Overall, this is a very sturdy rifle that will work well for tactical long-range targeting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For long-range shooting, you need a caliber with a flat trajectory and some powerful velocity so that you can hit your intended target. Browning designed the 50 BMG at the behest of the Army to provide them with a round that fired heavy projectiles at 2,700 fps. Some good caliber choices include 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, or the extremely potent .50 BMG rounds. It is the preferred round for the US Marine Corps as well as the Army for their snipers. For another option in very high-performance ultra-long-range rifles, we turn to the advanced Cheytac line of rifles. Top Five Long Range Cartridges - The Best of the Best Berger Match Target Bullets 224 Caliber 82 grain Boat Tail Long Range With a factory-installed aluminum scope rail, its ready for scope mounts and your choice of scope to complete the set-up. For out of the box accuracy, you cant go wrong with a Ruger Precision Rifle, Browning X-Bolt, or Savage 110 Precision for a long-range turnkey setup. It has been mentioned that this rifle will work very well with an AAC Cyclops 50 cal. However, whenever the word custom is added to a firearm, the price typically goes through the roof. Scott Austin and Shepard Humphries of Nomad Rifleman needed 69 tries to hit a 10-foot x 7.6-foot target using a .416 Barrett bolt action. I can assure you I dont own junk because I cant count on junk when testing ammunition, manufacturers products, or loads I self-generate off the reloading bench. Like the 338 Lapua, the older-style cordite cases could not handle the pressures generated by modern smokeless powder. Accuracy and precision go hand in hand. While the Mosin Nagant is capable of shooting long distances, no one has ever said the factory trigger was good. I have run a small company that builds suppressor barrels of my design, and load tests for writing purposes and consulting. The first thing to consider when planning on a long-range rifle build is your budget. One of the appeals of the 308 Winchester for big game hunting is its versatility in bullet weight, typically ranging between 120 to 180 grains. This one might be a bit of a surprise, as Russian ammunition has a bad rap for being inaccurate. Remington 700 5R 10. Its an all-around handsome rifle that handles recoil well and lets you actually see where youve hit. No part of the stock touches the barrel. He enjoys writing about all types of firearms and enjoys passing on his extensive knowledge to all readers of his articles. The 6.5 CM can be utilized against elk with proper shot placement and a proper hunting bullet. The .300 WinMag without a brake delivers as much punch as most shooters will tolerate regularly. Learn to reload your ammo. Low recoil, inexpensive ammo, and an effective range of 1,000+ yards solidifies the 6.5 Creedmoor into our #2 spot for the best sniper rifle cartridge available on the market today. The 7.62x54R was initially developed for the bolt-action Mosin Nagant rifle in 1891. More recently, the 50 BMG has been drafted into long range sniper rifle service for use as an anti-material cartridge. Check out our Best Rifle Slings reviews for more information. In target shooting, precision is the key. The McMillan TAC-50 is a long-range anti-material and sniper rifle, produced by McMillan Brothers Rifles company. Its certainly not as maneuverable as other options, but the power and range this beauty packs are hard to match. The big reason for a longer barrel is to get a full powder burn. All that considered, in modern times, there are some incredible sniper orientated and target shooting rifles available on the market place 2023. What makes this rifle seriously accurate? With only 40 pounds to work with, lighter and more-efficient cartridges have almost completely replaced the .50 BMG in competition. With just a few exceptions, most long-range rifle styles are bolt action with longer bull barrels. Straddled with debt, RAI had to drop out of the program and this left the fate of the new cartridge in the hands of the engineers at Lapua. So in this review, we have carefully researched and plucked out some of the very best and most reputable sniper rifles in this current climate. This allows it to be a great all-around hunting cartridge for whitetail deer all the way up to elk and black bear. A major point here is that accuracy drops when the barrel heats up. Top-grade reloading components are available for both, and the speed attainable with each is essentially the same. I have specialized much of my work as a load developer in shotguns and rifles. They developed the cartridge by shortening and necking down a 50 BMG case to accept a 0.416 diameter bullet. If you are hunting with your rifle and on the move, then a good sling makes sense. Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Target Rifle 12. Need a Bipod for your Axis? However, since its introduction, Noreen Firearms as well as Desert Tech also offer precision rifles chambered in 416 Barrett. The T/C Sniper is priced reasonably; honestly, this rifle is one of the best buys on the firearms market today. If you shoot long-range, the Creedmoor is better. I have been writing firearms and outdoor material for over 50 years to date. This article will provide an in-depth overview of the 10 best sniper cartridges available on the market today so you can make the best decision when purchasing your next long range shooting rifle. It is extremely important to try and get a rifle with a long barrel length for sniping, long-range targeting shooting, or hunting. However, the CheyTac Intervention sniper weapon system has been featured in multiple video games such as Call of Duty and Battlefield. It can be changed to eight different calibers, including long- and short-action options, as well as multiple barrel lengths. What is the best caliber for long-range shooting? The Precision retains a folding buttstock for storage or transport, a button-rifled barrel, rotating bolt head, and a full rail that can accommodate any sight system in current use today, making it easy to transport and customize for any use and body type. US Special Operations uses this caliber. In November of 2009, Craig Harrison, Corporal of Horse in the Blues and Royals RHG/D of the British Army, made a shot that stands as the longest recorded sniper shot in history. Law enforcement sharpshooters also utilize the 308 Winchester to great effect as they often do not need the extreme long range capabilities of heavier rounds. Christensen Arms Modern Precision 5. Also, the same bullet delivers different results in different guns. Capable of firing bullets between 110 and 220 grains, the 300 Win Mag offers shoots unparalleled levels of versatility when it comes to bullet selection to take on big game from whitetail to moose. Well look at important factors such as the range, firepower, ballistics, reliability, and, most importantly accuracy, to determine which rifles stand out from the crowd, making it the best of the best sniper rifles. As a long range big game round or hard. To buy a rifle that shoots several miles accurately is not getting the most bang for your buck. Simple when I tested them, I bought them based on the performance levels. There are lots of rifles that are well beyond all of these. As we have covered the 50 BMG as a long-range cartridge, the attention turns to another rifle known worldwide among combat units as the long-range sniper rifle of all time. Daniel Defense DD5 9. Here are some tips to help you get on target. If this is how they do business, I am done with them for good. The .300 WinMag ranks near the top of everyones list for the top long-range rifle for big game. The 50 Cal BMG Raufoss Mk 211 round, for example, is designed to enter a build, move across the interior space to the center point, and explode, thereby sending hot metal into everything in the area. I shoot the Steyr and bought into the rifle when it was far less expensive today. Not to mention, at 6.5 lbs, it is one of the lightest in its class, making it easy to carry on your back all day when on a hunt. As mentioned earlier, there are currently only 3 major rifle manufactures who offer the 416 Barrett chambering. . It comes as a very reasonably priced option with some striking features. The .260 Remington was once the dominant 6.5mm cartridge in competition circles. At 2018 SHOT Show, the 224 Valkyrie was released by Federal to provide AR-15 marksmen a soft-shooting semi-automatic cartridge that was capable of matching 6.5 Creedmoor levels of performance. After a week I got an email asking for more information, which I promptly supplied. The 224 Valkyrie was made to change that perception. Plan to spend at least $2000, if not $3000, to assemble a high-quality long range rifle build. and .308 Win. Even if you purchase a very reputable sniper rifle, it wont be much use without proper optics. The Best Long Range Calibers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed What is the top long range rifle cartridge? Plus, many of these barrels will have iron sights or other aspects built onto them, which can also affect the accuracy. Remington 700 SPS Stainless 7. Long-range shooting in rifles is 1,000 yards or more. Top 15 Affordable Precision Rifles Bolt-Action Edition (2023) In this case, the rifles have been built around the world-class Cheytac 408 and 375 cartridges. Barrel life for these cartridges is painfully short, and Hornady wanted to provide shooters with a cartridge that could fire 200+ grain 0.308 diameter bullet while maintaining an acceptable lifespan of the barrel. This has no sharp edges to wear away and is most common in handguns, especially Glock. Now, barrel movement is another reason why bull barrels are favored. For newer shooters, the 308 Winchester is relatively easy to handle as it has mild recoil compared to the 300 Win Mag but slightly more than the 6.5 Creedmoor. The .308 Winchester has a long and respected history as a rifle cartridge, while the 6.5 Creedmoor hit the commercial market in 2007. However, for now, lets just say anything within two miles could be in trouble if she brings her sights to rest on anything the gunner behind the buttstock wants to take out. Mossberg MVP Precision 13. This means that the 50 BMG and 416 Barrett have the same base diameter, therefore all that is needed to convert a 50 BMG rifle to 416 Barrett is a barrel change. It includes a left bolt/right port design, which means you can let off a ridiculous amount of rounds in a short space of time due to fast cycling. Now the 300 Winchester Magnum can hold off mortar crews and small unit snipers to ranges beyond 1500 yards all day long in the mountain of Afghanistan. Energy The bullet has to be humanely lethal at 1,000 yards. {Top 6} Best Sniper Rifles in 2023 [April Tested] - TheGunZone I have hunted across the world including Russia and a great deal of time professional hunting in Australia. The Chey-Tac M200 Intervention is the bolt-action rifle built to handle this round, and shooters have been documented firing a group of 3 shots within 16 inches at 2,321 yards. And, we made sure to include rifles that use these types of trigger systems. The addition of an AAC Cyclops muzzle brake and silencer adapter reduce recoil dramatically, making this a real smooth shooter. About Us- Jarrett Rifles. Hornady specifically built the 300 PRC to be a magnum cartridge and did not constrain themselves by using a long action like what happened with the 300 Winchester Magnum. Sometimes that shoulder stomper is necessary say youre hunting elephants in Africa. Ruger broke the mold and entered the long-range rifle business with the introduction of the Ruger Precision rifle. 17 Best Long Range Calibers in 2020 - Ranked by a Marine Its also cold hammer forged for very precise rifling, which in turn translates into precision accuracy for round after round. How far does a bullet go before it drops? The goal of the round was to penetrate light armored personnel carriers and tanks of the era; however, it was quickly adopted for use in aircraft, for anti-air guns, as well as being mounted on tanks. I currently live in the American west and hunt all across the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the Big Horn mountains. Caliber choice includes long-range favorites .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester and you have the alternative between 20- and 24-inch barrels for each chambering. Although the 6.5 Creedmoor began its life as a competitive long range shooting round, it found itself pushed into service as a hunting cartridge as well. The 50 Browning Machine Gun (BMG) is currently the oldest rifle cartridge is service to the US military. Semi-automatic rifles have surged in popularity in recent years, in particular modern sporting rifles like those built on AR-15 platforms, according to data . And, looking back to WWII and other conflicts since, it was very common for snipers to skillfully use standard rifles to hit long-range targets effectively. The Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor 24 M-Lok by Ruger is stacked with features to provide an excellent long-range shooting experience. Winchester quickly saw the utility of the 7.62x51mm NATO round on the civilian market and introduced the new rifle cartridge as the 308 Winchester in its short action Model 70 rifle in 1952, two full years before the U.S. Military formally adopted the cartridge. The two main types are groove and polygonal. A longer barrel is almost always more accurate than a shorter one. It also weighs in at 8.5 pounds and has a full length of 45.75 inches. Chambered in the new US military-selected sniper round, the 300 Win Mag, this rifle is a complete package in a long-range rifle that is stocked in the more traditional style furniture. There is no one rule about how bullet mass affects accuracy. Plus, the barrel is made exceptionally durable and weather-protected due to the TriNyte PVD finish thats been applied to it. Although the 416 Barrett offers shooters amazing ballistics that rival the 50 BMG, there are a few issues with the round. Sig Sauer Cross 3. Heat buildup also affects accuracy hot barrels are less accurate. Left to Right: .223 Remington, .32-40 Winchester, .270 Winchester (Photo: Wikipedia) So, Winchester brought out a .30 caliber round that pushed a 160-grain bullet at 1,970 fps, delivering right around 1,400 ft/lbs of energy. 