Best cartrige for long range target and also for Elk hunting.

[med358-boise]

If you scroll down this web page, you will see the most common cartridge selection for F-Class open which includes shooting out to 1000 yards.

IIRC, it looked the same in 2015 & 2018. The clear favorite is 284 Win. There is not an elk on the planet who will know the difference.

Berger Southwest Nationals — Equipment List from 2020 « Daily Bulletin

The Berger SW Nationals competition is back! After being cancelled in 2021 due to Covid concerns, one of America's best shooting matches returns in 2022.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Sid Post]

Do you want to shoot an Elk rifle all year at long-range or shoot long-range all year that can also take an Elk at a reasonable range?

Rifle weight is a real concern too. Do you want to shoot a lightweight hunting rig all year at long-range so you have a good rifle for a week at Elk camp?

A 7SAUM or 280AI will also let you extend barrel life while still getting you an Elk and long-range fun! 30-06 have killed a lot of Elk so, a 7mm-06 with good bullets will get the job done pretty well unless you are thinking of taking a big Bull Elk at a ~1,000 yards. For target shooting, the reduced recoil won't beat you up nearly as bad with longer strings of fire. You can also keep rifle weight down a bit more to make it more portable for an Elk hunt.

Today, I would be seriously tempted with a 26"~28" 280AI with a barrel twist for heavy long bullets with a bit less weight in a Sendero or heavy hunter profile.

 

[mtbullet1]

6.5x55 in modern action

 

[Get_Saum]

I guess no one read your comment about the Bergara rifle and factory ammo... If this is your definite route, go with the 300PRC. It should serve your stated purpose well.

I read it. Factory rifle + Factory ammo= 300prc or 7mm prc in my opinion. I've helped a bunch of guys do exactly what the op is asking. It's hard to argue against these PRC's including also the 6.5 prc. Hornady really has done something here called the easy button for the guys who aren't handloaders. I've owned many full custom 300 win mags with throat lengths comparable to the 300 prc. All the performance a guy can get out of that cartridge but everything was custom made to get that performance. I still own 1 full custom 300 WM but I also have built a handful of 300 PRC's. On average when it came to buying ammo of the shelf even for the full customs the prc ammo has been consistently very accurate and easier. I love the 300 win mag but in my opinion the 300 prc is a better design. Same for the 7mm Rem mag vs the 7 prc. If a guy had a 300 WM or a 7 RM would I tell him to "trade up" for the PRC's? No, but I'd say learn to reload. As far as 300 vs 7mm is debatable depending on shooter ability and recoil management. Both will have similar barrel life. Most of the guys I hear squawk about barrel life never shoot enough to ever to find out. Besides who doesn't like a new barrel when that time comes. It's like that new set of tire you put on in the fall before hunting season and winter. Tell me a new aggressive set of tires under a capable 4x4 doesn't put a on your faces when you need it.

 

[Tommy T]

The 7 prc looks to be phenomenal on the ballistics side, but looking at 600 rd barrel life from what I been told. So yeah I'm not a fan either. The last couple weeks, the 300 prc peaked my interest again especially since most of my shooting with it will be long range target. What would the bullet drop difference be on the 300 prc vs the 300 WM at say 1000 yds.

Go to Berger's amp on ballistics and you get all of the information you want that's where I go before I have a rifle build , the 300 Prc is a good choice and the 28 nosler or the 30 nosler it all depends on what you are comfortable with and if you are hand loading your ammo good luck

 

[soonershooter]

Checkout the 280AI and 6.8 western as well.

 

[LouisianaHunter]

I new to the forum. I was wondering what you alls opinion was on what would be the best cartridge to get for 90% of the time shooting long range target and 10% of the time elk hunting. Initially I was debating on 4 options, 7 prc, 7 rem mag, 300 win mag, and 300 prc. I decided against the prc's due to short barrel life. Here lately I been pretty confident about going 300 win mag, especially with future reloading. Is there something better I'm missing or is this a solid decision.

May I suggest you plan for two different rifles if you want a big 30 for elk. I just can't see using one if shooting targets 90% of the time. To much recoil ,and run through a lot of powder.

 

[archeranthony]

The 7 prc looks to be phenomenal on the ballistics side, but looking at 600 rd barrel life from what I been told. So yeah I'm not a fan either. The last couple weeks, the 300 prc peaked my interest again especially since most of my shooting with it will be long range target. What would the bullet drop difference be on the 300 prc vs the 300 WM at say 1000 yds.

Ultimate Reloader just did a video comparing these two. Check it out. It's quite surprising how well the win mag held its own. If you don't reload i would lean towards the 300wm. I have a 300wm in Bergara that shoots .4 moa with feder premium 180 gr Berger hybrid

 

[med358-boise]

Just read the part - "until, I get into reloading". That changes a lot of things. I would say 7 PRC in that case.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

90% target 10% hunting.

A 30-06 done right fits my bill.

I have/have had RUMs, WMs, Lapua…long range with magnums and barrel life are not necessarily a thing. They burn up quick with this long range addiction.

That said a WM will perform same as a PRC if loaded right. If factory is your thing the PRC does what handloaders have been doing for years.

 

[quandary]

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[quandary]

Hornady's barrel life study;

 

[30378wbymag]

30-378 BEE Baby, no replacement for displacement!!!! Shooting 174gr. HH @ 3600+ is like shooting a laser!!!

 

[Allen Lone wolf]

I recently made a decision that you are looking to make. But I wanted to set up a lightweight rifle that would shoot factory ammo accurately for target and hunting and here is what happened. Savage 110 ultralite 7mm prc, federal premium 175gr.eldx @3000-3010 muzzle velocity, Quigley Ford scope 5x20, APA little bastard muzzle brake, APA scope rings,scope level total weight 8lbs 1oz. Is it accurate? 3/16"@100yds 3"@ 750yds. Yes it meets my goal of a long range target and long range elk gun. I do have a Silencer Central Meateater suppressor on the way to mitigate the noise. I can't garentee you the same results but it worked for me and I achieved everything I set out to do with this particular rifle. By the way the 2 rds to the right was fired by my neighbor who had never shot long range in his life. I think I have him hooked. Good luck sir with whatever decision you choose to make.