Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Long Range Everything Under Elk

I'm thinking about getting a caliber with better long range performance than my 308. Action size is not a consideration. I would not use this rifle for elk, so I'm thinking 300 and under. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts on the calibers below from the perspective of accuracy potential, barrel life, and capability in the field.

.25-06
.257 Weatherby Mag
6.5x55
6.5x284
264 Winchester Mag
7mm Remington Mag
7mm STW
300 Winchester Mag
300 Weatherby Mag
300 Remington Ultra Mag

Thanks,
QD

For truly long range hunting for deer-sized critters, I'd narrow your list to the 257 Mag, 264 Mag, 6.5 x 284, or one of the 7 Mags.

300WM with 165-180gr Accubonds/TTSX's, then maybe the 7mmSTW just to be different with 140-160gr Accubonds.

A caliber that sure has impressed me is the 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds. Performance is second to none onbig game here in Alberta (elk, moose, bears, whitetails/mulies, coyotes/wolves. Distances has varied between 50 to 400 metres. All one shot kills - pretty much drop intracks.

Maybe a caliber to consider IMO.

Having used the 257wby,7mmremmag,300wby,and the 300rum myself,my favorite is the 7mmstw.

For under elk,

Light recoil, good barrel life.

The 260 Remington running an 1/8" twist shooting 130 and 140 VLD'S.

308 win is very hard to beat. I'd get the .300 win mag and never look back. (1) you can use the same .30 cal boolits, you don't have to worry about using the $$Premium$$ bullets if you don't want to. Although with better lead you'll get more penetration. It will break an elk's shoulder if you have to take a quick, less than perfect shot. You can load it down to 30-06 level for younster's and for practice. Ammo is everywhere....It's bad medicine.....IMO

7-08

If you're not going to use it on elk , what ARE you going to use it on? Deer? antelope? Coyotes?

I think the .270 Win is one of the best cartridges available for a dedicated deer rifle. The .25-06 or Roberts running +P is perhaps the best varmint-to-deer cartridge.

My choice back in 1982 was a 7mm RM. It has taken many prairie dogs and coyotes and was my only real big game rifle for 20 years. No complaints - recoil about like a .30-06 but flatter shooting. Used 160's for everything (including prairie poodles, good practice for the big stuff) until a couple years ago. Now I'm shooting 140's and am even more pleased with long range performance.

You're in Eastern NC?

.257Wby.

Run resized R-P or WW 7mmRM brass (capacious stuff), moly, and 100 grain TTSXs and 100 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips (nearly identical BCs and OALs), and a max charge of RL-22 or RL-25.

Under 300 pounds the 25-06.Or a 25-284 even a 25 super would work well.

With elk in the picture, I'd go 300 Weatherby. Without elk, it really doesn't matter. 270, 280, 7mag and about 20 other cartridges are all fine.

With elk it's a toss up for me between the 7 STW or 300 Win.Which ever is outta the safe at the time is how I'd decide.

I would go with a 270 WSM or .257 Weatherby Mag for a long range deer gun. A 7 rem mag would work also.

6.5x 284 with RL17 and 130g SII(BC .571) at 3200 fps.

Hard to argue with those ballistics.

There is a trend showing up on the 1000 yd scene. The 7mms are beginning to replace the 6.5s.

The higher BC 180 Berger is THE bullet to beat. In a 284 and a 30-32" barrel the shooters are getting 2900-3000, depending on whether they use H4831 or the new RL-17. Step this up a tad to the 7 WSM or the 300 WSM necked down to 7 mm or even the 7 Rem Mag and the velocities with same length barrel are running 3000-3100. With a BC of .659 this bullet will drift less and still have the all important mild recoil.

Bryan Litz had a good article called 30 cal vs 7mm for long range on 6mmBR.com recently.
Go here: http://www.accurateshooter.com/bulletin.html
and look at right to archives and click on June. His article is June 29th.

For what it worth. My friend and I have just built a 284 (his) and a 7 rem mag (mine) using 180 Berger VLDs with long barrels. They are fun to shoot with their fairly mild recoil in a 10-12 lb rifle.

FYI I also have a 300 RUM, 7 STW, and a 257 Roy. Only the Roy is fun to shoot at smaller stuff. The other two are for some serious big game usage like elk.

Choosing is half the fun...enjoy

I have been having the same debate and have narrowed it down to the 257 Weatherby or 7mm STW.I have used both and found them to be really impressive performers.

.300 rum. and at least a 200 gr. bullet is my choice for everything long range. Big bullets buck wind and carry good knockdown power a long way. However , when considering barrel life which was part of your criteria and if the rifle is only for deer and smaller a .260 is a good way to go. Components are "relatively" easy to find/cheap , and barrel life is acceptable.recoil is minimal and they can be had from the factory. I have seen the .260 shot out to 1300 yrds. In all reality there are several calibers that fit your criteria. You already have one of them...308

Get yourself a 7mm R.U.M., load it up with 130-140 gr SST's, MRX's, etc. and you'll be able to sit atop Chimney Rock and kill deer just outside Ft Bragg!
I'd recommend the .257 Wthby but quite frankly anything heavier than 110 gr really slows down (rainbows). Weatherbys just ARE NOT efficient cartridges.
6.5x284 or 6.5-06 A.I. are very efficient, just not screaming rounds velocity-wise. Very good BC with the VLD type ammo, too!

JMHO

quickdraw--what's long range to your way of thinking?

Thx
Dober

Thanks for all of the thoughts.

A typical long range shot might be 400 through across a beanfield.

I'd really like a rifle to travel with.