Lightweight Long Range Rifle

[PredatorSlayer]

Well, I just sold my .300 Win mag Browning A-Bolt B/C I now have a 6.5 PRC Browning for all Nevada big game including (up to 300 yards) bull elk.

(And I'm a retired geezer who does understand ft. lbs. of energy.)

Eric.

only 300 yards? I figure my PRC has enough energy out to 1000 for big elk.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Unless the above stated qualifications can be guaranteed, then perhaps a somewhat larger caliber cartridge should be considered. Our big game animals deserve the respect of a quick kill!

Seriously we need to stop this bigger is always better and compensates for poor shots because animals deserve our respect. If this was true, we should all be shooting 50 BMGs.

This mentality is old school, outdated, and disproven time and time again. First it was the 270 win, now it is the 6.5 creed. Better bullets, optics, rangefinders etc allow us to dispatch animals quickly and cleanly with a lot less than 300 mags or large bore cartridges.

you want to compensate for a margin of error shoot a high bc bullet in whatever caliber gets you excited.

 

[thinair]

There is not only relatively new 6.5 beast cartridge in the game (prc), but also brand new 156 grain burger eol. Can be run in 3000fps range, which at 8000ft elevation and 600 yards, still has 2426 fps and 2039 energy left. Talk about sweet grain size (not too much for deer, and not too little for elk), and amazing sectional density (0.32). Mild recoil, wind cheater, with a big punch. People already having amazing results on deer, and will post elk results soon (season is around corner).
I keep mentioning 600 yards as OP said its the max range for hunting. I honestly would get something like 6.5 creed, and run 156gr, at like ~2700ish mv (@600 yards
2160fps and 1616 energy left). Get a good muzzle break (or really good can) and recoil is in 11.5 ft/lb range if rifle is 7lbs. Thats a recoil of 243 Win 7.25 lbs shooting pills 95gr at 3100 without a break. It is safe to say, thats not having recoil pretty much at all. Can spot your own shots, stay on target, and practice all day long.

 

[Danehunter]

Just got a new Magnetospeed V3 and will try it on my 6.5 PRC X-Bolt Pro.
Because of the pro's factory lapped barrel I'm thinking I'll get pretty decent velocities with Hornady's 143 ELD-X bullets, the only mom I currently have.

I'll ge getting some Redding precision dies soon and begin using theHornady brass I've already shot.
But I'm really waiting for ALPHA to make some 6.5 PRC brass with Hornady's A-Tip bullets. That combo should be pure sex. (Len, your nannying "bad word" monitor should just leave that word SEX in place.)

Eric B.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Just got a new Magnetospeed V3 and will try it on my 6.5 PRC X-Bolt Pro.
Because of the pro's factory lapped barrel I'm thinking I'll get pretty decent velocities with Hornady's 143 ELD-X bullets, the only mom I currently have.

I'll ge getting some Redding precision dies soon and begin using theHornady brass I've already shot.
But I'm really waiting for ALPHA to make some 6.5 PRC brass with Hornady's A-Tip bullets. That combo should be pure sex. (Len, your nannying "bad word" monitor should just leave that word SEX in place.)

Eric B.

I don't think we've seen any pictures of this x-bolt pro you keep talking about - you need to post some.

 

[Coyote_Hunter]

600yard Goat/Elk rifle?? …. first of all, .308 Diameter bullet is MIMIMUM regardless of speed ,, I have taken 3 goats and THEY ARE TOUGH (even against the big Lazz) ,,,, if $$ was no object, then of course the Lazz Warbird or 338 Titan will get it done in a rifle package WITH BIG SCOPE under 9.5 pounds ,,,,

NO CARBON barrels please ,,,I have bad luck with them in the accuracy department, especially when warm ,,,,

to keep the $$$ down, don't overlook a 300 Wby Mag, .532 rim diameter ,,, rem brass cheap, use 180-190 gr bullets ,,, fed 215 primer, reloader 22 OR IMR 7828 powder ,, good accurate 10 twist barrel ,,, easy-peasy ,,,,,,

Guess I did it all wrong for goats. Bought a gently used Ruger .257 Roberts, some WW +P brass and loaded 110AB to 3163fps with H4350. Three of three daughters love this rifle because recoil is low. Multiple family members have used it to take antelope. Last one I took with it was around 450-500 yards (over halfway across a half-mile crop circle).

