2 Mile cartridges

[wjplohman]

I'm looking at putting together a 2 Mile gun. Trying to budget build as likely only have 1 or 2 oppurtunities per year.
Been looking at 37xc so a whole bunch of retooling regarding presses ETEC would not be ness. But looking up numbers I don't see too much difference in elevation , speed at target ETEC compared to sending my 300 Norma mag improved with 230 atips downrange at 3195. Obviously impacts would be easier to spot but is there that much real-world difference in wind drift variance ?

 

[Mfitz717]

Budget build and 2 mile shooting don’t go together very well from what I’ve read. Then again you may be on a different budget than me. I would think 338 and larger would be the way to go.

 

[284winner]

You'd need to go beyond 338 cartridges IMO. I think starting with the 375, 408, 416 would be the right choice for beyond 2500 yards. Sure people use the 338 in various cartridges but a bigger cartridge and bigger, heavier higher BC bullet is truly the better choice and NO the work budget does not fit into this choice.

 

[Longrange57]

I would get in touch with Alex Wheeler or Tom. Two miles is a game for big cartridges. I built a 28 Nosler 31 inch barrel and used 190 gr bullets. Only got on at 2,000 yds a few times in windy conditions. You can't see bullet splash. A friend shooting same days with 338 Lapua was having same issues. The 2 mile game is in a league of its own. I have shot with Libert O'Sullivan a few times. He has his own .375 cartridge and you can get to his website at 375 Libert. I shot his rifle as well and shooting a 375 gr bullet was hard to see. My personal opinion is whatever you choose, something 400 gr or above would be the way to go!

 

[doctahjones]

375 cheytac. I have hit at 2 miles with a 408 cheytac, but the bullet choices with that caliber are very small. There are other options, but you can get everything you need off the shelf with the 375ct (sizing dies, seating dies, annealing pilots, good brass, vast selection of bullets, etc.)

 

[FeMan]

You'd need to go beyond 338 cartridges IMO. I think starting with the 375, 408, 416 would be the right choice

^^^ I couldn't agree more. In ELR Heavy Gun ( which goes beyond 1.5 miles), I have never seen anyone shoot a 300 anything. And the few I have seen shoot 338s didn't fare well. Wind drift matters, but two things matter more: 1) how far a bullet travels before it goes transonic, and 2) how visible the impact splash is. The 400+ grain bullets in the BIG heavy guns win on both accounts.