Best short action cartridge for targets at 1 mile?

[Rustystud]

6.5 x .284 with 160 grain bullets.
Nat Lambeth

 

[JohnMill]

Who makes 160gr 6.5s?
John

 

[Erik Cortina]

Who makes 160gr 6.5s?
John

Matrix

 

[JohnMill]

Thanks Erik

John

 

[abishai]

I bet 2 of my buddies ( one with a 338 LM , one with a 408 CT ) That I could hit our target (old 5 gal propane tank) at a mile with my AR 15 (223) in less time than they could . 100 bucks each . It took me less than a minute to get 3 hits . They
ran out of shoulder before they scored a hit ......... I forgot to inform them that I was using tracers before the bet was settled. After they helped me put out the brush fire , we called it even .

 

[Drop Port]

I've been considering building an XLR rifle for next summer. All my current rifles/bolts/stocks/magazines/etc are short action, so I'm wondering if I can get away with another short action build and still make reasonably accurate hits at a mile. I was thinking 7mm WSM or 284 Shehane with the Berger 180 Hybrid ... suggestions?
[/quote

If you want to stay supersonic at a mile with a short action without having to pull the bolt to unload a live cartridge your choices are limited. A 6.5 SAUM is a legitimate S/A cartridge with a 140 Hybrid or even heavier bullet. The other would be a 7 SAUM with a 180 Hybrid which would seat a little deeper than I would set up in a L/A but will work.
With that said my 300 WSM made the trip with a 175 SMK which transitioned and did ok under good conditions, not ideal but the opportunity was there and that's the rifle I had with me.