If you wish to know one of the best rifle cartridge for long-range competitors, there’s no higher place to look than the highest 200 shooters within the Precision Rifle Collection (PRS). When the world’s greatest precision rifle shooters select a cartridge, it isn’t accidentally. These choices are examined on the clock, below stress, with targets stretching previous 1,000 yards.
Annually, I survey the highest 200 shooters within the Precision Rifle Collection (PRS) to search out out precisely what gear one of the best on the planet are operating. It’s essentially the most complete, data-driven look you’ll discover anyplace, straight from the rivals on the highest degree of long-range precision rifle competitors. No hype, no opinions, simply exhausting information from one of the best on the planet.
Within the final article, we explored caliber tendencies, the place the 6mm nonetheless leads total, however the 25 caliber is shortly gaining recognition – particularly amongst these within the prime 25. Now we’ll dive deeper and analyze which particular cartridges these top-ranked execs picked inside every caliber. Is the 6 Dasher nonetheless on prime? Has the 25 Creedmoor turn into the brand new scorching ticket? Let’s discover out.
Greatest Rifle Cartridge
Right here’s the breakdown for what the top-ranked execs are operating to maximise their impacts at lengthy vary:
#1) 6mm Dasher @ 46% of Execs
The 6mm Dasher remains to be king of the hill at 46%! That’s 5 occasions extra well-liked than the following hottest cartridge! It’s been the most well-liked selection in PRS for a number of years operating, however that’s up one other 5% from final yr. 46% is the brand new document for essentially the most dominant any cartridge has been among the many execs for the reason that PRS started in 2012! It is a neighborhood of men who are inclined to tinker, so for one cartridge to symbolize nearly half of the fellows competing on the season finale is nuts!
The 6mm Dasher is even the most well-liked selection once you have a look at the fellows on the very prime, as the most well-liked cartridge among the many prime 10 and the highest 25 – or no matter different group you have a look at. The 2024 PRS Champion, Ben Gossett, was utilizing a 6 Dasher to win his golden bullet (see Ben’s rifle and cargo information). The 6 Dasher is clearly essentially the most dominant and established cartridge for precision rifle capturing, and it’s the cartridge all others are measured towards.
Many of those rivals say the 6 Dasher is “the straightforward button” relating to load improvement and reloading. You possibly can usually discover a load with minimal to no effort that shoots sub-half MOA and has a 5 fps customary deviation (SD) in muzzle velocity or much less (study extra about SD and why that’s vital in lengthy vary).
Later on this article, I’ll share perception from the professionals on how the Dasher compares to different well-liked cartridges.
Common Reported Velocity for six Dasher with Frequent Bullets Weights from 26” Barrel
105 gr. bullets = 2,830 fps (primarily based on 22 shooters with 26″ barrels)
109-110 gr. bullets = 2,827 fps (primarily based on 28 shooters with 26″ barrels)
That’s not a typo; these guys are operating 109-110 grain bullets at mainly the identical velocity as 105 grain bullets.
#2) 6mm GT @ 9% of Execs
The 6mm GT was the 2nd hottest cartridge amongst this group for the 2nd yr in a row. Whereas it’s fairly a methods behind the Dasher by way of recognition, it nonetheless has a measurable lead over the opposite cartridges. There have been shooters utilizing it at each degree, together with the highest 10.
The 6mm GT (additionally lovingly known as the 6mm Homosexual Tiger) is barely bigger than the 6 Dasher. The 6mm GT cartridge was launched round 2019, with the aim of creating the proper cartridge for aggressive rifle capturing. The case size and 35-degree shoulder of the 6 GT had been designed to assist it feed from a regular AICS journal while not having a spacer equipment just like the 6 Dasher or different 6 BR circumstances.
One other benefit of the 6 GT is that Hornady gives match-grade manufacturing unit ammo for it. That may be a bonus for these not reloading or those that merely don’t need to need to reload all of their apply ammo. (Study who makes the professionals’ ammo after they aren’t reloading.)
Common Reported Velocity for six GT with Frequent Bullets Weights from 26” Barrel
109-110 gr. bullets = 2,904 fps (primarily based on 7 shooters with 26″ barrels)
So this group is operating the 6 GT round 75 fps sooner than the everyday 6 Dasher load with the identical bullet.
#3) 25×47 Lapua @ 7% of Execs
That is the first time a 25-caliber cartridge landed within the prime 5! The 25×47 Lapua represented 7% of those 200 top-ranked shooters, which was up barely from 5% final yr. However among the many prime 25, the 25×47 was the 2nd hottest cartridge. Among the many prime 25, there have been 6 shooters utilizing a 25×47 within the prime 25, and solely 7 utilizing the 6 Dasher! So it was very, very near the most well-liked selection among the many guys on the very prime of the leaderboard!