4. FIRE! World's Best Sniper Rifles (Picked by Former Member of Special Shooters even have to factor in the spin of the earth. If youre looking for the best long-range rifles, Ruger Precision is certainly up top. A very good spotting scope is many times the power of your rifle scope. Its bullets will remain supersonic out past 2,000 yards. Introduced in 2007 by Hornady Ammunition, the 6.5 Creedmoor was the product of a gripe session between legendary shooter Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the senior ballistician of Hornady at the time. Barrett offers these rifles or variants of them in everything from 6.5 Creedmoor, 300 Win Mag, 300 Norma to the big 338 Lapua and 416 Barrett. Although the 338 Lap Mag has an amazing trajectory that would make any 6.5 Creedmoor or 300 Win Mag cry, it also has extremely punishing recoil that can be hard to handle without proper training. This rifle is not a standard bolt action but the design from the trigger guard up is unique to the chassis-style all-metal rifle that it is. They get down range faster and this diminishes the time that gravity and wind have to act upon . A bolt action is the most secure way to lock the bolt into the breech. Instead, they build the rifle around the cartridge, and what they got was an extremely accurate long range cartridge that can easily compete with the 338 Lapua in terms of trajectory. This means that the bases are covered in terms of an effective rifle out to 1400 yards or more when selecting the Howa brand turn-bolt rifle. A hammer-forged and threaded barrel makes for an accurate shooter ready to accept a suppressor. One great example of a quick-firing long-range rifle on our list is the, There still might be a few things you are wondering about with regards to choosing the right long-range rifle for your requirements. I have shot this rifle, and it is all it is reported to be in terms of accuracy. Factoring in recoil is very important here. The MK22 is a bolt-action repeater featuring a multi-caliber capability that few possess. Samuel Stebbins. Your dealing with trumptards, what do you expect? When the barrel does not touch anything except the mount to the action or upper, it is more accurate. If youre looking for a budget option that performs well and has reliable accuracy, the Howa 1500 is the perfect pick. The only manufacturer of factory ammo currently is Barrett Firearms themselves. This means that if you plan to fire your 416 Barrett on any regular basis, you are required to start reloading your own ammo. Cutting grooves one at a time or simultaneously. The 416 Barret is a proprietary cartridge that was developed in 2005 as an intermediate cartridge to bridge the gap between the 338 Lapua and 50 BMG. What civilian rifle has the longest range? Especially today, when anyone in the gun business builds a 1000+ yard rifle, its more important than ever to make an informed buying decision. Below is a review of some of the best cheap long range rifles together with their extra features and functions. Contact & Customer Service-Privacy & Cookie Policy -Terms And Conditions Thats why Remington has incorporated a beavertail forend, a full-length aluminum bedding block, and a recessed thumb hook for maximum accuracy. The rep told me hed expect them to be out of stock within a few weeks, so make sure to snag one before theyre gone: Selecting the Howa 1500 Bravo rifle is like a no-brainer in terms of observing a rifle that fits a need, is affordable, and is state-of-the-art in terms of manufacturing methods and performance characteristics. Fire .177 caliber (4.5mm) ammo BBs up . Known for their AR line of rifles, the company has come up with a Crossover rifle in a bolt action that is built on a chassis frame not much larger than the AR platform used on other Sig Arms rifles. Now dozens of countries use the cartridge. Choosing the Best Long Range Rifle Calibers for Precision Shooting this one felt great!I. Gun and ammo cost A $25,000 gun is out of reach for most people. The 6.5 Creedmoor is the cartridge that single-handedly started the 6.5mm cartridge love fest in North America. It also has a four plus one round capacity, and you get a choice of the 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Winchester models. Development of the 338 Lapua Mag began in 1983 by US-based company, Research Armament Industries (RAI). Be advised that even though I have covered some very long-range performing rifles, I have not hit anything close to all of them. It is commonly thought that an adjustable trigger is best suited for a sniper type rifle. This rifle is designed to chamber and shoot 7mm-08 Remington rounds, and it weighs in at a very reasonable 6.5 pounds. Furthermore, military surplus 50 ammo is also available at a reasonable price. For shooters looking for quick action, without having to purchase extras and mount scopes, heres a novel solution. Best Long Range Caliber: Top 8 Options To Try - Best Rifle Scope Hornady rolled out their new cartridge at 2019 SHOT Show and received SAAMI approval in August of 2018. 