The Best Long-Range Rifle Cartridges

Long-range shooting and hunting are among America’s most popular and fastest-growing shooting sports. To participate, you’ll need an accurate rifle chambered in a suitable cartridge. This list includes 10 of the best cartridges that are capable for both disciplines. To qualify for this list, a cartridge has to possess the following attributes:

1. Highly aerodynamic: This will be expressed in BC (ballistic coefficient) numbers using the (less accurate but more popular) G1 scale. High BC numbers translate to efficient trajectory and good wind-bucking ability.
2. Ammo and component availability: Without ammo or the components to handload ammo, we can’t practice enough to become proficient at shooting distance.
3. Terminal authority: Since these are crossover calibers, we need cartridges/bullets with enough impact authority to kill cleanly.
4. Tolerable recoil: Ideally, recoil will be light enough that you can spot your bullet impact through the scope. A suppressor or muzzle brake can help with this.
5. Barrel life: Your barrel needs to last long enough for you to perform load testing and development, shoot hundreds of rounds during practice, and then compete and/or hunt.

6mm Creedmoor

With a bullet diameter of .243 (6mm), this is the friendliest-to-shoot cartridge on our list, rendering it superb for competition in which rapid follow-up shots and transitions are requisite. However, it’s not great for hunting anything larger than deer or pronghorn antelope. Common bullet weights range from 90 to 115 grains. Velocity with Hornady Factory 108-grain ELD-M is 2,960 feet per second (fps), with a G1 BC of 0.536. A short-action cartridge.

Pros:

• Excellent for fast competitive shooting.
• Ideal for recoil-sensitive shooters.
• Deadly on deer/pronghorn-sized game.

Cons:

• Not ideal for hunting anything larger than deer.

6.5mm Creedmoor

The most popular cartridge of the 21st century, this round shoots a .264 (6.5mm) diameter bullet. It’s a friendly, fast-handling cartridge that’s superb for competition. It’s also a great hunting round for deer- and pronghorn-sized species, and with judicious bullet selection can be used on elk. Common projectile weights range from 115 to 147 grains. Velocity with Hornady Factory 140-grain ELD Match is 2,710 fps, with a G1 BC of 0.646. A short-action cartridge.

Pros:

• Superb barrel life.
• Vast selection of readily available ammunition and components.
• One of the most inherently accurate cartridges ever designed.
• Great for recoil-sensitive shooters.
• Excellent for hunting deer-sized game.

Cons:

• Slightly pedestrian velocity.
• Not ideal for elk or moose.

6.5 PRC

Another .264 (6.5mm) diameter round, this cartridge is rapidly gaining popularity as an excellent hunting round. A bit more snappy than the 6.5mm Creedmoor, it’s nonetheless a mild round and easy to shoot well. Common projectile weights range from 115 to 147 grains. Velocity with Hornady Factory 147-grain ELD Match is 2,910 fps, with a G1 BC of 0.697. A short-action or mid-length cartridge.

Pros:

• Easy to shoot well.
• Vast selection of handloading components.
• Superb aerodynamics and long-range capability.
• The ideal long-range deer-, pronghorn-, and sheep-hunting cartridge.

Cons:

• So fast and easy to shoot that it gives hunters a false sense of security—it’s still a small-diameter, lightweight bullet. If you’re gonna hunt elk or moose, use a premium bullet that will hold together and penetrate deeply.

6.8 Western

A recent player on the long-range scene, the Western shoots a .277 (6.8mm) projectile just like the venerable .270 Winchester. Big difference though: This cartridge is optimized for heavy, high-BC bullets shot out of fast-twist barrels. It’s an awesome all-round hunting round, one that usually delivers extraordinary accuracy. Recoil is tolerable. Available projectile weights range from 162 to 175 grains. Velocity with Winchester Expedition Long-Range 165-grain Nosler ABLR (AccuBond Long Range) is 2,970 fps, with a G1 BC of 0.620. A short-action or mid-length cartridge.

Pros:

• Superb all-round hunting round.
• Very aerodynamic; maintains energy and velocity well.
• Moderately comfortable to shoot.

Cons:

• Limited ammunition availability (this will improve in time).

280 Ackley Improved

This cartridge lived as a wildcat until 2007, when Nosler took it to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Institute) for standardization. It’s a .284 (7mm) diameter round, shooting the same bullets at nearly the same velocity as the 7mm Rem. Mag. It’s an ideal all-around hunting and long-range cartridge. Typical bullet weights range from 140 to 185 grains. Velocity with Hornady Factory 162-grain ELD-X is 2,850 fps, with a G1 BC of 0.631. A standard-length cartridge.

Pros:

• Moderate recoil.
• Superb all-around hunting cartridge.
• Well-suited for long-range shooting and hunting.
• Superior magazine capacity (4–5 rounds).