Here’s what two-time PRS Champion Austin Orgain shared with me in an interview about his expertise with the 25×47 Lapua:
“After I tried out the brand new Hornady bullets in my 25×47, I used to be like, ‘Man, that factor truly shoots actually good!’ I had tried the 6.5 Creedmoor slightly bit final yr and didn’t actually just like the recoil, however I did like how the larger signature from the heavier bullets. So I believed this 25-caliber is likely to be a pleasant steadiness between that recoil and the heavy bullet – and it truly is. It’s fairly a bit much less recoil than that 6.5 Creedmoor, and clearly, it’s extra recoil than a Dasher – but it surely’s an excellent steadiness between the recoil and the vitality of the bullet downrange and on the plate. I don’t know that it actually provides you an enormous benefit over the rest, aside from carrying slightly bit extra vitality – but it surely has shot properly for me.” – Austin Orgain, 2-Time PRS Champ
To study extra about what Austin thinks concerning the 25×47 and 25 GT, try this text: Austin Orgain’s Experiment with the 25-Caliber.
85% of the shooters operating a 25×47 had been capturing the Berger 135 gr. Lengthy Vary Hybrid Goal bullet. There was additionally 1 shooter operating the Hornady 134 gr. ELD-M, and 1 shooter operating the Hornady 138 gr. A-Tip. None of these bullets had been accessible simply two years in the past, which is what has contributed to the sudden rise in recognition of the 25 caliber cartridges.
I keep in mind a dialog I had with ballistician Bryan Litz, the place he informed me this: “Cartridge recognition all the time follows bullet design.” There haven’t been many nice choices by way of match-quality, high-BC bullets in 25 caliber – till just lately. (Be aware: Excessive-BC means a bullet may be very aerodynamic and capable of keep its velocity additional downrange and be much less affected by the wind, which is a serious benefit in long-range capturing.)
Common Reported Velocity for 25×47 Lapua with Frequent Bullets Weights from 26” Barrel
134-135 gr. bullets = 2,698 fps (primarily based on 6 shooters with 26″ barrels)
#4) 25 Creedmoor @ 6% of Execs
One more 25-caliber within the prime 5! Hornady obtained the official SAAMI approval for the 25 Creedmoor in January 2025, and so they made a proper public announcement about it in April 2025. Here’s what Hornady’s Senior Ballistician, Jayden Quinlan, has to say concerning the 25 Creedmoor:
“The 25 Creedmoor is the top results of our fixed pursuit of maximizing ballistic potential. This cartridge fills that aggressive area of interest between 6mm and 6.5mm – offering shooters the best possible mix of reasonable recoil, flat trajectory, and superior wind resistance. Variants of the 25 Creedmoor have existed within the wildcat house for fairly a while and for good motive. It provides the discerning shooter a aggressive benefit. Now we will provide that very same degree of efficiency to the shooter with manufacturing unit ammo choices.” – Jayden Quinlan, Senior Ballistician at Hornady
Having the choice for match-grade manufacturing unit ammo is definitely an enormous benefit for the 25 Creedmoor.
Common Reported Velocity for 25 Creedmoor with Frequent Bullets Weights from 26” Barrel
134-135 gr. bullets = 2,843 fps (primarily based on 3 shooters with 26″ barrels)
So the 25 Creedmoor is launching the identical weight bullets round 50 fps sooner on common than the 25×47 Lapua.
#5) 6.5 Creedmoor @ 5% of Execs
And making its approach again into the highest 5 is the great ol’ 6.5 Creedmoor, representing 5% of those professional shooters. There have been just a few high-level shooters utilizing a 6.5 Creedmoor to win national-level matches virtually each season for the reason that PRS started in 2012. There was only one yr on my “What The Execs Use” survey the place the 6.5 Creedmoor was the #1 cartridge, and that was approach again in 2013! (See the info)
The 6.5 Creedmoor appears to get extra hate than it deserves with nicknames like “The 6.5 Needmoor,” “The Hipster’s 30-06,” and my private favourite, “The 6.5 Man Bun!” 😉 However, there are extra civilian rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor within the US yearly than some other cartridge. There are extra choices for six.5 Creedmoor ammo at sporting items shops than some other cartridge. It’s the most well-liked cartridge within the US for good motive! Frankly, if I might solely personal 1 rifle, it will 100% be chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. It may compete on the highest ranges within the PRS and can be a really succesful looking cartridge for many North American sport. And it’s not mediocre at each of these issues – many would argue it’s glorious at each of them.
I’ll do a deep dive comparability that exhibits the professionals and cons of a 6.5 Creedmoor in comparison with these different smaller circumstances later on this article. I’ll additionally share particular perception from 3 professional shooters who’ve gained a ton of nationwide matches with a 6.5 Creedmoor. You’ll hear what they consider it does higher, but additionally some situations the place they’d suggest a smaller cartridge like a Dasher as a substitute.
