Calibers for any/any sling rifles?

Currently I'm shooting a small 6mm throwing 105's at 2800 fps in my any/any rifle. I mostly shoot LR at Deep Creek, which can be windy but generally is a very forgiving range.

With retirement approaching in a few years, as a thought exercise I've been thinking about a rifle for use at windier ranges. Would I be better served by a 6.5, 7, or 30 cal? Which one? Or should I just stick with my 6mm and be happy?

Yeah, I'm bored.

 

Yeah, that Missoula range is pretty easy-peasy. Still a fun place to shoot and the area has great scenery.

105's at 2800fps will work ok on the ranges that see VERY mundane conditions. The ability to shoot the 110-115 grain missiles north of 2950fps will def be in your favor. Then, you will be getting serious on windier venues.

The AMU has had record-setting fortunes with the 7SAUM. This may be a better choice if you haven't got a real good handle on conditions/strategy or have a patience problem

 

284 shooting 180s

 

Bigger calibers mean more recoil. I'd say stay with the 6MM but use the 6xc cartridge with the TUBB 115g dtacs at 2950-3000 FPS which is very doable. Running the numbers thru a ballistic calculator it's a tough combo to beat.

 

yes 2800 is very mild I am just over 3000

 

I agree that the .284/180 combo is tough to beat. For my broken up spine I need less recoil than that. I shoot .308/155s predominately but use a 6.5x55 w/ 140/142s for straight 1K LR. Holds 1000yd. velocity close to 1600fps and the BC is high enough to help in the wind. Recoil, of course, is less than the Palma load.

 

6CM, .243, 6SLR, ~3150/3200 fps with the 105 to 115 gr bullets and 2,000+ rounds on a barrel burning N-165.

 

In long range any rifle shooting bigger is better (all else being equal). The question is: at what recoil can you shoot well for a whole match? The quality of your shooting out weighs ballistics every time.

I looked at this a few years ago. There was a strong pull to do a straight 284. In the end I had to admit that recoil equal to or harder than a 308 was out of the question. (I still use iron sights which recoil even more of a problem)

In the end I went with a 6.5 and have been very happy. Some F-class guys here do very well with the 6.5 AI. I would take a look at that cartridge.

Just my 0.02

 

If your going to sling up, I would consider these......
6XC, 6GT, 6 Dasher or 6BRX.

As we get older, we need to be doing it smarter....not harder. I learned early on in my shooting career that a straight 284 1000yd prone gun kicked my ass even with softball loads. NO MAS!!

I now shoot a 6BRX for MidRange and LR. When I shoot this barrel out, I am going to look at the 6XC or the 6GT.

Jon

 

Exactly what is an any/any...?

 

Any rifle / Any sight. While the “any” part is not actually technically true, the shooter does have wide latitude in cartridge, rifle design, and sighting equipment.

 

Any rifle/ Any sight as opposed to service rifle or Palma rifle

 

John Whidden has done pretty well over the yrs with the 243. Personally I’d look at a 6SLR, it’s what the 243 should have been.

 

nothing at all wrong with a 6mm any rifle, in windy conditions the heavy 6.5's will buck the wind a bit better without too much added recoil

 

Nothing wrong with 6 mm caliber ,probably more precise but need a better Wind call .I saw some target's at 1000 yds
from John Whidden very impressive waterline for an old 243 !

 

I have not shot but one match with an any/any rifle. Actually two rifles, a .223 at 600yds and a .308 at 1000. Both borrowed rifles during a team match at Colorado Rifle Club where the wind can get downright nasty. Myself, I would go with a .243 because I like the cartridge, have dies for it and have experience playing with one in F-Class when I don't feel like slinging up. I'm bored too. My Palma rifle spreadsheet has about 6 courses of action on it priced out.

 

yeah, me too! I like the 6.5 CM and the lovable 6BR. I have a couple of fractured cervical vertebrae so it does not hurt so bad and i have a better chance of getting through the whole string. I have an RPA Quadlock in 6.5x55 and just love that combo. Great with 140/142 and mediocre with Lapua 123's.

 

I have the 243Mendoza which is a very close cousin to the 6SLR. I shoot the 115DTAC and at 3100fps is a laser with mild recoil; a pleasure to shoot.

 

I went thru the same thought process a few years ago as you are going thru now. I choose the 260 Remington with the 142 SMK and 42.2 grains of H4350. This has work well for a lot of people over the years for 1000 yard NRA competition and it has worked well for me. Nothing fancy, just a good reliable load. The 6 mm are easier to shoot but you need to be really good at reading the wind especially on those very windy days.

 

260AI is a great one. I shoot 140 bergers at 2977fps and recoil can get me sore, but I only have a butt plate on the stock, not a recoil pad. That's when shooting in a t-shirt. When slung up and in the coat, it's easy.