flopduster]

vh

how about this one
http://www.jarrettrifles.com/cal_243_catbird.htm

85 grain bullets at 3800??
WOW

 

[Darryl Cassel]

VH

You would have to look at the 1000 yard results to see which cartridge is being used the most.

There are very few .224 cal bullets being used at all if any.
I to have a 22/284 and can drive the 80 gr bullet quite fast.

I also have the 6/284 and 2 or 3 6.5/284 guns to make the comparison.

No 80 gr bullet in the 224 diameter will stay on course and beat the wind better then a 107 gr 6mm/284 or a 142 gr 6.5/284.
It just don't happen.
I've shot a lot of 80 gr 224 bullets.

Check the BC of each. The 80 gr is low compared to the 107gr 6mm or the 142gr 6.5.
Look at the Sierra MK line.

Later
DC

 

[BBQ Warrior]

what about the 25-06? or 270 wsm?
just curious

 

[tommy davis]

what caliber would be suited for 1000 yard prairie dogs. i was thinking 6mmai are the 22-6mmai for wind less days. how about the 6ppc usa wouls it get me to a 1000 yards for varmint??? what are you guys using for far away varmints?? thanks tommy

 

[Mysticplayer]

Tommy, when going that far, your biggest enemy is wind drift. Accuracy also has to be top notch.

The heavy 6mm and 6.5mm bullets are the smallest cal that will consistently work in the wind.

The 87gr vmax, and 105gr amax are excellent in the 6mm. The 140gr SST or amax will be great in the 6.5. Try for a muzzle vel around 2800 to 3000fps.

Enjoy...

Jerry

 

[dr71749]

Hey Tommy,
Have done quite a bit with prairie dogs at distance. The bigger bullet the better. The 6mm with the vld type bullets are ok but not great. Under ideal conditions the 6br with long bullets is good, but seldom do I have that kind of conditions to shoot on the prairie. I have used 22-250 ack. w/80-90 gr.,6br w/105, 6mmack w/115, 6.5x284 w/140, 7stw w/120-180, 300 w/185-210.
The small stuff is fun to play with but for consistent hits on small targets I prefer 6.5 or bigger.
Don

 

[DANTEC]

I use a 6.5/300 ( 6.5/300 DTC Yuma ) wich is a264 tight chamber with a longer neck I get easy 3250 to 3350 fps with a 139 scenar recoil is very light in a 17 pound rifle with break and performance are impressive up to 1600 m

below this level of performance a 6.5/270 with 123 scenar is very nice too

good shooting

DAN TEC

 

[*WyoWhisper*]

Tommy,

I gotta go with DC on this...

I took my longest kill on a PD this year with a 6/284.. in windy conditions ( 10-15 mph) The spotters said they could see the bullet change directions twice.. the shot was 1521 yards. it took me 6 shots and 3 of those shots hit at the pd's feet and one actually flipped him.. he went in his hole for about 20 seconds and then came back out.. by then I was dialed in...

if your shooting prarie dogs.. you're gonna shoot alot.. and that gets expensive with the bigger calibers... 30-06 case varrieations etc.

you are hard pressed to beat the 107 SMKs and the 105 Bergers in a 243, 243AI, 6mm, 6mmAI and the 6/284.. very very accurate and the 80 gr 22 cal bullets can't hold a candle to the 6mm bullets.

the 6mm heavies do really well in the wind.

 

[mbianchini]

Darryl Cassel "hit the nail on the head"

I shoot 243AI's with the heavy bullet's 105-108gr out to 1000 with great results.


Picture's

 

[Darryl Cassel]

Ric

As the bullets increase in diameter and the BC goes up, the bullets just keep getting better and better as far as reaching out to extended range.

The original poster mentioned varmint calibers primarily.

Put everything in perspective as per barrel length and optics and the higher the BC, the better the bullet will fight the wind.

The 107gr match 6mm will beat the 80 gr 224 match bullet---the 6.5 142 Match bullet will beat the 6mm 107 gr and so on.

Of course velocity comes into the equasion also but, when reaching out to extended range but, the higher BC bullet will out perform a lower BC even if it's not going quite as fast to start with.

Another good example is the 30 cal 240 gr with a BC of .711 against a much faster 30 cal 200 gr with a .600 bc. That 240 will eat that 200 gr up even though it may be going 200 to 300 FPS slower.

Point is, the 6mm is a great bullet but, I have found that the 6.5 is better especially when using the same size case with both.

Later
DC

 

[ewallace]

I like the heavy bullets for long range varments also I would go with 6.5 AMax 140g 6.5 WSM or 6.5/284 to start in a 17# gun you will see your hits that helps alot. I would put a brake on what ever you deside on. Last year I mooved up to a 338 for my long range varment rig

Crow Mag

 

[chris matthews]

I'll back up Wyo and DC. 6 or 6.5 of some sort will be the smallest I'd go. And like they said bigger stuff will get pricey quick, but peronally I use a 308 or a 338 Lapua for the windy days.

 

[Vern Harrison]

My old favorite is the 7/300 wby. with a 1 in 9 twist Hart barrel. 180 gr JLK bullets. I made some 1800 + shots with it and it wasn't hard on the barrel either. Put those JLK's to sleep about 2975.

Good luck, Vern