Ideal 300 yard caliber?

[GSPV]

I think this route is the one I'll take. Rebarrel 700 or savage 10.

So focusing on 300 yards would I be better off going 1-10 twist and 90-95gn bullets?

There is one 95 grain *flat base* that I know, the BIB 95 grain high BC flat base, that is awesome in a 1:10. other than that, once you get to 95 grains, you have mostly entered 1:8 twist range.

If you are shooting 100-300 paper and you don't need Benchrest (with a capital B) groups, you could go 1:8 and be pretty flexible. Lots of those barrels around. Be aware that the freebore of your chamber has to match the bullet. Longer bullets need more freebore.

If you decide that you want to be more specific to the 300 yard range, you could go 1:10 and shoot the 87 VLD, the Berger 90 boat tail and the Lapua 90 Scenar on the heavy end and still be able to shoot some lighter bullets if you wanted to shoot a varmint.

H4895, Varget, IMR 8208 XBR, and similar are going to be your friends.

You will want to use CCI 450 primers or the Tula SRM primer. The cups are harder and less likely to crater or get pierced.

----

Someone did bring up a valid point that if you want to shoot registered F class matches, a 223 that meets F-T/R requirements would be an excellent choice.

 

[Sraw]

If you decide that you want to be more specific to the 300 yard range, you could go 1:10 and shoot the 87 VLD, the Berger 90 boat tail and the Lapua 90 Scenar on the heavy end and still be able to shoot some lighter bullets if you wanted to shoot a varmint.

H4895, Varget, IMR 8208 XBR, and similar are going to be your friends.

You will want to use CCI 450 primers or the Tula SRM primer. The cups are harder and less likely to crater or get pierced.

I already have a large stock of both varget and 450s so that's good.

I was looking at the 87 v max bullets as a cheaper option. I know the 50 v Max's are amazingly accurate at 100.

Is a 1-8 good for 87s?

 

[tn6br]

Mi

I already have a large stock of both varget and 450s so that's good.

I was looking at the 87 v max bullets as a cheaper option. I know the 50 v Max's are amazingly accurate at 100.

Is a 1-8 good for 87s?

Mine shot them well. With varget and 450’s jumped .010

 

[GSPV]

I've never shot the 87 VMAX. It should be fine in either the 1:10 or 1:8.

My go to load was the Berger 90 boat tail target seated 10 thou into the lands and 2 thou neck tension, 30.7 grains of Varget, 450 primer. This in a 1:10 twist.

My chamber had 85 thou freebore. It was perfect for those bullets. I would have needed a minimum of 104 thou for that 95 flatbase that I liked so much or the 105 grain class of bullets.

 

[ms6852]

As you asked for other options I would recommend 7mm-08.

 

[shooter65]

308

 

[Albany Mountain]

6 BR

 

[DukeDuke]

For 300 yards, I'd stay with the .223. Heavy 1-7 twist barrel will give you a wide variety of bullet selection. No recoil, super loooooooong barrel life, not much additional reloading cost in your case.
Phenomenal accuracy! You could stretch it way farther, presented the chance.
Looking for a new caliber, 6BR hands down!

 

[Hammer47]

Why burn all the extra powder? A 10 twist 6 PPC using the Sierra 85 gn Gameking bthp will really open your eyes at that distance [and out to 600 if you wish] Give that bullet a try, you simply will not beieve the accuracy. Cheap too, especially from me as I sell them for $120 per 500 count shipped. Nobody cheaper that I know if.

 

[SteveOak]

I'd also prefer to avoid overly complicated brass prep.

Well I have to admit I am a little suprised more people didn't suggest the dasher. I don't know why but I was expecting a lot more for that one.

Because you asked for a 300 yard cartridge and this;

I'd also prefer to avoid overly complicated brass prep.

There might be a benefit if you were shooting longer ranges and you were willing to fire form brass in addition to prepping it.

 

[KenOath]

6BR..very accurate and competitive , easy to tune, good choice of bullets and brass, good Barrel and brass life, low recoil, efficient, did I say accurate and easy to tune.. Everyone should have at least 1x6BR..

Cheers Rushty

 

[Sraw]

I'm 90% sure I'm going with the 6br. I think next in line is the 6.5x47.

