The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. Find out which ones made the cut.
What are the best long-range cartridges:
- .22-250 Remington
- .308 Winchester
- .300 Winchester Magnum
- .338 Lapua Magnum
- .300 Weatherby Magnum
- 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6.5-284 Norma
- 26 Nosler
- 7mm Remington Magnum
- 6mm Norma BR
You know what they say about opinions. Yep, when it comes to long-range shooting and the best cartridges for the job, everyone’s got one.
Really though, some cartridges simply outperform others at long ranges. That’s why so many competitive shooters and others who shoot at targets visible only through a spotting scope choose just a handful of calibers.
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Some, like the .308, are as popular as the most common hunting cartridges, while others are a bit more obscure, making headlines only in the tight-knit long-distance competitive shooting community. No matter who uses them, they have one thing in common: They hit their mark at quadruple-digit ranges.
.22-250 Remington
Specs (Black Hills Gold)
Bullet: 50-grain Hornady V-Max
Muzzle Velocity: 3,700 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,520 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .242
Website: black-hills.com
The .220 Swift has somewhat better ballistics than other .22 centerfires, but with the growth in popularity of .223/5.56 firearms, the super-fast Swift has fallen out of favor with shooters. As such, factory-loaded ammo choices that are made specifically for long-range shooting are virtually non-existent. That’s why the .22-250 is a superb stand-in. It’s fast, flat and accurate, and although it has a relatively low ballistic coefficient, it’s a good choice for long-range varmints and even steel.
Black Hills’ Gold .22-250 is a good all-purpose load and is loaded with a 50-grain Hornady V-Max bullet. It has a 3,700 fps velocity and 1,520 ft.-lbs. of energy. The G1 ballistic coefficient is .242.
Read More: Greatest Cartridges: The .22-250
.308 Winchester
Specs (Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger)
Bullet: 185-grain Berger Juggernaut OTM
Muzzle Velocity: 2,600 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2,777 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .552
Website: federalpremium.com
Is it any wonder the .308 Winchester has long been a favorite long-range cartridge for snipers and other shooters for years? It’s not only widely available; the venerable .308 is also factory loaded with a range of bullet sizes and styles. Many of them use the highest-quality components and offer outstanding performance at mind-blowing distances.
Federal Premium’s Gold Medal Berger .308 rounds use a 185-grain Berger Juggernaut OTM bullet, Gold Medal match primers and a specially formulated powder for total consistency and accuracy. It has a BC of .552 and a muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps.
Read More: .308 Winchester: Top Survival Ammunition
.300 Winchester Magnum
Specs (Hornady)
Bullet: 178-grain ELD Match
Muzzle Velocity: 2,960 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,463 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .547
Website: hornady.com
Winchester introduced this powerful belted cartridge in 1963, and it quickly gained a loyal following with hunters and target shooters alike. It’s a popular round at long-range matches, and it’s well suited for a variety of long-range hunting situations, particularly for large-sized game.
Hornady’s Match .300 Win. Mag. ammo is loaded with the highest-quality components, including 178-grain ELD match bullets. They have a BC of .547, a muzzle velocity of 2,960 fps and 3,463 ft.-lbs. of energy.
Read More: The .300 Win Mag is the Answer to Your Hunting Questions
.338 Lapua Magnum
Specs (Hornady)
Bullet: 250-grain BTHP Match
Muzzle Velocity: 2,860 fps
Muzzle Energy: 4,540 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .670
Website: hornady.com
Just how good is the .338 Lapua? In the hands of a skilled shooter, it’s unbeatable. It was used to make one of the longest confirmed sniper kills in combat, an astonishing 2,707-yarder. The shooter was not using factory ammo, but it’s certainly a testament to the effectiveness of this cartridge, which was originally designed for the US military in the 1980s. It’s become quite popular among long-range civilian shooters, too, and a number of rifle makers are offering high-quality guns at relatively affordable prices.
Hornady makes a match bullet that is tough to beat on the range. The 250-grain BTHP has a BC of .670 and a muzzle velocity of 2,860 fps.
Read More: Is the .338 Lapua Magnum the Ultimate Long-Range Round?
.300 Weatherby Magnum
Specs (HSM Trophy Gold)
Bullet: 185-grain Berger Match Hunting VLD
Muzzle Velocity: 3,108 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,969 ft.lbs.
G1 BC: .558
Website: hsmammunition.com
At one time, the .300 Weatherby was the most powerful .30-caliber magnum available to consumers. Introduced by Roy Weatherby in 1944, it held that title until Remington developed the .300 RUM. Despite losing that superlative, the .300 Weatherby Magnum is still a highly effective round for long-distance shooting on the range or in the field, and it remains Weatherby’s most popular brand-named cartridge.
