Common calibers for precision ?

[LHSmith]

6.5 creedmoor.

I wanted to say this, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I wanted to say this, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Its my first recommendation to a non handloader. Hornady produced ammo and got it on the shelves at the most dire of times

 

[Wolfdog91]

So you are really asking what CHAMBERINGS tend to be the most accurate. Different competitions require vastly different criteria. However, I believe the 6 mm BR is hard to beat across the board.

Well again "common ones" .
Ok put it like this. Say I walked into a bass pro, sportsmans warehouse, or other big box average shooter type of store. And took down a list of all the rifle chambering they had. It's primarily going to be stuff like .223 .243 . 308 7mm-08 30-06 ect right ? Because that's what the average guy is looking for. Probably not going to see a 6br 22br 6ppc 6 dasher 284 ect.
So I'm asking from those average chamberings every billy bob might want or have in their cabinet.What would somone choose and why. Not really asking what's best just wanna pick people's brains in what they would use if they couldn't get these , higher end options. Even if their doing custom rifles and the like. If you had to or where forced for some reason to use a "everyday" for lake of a better term chambering what would you pick ?

 

[LVLAaron]

You reckon once they get good enough to win they have already entered the equipment race and are chasing the new thing?

If you're "open" you're entering an arms race. If you're a real man, you switch to FTR and shoot .308 like god intended.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If you're "open" you're entering an arms race. If you're a real man, you switch to FTR and shoot .308 like god intended.

How about the even tougher guys that shoot the 223? Those are the guys that are the real badasses

 

[swd]

I have to ask , is or has anyone really used the 6.5 creed alot for competition? I mean I hear people saying how " it was made for them long range paper punchers" all the time but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone actually using them in FClass or similar.

One of my best shooting buddy has 2 F Class state midrange championships with a 6.5 Creed. So yes.

I also think anyone who loves accuracy should experience a 6BRX or Dasher for at least a while..

 

[dgeesaman]

Dang don't think I worked my lost right lol, I'm bad at that See I'm not talking about being able to just buy off the shelf ammo and going shooting. I was just using that as explanation to when I said "common calibers" . I've asked this to people before in similar questions and they'll go and say something like 257 Roberts , 280 or 6mm creedmore which ok fair their not a specialist rounds like say a .284 Shehane their not uncommon or super hard to get , but your still a little over the head of most and it's not really something like a .308 or .243.
Not sure what a better description would be though.. like what do you call those cartridges eveyone knows, that are everywhere, easy to get, ... Commercial mabye ? Everyday bullets ? Run of the mill cartridges ? Man I need to get my vocabulary up

"Factory chamberings" draws a slightly bigger box around the possibilities. Especially today with lots of guns for sale and not much ammo.

But it still gets messy. My friend just bought a Cooper 52 in 280AI. Handloading only. Even factory 280 Rem took some searching. Cooper makes a lot of cool 'factory' chamberings.

Some local clubs have a 'factory' class that's defined as a rifle using a caliber that is currently available as box ammo. But they still exclude 6BR because it's a little too good and their existing factory crowd doesn't like getting the clocks cleaned by it. So again, that definition isn't perfect.

I suppose if I'm playing this game by the factory chamber / factory ammo definition, I'd get a Savage Model 12 in 6BR and Berger 6BR box ammo and use the better performing option (95 or 105 grain).

 

[Mark W]

Given the OP’s criteria, I would choose a .223 due to the availability and cost of ammo and reloading components.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I would look at the 6 Creedmoor over the 6.5. Sierra, Berger and Hornady load the 6mm with better match bullets. 105's to 109's. higher velocity than the 6.5 Needmoor. I have built a 6 Creed for a 600 yd F-Class rifle. Plan to shoot 110 Sierra's in it

 

[TIMO]

If I could have only one rifle it would be a .308 hands down. A good manufacturer of rifles will normally turn out a fairly accurate rig and the variety of bullets is wide spread or used to be anyway. But even better is a custom build.

