Have you ever wondered why some rifle calibers just seem to hit exactly where you aim, every time, consistently, regardless of the rifle or the conditions? Well, when it comes to hunting, competitive, or precision shooting, consistency is king. Cartridges prove their mettle, but definitely not through fancy advertising, but rather through their inability to consistently deliver on accuracy regardless of the rifle, or the conditions.
Advances in ballistic engineering have introduced new players to the game, but many classics have remained the standard against which all others must be compared. From backwoods hunts to PRS comps, the nine following rifle calibres have proven themselves in the test of time by way of countless reported experiences, successful matches, and the approval of the shooter community.
1. .308 Winchester – THE BALANCED BENCHMARK
The .308 Winchester has a long reputation as the “Goldilocks” of cartridges: it is mighty but not too mighty, it recoils but does not kick too hard, it is precise but is readily made so by the person behind the gun rather than by manipulating the load combinations. It is a remarkably tolerant cartridge in its applications, which makes its precision attainable by the gun totter rather than the super-nook-and-cranny optimizer. Federal’s Gold Medal Match offerings of the 168-and the 175-grain BTHPs are the yardsticks by which all precision match cartridges are measured.
As *Outdoor Life* noted, it has “plenty of killing power for all but the largest game,” and it has such mild recoil that targeting practice can be accomplished with ease. When matched against the newest generation of cartridges, including the 6.5 Creedmoor, tests have confirmed that at typical ranges of 600 yards or less, the 308 doesn’t trail much in trajectory or energy, with many more choices of bullet weights between 125- to 180-grainers.
2. 6.5 Creedmoor – Modern Precision Engineering
The 6.5 Creedmoor, unveiled in 2007, was designed for long-range effectiveness by implementing rapid twist rates and minimal case tapering when using high BC ammunition. It holds trajectory well, better than expected resistance to wind deflection, and can deliver mild recoils. It has normally been sub-MOA in factory rifles competing in PRS events.
But at ranges of 1,000 yards, ballistic comparisons demonstrate it maintains speed and energy of bigger magnums with far less strain on the shooter. As illustrated in Eagle Eye Precision’s data, Creedmoor cartridges fall approximately 2 mils lower than standard .308 loads at a distance of 1,000 yards, with appreciable wind deflection resistance, giving it one of the best qualities when it comes to a target shot repeatably instead of being exceptionally fast.
3. .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO – Light Recoil, Steady Results
It is at times thought of as the underdog round, but .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO are found to be quite capable if one chooses to utilize high-quality barrels with the right twist rate. This makes it a shooter’s choice in training and pest control, and its low recoil makes it easier to understand where one’s rounds are impacting and to make corrections on the fly.
Well-developed with the proper bullet weight, these loads have been employed for steel impacts at ranges of 1,000 yards. For the swift follow-up shots that the competition stage calls for, the attribute of tracking the target with recoil performance is an enormous plus.
4. .243 Winchester – Flat and Forgiving
The .243 Winchester has light recoil, and it has an excellent trajectory, which is probably one reason that it has become such a popular calibre among both novice and expert shooters. Its ability to produce among the smallest groups in its class from match rifles makes it versatile enough to hunt everything from small game to game as large as white tail deer. Ironically, it holds relatively steadily in the wind, considering the low weight of the bullet.
According to Terminal Ballistics Research, its flexibility makes it ideal to be used in different terrain from deer hunting in the Northeast to prairie hunting without suffering from heavy recoil or complicated LOAD Development.
5. 6mm ARC – Long-Range Capability in AR-15
The 6mm ARC was designed by Hornady as a way of stretching the ballistics of the AR-15 out past 1,000 yards through the use of high-BC bullets. Tests show that it leaves the .223 Remington bullet 28.5 inches low at 500 yards and follows the trajectory 30 percent closer in the wind.
Competitors praise it for its effectiveness in producing sub-MOA groups and ethical sized kills up to 400 yards for deer-sized animals. In their article, The Armory Life states that, in accomplishing all this, it resembles large frame AR trajectory patterns but in a much more portable package, and this contributes for it standing out among competitors for PRS Gas Guns.
6. .270 Winchester – Classic Hunting Accuracy
Since its introduction in 1925, the .270 Winchester has become an institutional round in many hunting camps because of flat trajectories and reasonable accuracy out to well beyond 300 yards. Jack O’Connor’s favorite cartridge is still holding its own among newer calibers.
Recently, the bullet developments of, say, the 145-grain ELD-X from Hornady at 2,950 fps, have leveled its trajectory and matched its energy delivery to that of the 6.5 Creedmoor, at least giving it an advantage in a crosswind.
7. .6-5 PCR-F – Extended Range Without Excess
A 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge uses the strengths of the Creedmoor to propel 140-147 grain projectiles at a velocity of 2,920 fps to engage targets at extreme ranges in hunting and long-range shooting. Testing has shown it to be capable of outperforming a .300 Win. Mag. in both drop and wind deflection at ranges between 600-800 yards with less recoil.
Hunters like Nolan Osborne have determined that it duplicates .270 Winchester performance out to practical ranges with flatter trajectories and more effective deflection in the wind. As more controlled-expansion factory loads become available, it’s becoming a versatile alternative for medium to heavy game.
8. .22 LR (Match-Grade) – Affordable Fundamentals
A match-grade .22 LR from a good rifle will also deliver groups the size of a quarter at 50 yards and sufficient accuracy at 100 yards. High-quality subsonic ammunition in the 1066–1110 fps range bypasses the problem of transonic instability, a method employed by Olympic shooters. Its lower price point and recoil energy make it very difficult to match for practicing basics.
As Outdoor Life illustrates, buying match ammo that’s already proven itself outdoors can save money and offer some remarkably consistent performance.
9. 7mm Remington Magnum – Magnum Power with Accuracy
Trajectories as flat as can be and the ability to shoot heavy, aerodynamic bullets to match are the hallmarks of the 7mm Remington Magnum, the head of the magnum family itself. So much so that the 7mm has seen the true potential of high BC hunting and target ammunition, which has coaxed every bit of performance out of the 7mm to make it the most feasible magnum-caliber hunting ammunition at long ranges.
With the capability to deliver clean kills at the target of deer to elk at attainable ranges, with the 7mm as the magnum ammunition preference with the long, slim bullet, according to Field & Stream magazine, even though more modern options such as the 7mm-PRC are around as well. These are the nine cartridges that have placed themselves with ballistic tables, but most importantly, also with the meter that matters most at the end of the gun – the shooter’s confidence.
