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What is the the most flat shooting cartridge yall can think of?

In my experience with my 6 PRC (smaller projectiles and bore) a slight increase in bullet weight, but mostly bullet bearing surface made HUGE differences in achievable velocity. Pressuring out much sooner and losing 150-200fps+ with a 10gr. bullet weight difference. Sometimes the longer, high BC bullet really is not worth it, because you'll never regain the ground you lost with the velocity unfortunately.
 
We just took delivery today of a custom 220 Swift ai. Will be interesting to see what it can do. Plan with this rifle was to run our heavier Hammer HHT's. I think it will be impressive with the 57gr Hammer HHT. Hoping 4000 fps. Might be optimistic.
 
In my experience with my 6 PRC (smaller projectiles and bore) a slight increase in bullet weight, but mostly bullet bearing surface made HUGE differences in achievable velocity. Pressuring out much sooner and losing 150-200fps+ with a 10gr. bullet weight difference. Sometimes the longer, high BC bullet really is not worth it, because you'll never regain the ground you lost with the velocity unfortunately.
Sometimes it appears the bullet gets too heavy for the cartridge pushing it, according to the ballistics.
Say using a 195 Berger rather than 180gr in .284
 
I was having a conversation with a fellow member here over "flat shooting cartridges" because I've been in search of a flat shooting cartridge/bullet combination for coyotes.

I'm currently shooting a 25-06 which gives me a MPBR on a 4" target of 298yds with a 115vld. I'm switching to an 80gr barnes ttsx to see what kind of speeds I can get and hopefully stretch that MPBR a little bit more. When this barrel goes south I will probably go back with a 25-06AI or 25sherman.

I know there are some wildcats out there that could possibly be "flat-er" and a realistic choice for coyotes and would like to hear yalls opinions.

I'm not looking to neck down a 308win to 17cal or run a 110vmax in a 300rum or anything wild like that. I'd like to keep powder consumption as low as possible. Barrel life isn't a huge concern but it like to get 800 rounds out of it.

What are yalls thoughts?
Flattest shooting coyote cartridge to 400 yards?

20creed
22-284
6prc

Easy button. 22creed and 62gr eld vt. Im running them at 3625fps in a 18" barrel.

Sounds like you're interested in the 25cals though. In that case 25Sherman and 90gr absolute hammers. They will do around 3850 in a 26"

Running the 90gr absolutes in my 26" 25sst at 3780fps with a 230 yard zero drops were
2moa at 365 and 10.5moa at 720yards. When I ran them at at 3750 with a 100 yard zero they only dropped 2.5" at 300yards.

I tested the 90gr absolutes at 3750, 75gr hammer hunters at 3930, and the 67gr sledge hammers at 4200fps. At 300 yards the 90absolutes easily had the least drop.

Flattest shooting cartridge to 1000 yards period! Probably Kirby's 25 Stalker pushing 90gr absolutes around 4500 or the 110 super bulldozers at around 4150. Both should only have around 9.5-10moa of drop at 1000 yards with 250 yard zeros.
 
Flattest shooting coyote cartridge to 400 yards?

20creed
22-284
6prc

Easy button. 22creed and 62gr eld vt. Im running them at 3625fps in a 18" barrel.

Sounds like you're interested in the 25cals though. In that case 25Sherman and 90gr absolute hammers. They will do around 3850 in a 26"

Running the 90gr absolutes in my 26" 25sst at 3780fps with a 230 yard zero drops were
2moa at 365 and 10.5moa at 720yards. When I ran them at at 3750 with a 100 yard zero they only dropped 2.5" at 300yards.

I tested the 90gr absolutes at 3750, 75gr hammer hunters at 3930, and the 67gr sledge hammers at 4200fps. At 300 yards the 90absolutes easily had the least drop.

Flattest shooting cartridge to 1000 yards period! Probably Kirby's 25 Stalker pushing 90gr absolutes around 4500 or the 110 super bulldozers at around 4150. Both should only have around 9.5-10moa of drop at 1000 yards with 250 yard zeros.
Great info! Thanks for sharing!!

The main reason I'm leaning towards an 25cal is it's not too big for coyotes and not too small for deer. Not that anything is really too big for coyotes and this rifle won't be necessarily be used as a deer rifle but I do call coyotes after I get out of the deer blind and start walking back to the buggy. So to have the possibility of 1 cartridge and dope for 2 different bullets like a 75gr hammer for yotes and a 135gr berger for deer has me thinking 257. I could also go 6.5mm and shoot the 100gr eldvt for coyotes and 140-150's for deer. I don't know how well a 100eldvt will hold up to 6.5prc and faster speeds in a 7.5tw barrel that can also shoot the 150's.

Not that the 3 cartridges that you mentioned wouldn't kill a deer with good shot placement and moving at mach Jesus but.....

There is one 20cal bullet that even sparks my interest and that's the 55gr berger. Also I don't have a cleaning rod that will fit down a 204 bore 🤣 and I hear carbon rings are definitely a thing in the 204's

The 22x284 has a ridiculous short barrel life "from what I've read". 500rnd barrel life isn't for me especially when I have nothing else that's 284win based.

