I surveyed the 200 top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Sequence (PRS) to get an in depth have a look at the gear they used to succeed in the highest of the leaderboard. That is essentially the most complete, data-driven have a look at what the easiest within the sport are working, straight from the shooters themselves. The aim is straightforward: minimize by advertising hype and see what truly works on the highest stage.
This text goes to share all the information concerning the calibers the very best long-range shooters on this planet are utilizing to maximise their impacts down-range.
Finest Rifle Caliber
The chart under reveals the breakdown of the calibers that the 200 top-ranked shooters within the PRS are utilizing in national-level competitions:
On the chart above, the assorted colours signify the place a shooter landed when it comes to season rank within the PRS. For instance, black signifies shooters who completed within the high 10, the darkest blue is individuals who completed 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the additional out they completed in total standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks every shade represents, however mainly, the darker the colour, the upper the shooter’s total rating.
6mm cartridges proceed to be the dominant alternative amongst professional shooters, representing 70% of those elite rivals! The 6mm is clearly the usual amongst top-tier marksmen, though it did drop barely from the 77% that had been working it a yr earlier than.
The 25 caliber represented 16% of the highest 200 ranked shooters within the PRS, which is up from 10% final yr. (Extra on this under)
Subsequent hottest is the 6.5mm, representing 6%, which has similarities to the previous few years.
There have been additionally 10 shooters among the many high 200 utilizing a 30-caliber, and all of these had been competing within the Tactical Division, which is a restricted division that requires using both 308 Win or 223 Rem. These shooters nonetheless shot effectively sufficient to be ranked among the many high 200 ranked shooters within the Open Division (loopy spectacular!), which is why they’re nonetheless represented on this chart.
Lastly, there have been 2 shooters utilizing a 7mm and a pair of shooters utilizing a 22 caliber.
The Rise of the 25 Caliber
The actual story right here is perhaps the rise of the 25 caliber, particularly among the many shooters on the very high of the leaderboard. The chart under reveals traits of what proportion of shooters within the high 25 within the PRS Season Open Division season standings had been utilizing every caliber by yr.
Amongst these within the high 25, 40% run a 25 caliber! 52% had been utilizing a 6mm, which was nonetheless the bulk, however the 25 made up loads of floor in a single yr.
The Tradeoffs with Every Caliber
While you see what the professionals are working, it’s pure to surprise why somebody would select a 6mm, 25 caliber, or 6.5mm over the others. These aren’t random picks. Every of those bore sizes comes with a definite combine of benefits and tradeoffs that may tip the scales relying on a shooter’s priorities, type, and the sorts of matches they count on to shoot.
Seeing precisely the place your bullet impacts is perhaps the most important key on this sport, no less than amongst these competing on the highest ranges. These guys aren’t merely attempting to see in the event that they hit the goal or not. They need to see precisely the place they hit, so in the event that they had been 1” or 2” off heart, they will right the subsequent shot to the middle of the plate.
Everyone seems to be trying to find that “Goldilocks” stability between these 4 competing traits:
Low recoil so you may keep on the right track and be ready to see precisely the place the bullet hit (as brief as 300-400 yards)
Good ballistics/low wind drift
Vitality downrange for a big bullet signature on influence (so far as 1100 yards)
Consistency match-to-match and over a complete season (minimal “tuning” or administration to remain aggressive)
It’s not possible to optimize for all 4 of these on the identical time, so we’re all attempting to strike the “proper” stability between these competing traits, which may be very subjective. There may be actually no one-size-fits-all “proper” reply, which is why this massive pattern dimension of the easiest shooters on this planet is so attention-grabbing!
6mm (0.243″)
The 6mm has been the default alternative in PRS for a few years for good causes. With lighter bullets within the 105 to 110-grain class, they provide very mild recoil, which makes it simpler to identify your impacts and misses. Additionally they are inclined to have comparatively gentle muzzle blast, acceptable barrel life (usually round 2,000 rounds), and a ton of confirmed match bullets to select from with well-established load knowledge. The draw back is that they don’t carry as a lot power downrange as bigger calibers, which might make recognizing impacts or misses tougher on targets 1,000 yards or past. In heavy winds, a 6mm bullet can even drift greater than a bullet with a better BC. (Be aware: Excessive-BC means a bullet may be very aerodynamic and in a position to keep its velocity additional downrange and be much less affected by the wind, which is a serious benefit in long-range capturing.)
The vast majority of PRS phases have targets at 300 to 800 yards with brief cut-off dates, so the recoil benefit usually outweighs the cons of a smaller caliber. That’s why 70% of the top-ranked shooters are utilizing a 6mm. It appears much more widespread for professional shooters to favor to run a 6mm in East Coast matches, as a result of winds are sometimes decrease and par occasions are sometimes solely 90 seconds.
At a national-level match final weekend, I spoke with one of the vital skilled professional shooters within the sport. He’s actually one of many guys with essentially the most lifetime PRS factors, and here’s what he advised me:
“Cal, I’ve tried the 25 calibers and 6.5s, however I simply can’t see the bullet as effectively with these. I went again to my 6mm this yr, and I began seeing each bullet once more.”
So the 6mm is just not a drained or “old skool” alternative. It stays the gold customary and the selection of most professional shooters.
25 caliber (0.257″)
The 25 caliber is the brand new disruptor. Due to bullet producers like Berger and Hornady introducing excessive BC match bullets within the 131 to 135 grain vary, these cartridges ship ballistics on par with many 6.5mm masses, however with noticeably much less recoil. You usually get much less wind drift than many 6mm setups and slightly extra power on the right track, whereas nonetheless having the ability to keep on the right track by recoil and watch your impacts in actual time. The tradeoffs embody a contact extra recoil than a 6mm, barely extra muzzle blast, and generally shorter barrel life in comparison with a slower 6mm (e.g., 6mm BR, 6mm Dasher). For a lot of, the ballistic payoff is value it, particularly in windy components of the nation.
For context, listed here are the bullet diameters and customary match bullet weights which might be used for every caliber:
The 25 caliber is between the 6mm and 6.5mm however barely nearer to the 6.5mm when it comes to bullet diameter and weight. The 25 cal is nearly precisely 2 components 6.5mm and 1 half 6mm.
6.5mm (0.264″)
The 6.5mm continues to be an awesome performer, and it’s usually the suitable alternative for shooters who worth most downrange power. The heavier 140 to 156 grain bullets carry velocity extraordinarily effectively and buck the wind higher than lighter choices. That mentioned, the additional recoil requires the shooter to be meticulous of their fundamentals so as to keep on the right track and see their hit, particularly inside 450 yards. That may make it powerful to make corrections in a match setting. Within the fingers of a disciplined shooter with strong fundamentals, a 6.5mm can (and does) win matches, however the knowledge reveals fewer of the very high PRS shooters select them in recent times as a result of the recoil penalty is actual when the clock is working.
Should you’re serious about studying extra about this stability of various calibers and wish direct perception from two-time PRS Champ Austin Orgain, take a look at this interview.
Up Subsequent
The very subsequent article will increase on the particular cartridges these guys are utilizing inside every caliber. Is the 6 Dasher nonetheless the dominant cartridge? Have a bunch of men jumped on the 25 Creedmoor after Hornady began making ammo for it? What 25-caliber is hottest among the many guys on the very high? I’ll reply all of these questions and extra, so keep tuned!
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