What makes one cartrige more widely used over another....

[FishNHard 145]

I was surfing a few forums on long range rifle shooting  and I seems like theres a narrow selection of rounds most people use 6.5 308 300 win 338  I have an American standard cartridge poster in front of my computer and there's a lot of different rifle rounds and was wondering why out of all those different types of rounds why are only a handful  mostly used for long range shooting. ????

[Golf battery 1,223]

I would guess because of ballistic coefficients. And the long distance variance shooting. Depending on the distance you shoot.

[Purple Patrick 638]

People are always on the pursuit to perfection. Of course as modern ammunition advances we can extend the range and accuracy of rifles and there is definitely always a "hot new round" on the market that peoples have to buy a new rifle for. On the contrary look at the 7.62x54r round, it's still being used around the world at pretty decent ranges and it's been around about 120 years.

 

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[mipafox 438]

Either military use or inherent performance. Those are the places people end up at for the most part.

[Parker 213]

A happy mix of good accuracy, bore life, throat life, ballistic coefficient and sectional density. Military cartridges were picked based on a mix of bore and throat longevity since most of them are found in full-auto firearms.

 

Hunting rounds may sacrifice throat or barrel life at the expense of superior velocity for long range and are why guys like Weatherby, Lazzeroni, Mashburn and Ackley gained fame as wildcatters. Many of their cartridges today are factory production rounds. 

[pasu0115 200]

Marketing and timing, some cartridges will take off and become really popular, others (even great cartridges!) just fade into oblivion!

[Bully 749]

One of those rounds is the 6.5x47.  It's so popular that guys were selling brass at inflated prices just a week or two ago.  

 

Like Parker said, it comes down to the parameters of what someone wants to do with their rifle.  For long distance/PRS type shooting that will take a fair bit of practice to get comfortable with and maintain proficiency, the smallest cartridge that will be effective at a given range with the least amount of wind drift will probably be the choice.  If someone has to practice a lot using a cartridge that isn't going to beat them silly, has good or above average brass life and doesn't use a lot of powder makes sense frome a physical and financial point of view.  

 

Also, some of the other disciplines have caliber restrictions where only .223 or .308 can be used.  

 

Some can be strictly cost-benefit.  308 will reach to 1k with a ton of match ammo readily available and lots more to plink with off the shelf.

 

NATO rounds will always maintain popularity with preppers.

 

Don't ever underestimate the power of a fad either.

[Kevin125 4,772]

A lot, or most, of the top precision shooters seem to be using some version of 6mm or 6.5mm according to what I read recently.  The reason was said to be the caliber's stability at long distances.  There was also a mention of less recoil as compared with some of the heavier cartridges.

 

I think every significant point was already mentioned above.  But for me, someone who's just getting into the sport, and really doesn't know all that much about it yet... the stability, availability and cost are probably the top factors.  The last two are probably obvious why they matter to me.  The first, stability, matters because I don't want to make the mission harder than it has to be.  I have yet to see if this is really significant for me.  Inside of 300 yards, and given my current (lack of) ability, I could probably get similar results with a 12 ga. rifled slug.  But I also tried to find what would be consider the best choice I could make so I wasn't changing what I was shooting 6 months after I started.

In my case, I wanted a Remington 700 Short Action to start with.  I really wanted a 6.5 C cartridge but they don't offer one, so the closet I could come was a .243 Winchester. So for now, that's what I'm shooting and I may end up converting that 700 to a 6.5 after a couple thousand rounds are shot through it.  It may end up staying a .243 though.  Depends on what I learn as I roll along.

 

That was my thought process.  It may help you, or may not.  In any case, good luck deciding.  As long as it goes "bang".. you'll have fun.

 

FisnN.. I see you're a CJRPC member.  If you want to shoot my .243, you're welcome to.  It's nothing special yet.  But you can check it out.  Just PM me and I'll meet you out there.

[Eric. 9]

A

 

 

[Kevin125 4,772]

eh?

[Eric. 9]

eh?