HSM’s Trophy Gold .300 Weatherby Magnum has a 185-grain Berger Match Hunting VLD bullet with a BC of .558.
See Also: Greatest Cartridges: The .300 Weatherby Magnum
6.5 Creedmoor
Specs (Barnes VOR-TX LR)
Bullet: 127-grain Barnes LRX
Muzzle Velocity: 2,850 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2,291 ft.lbs.
G1 BC: .468
Website: barnesbullets.com
Few recently introduced cartridges have garnered so much attention in the shooting world as the 6.5 Creedmoor. It has done so for good reason. Hornady’s 2007 modification of the oft-forgotten .30 TC was designed specifically for precision target shooting. It quickly became a common sight at matches. It has since become a popular hunting caliber, too, and is available in a wide range of rifle makes and models.
A number of ammo manufacturers offer high-quality long-range 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, including Barnes. The company’s new VOR-TX LR ammo is ideal for hunting and is loaded with Barnes’ all-copper LRX bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor uses a 127-grain boat-tail bullet with a BC of .468.
See Also: Which 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo is the Best? Here are Our Top Picks
6.5-284 Norma
Specs (Nosler Match Grade)
Bullet: 140-grain Custom Competition Match HPBT
Muzzle Velocity: 2,750 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2,350 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .529
Website: nosler.com
If there’s a common theme with long-range shooters and at long-range shooting competitions, it’s the 6.5mm. Whether it’s the Creedmoor, the 26 Nosler or a host of other 6.5s, there are lots of choices. There’s obviously a good reason for that. It’s a great, mid-sized bullet that offers some great characteristics: light recoil, super-fast bullets, flat trajectories and high ballistic coefficients. The 6.5-284 Norma is all of those and more. Originally a wildcat cartridge based on the .284 Winchester, the 6.5-284 is not as popular as a few other 6.5s, so factory ammo choices are not as abundant. Just a few brands are available.
Nosler’s Match Grade ammo is loaded with a 140-grain Custom Competition HPBT bullet. It has a muzzle velocity of 2,750 fps and 2,350 ft.-lbs. of energy. The BC is .529.
Read More: Greatest Cartridges: The Long Shot 6.5-284 Norma
26 Nosler
Specs (Nosler Match Grade)
Bullet: 140-grain Custom Competition Match HPBT
Muzzle Velocity: 3,200 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,183 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .529
Website: nosler.com
Did the world need another 6.5 option? One look at the numbers of the 26 Nosler, and the answer is obvious. Introduced just a few years ago, it is a blazing-fast, super-flat, sweet-shooting cartridge that may be one of the best long-range cartridges ever. Since it is Nosler’s own cartridge, the Bend, Ore., company is one of just a handful of manufacturers offering factory-loaded ammo.
The good news is that Nosler has fine-tuned the bullet, powder, primer and case to make a near-perfect round. The Match ammo is loaded with a 140-grain Custom Competition HPBT bullet, which has a BC of .529. Rifles are also limited to a handful of manufacturers, including Nosler, but as the cartridge grows in popularity, so will the gun options.
Read More: 26 Nosler – The Flattest Shooting 6.5 Ever?
7mm Remington Magnum
Specs (Black Hills Gold)
Bullet: 154-grain Hornady SST
Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,077 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .530
Website: black-hills.com
It’s not necessarily a go-to round for match shooters, but the 7mm Rem. Mag. does have excellent ballistics, along with a number of great options for reaching targets at ranges exceeding 500 yards. It also has a great selection of bullet weights and styles. That’s why it ranks high for long-range target shooting and hunting. Introduced in 1962, this belted cartridge also has less recoil than a .300 Win. Mag. — while offering nearly similar ballistics.
Black Hills offers a good long-range load in its Gold ammo with a 154-grain Hornady SST bullet. The BC is .530, and the muzzle velocity is 3,000 fps.
6mm Norma BR
Specs (Norma Diamond Line)
Bullet: 105-grain Moly-coated Berger Hollow Point
Muzzle Velocity: 2,789 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,814 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .517
Website: norma-ammunition.com
As its name implies, the 6mm Bench Rest is a top choice among match shooters, scoring high in long- and medium-range competitions worldwide. It’s incredibly accurate, it has minimum recoil, and it’s available in a wide variety of bullets for handloaders.