Common Reported Velocity for six.5 Creedmoor with Frequent Bullets Weights from 26” Barrel
153-154 gr. bullets = 2,650 fps (primarily based on 4 shooters with 26″ barrels)
Different Cartridges
These prime 5 cartridges represented 73% of the highest shooters, and the remaining shooters had been unfold over 13 totally different cartridges. Listed below are the following 5 cartridges by way of recognition:
308 Win: 5% of shooters (All of those shooters had been competing within the Tactical Division, however shot properly sufficient to even be ranked within the prime 200 within the Open Division, which is why they’re included on this information.)
6mm Creedmoor: 5% of shooters (down from 7% final yr)
6mm BRA: 4% of shooters (down from 8% final yr)
6mm BR: 4% of shooters (down from 8% final yr)
25 GT: 3% of shooters (up from 1% final yr)
The highest 5 cartridges listed, together with the following 5 within the bullet factors above, mix to symbolize 94% of the 200 top-ranked shooters within the PRS. The remaining 8 cartridges (6XC, 6×47 Lapua, 6.5×47 Lapua, 22 Dasher, 7mm SAW, 7 SWC, 223 Rem, and 6mm ARC) had been every solely utilized by 1 or 2 shooters, and none of these folks completed within the prime 50 for the season.
Cartridge Selection Amongst Prime 25 Shooters
Now, let’s restrict the info to solely essentially the most elite performers who completed within the prime 25 within the PRS Open Division season rankings. This view provides a barely totally different perspective on what cartridges essentially the most aggressive shooters are utilizing.
The 6 Dasher remains to be within the lead, however simply barely! The 25×47 Lapua is true on its heels with simply 1 much less shooter represented. The 6 BRA was the eighth hottest cartridge once we checked out all 200 shooters, however among the many prime 25, it’s the third hottest. Then we see each of the GT circumstances, in 6mm and 25 caliber, alongside all the Creedmoor circumstances (6.5, 25, and 6mm) represented among the many prime 25, too.
The road chart beneath exhibits the development of calibers among the many prime 25 over current years that I’ve surveyed the professionals.
Amongst these within the prime 25, 40% stated they run a 25 caliber! 52% had been utilizing a 6mm, which was nonetheless the bulk, however the 25 made up a whole lot of floor in a single yr. For more information on this development, try Greatest Rifle Caliber: What The Execs Use.
Efficiency Insights from the Knowledge
I gathered some ballistic information from the shooters within the survey, together with their velocity and the variation they skilled from shot to shot. Moreover, I discovered the case quantity for every cartridge used and added that to the dataset alongside the rankings, bullet selection, caliber, and different information. I offered ChatGPT with a easy spreadsheet and requested it to investigate the info and determine what components had the largest correlation to the place a shooter completed for the season. Listed below are the conclusions:
Velocity SD Issues, General Velocity Doesn’t
Throughout all shooters, decrease muzzle velocity customary deviation (SD) was correlated with higher season rank. The typical velocity of the 6.5 CM is simply 2650 fps, and the 25×47 Lapua was solely 2698 fps. Common velocity confirmed no significant relationship with placement, which means it doesn’t matter a lot if the bullet goes 2650 or 3000 fps, so long as it’s super-consistent shot-to-shot.
Candy Spot for Case Capability
Grouping cartridges by estimated case capability exhibits that smaller to mid-sized circumstances (<49 gr) had one of the best common placements, with bigger circumstances (49–57 gr) averaging worse. That aligns with the long-term development towards reasonable capability, low-recoil setups that permit shooters to identify their very own pictures.
Right here is the estimated case capability that I used for that evaluation:
As all the time, the correct cartridge selection depends upon your targets, however the PRS information exhibits that the profitable components in 2025 nonetheless leans towards reasonable capability, excessive consistency, and recoil administration over sheer velocity.
Recommendation Instantly From The Execs on Cartridge Choice
I need to attempt to present some context and perception for a way totally different professional shooters take into consideration the tradeoffs or execs and cons of various dimension cartridges.
Everyone seems to be looking for that “Goldilocks” steadiness between these 4 competing traits:
Low recoil so you’ll be able to keep heading in the right direction and be ready to see precisely the place the bullet hit (as quick as 300-400 yards)
Good ballistics/low wind drift
Vitality downrange for a big bullet signature on impression (so far as 1100 yards)
Consistency match-to-match and over a complete season (minimal fine-tuning or administration to remain aggressive)
It’s unattainable to optimize for all 4 of these on the similar time, so we’re all making an attempt to strike the “proper” steadiness between these competing traits, which may be very subjective. There’s definitely no one-size-fits-all “proper” reply, which is why this massive pattern dimension of the perfect shooters on the planet is so attention-grabbing!