Oh, I was gonna ask why you didn't re-barrel to a 6.5c right away.  This way, you start to accumulate brass and put time in on the caliber you want?

[Kevin125 4,772]

Oh, I was gonna ask why you didn't re-barrel to a 6.5c right away.  This way, you start to accumulate brass and put time in on the caliber you want?

 

 

I only just picked it up two months or so ago.  Not 100% sure what I want to do with it.  Maybe 80% sure.  The brass is a good point though.  Will have to give it some thought. Thnx.

[Bully 749]

243 is a smokin cartridge.  6's are starting to rule the roost.  Great bullets and moderate powder loads.  I'd personally keep it the way it is for now and shoot the crap out of it.

 

C

[Parker 213]

243 is a smokin cartridge.  6's are starting to rule the roost.  Great bullets and moderate powder loads.  I'd personally keep it the way it is for now and shoot the crap out of it.

 

C

 

 

I've been shooting my 6mm Rem. for 35 years now. Great round, accurate with many powder types, and can handle a bevy of bullet weights from fairly light to heavy. It's not as popular a chambering as the .243 Win., but both of these cartridges are great rounds. 

 

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/243win/

[Eric. 9]

6mm Creedmoor is the current popular chambering with the PRS guys, but 6.5c is not far behind.  While there is no doubt that the 6mm's/ .243's shoot a little flatter, it does come with a price i.e. Short barrel life.  Typically, its around 1200 to 1500 rounds, or, half the life of a 6.5c.

[Kevin125 4,772]

243 is a smokin cartridge.  6's are starting to rule the roost.  Great bullets and moderate powder loads.  I'd personally keep it the way it is for now and shoot the crap out of it.

 

C

 

 

That's where I'm at for the moment.  Have other things to get done so will likely stick with it as is... at least for the summer.  Then start making decisions.  The brass accumulation is a still a good point.  

 

I didn't realize .243 would shoot out a barrel more quickly, if that's what you're saying.  Figured 308 and 300WM would eat one up quicker.

[Bully 749]

243 is overbore.  Meaning the cartridge is bigger than the bullet, kind of.  It's also fast.  So, it is a barrel burner.  

 

Shoot your 243.  Save your brass.  If you make the switch, the brass is always worth something to someone.  

 

"Old School" has done EXTREMELY well with his box/stock 243 BVSS in local competitions.  He's a 6mm junkie.  Mike at Tier1 has said that IF he had a favorite cartridge it might be 243.  If I wasn't so invested in 6.5, I would consider it as well.

 

George Gardener from GAP rifles has won several times with a straight 243.  It's an extremely versatile and relevant cartridge.  Don't get caught up in all the hype.  

 

C

[Bully 749]

If you really want to go bananas, look into converting 308Palma brass from Lapua into 243.  You will get all the benefits of the 6.5x47Lapua with less expense.  

[Old School 611]

243 Win  is an iconic cartridge. Fast, accurate, and tough to beat.  Been around for a long time.

Just have to watch your twist. And I mean measure your barrel. What you see is not always what you get and it makes a difference.

Loads of bullets offered with an excellent BC.  What does this mean? Less doping on your part.

Yep Chris, I do well with a stock (just bedded) Savage.  But I work hard at it too.

Match the end of this month and I have to get my ass in gear.

I insist on shooting my 6mmAR and Buddy Pete says I'm crazy "shoot the Savage 243 numb nuts"

Barrel burner?    Got that reputation years ago.  Today's barrels are much better than the older steel.

There is always a cost associated with performance.

[Kevin125 4,772]

Thanks fellas.  All this is good info.  The good news is I'm not committed to anything just yet.  I'll have to give some thought to keeping this 700 as a .243.  I'll be talking to Mike at Tier 1 as the summer comes around and I need to do something about the stock barrel. It only has about 300 rounds through it so far.
 

I don't mind a shorter barrel life relative to other bores if there's a benefit.

 

Interesting stuff.  Thnx again.