Mid Range Hunting with Long Range Bullets

[PistolPete]

For some of us Eastern guys who don't shoot to 600+ yards (and our young children) who are looking to take advantage of light recoil as well as high BC bullets, why is the low/mid-2000 fps muzzle velocity range so neglected? Even at 2400, good bullets retain plenty of expansion potential to 500+ yards, which is more than I'll ever need. I'm thinking along the lines of a 7mm-08 with an 8 twist for 180s, or a 6.5 Grendel with 147s. I'm even considering loading my kids up with 223 77's at 2200 fps for a 200-yard deer gun, if I can get accuracy. A Hornet-sized case might be better...

I am aware I can reduce my loads (I'm working with IMR4198 in my Creed for that). I do know there are a few other options - I'm just surprised it isn't discussed more. Seems like a nice sweet spot for 95% of us.

Pete

 

[seand]

there just isn’t as many popular cartridges in around 2400fps than there is higher. And just like most men think they are better than average drivers, a lot of guys that don’t actually shoot much think they are good to 600+. So it’s gets way less attention


you are gonna have a difficult time with a 147 in a grendel, but the 6arc is a sweetheart.

 

[wind gypsy]

I guess I'd rather have 2400 fps impact velocity than 2000 FPS and have a flatter trajectory.

Something like a 6 ARC could push a 95tmk faster than 2400 FPS, wreck deer, and recoil light as can be.

 

[H80Hunter]

I’m kind of pairing this with the short barrel craze. My 16.5” .308 only has a muzzle velocity of 2540 and thus my impact velocity at 300 is (calculator says) only 2154 so that lines up with a long range hunter at probably closer to 500 or so.

 

[Wrench]

Pick your bullet based on impact velocity.....then factor bc advantages.

At 600 maximum, I wouldn't feel handicapped with a partition flat based bullet.

Out here a 15mph breeze is normal and shots can get long. If the wind and range are not factors.....why fuss with high bc stuff. It's almost always more finicky.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

My .375 H&H pushes a 300 grain bullet at 2400 fps. Does that count?

 

[SBR Sarge]

Being a midwest hunter, I’m in the same boat. I don’t do it for recoil as much as impact velocity.

I use SBRs for most of my hunting, and in some I use long range loads to get the impact velocity where I want it. For example, I have a 95gr LRX load for my short 6mm ARC. I am eager to use it this fall for deer and hogs.


Other calibers: 223 w/ the 77 gr TMK (long thread on here about that), 6mm ARC, 300 Blk w/ the Barnes 110gr black tip, 115gr Grendel all would serve well.

As a note, Barnes made the 110gr black tip specifically for the lower velocity of the 300 blackout. Similarly, I believe they did the same with the 115gr load for the Grendel.

 

[Lawnboi]

It dosnt take much wind at 400 yards to begin to benefit from a good bullet. Only on the internet is it so easy, but guys wiff plenty of sub 400 yard targets due to wind.

Careful down loading cartridges designed for more, low pressure rounds will toast brass just like over pressure.

Personally I’d rather benefit from a little ranging error on a faster round, even at closer range. That and wind. 20 miles an hour at 300 yards would probably surprise most guys.

The reasons you mentioned are mostly why I hunt with a 223 back home though. It’s a sub 400 yard rifle imo. That said the 22 creed in a nice short barrel does what it does and more with similar low recoil.

 

[Rich M]

357 mag rifle that throws 158 gr bullets at 2,000 fps. Rings 8-inch steel at 200 easy with 4x scope.

350 legend throws 150-170 gr bullets at 2300-2400 fps. If you reload you can up that some.

Both a suited for kids. The 357 mag has about 5# recoil and drops WT deer dead inside 100 yards. For regular 200-250 yard shots would be 350 legend.

I looked at the Grendel and the 7.62x39 and the Black-Out but I like 150-160 gr bullets and been happy with the performance of these two.