How many grains at 600yds?

[EdP]

It’s not a matter of bullet weight. What you need to look for is any bullets minimum expansion velocity. Then with the bullets bc and muzzle velocity you can use a ballistics calculator to find at what range it drops below that minimum velocity.

Great advice in a nutshell right there!

Hornday has a free ballistic calculator on-line as do a number of others. The bullet mfgs publish their bc's. Note that there are G1 and G7 bc's. Either will work but make sure you have the calculator set for the one you use. The heavier for caliber bullets are longer and have higher bc's in any bullet design. You should see a positive effect of the higher bc at about 400 yds. Hornady bullets are not my favorite, but they are are good and seem to be the most available right now.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Forgive my ignorance as ballistics is like Korean to me. What’s the lowest grain load you’d send at 600yds with a 300WM?

Now that the ice is broken on this thread, can you share your big-game hunting experience?

 

[Miflatlander91]

Sorry dude, that's not aimed at you specifically. I just really think it's a bad trend. I was just listening to a very well known podcaster the other day recommend to a first time western hunter to be ready to shoot 450 yds, and i see all the time new hunters asking what rifle for 600 yds. I just don't think people appreciate how difficult that is to pull off ethically in hunting situations.

This is exactly right I shoot more than anyone I k ow around here and still think 450 in the field is a poke. Never fails every years I get guys that want to go out west asking what to buy to shoot 6 7 800 yards. The same guys the pull their deer gun out of the safe 2 weeks before season shoot 2 or 3 rounds if they don't have to mess with the scope (it got bumped) and call it a day

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[35WhelenAI]

450 in the field is a poke. That's called just over 1/4 mile.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Read the 223 bear deer elk thread.

 

[PNWGATOR]

There is some really bad advice offered in this thread…damn.

Read what @PathFinder offered. Start there.

 

[mt100gr.]

^^^This. And then dive in and learn Korean. There isn't an easy-button if you want to do it correctly. Learning how it all comes together is part of the fun. Then when you do drop a perfect shot on an animal at extended range, YOU know it wasn't luck or an accident.

Find a bullet that your rifle shoots well and burn through a few hundred rounds learning.

 

[b0nes]

If you have to ask the question you’re not ready to shoot over 300.

 

[Marble]

Forgive my ignorance as ballistics is like Korean to me. What’s the lowest grain load you’d send at 600yds with a 300WM?

I feel like you were short changed in this thread a bit. I dont think you have a ton experience which is just fine. This is a good place to learn, but sometimes it's a tough crowd.

Do some research on line about what a balistic coefficient is and how it relates to shooting long distance. It's an important factor for choosing the bullet you want for hunting, but not the sole factor. There is a lot to it. Everyone has different opinions on what is most important so be aware of that.

In a .308 caliber bullet, specifically a 300 WM, for better performance at distance a bullet in the 200-215 grain range is normally used. It's a great combination of speed, energy and ballistics.

The suggestion to shoot a .223 to get practice is a great idea.

Good luck



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[Azone]

Try to find some “rods from god” those should blow away anything else on the market today, best damn sectional density you can find.

 

[Wolf_trapper]

Lots of inputs to shoot 600 accurately. Wind is the biggest. Temp is another. I elk hunt when it could be +60 or -20 that will effect your point of impact quite a bit.

It's not hard but it takes more practice than shooting 3-400yds.

 

[BigNate]

Bullet performance on game at that distance is critical, and solely basing your choice on weight is the wrong path.

Bullet performance at the velocity it will be at when it reaches the animal is the crucial part. Picking the bullet that has the expansion and wound characteristics that you need for the distance you are willing to shoot is key.

Then shoot a lot, from field positions, in wind. Drops can be calculated, but wind will cause far more misses.

 

[Deere83]

I’ll probably get burned for this but no one mentioned it. Get a kestrel, zero your rifle and true it to the kestrel. This will take the guesswork out of the dialing and you can focus on your shooting.

 

[cnelk]

My furthest kill shot on an elk is 560yds - ranged.
225gr Hornady handloads out of my 340 Weatherby.
I have my gun’s ballistics taped on my gun for quick reference.
That bullet blew right threw that elk’s heart and body.

But… I shoot a lot.

 

[Wrench]

The custom turrets were the very worst service to hunters ever. Ever. They give the impression that you can shoot a know velocity and EVERYTHING else will just fall into place.

When guys start putting some space between themselves and the target, they are doing math, running over fundamentals and shot sequences. Hell, if you were next to me, you'd catch me telling myself to keep pulling as I'm breaking the shot.

The missing component in a custom turret is stuff mentioned like environmentals.....but what about lot to lot variations in components. What if you can't buy a berger 215 this year? Do you just run an eldm and hope for the best? Did you chronograph, field validate....both?

And for the elephant in the room.....does your scope score 100% on the tall target test?

All of this is to tell you to save the turret tape for when you sell it and get to scratching out some critical dope.

 

[Elkhntr08]

Taking an antelope at 428 yards was very humbling. It was a long shot for me and I also shoot a lot.
Back to your question, I shoot a 180 TSX out of my 300 Weatherby and a 180 Accubond out of my 300WM. Why, because they shoot the best.
Pick the bullet and weight that shoots the best out of your rifle. Remember, 1.5” @ 100 = 9” @ 600!

 

[davsco]

Remember, 1.5” @ 100 = 9” @ 600!

and could be 18" or more... field wobble vs steady position at the range. buck fever. altitude/breathing. and the wind out there may not be the wind you're measuring 600yds back. obviously folks do it, so it is doable. but not as simple and easy as falling off a log.

 

[wapitibob]

I've seen exactly zero rifle/shooter combo's that shoot 1-1/2" at 100 and can shoot 9" at 600.

 

[S.Clancy]

Shooting that far is about 3 things really:

1. Knowing your energy and the capabilities of the bullet at that range.
2. Having put in the practice to be able to be accurate. That practice includes dope verification at all the ranges intended
3. Imperceptible wind. Lot's of guys will shoot in "consistent wind"....there is no such thing out west. Especially when (if shooting over 600 yds) you are usually shooting across canyons, etc. At 600 yds a 5 mph difference in wind is alot of drift.

*** I would add I would not take a shot that far alone, a spotter is nice to have. 600 yards is a long ways and being able to confirm the hit (or miss) is critical ***

Having said all that, depending on the caliber, you could get 130 gr bullets to perform at that range and kill well.

 

[woods89]

@PathFinder and @PNWGATOR gave some good advice, as well as a few others. The 6.5 and 6mm threads might be insightful as far as what is necessary for the ranges being discussed, but you have to learn to shoot.

If I wanted to kill elk at 600 a 30 cal magnum with a VX and CDS would be a long ways from my first choice.