That said, my 1200-yard target rifle is an Interarms Mark x action with a Krieger 6.5-06AI barrel, Timney trigger and Boyd laminate stock. It pushes a 130g Scirocco II bullet to 3161fps and, when shooting clay pigeons on the 600 yard berm, has allowed hit rates of 80%. It was built with 1200 yards in mind (still supersonic with the 130g Scirocco II). Total cost was $1710 but that included PT&G reamer, all shipping, stock, action and trigger, Krieger barrel, action truing and bedding and barrel mounting by Krieger. The barrel is fluted to reduce weight but the rifle still comes in heavier than my sporters. Recoil is lighter than the .257 Roberts due to the increased total weight. My girls love this one, too.

At the moment, I'm debating whether to convert a used Savage 7mm RM with a rusty barrel to 6.5 PRC or something else. It may well become a .264 WM because it will mimic my 6.5-06AI in a lighter package.

 

[memtb]

PredatorSlayer, You had a relatively responsible post....until the last sentence. Then, you got totally illogical! memtb

 

[PredatorSlayer]

PredatorSlayer, You had a relatively responsible post....until the last sentence. Then, you got totally illogical! memtb

Really? Its always the wind that gets me, its tough to read sometimes. Especially shooting across canyons - that is always the error I need to try and compensate for. I do that with high bc bullets, not large diameter bullets.....shrug.

 

[greenejc]

There were several comments about idiots, smucks, big bores, science, ft/lbs. energy. First....what exactly is a big-bore? Using science and ft/lbs. energy together would be somewhat of an oxymoron! Obviously youth and today's public school school system, are coming far short of the target.....education. Even basic high school physics can/will disprove the ft/lbs. energy concept. Of course, some believe in Unicorns.

If you truly want to gain some knowledge into terminal ballistics, and transference of bullet energy to an object.....perhaps you should read factual data and "not" believe everything you read on the back of a ammo box, or internet BS.

For your reading pleasure or maybe have someone read it to you....study this educational material.

Also, it's quite safe to insult people that have a different opinion than yours, while hiding behind a keyboard! Respect for others, is something else not offered in today's public school system! memtb

http://rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ballistics/wounding.html

Yep, ftlbs are deceiving. For instance, a 22-250 firing a 50 grain bullet and a 45-70 firing a 405grain bullet at about 1500fps have almost the same ftlb rating. A better gage of effectiveness is the Taylor Knock-out rating. I'm pretty sure the 22-250 won't stop a big bear nearly as well as a 45-70 using 405 grain bullets. That's an extreme case, but it illustrates the point. A buffalo hit with a 22-250 at 400 yards will probably think he's been bit by a deer fly.

 

[snowypeakoutdoors]

Listen, all it is that older generation does not except fact that even 243 kills elk, that things came long way now, all the tech etc. They still always push you towards 338 and bmg to kill a rabbit. Having 300+ cal has increased recoil, therefore less practice due to punishment, less accuracy etc. To me is strange that people still comment, what i said is literally DROP THE MIC type of comment, but i knew that some older folks will come and still will have something to say, even thought there is nothing else to say, i said everything is needed to know. While, im in mid 30s, i respect elderly, some of their wisdom, but im just stating a fact that most stuck in time. By the way my info comes from science, elk university of colorado parks and wildlife, plus read many scientific articles. No, i dont need for you to read it to me, i come from a well educated family, everyone in my family is with masters, bachelors, my best friend is a phd and a lector at medicine university, i come from intellectual elite. One of my family members speak 7 languages, others with 3-4 languages. Matter of fact we can read for you... in many languages. Anyways, sad that this has to come to this with butt hurt oldschoolers, i will be a smarter one, and give dumb the right of way and i take a higher road... if i hurt anybodys feelings, my bad. Happy hunting, plinking steel, and end of discussion.

I assume English is not your first language correct? Otherwise, someone so astute would not use except where accept is the correct word. Also, your first sentence is barely comprehensible. I don't think "things came long way now" is even close to proper. "To me is strange" What does that even mean? "A fact that most stuck in time." I am pretty sure my 2nd grader knows that is wrong. Pretty much every sentence is messed up in some way. "One of my family members speak 7 languages" Is English one of them? Maybe one of your family members speaks 7 languages? Is that what you mean? Maybe you can get one to interpret for me? What country are you from anyway? It is nice to see members from other countries.

 

[adk hunter]

He can buy both 280 Remington and 280 AI factory ammunition (Nosler) for a 280 AI and both will shoot in it. That's one of the things that make the 280 AI neat. When you shoot the 280 Rem. ammo, you get a fireformed 280 AI casing ready to be sized and reloaded.

Hornady .280 AI eld-x 162 factory ammo is everywhere this Fall FWIW too. I have shot several boxes and it seems pretty good. $43.00 not crazy Nosler money either.