Cons:

• Ammo availability is somewhat limited.

7mm SAUM

Another great .284 (7mm) round. As you can see, this diameter caliber is very well suited for long-range shooting and all-round hunting purposes. The biggest challenge with the SAUM (Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum) is ammo availability—you’ll want to load your own. Good brass may be available from Norma and Nosler, among others, and 7mm bullets are available in every possible configuration. Average projectile weight is from 140 to 185 grains. Projected velocity for a 175-grain Hornady ELD-X comes in around 2,800 fps with a G1 BC of 0.689. A mid-length cartridge.

Pros:

• An efficient, accurate cartridge.
• Good all-round long-range hunting and competition cartridge.

Cons:

• Factory ammunition is not readily available.

7mm Remington Magnum

This cartridge has been around a long time and has seamlessly made the transition from traditional light, fast bullets to heavy-for-caliber, high BC bullets. As you probably guessed, it shoots .284 (7mm) diameter projectiles. Common bullet weights range from 140 up to 185 grains. This is another superb all-round big-game cartridge. Velocity with Hornady’s 162-grain ELD-X is 2,940 fps with a G1 BC of 0.631. A standard magnum-length cartridge.

Pros:

• Readily available ammo in a wide assortment of configurations.
• Tolerable recoil.
• Very good long-range hunting cartridge.

Cons:

• Barrel life is slightly limited.

28 Nosler

This .284 (7mm) cartridge is the fire-breathing dragon of its family. Arguably the best extreme-range hunting caliber on the market, this round does kick. But with that kick comes downrange performance. Typical projectile weights range from 160 to 190 grains. Velocity with Nosler 175 grain ABLR is 3,125 fps with a G1 BC of 0.648. A standard magnum-length cartridge.

Pros:

• Very good at extreme range.
• Adequate for any North American game.

Cons:

• Aggressive recoil.

300 Winchester Magnum

This old-but-good .308 (7.8mm) cartridge has been serving shooters for decades and no doubt will continue to do so. Yes, it kicks, but not unbearably. Ammo is readily available in every bullet design and weight under the sun. This cartridge is adequate for all North American game. Common bullet weights range from 150 to 220 grains. Velocity from Hornady’s 200-grain ELD-X is 2,850 fps with a G1 BC of 0.597. A standard magnum-length cartridge.

Pros:

• A good selection of widely available ammunition.
• Adequate for hunting all North American big game.
• Carries velocity and energy very well at long range.

Cons:

• Substantial recoil.

300 PRC

This last .308 (7.8mm) cartridge is the real heavy-hitter on our list. Recoil can be brutal without a muzzle brake or suppressor. This is the big brother of the 6.5 PRC, very accurate, well-designed, and hits with the authority of a runaway freight train. If you need to shoot at distances beyond a mile, this is the cartridge you want. Common bullet weights range from 180 to 225 grains. Velocity with Hornady 225-grain ELD-M is 2,810 with a G1 BC of 0.777. That’s ridiculous. A true magnum-length cartridge.

Pros:

• True extreme range capability.
• Adequate for hunting all North American big game.
• Superb cartridge for handloading.

Cons:

• Wicked recoil.
• Ammo can be hard to find.

Conclusion

The cartridges listed above made this list because they possess specific attributes that make them stand above the rest when shooting way out yonder. If you’re looking for an awesome long-range competition and/or hunting round, consider your goals and then choose a cartridge accordingly. If your focus is more on competition than hunting, you’ll likely be served best by one of the lighter 6mm or 6.5mm cartridges. If you’re mostly interested in hunting, I’d look hard at the 7mm and 30 caliber offerings.

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FAQs

Q: Are match bullets good for hunting?

A: Yes and no. Match bullets are built with soft copper jackets that don’t stand up to impact with bone well. They can also grenade upon impact at close range and high velocities. Either issue can prevent the bullet from penetrating deeply enough to reach the vitals. If you hunt with a match bullet, you should choose your shots wisely, only taking broadside shots on heavy-boned elk- or moose-sized game.

Q: How do I calculate my wind hold?

A: That’s a million-dollar question. There is no technology that can give you a precise windage correction. You must learn to read the wind at your position via a Kestrel or similar device, at the target via dust and vegetation movement and mirage activity, and in-between via airborne dust and particulate (drifting webs, etc.) movement. Then you can use a ballistic calculator to arrive at a solution. Estimating windage is an art—one that takes considerable practice to master.

Q: How hard is it to handload?

A: Not hard, and it can be tons of fun. You must obtain the necessary tools, which include a press, dies, powder scale, and so on. Follow reloading manuals exactly, study data, and learn good techniques. Soon you’ll be on your way to producing your own ammo. Refine your tools and techniques and you can build superb, accurate ammunition for hunting or competition.