What would you call a long range caliber

Ernest II

New member
I look at some of the vmax boxes at the velocity and trajectory and the 22-250 doesnt seem that much better than the 243. I just wonder what is a great long range cal? On the 243 box I believe it says 2 high at 100 is on at 200 and about 7 low at 300. Well the 22-250 says 1 high at 100 is on at 200 and 5 low at 300. The 243 is around 17 low and the 22-250 is 14 low at 300. Im just going by memeory so done quote me on these numbers. What Im getting at is for the avrg shooter 14 or 17 low at 300 ,whats the diff? Most guys dont shoot much past 2 to 250 anyway. I hate to say it but 200 is a long a@#^*( shot for me.So what cal and what power scope would a avrg shooter need to to make say a 400 yard shot?
Daryl P.
 
.50 BMG all the way.. You can stretch it out to a mile and a half, but not real fur friendly.
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Most long range shooters say 500 is like shoot at 100 or just use 500 for warm ups. But you ask about only 400 yards? So are you asking for yourself (400) or real long range shooting (1000+)?

For you at only 400 I would stick with the 243 over a 250 and you can do it easily with only 10x. I only have a 3-9 on my 223 and shoot out to 500 with it and my 243 has a 4-16 .
 
To me, a long range caliber is one that retains enough energy and velocity to serve it's intended purpose once it reaches the target, not necessarily the one that drops the least in the process. In the case of the .22-250 vs. .243, the .243 would have the advantage of pushing a heavier bullet with more energy at close and long ranges.
 
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Long range to me starts at 600 yards and I can do that with all my .223s/.243. My favorite is the 6x45 I built last year.
 
I read somewhere that the .243 is a shooters choice for the 1000 yards shooting competitions. Obviously the people doing these comps probably have custom twist barrels so they can shoot 105 grain bullets.
 
Originally Posted By: Ernest III look at some of the vmax boxes at the velocity and trajectory and the 22-250 doesnt seem that much better than the 243. I just wonder what is a great long range cal? On the 243 box I believe it says 2 high at 100 is on at 200 and about 7 low at 300. Well the 22-250 says 1 high at 100 is on at 200 and 5 low at 300. The 243 is around 17 low and the 22-250 is 14 low at 300. Im just going by memeory so done quote me on these numbers. What Im getting at is for the avrg shooter 14 or 17 low at 300 ,whats the diff? Most guys dont shoot much past 2 to 250 anyway. I hate to say it but 200 is a long a@#^*( shot for me.So what cal and what power scope would a avrg shooter need to to make say a 400 yard shot?
Daryl P.

Are you asking for hunting? A long range distance for ethical hunting is different for different people based on their skill. I'm not comfortable shooting past 200yds for a coyote but I'm ok shooting at 300 for an elk or deer. I use a .308 for big game. For coyotes I use a .22-250 or a .223 or a .243.

Personally I would consider 600+ yds as long range hunting. For those distances I would consider a 7mm Mag or .300 Win Mag suitable.
 
as many have stated their opinion about range... mid range i consider 400-850, LR 850-1200, ELR 1200->>>>, regarding your ??? about which is best for 400... its simple... the 243, unless you have a 250 with a 1:8twst and are pushing the 69smks over 3K, the 243 has a better BC, and will be much better shooting in windy conditions... i have multiple kills @ 400 this year on HD video using the 22-250, but unless you shoot it "alot" and know your drift hold, it may be tuff, which is why a higher BC round will make it easier for ya.
 
A lot depends on what grain bullet Your putting thru both Rifles,I would think the .22-250 would shoot flatter and further than the .243 Rifle?


A Magnum Rifle is going to shoot further and flatter since it has more powder,and if You use a light grain bullet it will be even better yet.I shot my Browning .270 WSM at 100 yards sighting it in with 130 grain Winchester Ballistic-tip bullets then went to the 200 yard Range and it was still shooting high at that distance...I was impressed!I don't plan on using it for Predators,mostly Deer but I'm sure it would reach out and be considered a Long-Range Rifle.


I also sighted my CZ-USA "Varmint" heavy barrel .204 dead on center at 100 yards and then at 200 yards and it was still on target at that range also,using 32 grain Winchester ballistic-tips.This Caliber is great for shooting Long Distances and with speeds of 3600-4000 feet per second its one fast moving bullet!

 
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Originally Posted By: skinneyas many have stated their opinion about range... mid range i consider 400-850, LR 850-1200, ELR 1200->>>>,

skinney pretty much said all that needs to be said right there.
A long range caliber needs high bc bullets and good turrets to get there.
 
Originally Posted By: GTOHunterA lot depends on what grain bullet Your putting thru both Rifles,I would think the .22-250 would shoot flatter and further than the .243 Rifle?


A Magnum Rifle is going to shoot further and flatter since it has more powder,and if You use a light grain bullet it will be even better yet.I shot my Browning .270 WSM at 100 yards sighting it in with 130 grain Winchester Ballistic-tip bullets then went to the 200 yard Range and it was still shooting high at that distance...I was impressed!I don't plan on using it for Predators,mostly Deer but I'm sure it would reach out and be considered a Long-Range Rifle.


I also sighted my CZ-USA "Varmint" heavy barrel .204 dead on center at 100 yards and then at 200 yards and it was still on target at that range also,using 32 grain Winchester ballistic-tips.This Caliber is great for shooting Long Distances and with speeds of 3600-4000 feet per second its one fast moving bullet!



No offense but you need to look at what longrange is. 243 is better than 22-250 at range, very few good 25 caliber bullets and light 204 bullets fall on there face in a hurry let alone what the wind does to them.
 
270 caliber also. Need to look at heavy. 224, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, 30, 338 and so on. Bullet manufacturers skip several calibers in the long range high bc dept
 
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600 to 1000 yards the 243 with a fast twist barrel shooting the 105 or 107 bullets really shines. I shot one in competition for 4 years and the only problem was the short barrel life. I could not get through one season with one barrel.

Jack
 
I think the trick is to get so you OWN everything inside 300 yards . Without having to go prone .
These little carts. we use for predator hunting are easy to shoot well and all it takes ia a bunch of correct practice . Once you can constantly ,quickly hit anything you want inside of 300 ,you will have learned so much that 4&500 yards is alot easier to master . One rarly needs to shoot farther than 400 . And really seldom over 300.. a 223 is a great learning rifle as it is cheap to shoot and not too hard on barrels . I use alot of moly coated bullets in my rifles as is reduces heat caused by friction . Makes throats and crowns last longer ...
 
Ernest, you have to look at what the .22-250 is being compared to when it's called a long range catridge. In all aspects a .243 is better when hunting shots get on the long side. You can load it light for flat shooting or you can go heavy for better BC which nets you staighter shots in the wind and less drop once you get beyond normal hunting ranges. When hunting 300 yards is a long shot and beyond that it's more than a "put the cross hairs on fur and pull the trigger" game pretty much regardless of the cartridge you shoot. So with that, most hunters rate cartridges out to that far. In the .224 world the .22-250 and the now defunct .220 swift
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win out. But I don't think you'll ever here someone say the .22-250 is a better long range cartridge than a .243.

CB
 
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