Also surprised no one has mentioned a few rifles for sale here. (I will be putting one up for sale soon)

 

[memtb]

PredatorSlayer said:
Really? Its always the wind that gets me, its tough to read sometimes. Especially shooting across canyons - that is always the error I need to try and compensate for. I do that with high bc bullets, not large diameter bullets.....shrug.

I realize that this site is predominantly about "long range shooting", but not "all" shots taken at game are at "long or extreme" ranges! In fact most "hunters" would prefer to make their shots on game at much shorter ranges. In many hunting situations, unless the hunter is willing to make a "reverse stalk".....bullet BC, will not come into effect! memtb

 

[PredatorSlayer]

PredatorSlayer said:
Really? Its always the wind that gets me, its tough to read sometimes. Especially shooting across canyons - that is always the error I need to try and compensate for. I do that with high bc bullets, not large diameter bullets.....shrug.

I realize that this site is predominantly about "long range shooting", but not "all" shots taken at game are at "long or extreme" ranges! In fact most "hunters" would prefer to make their shots on game at much shorter ranges. In many hunting situations, unless the hunter is willing to make a "reverse stalk".....bullet BC, will not come into effect! memtb

thats a valid point - if we aren't talking long range, then we eliminate almost everything but poor marksmanship or shooter judgement. I don't think large calibers compensate for those things.

 

[thinair]

I assume English is not your first language correct? Otherwise, someone so astute would not use except where accept is the correct word. Also, your first sentence is barely comprehensible. I don't think "things came long way now" is even close to proper. "To me is strange" What does that even mean? "A fact that most stuck in time." I am pretty sure my 2nd grader knows that is wrong. Pretty much every sentence is messed up in some way. "One of my family members speak 7 languages" Is English one of them? Maybe one of your family members speaks 7 languages? Is that what you mean? Maybe you can get one to interpret for me? What country are you from anyway? It is nice to see members from other countries.

Are we here to discuss calibers, bullets etc, or am i in the wrong forum, because it feels like some kind of national grammar exam, forum for learning proper grammar? I do make mistakes (for sure i know the difference between except and accept, made that mistake by typing to fast). My English for a non native English speaker is quite decent. My grammar could be better, and is actually better when i take a bit more time when typing. I'm quite sure my grammar is better than most of the people who lives in South, I'm quite sure you know what i'm talking about (hoowdaayyy).
Yeah, as you can tell, I'm not "local", i'm from Norway, you probably know a bit about it. The Best Country in the WORLD statistically (education, life quality, etc)... not self proclaimed.

By the way, to me it is kind of strange that The Nobodies (most of old schoolers) bashes 6.5 and such, yet one of the best ever US Army snipers Nick Irving, right after shooting 6.5 was pretty much speechless. He was like "WOW, can you imagine if we had this?!?! This is stunning". If i'm not mistaken, US snipers are switching to 6.5. Of course different application and what not, but then i can also kind of laugh when people hunt elk with 338 lapuas etc, because as far as i know, it is good cartridge for anti military vehicles (with armor piercing rounds).

My logic is simple, apply some wisdom of elderly, add new tech, and its best of both worlds. Yet old schoolers only see one way, most of them are ONE-DIMENSIONAL, and narrow minded (can clearly see in most posts). Its like pro basketball players from 60s, 70s and 80s, saying they would beat todays players. Nah man, todays pro players are bigger, stronger, faster and more skilled. Same applies to shooting and hunting, especially at ranges over 300-400. Most old schoolers above that range can't hit a side of the barn, while folks with 7mms, 6.5s, 243 are quite accurate (1 moa or so) even at 800-1000 and above. I would not be surprised that more animals are lost by shooters shooting bigger calibers (recoil, and not being accurate), than lighter calibers, because even with 243, put a good bullet at decent ranges into the lungs of an elk, and its going down.

Anyways, it is strange how even after i said discussion is over, and said MY BAD, some guys still has something to say, and derail this thread, contributing literally zero to this discussion and only creating fuss and drama. Admins should ban these commentators for a week or so. Like, literally, what the F language has something to do with this topic? While, what i provided is straight scientific facts and is very informative. Literally, for thread creators needs, nothing above 280ai is needed. Even 243 and 115vlds running hot fps, at high elevation, will kill an elk up to 600 yards (on impact maintains 2200-2400 fps and 1400-1500 of energy), period. Can plink steel to 1200 easily. Like Obama said, I'm out, (lets add a bit of Trumpster) and let's make shooters of America greaaattt agaiiinnn!!