7 Best New Cartridges for Long-Range Precision This makes it one of the most compact and lightweight rifles weve come across thats capable of serious long-range targeting. Instead of killing with brute force like the .50 caliber, this is an 1800+ meter rifle that kills personnel with precision and a flat trajectory. Many consider Destiny 2's Crucible to be less balanced, but there is still room for subpar weapon archetypes such as Scout Rifles to shine. The right cartridge can help a marksman extend their effective range, enhance accuracy, or deliver the necessary stopping power to take down their target. However, if you want to know a bit more, keep scrolling and check out our top 10 list! The 10 Most Accurate Rifles We've Ever Tested (Plus, the Most Accurate Rifles are equally difficult to locate and prohibitively expensive for most shooters. Since long-range shooting is very precise in its nature, you need a rifle thats comfortable to work with and suits your shooting style. Browning produced two firearms for the military that are still in used today almost 100 years later. Its a massive round firing 600+ grain bullets at over 13,000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. The Most Popular Bolt-Action Rifles in America - 24/7 Wall St. The four most versatile calibers for American hunters are probably, left to right, 6.5mm, .270, 7mm and .30, shown with a selection of bullets and the current most popular cartridges in each caliber: 6.5mm Creedmoor, .270 Win., 7mm Rem. MK 22 Features In terms of performance, the 300 Win Mag is widely accepted to have a 1,200 yard effective range on two-legged varmints. Rifle availability for the 50 BMG is also considerably higher than for rounds like the 416 Barrett or 408 CheyTac. As mentioned above, a 9mm will reach 1,000 yards. Winchester developed the 300 Win Mag using the venerable 375 H&H Magnum as a parent case. Although the 308 Winchester might not be as powerful as the 300 Win Mag and has more recoil than the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 308 offers an excellent middle-of-the-road option for precision shooters who are looking for an inexpensive medium-range cartridge. Additionally, bolt actions can be single-shot or mag fed, which take less work to load than break-action or trapdoor guns. Sure, smaller calibers will hit that far the .220 Swift, for instance however, bigger bullets retain more energy downrange and buck the wind better. Sig Cross Rifle 14. They want a string of shots to be as close together as possible. However, without proper training, the 50 BMG has recoil that most shooters are not prepared to handle. You can find more info on Barrett Rifles about page. I tried to call them but now they just direct you to file a customer service request online. The 7.62x54R finds itself put into service as a medium to long range sniper cartridge, as it is slightly more powerful than the 308 Win but less than the 300 Win Mag. Practice can also be an issue, as many ranges forbid the use of the 50 BMG due to the potential for damage to range equipment as well as the comfort of other shooters. The design specification required that the cartridge be able to penetrate 5 layers of military-grade body armor at 1000 meters and fire a 0.338 bullet for its ideal sectional density and ballistic coefficient. Ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor is easy to find and inexpensive, as it has quickly become the most popular 6.5mm cartridge in North America. Tikka T3X CTR From the factory, the CTR comes with quite a few desirable features. This rifle has a 30-inch barrel and is capable of hitting targets over 2,000 yards away. #1. You can shoot long-range with iron sights, but rifle scopes are recommended. A longer barrel will essentially propel the bullet in a flatter and more uniform trajectory towards your intended target. The #4 spot currently belongs to Corporal Craig Harrison of the British Army firing a 338 Lapua Magnum out of his Accuracy International L115A3. It also has a fluted barrel for lighter weight and enhanced accuracy, wrapped in a free-float design with a muzzle brake setup for a suppressor install that keeps it flat-shooting. This is not our daddys long-range rifle, to be sure, unless he was a gunner on an M1 A1 Abrams tank. Best 1,000-Yard Rifles For Under $1,000 Shooting Long Range 1. At the time, the thought of a .50 caliber shoulder-fired weapon was considered way out-of-the-box thinking.