What Is The Best Hunting Cartridge To 500 yds.

[ofbandg]

.338-06 with 180 or 185 grain at around 3000 fps. is a good all around. Even the 160 Barnes will work out to 500 and the 225 grain is a good northern bullet. Works nicely in a light rifle with a standard action and 22 inch barrel. Factory ammo exists but it's easy to form your own brass, just neck down 35 Whelan in one pass or neck up 30-06 in two passes, (06 to 8mm to 338). If I only had one rifle, (beyond belief) this is what it would be.

 

[Brasshog]

308

I love the .308 because it exercises my abilities to set my scope. Yes 500 yards all day long enough energy to drop North American game.
If you are looking for a line drive bullet without as much bullet drop any 30 cal slug that is long action would deliver a flatter trajectory so yes 30WM but also 30-06 fits too
Elk in my opinion drop the best with min of a 30WM not saying smaller can't kill, it Just is a solid puncher! Good combination of size and energy

 

[BasilPascali]

I know 500 isn't long-range for some of you but due to my ability, it's my self imposed a limit for shooting game.

The best combination of rifle portability, power, trajectory, reloading components and or ammo selection.

.280 Rem if you want to knock down elk as well as deer. Excellent ballistics, not a lot of difference than the 7mm mag. One of the most overlooked and unused calibers inn the market.

 

[BasilPascali]

Ditch the

Any caliber from 264 (6.5) to 308 burning somewhere around 60 grains of powder.
30-06
280 Remington
6.5-06
6.5 Remington Magnum
6.5x284
284 winchester
etc...

.308 in favor of the 7mm 08. Its more fun and flatter shooting.

 

[Shootin4fun]

7mmRM will get it done. Not much recoil with a good brake. High BC bullets. Fast and flat

 

[greenejc]

I can't believe NOBODY HAS BROUGHT UP THE BESY CALIBER YET, THE REIGNING KING OF THE WEST HASN'T CHANGED FOR OVER 48 YEARS, MY AGE LOL IM SURE IT WAS AROUND LONGER, .270 WINCHESTER, 6.5 IS ALL HYPE, 06 IS A GREAT ROUND BUT PINPOINT ACCURATE ITS NOT, 308 IS UNDER POWERED FOR ELK PAST 160 YARDS, I WOULDN'T USE A 308 FOR ANYTHING BIGGER THAN A DEER ANYWAY, SAW AN ELK TAKE 4 ROUNDS TO THE BOILER ROOM AND STILL WALKED OVER 400 YARDS, 260 IS A GREAT CARTRIDGE BUT AGAIN THE ENERGY JUST ISN'T THERE AT DISTANCE, YOU COULD HIT A TIC OFF AN ELKS *Rule 4 Violation* AT 4-500 YARDS ACCURATE BUT ONLY THE TIC HAS TO WORRY BUT FOR FLAT SHOOTING, WITH THE ENERGY TO TAKE OUR BIG GAME IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND CANADA 270 WIN CANT BE BEAT, ITS BEEN HERE FOREVER AND IS HANGING IN THE WINDOW OF EVERYONE'S TRUCK THAT HUNTS FOR A REASON. KING OF THE WEST

Actually, the 30-06 is as accurate as any other caliber if you load it with the slower powders. I get 5 shot 1 inch groups at 100 yards regularly at distances of 100 yards, and less that 3 inch groups at 300 yards with my Ruger M77MKII and tighter groups with my -03A3. I use 180 grain Speer bullets and 180 grain Sierras. In answer to the original question, the -06 or one of the short 30 magnums would be the best combination of portability, range, recoil tolerance, impact and penetration for anything out to 500 yards, used with either 180 grain or 200 grain bullets. The platform for this round if I were buying it (again) would be the Ruger FTW Hunter or the Remington CDL with a 24 inch barrel, which would give optimum velocity with portability, or a Ruger No1, if you like single shots, in the medium sporter 24 inch barrel, if you can find it. A Ruger Guide Gun would also be ok, but short barrelled. I'd get that in 300 WinMag to make up for barrel length. My actual preference is the .35 Whelen with either 225 grain or 250 grain bullets, loaded to give 2725fps or 2675fps, respectively, out of a Remington CDL. But it kicks a bit, and the -06 is much more forgiving in that area, even with 200 grain bullets clocked at 2600+.

 

[BasilPascali]

Actually, the 30-06 is as accurate as any other caliber if you load it with the slower powders. I get 5 shot 1 inch groups at 100 yards regularly at distances of 100 yards, and less that 3 inch groups at 300 yards with my Ruger M77MKII and tighter groups with my -03A3. I use 180 grain Speer bullets and 180 grain Sierras. In answer to the original question, the -06 or one of the short 30 magnums would be the best combination of portability, range, recoil tolerance, impact and penetration for anything out to 500 yards, used with either 180 grain or 200 grain bullets. The platform for this round if I were buying it (again) would be the Ruger FTW Hunter or the Remington CDL with a 24 inch barrel, which would give optimum velocity with portability, or a Ruger No1, if you like single shots, in the medium sporter 24 inch barrel, if you can find it. A Ruger Guide Gun would also be ok, but short barrelled. I'd get that in 300 WinMag to make up for barrel length. My actual preference is the .35 Whelen with either 225 grain or 250 grain bullets, loaded to give 2725fps or 2675fps, respectively, out of a Remington CDL. But it kicks a bit, and the -06 is much more forgiving in that area, even with 200 grain bullets clocked at 2600+.

Tikka in 30.06 if you cannot find an 03-A3. Take it any day over a Rem or anything else US made, 1/2 minute out of the box

 

[5gauss]

I know 500 isn't long-range for some of you but due to my ability, it's my self imposed a limit for shooting game.

The best combination of rifle portability, power, trajectory, reloading components and or ammo selection.

Best you say.....338 win mag, ultramag, Lapua, or any of the good .300 mags

 

[BasilPascali]

Best you say.....338 win mag, ultramag, Lapua, or any of the good .300 mags

Lapua by Sako or HS Precision.

 

[Hearties]

6.5Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 260 Rem, 6.5-06, 7mm-08, 7x57, 280 Rem, 7x64, 280AI, .308 Win, 30-06

 

[5gauss]

If you are serious about long range and cannot get closer, larger calibers (30,338) give more energy at longer ranges on big game....

 

[Swamplord]

338 Norma Mag and Improved versions, 338 Edge, 338 RUM, 338 Lapua Mag and Improved versions..... and all of the above in 30 cal

more energy on target at 500 yards than all the weenie cartridges at the muzzle, when you go hunting you have one job .... to kill the animal STAT and cleanly, no follow up shots, no running, no blood trail, no tracking etc....

best be dressed for the occasion no lame excuses

 

[BasilPascali]

HS Precision .338 Lapua on a 5x5 bull elk at 520 yards. 300 grain Lapua Scenar cartridge. Bullet entry slightly right of forehead center. BC G1 of 0.736 Needless to say the back of the skull was missing but still saved the antlers.

 

[436]

I know 500 isn't long-range for some of you but due to my ability, it's my self imposed a limit for shooting game.

The best combination of rifle portability, power, trajectory, reloading components and or ammo selection.

I'd say anything with an energy factor of 1000 to 1200 fpe at 500 yards using a 165gr bullet, which falls into the .308 Win and .30 06 class cartridges. It's kinda been the gold standard since I was a young hunter some 55 plus years ago, and It's always a good idea to know your limitations when it comes to killing game at any distance. Cheers.