long-range hunting Archives

Preface

Long-range hunting like it or not has become big business, and growing in popularity. Everybody seems to have a coarse opinion on the subject, but we aren’t going to debate that subject here. Today we are going to discuss some good rifle and cartridge combinations for getting effective results in long-range hunting.

long-range, hunting, long-range hunting, rifles, cartridges, caliber, choosing, selection, — Cartridges like the **7 SAUM** loaded with heavy bullets are devastating on game animals

Purpose

When most people think of long-range hunting, they think of shooting a big bull elk from across a canyon. While that is certainly a likely scenario, people often overlook other long-range hunting activities. I for example spend the spring months in the melting Rocky Mountains chasing groundhogs from great distances. So whether you are after coyotes or whitetail deer, we’ll go over a few options that will help you be successful at long-range hunting.

my Father took this bull from around 500-yards shooting his .264 Winchester Magnum

What Makes a Long-range Cartridge?

Long-range cartridges typically employ heavy for caliber bullets. An easy example of heavy for caliber would be a .223 Remington with a 75 grain or heavier bullet. Most .223 ammunition uses bullets in the 55-grain class. Another easy example would be a 308 Winchester, which typically uses 150 to 180 grain bullets. Both of these cartridges do much better at further distances when they are loaded on the heavier side. Heavier bullets typically have better ballistic coefficients (BC) which makes them more efficient. More efficient bullets retain their velocity and energy, for less drop and wind deflection.

even small cartridges like the **.223 Remington** can be used for long-range service when loaded right

Good long-range cartridges are also often magnum cartridges. A 308 might do well at 500-yards, but a 300 Winchester Magnum will do much better using the same bullet. Especially when loaded heavy. The large capacity of magnum cartridges gives them the horsepower to push bullets faster.

big magnums like the **300NM** and **338LM** have excellent long-range performance

Retaining speed and energy are key to long-range hunting. Because even a good hit on an animal might not be sufficient if the bullet has slowed down enough to be ineffective.

Big Game Cartridges

There is no lack of options for big game cartridges suitable for long-range hunting. Though it might be just as important to ensure the barrel twist is adequate for the bullet you’d like to shoot. A 300 Winchester Magnum with a 1:10 twist is pretty common, and will likely do what you need for taking down deer and elk sized animals at longer ranges.

Some of the more recent cartridges already account for this trend in long-range. The PRC family from Hornady specify fast twist-rates for high BC bullets. And whether you choose the 6.5mm, the 7mm or 300 PRC, they can be used very successfully for long-range big game hunting.

The further out you want to push your limits, the bigger the cartridge you’ll want to use. We have used the 338 Lapua Magnum and the 300 Norma Magnum very effectively on the largest of the deer family out to ranges like seven and eight-hundred yards.

this cow elk fell to a single impact at 700 yards from a 300 Norma Magnum, you can tell Iain is happy with it

Small Game Cartridges

Selecting an effective long-range cartridge for hunting smaller animals can be much easier. Because often it can be the same rifle and cartridge as your big game rifle. But also because there are so many good options, especially if they are set up to shoot high BC bullets.

my Dad’s 220 Swift, you can see more about that one here

One of the first ones that comes to mind is a fast twist 220 Swift like the one I built for my Dad. It pushes 75 grain ELDM bullets over 3300 FPS and will split a groundhog in twain from half a mile away. Another option would be the 6mm Creedmoor, Hornady’s 108grain ELDM match ammunition carries over a thousand pounds of energy beyond 500 yards. More than enough to take down a coyote or other pests.

long-range varmint rifles might still be your deer rifle, this coyote fell to my 6.5PRC PVA Modus

There are other fantastic choices typically in the .224 and .243 bore size. The 22 ARC is another good option, it has the horsepower to keep high BC bullets like the 88-grain ELDM above 2000FPS even at 500 yards.

Picking a Long-Range Rifle

Since most manufacturers today offer both short and long-action rifles in the same series, its pretty easy to recommend one. For example, I like the Ruger American Gen 2 as an entry level rifle that most folks can justify. The rifle offers good accuracy and customization which long-range shooters thrive on. And it can be had in most any popular caliber from 22 ARC up to 7 PRC.

the **Ruger American Gen 2** is a great place to start long-range practice

A step up in both quality and price would be the Tikka CTR. Also available in a variety of good long-range calibers like the .243 Winchester, and with an upgraded 1:8 barrel twist. Or you could go with the 6.5 PRC option for more range and power. Tikka’s have excellent aftermarket support for those looking to customize their long-range hunting rifle.

I love **Tikkas**, and they are a step up in quality. And they make an excellent choice for precision shooting. You can read more about my custom Tikka here

Another step toward the pinnacle would be the Seekins Havak PH3 series of rifles. With exceptional quality and guaranteed accuracy, as well as long-range heritage these rifles offer a great value. Built by folks who know what long-range hunters are after, you can buy the rifles in any number of great long-range calibers. And select different barrel lengths to optimize your experience.