Long range practice? Ammo suggestions

[swampy14]

I have a range at the ranch I work on that goes out to a mile. I’m putting together a 20” (w/ a can) 6.5cm who’s primary duty is shooting whitetail out to 300-350yds.

As far as hunting/practice ammo
I currently use a Barnes 127 lrx monos and for hunting it’s been great, but it’s not an ideal long range bullet. So I’m looking into trying factory 130 terminal ascent, Berger 135 hybrid or the Berger 156 eol.

I like the idea of practicing with hunting ammo to know exactly what my dope is at every distance. Or should I get “target” ammo like Hornady Match or federal gold metal match and practice with that?

 

[Matt5266]

Pick 1 ammo and stick with it. Learn your wind and drop. Out of the choices you gave and your given purpose my vote is for the 156 Berger

 

[Kurts86]

I rather like the 140 gr Hornady American gunner for less expensive 6.5 long range ammo since you can get it for just over $1/round with better accuracy and BC that the cost indicates.

 

[hereinaz]

I'd practice with the Hornady American Gunner, but switch to a different hunting bullet. You can have serious problems switching between copper and lead bullets. Best practice is to clean out the copper when switching between them.

 

[swampy14]

I'd practice with the Hornady American Gunner, but switch to a different hunting bullet. You can have serious problems switching between copper and lead bullets. Best practice is to clean out the copper when switching between them.

This I knew. I have one rifle that uses the monos. The ammo would be for a different rifle that’s in the works.

I like the penetration with monos but don’t like the lack of BC and SD for long range.

 

[swampy14]

Pick 1 ammo and stick with it. Learn your wind and drop. Out of the choices you gave and your given purpose my vote is for the 156 Berger

This is applied ballistics based on what I think MV and shooting conditions will be. But the Berger 156 starts slow but holds onto it like a s.o.b.

I will like to go out west but that’s way down the line. Focus right now is whitetail in Texas

 

[WoolyBugger]

I use the eldm for target and hunting and just stick with that. Another option is to practice with 223.

 

[JMundy84]

Id get the Hornady match with eld-m and just use it for everything

 

[swampy14]

I have a box of 140gr eldm that I haven’t used yet.

I do practice with a .22 and a 223. But it was more so geared to building confidence in a weapon system

 

[wind gypsy]

Lots of options. 130 Berger otm loaded by federal goes on sale for good prices occasionally. ELDm factory ammo. Berger ammo typically shoots great.

Norma 130 and 143 golden target shoots good for me and can be had around $1 as well.

 

[TaperPin]

Sounds like a fun setup!

If you were to compare 1,000 rounds of 223 practice ammo to what you were going to use in your 6.5, it doesn’t take long before it will pay for another rifle. If someone is determined to put a lot of rounds down range I always recommend two rifles, even if they are in the same cartridge. It can’t be overstated how nice it is to always have a squared away hunting rifle ready to go, and a squared away practice rifle that you can shoot the snot out of and not worry about.

I don’t usually burn up the good barrel in my primary hunting rifle AND pay more for ammo. If you are, don’t just consider ammo price per shot, but also figure in barrel cost. If the barrel is good for 3,000 rounds and a replacement is $600, that’s $.20 per shot. Buying a used trainer, shoot 2/3 the life out of it and sell it for what you bought it for - literally a free rifle and it saved $400 in wear and tear on your good gun that can now go to more ammo.

Shoot hunting ammo enough to know exactly how it shoots, but practice with cheap stuff. I guarantee the extra rounds down range from cheap stuff will help more than fewer hunting rounds to practice with.

 

[swampy14]

Sounds like a fun setup!

If you were to compare 1,000 rounds of 223 practice ammo to what you were going to use in your 6.5, it doesn’t take long before it will pay for another rifle. If someone is determined to put a lot of rounds down range I always recommend two rifles, even if they are in the same cartridge. It can’t be overstated how nice it is to always have a squared away hunting rifle ready to go, and a squared away practice rifle that you can shoot the snot out of and not worry about.

I don’t usually burn up the good barrel in my primary hunting rifle AND pay more for ammo. If you are, don’t just consider ammo price per shot, but also figure in barrel cost. If the barrel is good for 3,000 rounds and a replacement is $600, that’s $.20 per shot. Buying a used trainer, shoot 2/3 the life out of it and sell it for what you bought it for - literally a free rifle and it saved $400 in wear and tear on your good gun that can now go to more ammo.

Shoot hunting ammo enough to know exactly how it shoots, but practice with cheap stuff. I guarantee the extra rounds down range from cheap stuff will help more than fewer hunting rounds to practice with.

Good deal! I have a savage axis in 6.5 cm already. So that will be the primary practice rifle. A replacement barrel for the axis shouldn’t be too pricey. At least I’m not going to put a nice barrel on it.

But I do plan on trying out a weatherby 307 in 6.5 cm

 

[Turkeytider]

I rather like the 140 gr Hornady American gunner for less expensive 6.5 long range ammo since you can get it for just over $1/round with better accuracy and BC that the cost indicates.

Recommend. Shoots great in my Tikka Super Varmint. Anybody who shoots 6.5 Creedmoor and is interested in at least giving more “ budget friendly “ rounds a try should give these and PSA’s store brand AAC 140 SMK a whirl.