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Your Favorite 600/1000 Yard Caliber, Low Recoil, Long Barrel Life

zanemoseley

I'm in the process of selling a few things to fund a F Open custom build. I'm somewhat recoil sensitive so it's quite tricky picking a caliber. You can get caught up in better and better ballistics and next thing you know you're looking at hot 6.5's or 7mm calibers. If I've learned one thing about rifle calibers over the last couple years its that every caliber is a compromise of sorts between ballistics, recoil, barrel life, reloading costs and availability. Essentially I know there is no perfect caliber.

For now let's assume that this will be a single shot bolt rifle only. Would you go with a 6BR/Dasher or jump up to a 6.5 caliber like the 260 Remington or 6.5x47? With this being a 20+ pound rifle I can't imagine any of those being recoil intensive. I don't really plan on shooting tons of 1000 yard but you never know when the bug will hit me and if it does I want to be able to shoot it.

Soooo, which is your favorite with the above criteria.
 
6.5x47Lapua without a doubt. As good as a Dasher at 600 with better wind drift at 1000. Minimal recoil in a 22 lb open gun. Barrel life in the 2000-2500 round range, versus 1500-1800 for a hot 6mm.
 
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TAC SHAWTY ( 6BR AI ) 2934 fps with 105 Hybrids with a brake in a MBR stock weight-19lbs with scope
 
I have shot about every cartridge there is to shoot in F-Open. It is my opinion that a .260A.I. is about as close to what you are looking for as anything I can imagine. If you use a 140 pill at about 2920 you will not have much recoil at all. Additionally, if you use H4831SC, your barrel life will be just about 1800-2000 rounds. It is very good in the wind. It is NOT a 7 Shehane or a 7 SAUM as far as wind drift goes>>>but neither is the recoil! The .260A.I. is about the "best compromise" cartridge for 1000 yard F-Open, however, there is very little, if anything, that can rival it at 600 or less! I have now had 2 / .260A.I.s and both mine will shoot just as accurately as my 6 Dasher, with considerably better ballistics. I am a HUGE fan of the 6 Dasher, however, for F-Open I will not buy a Dasher barrel again>>>the .260A.I. so eclipses it, that having a Dasher is no longer on my radar screen for Mid-Range F-Open anymore.
 
ShootDots said:
I have shot about every cartridge there is to shoot in F-Open. It is my opinion that a .260A.I. is about as close to what you are looking for as anything I can imagine. If you use a 140 pill at about 2920 you will not have much recoil at all. Additionally, if you use H4831SC, your barrel life will be just about 1800-2000 rounds. It is very good in the wind. It is NOT a 7 Shehane or a 7 SAUM as far as wind drift goes>>>but neither is the recoil! The .260A.I. is about the "best compromise" cartridge for 1000 yard F-Open, however, there is very little, if anything, that can rival it at 600 or less! I have now had 2 / .260A.I.s and both mine will shoot just as accurately as my 6 Dasher, with considerably better ballistics. I am a HUGE fan of the 6 Dasher, however, for F-Open I will not buy a Dasher barrel again>>>the .260A.I. so eclipses it, that having a Dasher is no longer on my radar screen for Mid-Range F-Open anymore.
Click to expand...
I went just opposite . Shot the 260 AI for years . The best powder I found was MRP
It was 70 ' faster with less pressure . Case life was great and the barrel had no problem making 1500 rounds . Just never liked the recoil. I think it is the best 6.5 caliber .
Larry
 
One case that was better
The was the 6.5 WSSM . It shot better a and 3200 FPS was easy . The brass was junk .
Never could get rid of hard bolt lift . The harder I shot it the better the bolt lift . Bullets wouldn't say together . Larry
 
savagedasher said:
One case that was better
The was the 6.5 WSSM . It shot better a and 3200 FPS was easy . The brass was junk .
Never could get rid of hard bolt lift . The harder I shot it the better the bolt lift . Bullets wouldn't say together . Larry
Click to expand...
There is a point of no return where velocity will cause bullet blow-ups. Barrel heat, fast twists and H-I-G-H velocity, under long shot strings, are a bullets' nemesis!
 
