Choosing Calibers
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C.O. Shooter
Well-Known Member
The 260 or 7mm-08 would be my choice for a 100-600 yard rifle. I am thinking about picking one up in a savage weather warrior as a light weight option.
kcebcj
Well-Known Member
I think what you mention would be good for deer and antelope out to near the range you state but if you are seriously going to hunt elk at those ranges I would rethink the choices.
liltank
Well-Known Member
308Win with a 180-200 grain Berger or Nosler Ballistic Tip. You can push the heavies fast enough to be effective at that range. Other than that, any of the 6.5's with a 140grn bullet will do the trick for elk. The 6.5x284 will certainly give you the best velocity.
COBrad
Well-Known Member
With elk on the menu at those ranges, I would second the 6.5-284. I had planned on having one built this summer, but came across this NIB Allen Precision that was exactly what I had in mind. It just happened to be chambered in 270 WSM.
JARHEAD1371
Well-Known Member
Don't rule out the 7mm, great bullets and brass are available. I love my custom 7mm SAUM, shooting the 180 gr Hybrids. I have also had great results with the 162 gr A-max. In the right conditions, I have complete confidence on elk out to 1000 yds with my load. If you are open to a long action, check out the .284/.375 Ruger Imp (7 LRM) pushing the 180 Hybrid, 180 VLD, or the up-coming 195 Hybrid. Good luck with your selection.
midnightmalloy
Well-Known Member
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Although it seems like JARHEAD1371 is a marine, i can forgive that (5 yr navy), since he is right on the mark. Im going to be testing my 7 LRM this weekend with 180gr berger vld's and the 190 matrix bullets. More energy at 1000 than a 300 win mag with any bullet! Better wind drift too! When the 195 bergers come out there will will be little competition in a long action 3.6" mag length action....something to look into at least!
SBruce
Well-Known Member
If you believe in the 1500 ft.lbs energy (which has been the "go to"on elk for decades by alot of sources) and also factor in the 2000+ '/sec minimum velocity required for some bullets to expand and explel all that energy and still hold together................. then the 6.5-284, 6.5 WSM or 264 Win Mag will easily do that at 600 yds.
IMO, the 260 and 6.5 Creedmore are kinda struggling to get there at 600 and just dont have all the poop to get er done.
Sure, without question the big 7mm's and 30 cals are better medicine for the elk and moose blues, but question is; can you shoot a 7mm or 300 something magnum good enough at 600 to capitalize on that power.......?? Can you do it without a muzzle break......??............I cant.
I personally can't imagine shooting any 7mm magnum with 160 grn bullets or heavier often enough to be really proficient without some kind of recoil reduction.......lead sled doesn't count, shooters bra's or sandbags unter the toe don't count and muzzle breaks require hearing protection.
The rules haven't changed in over 100 years of hunting, Good Shot Placement with a bullet designed for the purpose is the most important thing above all else. Just me, but I've found that the less recoil and noise: the better my shot placement. The big 6.5's are just about all that I am willing to shoot alot without extra recoil protection, and getting good at long range means alot of shootin.
Good luck in your choice and results.
IMO, the 260 and 6.5 Creedmore are kinda struggling to get there at 600 and just dont have all the poop to get er done.
Sure, without question the big 7mm's and 30 cals are better medicine for the elk and moose blues, but question is; can you shoot a 7mm or 300 something magnum good enough at 600 to capitalize on that power.......?? Can you do it without a muzzle break......??............I cant.
I personally can't imagine shooting any 7mm magnum with 160 grn bullets or heavier often enough to be really proficient without some kind of recoil reduction.......lead sled doesn't count, shooters bra's or sandbags unter the toe don't count and muzzle breaks require hearing protection.
The rules haven't changed in over 100 years of hunting, Good Shot Placement with a bullet designed for the purpose is the most important thing above all else. Just me, but I've found that the less recoil and noise: the better my shot placement. The big 6.5's are just about all that I am willing to shoot alot without extra recoil protection, and getting good at long range means alot of shootin.
Good luck in your choice and results.
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Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
Sbruce, I think your statement holds a great amount of experience with a good bit of truth mixed in. LR Hunting is a game of compromise, trading this to gain that. I have LR rifles from 6mm up through 338. When it's time to go out & have a day of practice & fun, the smaller calibers ALWAY go in the case.
Don't get me wrong, I love shooting my 338ultra but even at 16lbs, there comes a point where it isn't fun to shoot anymore
I can think of two out of all of the rifles i've had built that didn't have a muzzle brake. You most definitely need hearing protection, but for what I do, the pro's far outweigh the con's.
OP- I also vote for one of the larger 6.5 offerings be it WSM, Win Mag or x284.
good luck,
Don't get me wrong, I love shooting my 338ultra but even at 16lbs, there comes a point where it isn't fun to shoot anymore
I can think of two out of all of the rifles i've had built that didn't have a muzzle brake. You most definitely need hearing protection, but for what I do, the pro's far outweigh the con's.
OP- I also vote for one of the larger 6.5 offerings be it WSM, Win Mag or x284.
good luck,
blipelt
Well-Known Member
I am a big fan of smaller calibers however there is a time and place.
Think of larger calibers as insurance policies. More room for error when a less than perfect shot was taken. I have taken cow elk with a 260 out to 450yds. However where I was at the terrain wasn't a factor if she ran. They didn't however mine was suppressed, they stumbled around and fell over on the spot.
A 7mm would be my choice with a quick detach suppressor like I have for my rifles. You can shoot with or without, but mine has to have two different dopes.
It also works wonders for teaching my 65lb. ten year old daughter. No noise and no recoil. Expensive but worth it in my opinion.
Brent
Think of larger calibers as insurance policies. More room for error when a less than perfect shot was taken. I have taken cow elk with a 260 out to 450yds. However where I was at the terrain wasn't a factor if she ran. They didn't however mine was suppressed, they stumbled around and fell over on the spot.
A 7mm would be my choice with a quick detach suppressor like I have for my rifles. You can shoot with or without, but mine has to have two different dopes.
It also works wonders for teaching my 65lb. ten year old daughter. No noise and no recoil. Expensive but worth it in my opinion.
Brent
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Thanks for the advice, I think that I am leaning toward the 6.5x284. But someone stated early that a 7mm-08 would be good for that range, I already have one in a savage model 111, do you guys think that that would have enough punch at 5-600 yrds to put an elk down? And will it stay accurate out to that range?
liltank
Well-Known Member
168 Berger should do the trick, but the 140's might work pretty good too.
