Long Range - Short Barrel -Caliber

ja4wheel6

Lil-Rokslider
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Wanting to build a 18" barreled rifle. Light chassis.

Wanting to go 6.5mm. Wildcats are welcome. Initial thoughts are 7-6.5prc, or even 300-6.5prc. 280 sherman magnum.

Wanting to still touch 2950 fps with heavy for caliber bullets. Is there anything that will do this?

Thanks
 
Give it a year and there will be a 6 or 6.5 backcountry that’s going to be exactly what you want.


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How far are you comfortable shooting at game?
for the sake of this conversation, lets pretend I am the best shooter wind caller in history lol not true. But lets pretend we are comfortable shooting to the maximum distance a bullet will function. 1600fps!?!?
 
I have a 25-7prc with an 18" barrel. It shoots 133g berger elite hunters at 3100 behind N570. You could a accomplish your goal with ease using a 6.5-7prc. 25s are cooler though 😎
 
Agreed with the above a hot 6 is a good starting place.

If 6.5 if your diameter of choice I'd look at the 6.5 SAUM or better yet the 6.5-7PRC.

I don't think the 6.5PRC case will get you there unless you neck down to a 6-6.5PRC.

All JMHO.
 
I start off selecting which bullets are out and actually available regularly first and what their expansion velocity and BC is. Some expand down to 1600fps, but most are 1800 and some even higher. With that info use can use any of the free ballistic calculators to determine to what range they'll expand with that particular bullet at an estimated velocity.
Its all highly dependent on velocity and BC.
 
The smaller caliber you go the more effective you will be at spotting shots in a lightweight chassis. A lightweight chassis rifle "under 8lbs scoped" should have a max range around 6-700 yards to be able to spot you impacts at closer distances.
 
.243

Still legal in all States to hunt.
Recoil won’t be an issue.
Lightweight so you can spot impacts in a “lightweight” setup.
Factory ammo is widely available if you’re in a bind on a trip etc…
Still should be around 1,800 FPS out to 600 yards with 85-100gr bullets
 
Im all about the smaller caliber stuff but guy didn't ask for our opinions on caliber. Hes asking for cartridge to push a 6.5 bullet at 2950 out of an 18" barrel.

Depending on bullet selection...any wildcat or factory cartridge with more capacity than a 6.5prc, will probably get you there. The options are nearly endless. 6.5-7 saum or 6.5-7 prc would be near the top of my list. A 6.5 western or 6.5-270wsm would also be good. Pick your flavor, keeping brass availability in mind and run with it.
 
Wanting to build a 18" barreled rifle. Light chassis.

Wanting to go 6.5mm. Wildcats are welcome. Initial thoughts are 7-6.5prc, or even 300-6.5prc. 280 sherman magnum.

Wanting to still touch 2950 fps with heavy for caliber bullets. Is there anything that will do this?

Thanks
With what you’re wanting to do, probably a 6.5-7 PRC. Try to keep impact velocity at 1800 fps or higher
 
You’re going to need a long action cartridge to reliably get there without pushing too hard.

I have a 6.5 SAUM Improved with a 21” barrel that gets 3150 with 144 LRHT and H1000. With 156s and a 3” shorter barrel, I’m not sure you can get there.


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Dive deep into what bullets you want to use then do the ballistic calculations. Look at wind deflection and recoil. To me, the BC advantages of the 7mm bullets over 6.5mm outweigh the slower muzzle velocity. For example, 7-6.5 PRCW using the 180 ELDM vs 6.5 PRC with the 147 ELDM. One could even start the 180 ELDM much slower and still outperform the the 147 ELDM in wind deflection.
 
Dive deep into what bullets you want to use then do the ballistic calculations. Look at wind deflection and recoil. To me, the BC advantages of the 7mm bullets over 6.5mm outweigh the slower muzzle velocity. For example, 7-6.5 PRCW using the 180 ELDM vs 6.5 PRC with the 147 ELDM. One could even start the 180 ELDM much slower and still outperform the the 147 ELDM in wind deflection.
The big question is "at what distances?" I agree with you on bullet deflection but there's a few questions a person should take into account first. What kind of recoil do you want to tolerate? (Bigger bullets = bigger recoil) What distance are you realistically going to shoot? What winds are you realistically going to encounter? I think alot of people jump to the conclusion that heavy for caliber projectiles are the way to go, but thats not the case for everyone. I see this alot with 6.5's. Many folks go straight to 147s or 156. When in reality a 140 or even a 130 is outperforming in drift and drop out to ~500+ yards in 95% of the conditions they encounter, with still very good terminal ballistics. Needless to say, Its probably a good idea to be honest with yourself and figure out the best bullet for your use case. They all have their place. But the long heavy slippery 7s really dont shine until distance past what the vast majority of hunters are actually shooting. 6s, 25s, and 6.5s are pleasant to shoot and easily kill for anyone
 
You’re going to need a long action cartridge to reliably get there without pushing too hard.

I have a 6.5 SAUM Improved with a 21” barrel that gets 3150 with 144 LRHT and H1000. With 156s and a 3” shorter barrel, I’m not sure you can get there.


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Listen to this man, he knows how to get the most from a given cartridge.

Mike post up your 6.5 Winny Improved from back in the day.
 
Im all about the smaller caliber stuff but guy didn't ask for our opinions on caliber. Hes asking for cartridge to push a 6.5 bullet at 2950 out of an 18" barrel.

Depending on bullet selection...any wildcat or factory cartridge with more capacity than a 6.5prc, will probably get you there. The options are nearly endless. 6.5-7 saum or 6.5-7 prc would be near the top of my list. A 6.5 western or 6.5-270wsm would also be good. Pick your flavor, keeping brass availability in mind and run with it.

He started with asking about 6.5 and 7mm? So why not add 6mm also?
thoughts are 7-6.5prc, or even 300-6.5prc. 280 sherman magnum

Either way a lightweight "long range" rifle is not ideal.
 
He started with asking about 6.5 and 7mm? So why not add 6mm also?


Either way a lightweight "long range" rifle is not ideal.
I guess I took "wanting to go 6.5mm" as he wasn't entertaining other options. I do agree 6mm is fine too.
Wanting to build a 18" barreled rifle. Light chassis.

Wanting to go 6.5mm. Wildcats are welcome. Initial thoughts are 7-6.5prc, or even 300-6.5prc. 280 sherman magnum.

Wanting to still touch 2950 fps with heavy for caliber bullets. Is there anything that will do this?

Thanks
 
Wanting to go 6.5mm. Wildcats are welcome. Initial thoughts are 7-6.5prc, or even 300-6.5prc. 280 sherman magnum.
Hey man, don’t take this as me being critical, but helpful for the sake of clarity. When discussing these cartridges, your desired caliber needs to be put first, then the cartridge it comes from. So a 6.5-7 PRC would be a 7 PRC case necked down to 6.5 mm, etc. I think we all know what you mean, but according to your statement, you’d like a 6.5 PRC necked up to a 7mm, or a 6.5 PRC necked up to 30 cal.

Again, I don’t mean this as being critical or nitpicky, but just to keep everyone on the same page, as that’s how these cartridges are typically discussed.
 
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