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

[point_blank65]

From a target shooting side, if you are shooting NRA or CMP matches, recoil is a huge consideration. Barrel life is also important. The 300WSM has been mentioned. It has been popular in F-Class. 280AI would be a suitable choice. A couple that have not been mentioned is 7 RSAUM the USAMU is currently using this for 1000 yd competition. 284 Winchester is a dark horse that can be loaded just short of 7 RM velocity, but you typically will need a longer barrel. If it were me, 7 RSAUM.

I also will not be shooting any matches. This is strictly personal pleasure and occasional hunting.

 

[Carey Farmer]

If you're just getting started on the long-range shooting trail, the best arrangement is two rifles that are identical except for chambering. One for target shooting, the other for hunting.

My own chambering choices for such an arrangement are a target rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, and a hunting rifle chambered in 28 Nosler.

 

[LRNut]

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.

This is the way to go.

My No 1 hunting rifle is a lwt 300 RUM (Brux bbl and McM stock but 700 action). I also have 2 28Ns, two more 300 RUMs, 2 Lapuas and a 338 Edge. My Lapuas are heavy, as is one 28N.

Wind is the problem at LR (I know, statement of the obvious), and the ONLY way you are going to get good it LR is to shoot constantly. I only shoot my lwt RUM a month before I am going to use it; otherwise, I practice all year with the other cartridges. Just shot at my 903 gong with my Edge.

If you only have one rifle, you are going to be tempted to not shoot it for fear of burning up the barrel. Sure, you can opt for a milder cartridge, but trust me, you want high BC bullets going as fast as you can get them going (but not at the cost of accuracy).

 

[slv hunter]

Welcome from Colorado. Go with the 300wm , a lot of factory ammo to try. You can learn while practicing and maybe buy another rifle after you have more knowledge of what you want

 

[SSG Graybush]

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

Trajectory is determined by speed and bc, that's it. Bullet weight then dictates energy. The difference between the 2 cartridges, 300 prc v. 300 wm, is minimal. But factory rifles will have different twist rates which is important, 300 prc is 9T and 300 wm is 10T, so the prc can stabilize 220+ gr bullets where as the 300 wm is limited to about ~215 gr.
I need to clear up some b* I see here, the 7 prc is in no way a barrel burner, someone lied about a 600 rd barrel life. 7 prc is nothing more then a 7mag upgraded without a belt, steeper shoulders and long neck, all the bells and whistles of a modern cartridge. And should get average barrel life of ~1200-1500 rds. The 7 prc/7mag 8T is The Perfect hunting round for <1000 yards, it carries just enough energy to 1000 yards, about 1200#'s. Without excessive recoil.
Imo for a cartridge to be a effective LR round it must be able to shoot a .6+ g1 bc bullet over 2900 fps. And for hunting it must have 1200#'s of energy at its max range, my desired max range is 1000 yards.
I would recommend a 7 prc, 28 Nosler or a 300 wsm, and over a 300 prc. 300 wsm resently set the world record 1000 yard 10 shot group. Most hunters wont shoot past 1000 yards on game, making the 300 wsm a better choice, less recoil.
Ballisticly the 300 prc and 28 nos are very close. The 300 prc's 30 cal heavier bullets slightly edge out the 28 nos on energy, with more recoil obviously.
If you're not reloading a 300 wm would have many many more choices of factory ammo. So you have a much better chance of finding a good shooting ammo. Reloading opens up more choices like a 7mag 8T, and the Sherman cartridges.
I would go 300 wsm or 7 prc.
But if your learning to shoot LR, a big mag cartridge is the wrong way to go. You should be learning on a 6mm, like a 6xc or 6cm. Then go to a hunting cartridge.

 

[point_blank65]

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.

I guess I should be a little more specific on how much im shooting. When I say 90% range, I mean maybe a couple times per month and shooting less than 50 rds each time. And elk hunting will be maybe every other year, as I bow hunt as well.

