Cheap to shoot longer range calibers.

[natesatt]

You said cheap so stick with a fast twist 223 or 223AI, or go with a 308 win.

[DanSavage]

How about a .260?

[lrshooting]

I'm not sure what a 204 ruger costs to shoot, but it's been seemingly very good at fairly long range while being adequate for varmints. There is a video on YouTube of a guy with one doing some pretty amazing shooting. Otherwise, a variant of 308 like a 7mm-08 or 6.5 creedmoor would be ideal. You can get 308 components cheap and neck brass down to 7mm.


I'm gonna tell you this much though, DON'T get a round just because it has the cheapest possible round selection. If anything, choose based on availability because you will very quickly start buying premium components and cost savings over other rounds go out the door. The accuracy/precision bug is expensive. If you don't want it, dont buy a gun that allows you to do it. :-)

[MI223]

Thanks for the help guys. I would like any of the .308 based rounds or something similar but that is not what i am looking for in this rifle. It looks like I may just stick with the 223 and be happy.

Thanks again everyone

[Jamie]

What would you think of a 6.8 SPC?

Suposedly will launch a 115 gr. at 2800fps. Designed to feed from a mag. A bit shorter than 223.

Why be a trend follower when you can be a trend setter?

I don't have one, but I am intrigued.

Because they suck at longer ranges.

No need to over think it. 243 Win, 6.5 Creed, 6mm Br even the plain ole 308 Win will work for what you are wanting, especially when the words easy or cheap enter the picture.

[DanSavage]

A 6.8 spc is more like a slug,,short bullet.

[m12lrs]

when you are talking 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 spc I assume you are talking about an AR-15. No one in their right mind would use one in a bolt gun where there are so many better options available.

[bedlamite]

I'd use my 260 Rem for long range. That said, there's a lot of undue misguided hate for the 6.8spc. The slow 1:12 twist barrel in my Axis won't stabilize the 130VLD, but using a barrel with the right specs (http://ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/11562/30083) 1000 yards is possible. This is what the 130 Berger VLD on 223CFE from an 18" barrel and a 2.32 OAL is capable of:

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag36/1yamaraja1/6.8%20SPC%20130%20VLD_zpsf9kahdz0.jpg



(http://ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/11562/30083)

[FW Conch]

I'm having a great time "not being in my right mind"! I have a 6.5 Grendel in a Savsge bolt rifle, and a 6.8 SPC in a TC Contender. I guess all those world class marksman shooting 6mm BR's, Dashers, etc., in bolt rifles, "are not in their right mind" either?

[Jamie]

No, not misguided and not hatred. Change your 5000 ft elevation to the highest point in Michigan, 1980 ft ABSL and see how it looks. About 80 inches more drop than a 308 Win. 2600 FPS is over pressure by Quickload and even comes with "These are warm handloads out of my weapon" by the guy who posted this on AR Forums. 2500 fps is mildly warm according to Quickload (65K psi) and at 2500 fps you get 470 inches of drop. That sucks.

Stick with the 6, 6.5 or 7mm because the Amax is cheap compared to the Berger. Or just spin on a fast twist .223 AI and have at it.

[DanSavage]

Nothing wrong with a 6.8 sps,, nothing wrong with a BB gun. If you can have fun with it and if it interests you then it is all good.

[scope eye]

The least expensive would be the 6BR, if using a standard load brass lasting 30 cycles is common and only 30gr of powder is needed per load.

Dean

[GaCop]

223AI. Long case life, only uses a little more powder than the standard 223 and you get an added 100-150fps in velocity.
And very easy to load and fire form. Plus you already have cases from the rifle you have now.

GB +1, I have one I built with 8" twist and it shoots the 80 grain VLD bullets well out to 800 yards for me (farthest I've shot it to date).

[bedlamite]

No, not misguided and not hatred. Change your 5000 ft elevation to the highest point in Michigan, 1980 ft ABSL and see how it looks. About 80 inches more drop than a 308 Win. 2600 FPS is over pressure by Quickload and even comes with "These are warm handloads out of my weapon" by the guy who posted this on AR Forums. 2500 fps is mildly warm according to Quickload (65K psi) and at 2500 fps you get 470 inches of drop. That sucks.

Stick with the 6, 6.5 or 7mm because the Amax is cheap compared to the Berger. Or just spin on a fast twist .223 AI and have at it.


The 5000ft had been used repeatedly along with Hornady's inflated BC's on their 123gr bullets by the guy spewing grendel propaganda on that forum. It was just used as a common point of reference. I'm not going to sit here and play a numbers game.

When I worked up that load I was able to match his velocity without so much as a flattened primer in my 20" Savage, but like I said, I would need a faster twist than my 3 groove 1:12 barrel to stabilize that long of a bullet. It would work just fine out of the barrel I linked to, and his "warm handloads" were out of a 16" barrel.

Quickload has never been able to even come close to actual tested pressure trace or velocity in the 6.8spc. It's a useful tool for determining a good powder to start with on a new cartridge, but don't count on it for more than that.

This isn't the place for a caliber war, especially one where neither caliber is ideal for the OP's topic, so I'm done here. Shoot what you want and be happy with it.

[BigJohnH]

My personal favorite is the 22-250, it is accurate and if you reload relatively easy on the pocket.