Just like Bill said, and I would add the 30-06 Springfield.
Tim

 

[6.5 forever]

6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[Ray123]

It's still confusing...you want an accurate caliber and reload, but want to walk into Wal-Mart and buy some ammo you could test with, but not complete with?
Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor has some pretty fair match ammo..sometimes...but 308 has the widest selection of accurate combinations that I know of and a fair amount of 223 or 5.56 like Blackhills 77 gr... many popular cartridges do not have match loading available and especially at Wal-Mart...like the Berger line of loaded cartridges, loaded with Berger bullets...might be accurate in your rifle.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Both, Norma and Petersen Make Factory, 6 XC Ammo ( IF, you know where to, Look ) and that Cartridge HAS Won, a Lot of, 1,000 yd matches ( and a Few, 300 Meter Matches, in Europe ) when, the WIND wasn't blowing too, Hard !
Dennis DeMille, German Salazar and of course, David Tubb, the Designer himself, have Won with it to name, a Few.
You could buy, a Tubb 2000 Rifle chambered in it and, start right off,.. Winning ( IF, you're good, enough ) and,..
can FIND,.. the Ammo !

 

[muleystalker]

I would look at the 6 Creedmoor over the 6.5. Sierra, Berger and Hornady load the 6mm with better match bullets. 105's to 109's. higher velocity than the 6.5 Needmoor. I have built a 6 Creed for a 600 yd F-Class rifle. Plan to shoot 110 Sierra's in it

But you will smoke that barrel a lot faster than the 6.5

 

[Wolfdog91]

It's still confusing...you want an accurate caliber and reload, but want to walk into Wal-Mart and buy some ammo you could test with, but not complete with?
Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor has some pretty fair match ammo..sometimes...but 308 has the widest selection of accurate combinations that I know of and a fair amount of 223 or 5.56 like Blackhills 77 gr... many popular cartridges do not have match loading available and especially at Wal-Mart...like the Berger line of loaded cartridges, loaded with Berger bullets...might be accurate in your rifle.

No desire to buy ammo , was just trying to use that to explain what I ment when I said common caliber because I honestly don't have a better way to explain it lol. Also not really asking for suggestions for buying I'm just interested in what peoel would use if they where in that situation where you had to pick from that , class ,I guess you could say , of cartridges.
I'm really sorry ,I reckon I just really lack the proper terminology to get across what I'm asking seems to happen a lot with me lol

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I like my 6.5 Creed but, my 6 XC,.. shoots,.. Rings around, it !
IF only, Hornady wasn't so damn cheap and would have Paid, David Tubb, a tiny Royalty, there'd be, NO,..
Barrel burning,.. 6 Creedmoors ( LOL ).
Congrat's to Hornady, for WHAT they've,. Done, on Cartridge Design lately and Thanks for, some good, Boolitz !
Sounds like, the general Consensus "here" is that, the 6.5 Creed, gets, the Most votes,.. for # 1,..
for what, YOU,.. described

 

[Kurz]

Many of us started shooting the 6.5 Creedmoor in PRS competitions as soon as Hornady released it. They first loaded it with their 140 gr. offering then backed it down to the 130 gr. which actually shot better. Then Prime released the 6.5 Creedmoor which had a great price point so we bought it by the pallet and distributed it to the team members.

Between then and now, the cartridges fielded have gotten smaller, with less recoil but still with the capability to make it to the occasional 1,200 yard targets with the accuracy required. Many are chambering the 6GT for standard PRS competitions but the gas gun segment is catching up.

One of the stressors in PRS is the timing of each stage which figures into the final score. Part of the drawback to some cartridges is the type and heat creation the powders can bring. But in competition, barrels are expendable.

One interesting facet though is Hornady's creation of the Black ammunition. I've shot lots of excellent groups using their 6.5 and 6mm Creedmoor along with some of the .308 Win.

In my opinion though, the 6mm Dasher, BRX or the basic 6mmBR make for great cartridges in a few forms of competition.

Enjoy your search!

 

[std7mag]

I'm thinking i'm getting what the OP is asking, but maybe should be worded slightly different.

I think he's meaning to ask what SAAMI or CIP cartridges you would choose for competition even though you handload?

And i'm in that catagory.

So far for 600 yard F-Open i've shot 7mm-08.

For short range benchrest i've shot 223 Rem, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 284 Win.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

308, 223 and finally the 6.5 Creedmoor. Any of these will do what you've spec'd.

BUT, if you're really wanting to get into the accuracy game.....start with the 6mmBR. After that, you fall down the money pit.

 

[ronsatspokane]

How about the even tougher guys that shoot the 223? Those are the guys that are the real badasses

I shot 223 for quite a while in midrange FTR. Works well at 600 with 80.5 or 90 grains and a 1-7 twist. Some people shoot 223 at 1000. They are sick in the head.