Factory ammo? Not so much. Just a few options are available, but most all of them are made with precision shooters in mind. Norma uses 105-grain moly-coated Berger hollow points, which have a BC of .517.
| LOAD | BULLET | MUZZLE VELOCITY | MUZZLE ENERGY | G1 BC |
| .22-250 Rem. | Black Hills Gold | 50-gr Hornady V-Max | 3,700 fps | 1,520 ft.-lbs. | .242 |
| .308 Win. | Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger | 185-gr Berger Juggernaut OTM | 2,600 fps | 2,777 ft.-lbs. | .552 |
| .300 Win. Mag. | Hornady | 178-gr ELD Match | 2,960 fps | 3,463 ft.-lbs. | .547 |
| .338 Lapua Mag. | Hornady | 250-gr BTHP Match | 2,860 fps | 4,540 ft.-lbs. | .670 |
| .300 Wby. Mag. | HSM Trophy Gold | 185-gr Berger Match Hunting VLD | 3,108 fps | 3,969 ft.-lbs. | .558 |
| 6.5 Creedmoor | Barnes VOR-TX LR | 127-gr Barnes LRX | 2,850 fps | 2,291 ft.-lbs. | .468 |
| 6.5-284 Norma | Nosler Match Grade | 140-gr Custom Competition Match HPBT | 2,750 fps | 2,350 ft.-lbs. | .529 |
| 26 Nosler | Nosler Match Grade | 140-gr Custom Competition Match HPBT | 3,200 fps | 3,183 ft.-lbs. | .529 |
| 7mm Rem. Mag. | Black Hills Gold | 154-gr Hornady SST | 3,000 fps | 3,077 ft.-lbs. | .530 |
| 6mm Norma BR | Norma Diamond Line | 105-grain Moly-coated Berger Hollow Point | 2,789 fps | 1,814 ft.-lbs. | .517 |
Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from the June 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More On Long-Range Shooting:
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- Legacy Skills: Becoming A Well-Rounded Long-Range Marksman
- Becoming Your Own Spotter
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7mm-08 better than the 308, should of been on this list.
As a 84 year old gunsmith I can say what I feel is my best group! And with traditional powder, none of these weird powders.
22’250, 6mmx284, 250 Savage or 25-06 (what i chambered most in my career!) 30/06 300 WM, 35 Whelan, 375 Win, .416 Taylor and 458 Win. No zippidy-do-das, no weird powders. I’ll leave the bullets up to you but I’ve used Hornadys, Noslers, and Barnes thru the years with great success!
Would have been a good article about 10 years ago.
the 30.06 didn’t make it, dude it started as father to modern cartridges?
Interesting discussion. I noticed the author’s choices seemed to prioritize the availability of suitable factory ammunition. If one hand loads, then any cartridge that can keep a high BC bullet above trans-sonic beyond 800 yards or so is viable. If it’s only for punching paper, I see little reason to go above the 6.5’s inside 1,000 yards. Otherwise, the choice depends on two questions; what is your intended target, and how much recoil can you take?
Of the cartridges mentioned, I would choose the .338 Lapua for long range shooting beyond 800 yards, mainly because of the heavier bullet than the other contenders. I owned a Model 70 Winchester in .220 Swift cal., made in 1936. It was a tack driver, but beyond 400 yards fell flat due to the light weight bullet. I also owned .308 Winchesters but at extreme ranges, it just doesn’t have what it takes. I had a .300 Weatherby as well, and although a great caliber, wasn’t very good beyond 800 yards or so. The Lapua has what it takes, and I think the .408 Chey Tach does as well. Of course, the old .50 cal Browning is probably the best of all, with it’s 600 to 750 grain bullets, especially the Hornady A Max or some of the custom bullets now on the market. I have fired everything in a Big Fifty, from Mil Spec to the A Max, and I have to say, every shot is impressive, even if accuracy is not.
I recently purchased a Browning X-Bolt Pro in 6.5 PRC. At 6 lbs. 3 oz. it is the mountain rifle I need here for mountainous Nevada.
And the 6.5 PRC is a short ballistic version of the 6.5 /284 sn d I feel it will soon surpass that cartridge in popularity, at least foe western hunters in Canada and the US. Plus its longer neck can handle 150+ gr. bullets.
So please do this again next year and put the 6.5 Pac in the list.
26 Nosler really?
What about the 6.5 X 55 Swed? It’s got probably as much or more history as a long range cartridge than all the others put together. I think you guys dropped the ball on this article.
What happened to the .270 Winchester? Yes, it is a long action 30-06 case necked down to .270 that to some has an objectionable recoil but to put a round out there past 300 yards with a flat trajectory, speed and force at the target without a magnum caliber you deal with the recoil not complain of it.