6prc would work but if I did a 6mm magnum I'd likely go 6sst for the performance and I can get everything I'd need from Rich including headstamped brass.

The Allen Magnums are top fuel dragster's without question! They are just a little too "hot rod" to feed just to use on coyotes. Maybe if I was a trophy sheep hunter or something like that the 25 Stalker would be a great choice.
 
Great info! Thanks for sharing!!

The main reason I'm leaning towards an 25cal is it's not too big for coyotes and not too small for deer. Not that anything is really too big for coyotes and this rifle won't be necessarily be used as a deer rifle but I do call coyotes after I get out of the deer blind and start walking back to the buggy. So to have the possibility of 1 cartridge and dope for 2 different bullets like a 75gr hammer for yotes and a 135gr berger for deer has me thinking 257. I could also go 6.5mm and shoot the 100gr eldvt for coyotes and 140-150's for deer. I don't know how well a 100eldvt will hold up to 6.5prc and faster speeds in a 7.5tw barrel that can also shoot the 150's.

Not that the 3 cartridges that you mentioned wouldn't kill a deer with good shot placement and moving at mach Jesus but.....

There is one 20cal bullet that even sparks my interest and that's the 55gr berger. Also I don't have a cleaning rod that will fit down a 204 bore 🤣 and I hear carbon rings are definitely a thing in the 204's

The 22x284 has a ridiculous short barrel life "from what I've read". 500rnd barrel life isn't for me especially when I have nothing else that's 284win based.

6prc would work but if I did a 6mm magnum I'd likely go 6sst for the performance and I can get everything I'd need from Rich including headstamped brass.

The Allen Magnums are top fuel dragster's without question! They are just a little too "hot rod" to feed just to use on coyotes. Maybe if I was a trophy sheep hunter or something like that the 25 Stalker would be a great choice.
Use the 75gr Hammer HHT on everything up to elk and don't worry about a 2 bullet solution.
 
25cal will be a good choice for coyotes and deer. I dual load for mine with the 90gr absolutes and 131gr ace. I actually have a 22" 25cal barrel here that I was going to do a 25Sherman with for 90gr absolutes and Speer 100gr bullets. But I did 2 other builds instead.

A Hornady engineer said they tested the 100gr eld vt in a 6.5prc barrel with a 7 twist that was known to be rough and blow up other bullets up. He said he spent a day trying to blow one up and got the barrel very hot but never lost one. So that sounds promising.
 
We just took delivery today of a custom 220 Swift ai. Will be interesting to see what it can do. Plan with this rifle was to run our heavier Hammer HHT's. I think it will be impressive with the 57gr Hammer HHT. Hoping 4000 fps. Might be optimistic.
What barrel length? Out of a 24 inch standard 220 swift I had zero problems hitting 3850 fps with imr 4064 and a 55 grain cup and core. Can't imagine it'd be asking too much to expect 4K with a 57 grainer out of an AI version, unless it's out of a shorter pipe.
 
Sometimes it appears the bullet gets too heavy for the cartridge pushing it, according to the ballistics.
Say using a 195 Berger rather than 180gr in .284
That's why the NUT behind the trigger remains the most significant factor—matching the right bullet (weight, design, construction, etc.) for the intended purpose. Like your example, many people load their 6.5 CM with 156 Berger. I use 125g on my 6.5 CM and keep it in the 300Y for antelope and deer. I do not feel I can take full advantage of what the 156 Berger offers out of my 6.5 CM with a 24" barrel. However, my .264 WM with 26" 1:7" can.

For my intended purpose (beyond 600Y), I prefer heavy/high BC bullets. Below are the 145 BH and 163 Chinchage from my 257 WBY; they're not too shabby.
1714622056923.png

Below is with the 163 Chinchiga (assumed/WAG/untested G7 as .400).
1714622284307.png
 
That's why the NUT behind the trigger remains the most significant factor—matching the right bullet (weight, design, construction, etc.) for the intended purpose. Like your example, many people load their 6.5 CM with 156 Berger. I use 125g on my 6.5 CM and keep it in the 300Y for antelope and deer. I do not feel I can take full advantage of what the 156 Berger offers out of my 6.5 CM with a 24" barrel. However, my .264 WM with 26" 1:7" can.

For my intended purpose (beyond 600Y), I prefer heavy/high BC bullets. Below are the 145 BH and 163 Chinchage from my 257 WBY; they're not too shabby.
View attachment 568458
Below is with the 163 Chinchiga (assumed/WAG/untested G7 as .400).
View attachment 568459
I don't think the 153 or 156 was ever really intended for use in a creedmoor. That little case just can't push them fast enough.

I figured a 257wby would run a 140gr well north of 3200fps? Are you hobbled with a short barrel?
 
I don't think the 153 or 156 was ever really intended for use in a creedmoor. That little case just can't push them fast enough.
Nonetheless, people load them, and they are offered as loaded ammo.
1714624226101.png

I figured a 257wby would run a 140gr well north of 3200fps? Are you hobbled with a short barrel?
Yes! No, I am not worried about short barrel life. I have other chamberings with excellent barrel life.
 
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