Precision is seldom an issue of a little group of things; it is a matter of one result when required. Games that achieve real loyalty are the ones that continue to act as the shooter moves, the wind increases or as the round count increases.
Contemporary bullet and reduced volume have broadened the playing field, but there are still a few chamberings in occasional match scores, in hunting camps and walking-around training schedules, which are there because they are easy to shoot, and that they have continued to be shot.
1. .308 Winchester
The.308 Win. is still a standard of reasonable accuracy since it goes through an enormous variety of rifles and barrel lengths without necessarily needing sweatshop-style adjustments. It also has an abnormally wide range of bullet weights, usually 125180 grains, which allows it to fit many purposes and maintains external ballistics in a predictable way over normal field ranges. Durability is one cause of its continued relevancy: barrel life of over 5,000+ rounds is commonly quoted on the cartridge with quality barrels and at a price of reasonable maintenance, compared to a variety of more modern, faster designs. In practical shooting, that lifetime may carry over into greater practice on the same barrel and dope, which is as much as any piece of paper.
2. 6.5 Creedmoor
Designed as a modern short-action long-range cartridge, 6.5 Creedmoor not only connects velocity well with high-BC bullets and with modest recoil, but it is also easier to spotting-follow the gun through firing with and, as a result, finds it easier to keep the gun under control. In a side-by-side ballistic comparison with match-style projectiles about 75 inches flatter at 1,000 yards seems to be a representative strength over similar loads using the same bullet, and the identical material presents less wind drift with distance as a strength. The lesson that can be learnt practically is not that it works, but that it provides shooters with added cushion in situations when range calls or wind holds are not perfect.
3. .223 Remington/5.56 NATO
On a good barrel, right twist, the .223/5.56 is capable of very much higher accuracy in training and small target shooting to a distance much higher than its weight. The reduced recoil aids quicker follow through and clearer observation of hits and misses thereby facilitating fast learning and enabling shooters to rectify errors without losing ground. It is also light in high-round-count practice since it is usually accommodating of shooter fatigue and fundamentals do the talking.
4. .243 Winchester
Win. 243 has been a quiet performer in the hands of those shooters who seek flat flight, minimum recoil and true accuracy in traditional bolt guns. It has a reputation of accuracy based on simple internal ballistics and a long standing history of rifles that merely shoot well using reasonable loads. Although the recent 6mm designs have taken most of the competition focus, the 243 still offers a viable middle ground to those who prefer to have a stable point of impact and control the recoil rather than be the latest match focus.
5. 6mm ARC
Sixty millimeter 6mm ARC was developed to achieve extended range of the AR-15 to conveniently and effectively deliver sleek 6mm bullets using a small platform. It is often talked about in relation to better downrange performance than.223, especially when the wind and drop begin to work against lighter.22-caliber bullets. In field-oriented testing test reports, 10 mph cross wind at 90 degrees is the sort of baseline situation typical to demonstrate when ballistic dissimilarity matters, and the ARC design is aimed at extending the AR-15 to a greater part of that problem space.
6. .270 Winchester
The reason why 270 Win. has stood the test of time is that it provides stable hunting accuracy with a straight line trajectory that does not involve elaborate configuration. The design of contemporary bullets has made it even stronger: with the help of one of the recently developed bullets, Hornady 145-grain ELD-X, we can find published velocities at higher than usual when using a current long-range hunting bullet example, and this is why .270 may appear unexpectedly modernized on a trajectory plot. The cartridge itself is rather basic: foreseeable shooting with sufficient range to make field holds not as much of a guess game.
7. 6.5 PRC
It is customary to consider 6.5 PRC as the successor of shooters that are fond of Creedmoor etiquette but demand higher velocity and power, particularly when using heavy-by-caliber 6.5mm bullets. It is used in long-range hunting and steel work with a tendency to hold wind calls and adjustments to elevation tighter than older non-magnum standards and without being subject to the recoil jump that jerks some shooters out of their accuracy range. It also has the advantage of a mature bullet ecosystem, which is important when the intention is repeated performance, as opposed to one impressive group.
8. .22 LR (Match-Grade)
.22 LR match grade is still among the most effective methods of developing precision proficiency as the input of the shooter is not lost in the obscurity of blast and recoil. Arduous rimfire accuracy practice sometimes relies upon subsonic consistency, and loads are frequently mentioned in the 1,066 -1,100 fps range, to prevent the instability that may manifest as bullets approaching transonic velocity. Practically it reduces wind-reading, positional building, and trigger control to repeatable cheaply, which is the actual driver of precision.
9. 7mm Remington Magnum
Starting to lose points to distance and wind, 7mm Rem. Mag. has already gained a loyal audience since it is able to propel long, aerodynamic bullets at sufficiently high speeds that they remain stable and flat without necessarily demanding such specialty platforms. The range of bullets options of mid-weight hunting to heavier high-BC selections allow it to be customized to suit an individual need and remain in a familiar do-all magnum size. It also happens to be one of the more understandable instances of how current design of projectiles has enhanced the practicable accuracy potential of older cartridges without altering the headstamp.
What unites these chamberings is no hype; it is repeatability. Both of them can be used to combine the properties of the bullet designs, recoil management, and platform compatibility to help to ensure that the impacts are kept in place.
Finally, there is the system: cartridge, rifle, quality of the load, and the capability of the shooter to call the shot. These nine merely help make the system easier to dishonest.
