What caliber?

[NCoutdoorsman90]

So, if you were going to build a rifle for target shooting and precision. Say a normal range day would be a precision 200 yard range. But every once and awhile you want to stretch out to 500 yards and maybe a little more. What caliber would you go with? Preferably one to buy factory ammo just to mess around with, but hand load for competitions.

 

[Sled]

The 6mm variants seem to be all the rage these days. All the shelf ready cartridges should do what you want.

 

[Alex Genereux]

Either 6mm creed or 6.5 creedmoor. I would probably choose 6.5 just because of bullet selection

 

[Footshooter]

I recently set up for the same thing, 6mm Creedmoor is the direction I went. Ammo is relatively inexpensive and available, and so far it is very fun to shoot.

 

[letrbuck]

Range gun for 200 yds, and occasionally 500+?
.223 or .308

TONS of loaded ammo and bullet options and lots of data.

Great availability and price

Not as "cool" as a creedmoor, but a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to get 1k+ rounds through it in a year at the range.

 

[hiker270]

With the amount of ammo available its hard to beat the 6.5 creedmoor. AmmoSeek has thousands of available 6.5 ammo listed.

 

[NCoutdoorsman90]

As of right now, I was thinking 308 or 6.5cm. But the 308 is standing out since I already have dies and other factory ammo for other guns. But, I know the 6.5 are all the hype right now.

 

[Seeknelk]

A 6 caliber. Or a 22 caliber.

 

[kharb22]

So, if you were going to build a rifle for target shooting and precision. Say a normal range day would be a precision 200 yard range. But every once and awhile you want to stretch out to 500 yards and maybe a little more. What caliber would you go with? Preferably one to buy factory ammo just to mess around with, but hand load for competitions.

I'd go 6 ARC or 6 GT. I've been able to find plenty of ARC on the shelves and GA Precision usually has factory Hornady GT in stock.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

 

[NCoutdoorsman90]

A 6 caliber. Or a 22 caliber.

That’s the same thing my dad said he would go with if he built another one. He currently has a couple 6mm BR.

 

[N2TRKYS]

There ain’t that many calibers to choose from.

 

[B23]

So, if you were going to build a rifle for target shooting and precision. Say a normal range day would be a precision 200 yard range. But every once and awhile you want to stretch out to 500 yards and maybe a little more. What caliber would you go with? Preferably one to buy factory ammo just to mess around with, but hand load for competitions.

Because you said factory ammo and you maybe would stretch its legs from time to time, IMO, a 6mm Creedmoor is the natural choice.

If factory ammo wasn't preferable I would have suggested a 6BR or one of it's many variants like the 6 Dasher, 6 BRX, and 6BR AI. The 6 XC and 6x47 Lapua would both be good choices as well.

Regardless of what cartridge you end up going with I'd look for something with a decent size contour barrel on it so the gun has some weight to it. Something in at least a varmint size contour in the 22-24 inch range.

 

[B23]

As of right now, I was thinking 308 or 6.5cm. But the 308 is standing out since I already have dies and other factory ammo for other guns. But, I know the 6.5 are all the hype right now.

I don't know that I'd want a 308 or a 6.5 for 200 yd precision work. Even with the occasional 500 - 500+ shooting, there's just way to many better options to choose from for that kind of use.

 

[JFK]

Good choices above but if you wanted something a little different maybe a faster twist 243? Can buy cheap factory ammo when you want and handload the 6mm match bullets when needed.

 

[NCoutdoorsman90]

I don't know that I'd want a 308 or a 6.5 for 200 yd precision work. Even with the occasional 500 - 500+ shooting, there's just way to many better options to choose from for that kind of use.

Only reason I’m stuck on 200 yards is that my club only has a 200 yard range that does bench rest and factory class shooting comps. But, I have friends at other clubs that stretch out 500 yards and then some. Which I won’t be shooting at those a lot, but I want to be able to if I can.

 

[NCoutdoorsman90]

Good choices above but if you wanted something a little different maybe a faster twist 243? Can buy cheap factory ammo when you want and handload the 6mm match bullets when needed.

Never thought about the 243, I’ve always heard they were accurate flat shooting calibers. I even thought about a 25-06.

 

[taba]

A .22 would make your 200 yard range pretty fun.

 

[NCoutdoorsman90]

A .22 would make your 200 yard range pretty fun.

That it does, I already have a precision 22 with a 36x target scope on it. Want to go to the next level now though.

 

[mt100gr.]

.223/.224 cal, .243 cal or .264 cal. Lots of options in those calibers.

 

[Wapiti1]

6mm Creedmoor.

Jeremy