I've been reading up on the 6br AI and I'm liking that but that will be for after the barrel needs set back or something... No prefits that I've seen.

 

[ericbc7]

What my friends don’t often address is budget.... for best value I recommend the 6.5 creedmoor
Capable in every way, and less expensive regardless of your reloading propensity.
Look at nosler 6.5 custom competion overruns for best projectile price.

 

[NWnewguy]

I'm not sure why you haven't gotten more recommendations for the 223. It's really the only logical answer for your situation. There are plenty of good rifles chambered in it. It's cheaper than anything out there to shoot. All of the components are cheaper than the 6BR. It will shoot lights out at 300 yards with no recoil and will have the longest barrel life of any of the options mentioned. Compare the cost of reloading 223 to 6BR or any of the other options mentioned and then make a decision. Especially considering that you already have dies and brass for it. Lastly, go try to buy some 6BR brass and then tell me how much shooting you'll be doing if you go with that choice.

I say all of that as an owner of no fewer than (5) 6BRs. It's a great caliber, but for 300 yard paper, 223 wins hands down.

 

[Steve Ladino]

My local range goes out to 300 yards and is where I do 99% of my shooting so I'd like to build a rifle tailored to that. I've been shooting a 223 AR15 I built for "precision" a couple years ago and recently have been wanting to upgrade (and an excuse to buy/build another gun).

My rifle, when I do my part, can fairly consistently shoot moa and better with reloads. I'd like to beat that but I'm not trying to break any records.

So I have done a bunch of research and would like some advise from those of you more knowledgeable then I.

While cost isn't really a huge concern I'd like to keep efficiency in mind, this is just a toy. I don't want an extreme barrel burner. I'd also prefer to avoid overly complicated brass prep. If I have to fire form I'd want those loads to be accurate. If I go bolt gun it will be a remage type prefit set up. I'm not looking for bench rest, more like f class/local matches

Option One:

Build another AR upper to go on the lower I already have.

Calibers that I'm considering are:

6.5 Grendel, only problem is there isn't a lot of "precision" info out there for it. It is the least expensive option.

And:

6mm ar/ar turbo 40, seems to be the best choice in an ar. Turbo has extra brass prep.

My other option is to buy a 700, RPR, HMR, etc. Custom action is out.

The calibers that have my interest are the following:

6.5 creedmoor, not too exciting but factory match rifles are available and precision recoding components are readily available. This along with the 6mm creedmoor are the next least expensive.

6mm creedmoor, probably the hardest on barrels from what ive read.

6x47 or 6.5x47 Lapua, seem to be more liked than the creedmoor but there isn't a lot of post lapua creedmoor brass info out there to see if that was the main difference. No factory rifles.

6mm BR, easy and accurate. Savage factory rifles, only single shot.

6mm Dasher, probably overkill for what I'm looking for. Also can't really be beat... Though no factory rifles and more brass prep.

Feel free to suggest other options but I don't want to order a blank or reamer.

I know this is kind of long but thanks to those who have made it this far and thanks in advance for your input.[/QUO

 

[IndianaMatt]

It’s not as sexy as the 6 or 6.5 stuff but 7-08 will do everything you want to do at 300 yards. Be easy to load for and easy to acquire a good rifle.
It’s not flashy, it’s not sexy, but it works well

Crap I think I just talked myself into one...

 

[DHuffman]

6br or the .223, both for all the above reasons.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

How can you go wrong with a 6ppc at 300? Even shooting bad itll outshoot most anything else

 

[walker2713]

I don't have any personal experience with it, but I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned the 30BR?

Here's clip from the Accurage Shooter site on the subject:

I've often thought of this for our clubs 300 yard matches, but haven't pursued it. It would also make it easier for my old eyes to see my bullet holes on the target at that range.

 

[GSPV]

I don't have any personal experience with it, but I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned the 30BR?

Here's clip from the Accurage Shooter site on the subject:

I've often thought of this for our clubs 300 yard matches, but haven't pursued it. It would also make it easier for my old eyes to see my bullet holes on the target at that range.

You’ll do OK with the 30 BR at 300 until the wind gets up and twitchy. Then, the ballistically-challenged bullets that it pushes will give you fits.

Addendum: Especially in “grip and rip” kinds of matches where there are no wind flags and no sighters.