 

[bultinkle]

What is the definition of "long range target" for you

 

[[email protected]]

Using a bergara sierra wilderness and mostly factory ammo for a while until i get into reloading

Begara sierra or the wilderness terain .300wm are awsome, I reload lapua brass , wlrm primer, 66.4 gr of H4831 sending a berger .205 elite hunter bullet at 2793 fps.
Has dropped 4 mule deer dead in their tracks. 4 years in a row.
Closet was 40 yards, longest 375 yards.

 

[Morrison]

There are many good Elk rounds. My personal success has been with a 300 Weatherby but have also used 300 Win Mag, 270 Short Mag and a 7mm Short Mag. This being said, today I believe that a 6.8 Western would do what you are looking for.

 

[flhtci2006]

One other gentleman mentioned this and it is the option I went with, the 30-378 Weatherby. But, in my experience, don't take an elk under minimum 300 yards. Last one I harvested was at 100 yards and the processor kindly noted "heavy front end damage" on his sheet. So, as others have mentioned, I would look at 2 rifles. Carrying a 15lb rifle through the woods is cumbersome. In most cases, a +/- 600 yard elk shot can be cut down to 300 yards. For me, I now use my 30-378 for long range at the range and my 30-06 for elk since all my elk shots are 300 yards or less and the rifle is 7lbs. Also, you can never have too many weapons. FYI, I use the 6.5 CR for deer.

 

[Sid Post]

Elk would definitely be 600 and under, probably more around 450 and under. As far as the 6.5mm l, I currently own a .25-06 so I kinda wanna look at more the 7mm/ 30 cal direction. I do also plan on getting a chassis to rock while target shooting.

I appreciate everyone's input. Everything is helpful.

If you put the bullet in the right place, a 6.5x55 "Swede" or 280AI will do the job at those ranges and won't beat you up as bad with recoil and rifle weight. 6.5x55 variants also do well at the PRS matches if that's your thing!

A 280AI and your 25-06 would be a good pairing IMHO. I run a 6.5x55 for my hunts if going with a Bolt Action. Reasonable recoil in a reasonable weight rifle is hard to resist!

 

[HandgunHTR]

What is the definition of "long range target" for you

This is important information.

As you put a 600 yard limit on your hunting, I would recommend something a bit smaller, so you can take that range time from "less than 50 rounds each time" and make it "around 100 or more rounds each time". Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to shooting greater than 400 yards.

As others have pointed out on this Forum multiple times, the biggest factor in scoring hits at long distance is wind. With the various ballistic applications and bullet information available to use these days, getting our elevation adjustments close is actually pretty easy. Calling your wind, however, is much more difficult. That is why I like to shoot the "small caliber" cartridges more. 1) it allows for more range time before recoil fatigue sets in. 2) It forces me to be at my best with my wind calls, which means when I am shooting bullets that buck the wind even better (heavy 7s, 30s, and 33s), I can stretch my effective ranges a bit more.

So, based on the above and taking into account the available chamberings you have with the rifle you stated you wanted to use, I would recommend the 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor at the bottom end and the 7 PRC at the top end.

Final thought. Your optic is probably more important than the chambering of the rifle, IMHO. If you put a scope on it that doesn't dial repeatably or won't hold zero, you will be continually chasing your tail and end up frustrated with the whole thing, so do yourself a favor and budget more than $1000 for a good optic.

 

[bonie]

6.5 PRC shoot it all day long mild recoil and 143s or 156s too 600 yards for sure for Elk even further if your well accomplish. Many Elk and even Moose down with it, check the net.

 

[zeeman]

I knew 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.

I would definitely go 30 caliber. I do both long range target shooting and elk hunting. The 300 win mag is hard to beat. Twisted for the 200s or 210sor 215 and you can't go wrong. Ease of reloading components are available accuracy hard hitting not familiar with the 30 PRC but I'm sure it's very similar as they're ballistics are close. Quality factory rifle or full custom you can't beat the 300 win mag