I've shot Open for the last four years using just a 6 Dasher as circumstances have kept me from having multiple calibers from different distances.

Yes, barrel life is limited to 1,200-1,500 but it's a great choice. Very easy to tune and hold vertical at 1K. A challenge when the wind is up but will reward your positive wind calls.

Components are on the cheaper end even with 6mm Vapor Trail Bullets.

As mentioned above, I've seen how well the .260AI will score as well so you have options. (except for the 6.5CM which doesn't have the capacity to run a 6.5 at 3,000, so some are necking down to a 6CM)

Disclaimer: I earned my HM rank at this Feb's Bergers with the Dasher but I'm putting on a .284 Shehane for next year's Berger SWN
External Ballistics and Mother Nature have the last word at 1K.
 
It's probably more recoil than you want, but there is a lot to be said for the 30-06. (When his site was up German Salazar said it the best). The case capacity and the long action are really much more suited to 200+ grain bullets than the .308, and barrel lives can be very very long compared with smaller calibers. Some guys tire of buying new barrels faster than they tire of 30-06 recoil in a 22 lb rifle.

For the more recoil sensitive, the .260 or nearly equivalent 6.5 is likely the best choice.

I've never been convinced that bullets with the same muzzle velocity and BC drift the same in the wind at long range. I've seen more wind drift advantages from the 200+ grain .30 cal bullets than would be expected from their modest BC advantages over smaller calibers. Something about that weight makes them harder for the wind to push around.

Limit your range to 600 yards, and the .223 is a no brainer.
 
My .284 has become my favorite at all distances. I used to shoot my 6mm for midrange and the .284 for long range . I have found that I do better shooting one gun rather than switching back and forth. Midrange has become extremely competitive with 1st and 2nd determined by X count or 1 point. I'll be shooting my .284 at the Tenn. State Midrange Championship this weekend at Oak Ridge and I'll bet Randy, Gene, Clint, Danny Biggs, and Brian Bowling will be there. With those guys shooting, you better bring your best rifle and your "A" game. It weighs just slightly less than 22lbs, is extremely accurate, has low recoil, and is a joy to shoot.
 
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zanemoseley said:
I'm in the process of selling a few things to fund a F Open custom build. I'm somewhat recoil sensitive so it's quite tricky picking a caliber. You can get caught up in better and better ballistics and next thing you know you're looking at hot 6.5's or 7mm calibers. If I've learned one thing about rifle calibers over the last couple years its that every caliber is a compromise of sorts between ballistics, recoil, barrel life, reloading costs and availability. Essentially I know there is no perfect caliber.

For now let's assume that this will be a single shot bolt rifle only. Would you go with a 6BR/Dasher or jump up to a 6.5 caliber like the 260 Remington or 6.5x47? With this being a 20+ pound rifle I can't imagine any of those being recoil intensive. I don't really plan on shooting tons of 1000 yard but you never know when the bug will hit me and if it does I want to be able to shoot it.

Soooo, which is your favorite with the above criteria.
Click to expand...
i have all kinds of guns and calibers. the best thing I ever did was get a 6.5x47. this gun is more fun to shoot than any other gun I own!!! I have taken it out to 1500yds. I shoot bowling pins every week @ 1000yds and it is a blast. if I do my part it is very hard to miss with this gun.
 
brxbrad said:
My .284 has become my favorite at all distances. I used to shoot my 6mm for midrange and the .284 for long range . I have found that I do better shooting one gun rather than switching back and forth. Midrange has become extremely competitive with 1st and 2nd determined by X count or 1 point. I'll be shooting my .284 at the Tenn. State Midrange Championship this weekend at Oak Ridge and I'll bet Randy, Gene, Clint, Danny Biggs, and Brian Bowling will be there. With those guys shooting, you better bring your best rifle and your "A" game. It weighs just slightly less than 22lbs, is extremely accurate, has low recoil, and is a joy to shoot.
Click to expand...
They didn't have the hybrids when I was shooting the 260 AI But I know they can be made to shoot around 3200 FPS accuarate With good barrel life . The speed difference should give almost the same BC .
A dasher running 3200 has a huge amount of difference in drift then one at 2950 . Like night and day . Larry
 
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