Since nearly half of those shooters are competing with a 6mm Dasher, I believed I’d evaluate it to one thing on the opposite facet of the spectrum by way of cartridge dimension, just like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Hopefully, this could give newer and even mid-pack shooters context for what guys on the very prime of the game are occupied with after they choose a cartridge.
Execs & Cons of the 6mm Dasher
The 6mm Dasher is likely one of the smallest cartridges used within the PRS, which suggests recoil may be very minimal – particularly since 89% of those professional shooters are utilizing a rifle that weighs between 19 and 27 kilos. They’re all both utilizing a muzzle brake or suppressor to scale back recoil much more. It is usually extraordinarily simple to load for and really in line with nearly no tuning or administration to maintain it capturing competitively. All of these issues make it optimized for #1 and #4 above.
For #2 and #3, the Dasher has the bottom score of any of the highest 7 cartridges. The ballistics and wind drift are first rate, however definitely not one of the best. The vitality downrange is measurably lower than the 25 cal or 6.5mm calibers, and even rather less than the 6 GT. Clearly, the Dasher isn’t a trainwreck in any of those components.
Execs & Cons of the 6.5 Creedmoor
The 6.5 Creedmoor gives a bigger bullet signature as a result of it launches heavier bullets with larger BCs. The Berger 153.5 gr. Lengthy Vary Hybrid Goal bullet is the most well-liked bullet selection for the professionals operating a 6.5 Creedmoor. The typical muzzle velocity for these execs operating that bullet is 2650 fps, which implies that the bullet would nonetheless have 909 ft-lbs of vitality at 1000 yards. A Dasher firing a Berger 109 gr LRHT bullet at 2,827 fps would have 613 ft-lbs of vitality at 1000 yards. Which means the 6.5 Creedmoor has 48% extra vitality on the goal, which might make it simpler to identify a miss and likewise make it simpler to identify an impression.
The 6.5 Creedmoor additionally has about 13% much less wind drift than the Dasher, which isn’t big – but it surely’s not nothing both! 😉 A maintain for a ten mph wind at 1000 yards is 1.3 mils for the 6.5 CM, in comparison with 1.5 mils for the Dasher.
The 6.5 Creedmoor additionally has about 13% much less wind drift than the Dasher, which isn’t big – but it surely’s not nothing both! 😉 A maintain for a ten mph wind at 1000 yards is 1.3 mils for the 6.5 CM, in comparison with 1.5 mils for the Dasher. Let’s put that in context with an instance: We’re capturing a 0.5 mil vast goal at 1,000 yards, and our greatest guess is that the wind is blowing 10 mph from 3:00, so we’re going to maintain for that on our first shot. If the precise wind seems to be 8.4 mph or 11.6 mph (or there’s a gust or lull to these speeds in the intervening time of our shot), then it’d be sufficient to place the Dasher off plate. Nonetheless, with the 6.5 Creedmoor, we’d get an edge hit in these circumstances. It will take 8.2 mph or 11.8 mph to place us off the 0.5 mil vast plate with the 6.5 Creedmoor. And it doesn’t need to be a wind velocity change that dramatic; the identical factor can be true if the wind angle modified from 3:00 to nearer to 2:00 or 4:00.
The 6.5 CM can merely cowl barely extra wind uncertainty and nonetheless lead to an impression. It’s not dramatic, however in a match the place 200 rounds are fired, it’s believable that it might lead to 1 or 2 extra impacts. If it had been a match the place the wind was extra shifty and unpredictable, it would lead to just a few extra impacts. So, whereas it’s not an enormous distinction, most matches are determined by only one or 2 factors, and it’s believable that it might make that small distinction.
However that additional vitality downrange and slight ballistics enchancment come at the price of extra recoil. The 6.5 Creedmoor has 24% extra vitality on the muzzle than the Dasher, and the recoil velocity and recoil impulse would each be about 31% larger. That may make it tougher to remain heading in the right direction by way of recoil and spot your impacts at shorter ranges (i.e., round 400 yards or much less). There might be a whole lot of targets at some PRS matches which can be lower than 450 yards. The additional recoil from the 6.5 Creedmoor would require glorious fundamentals to have the ability to spot your impacts at shorter distances – even from a 20+ pound rifle with an efficient muzzle brake.
Don’t get me flawed, I’m not saying you’ll be able to’t spot impacts with a 6.5 Creedmoor at shorter vary – it will merely be simpler with a Dasher. The Dasher lets you get away with lower than excellent fundamentals (say from an improvised place that isn’t very regular or comfy) and nonetheless keep heading in the right direction – however a heavier recoiling rifle wouldn’t.
Perception from Professional Shooter Francis Colon
Francis Colon has gained a number of national-level Professional Collection PRS matches with a 6mm Dasher, however final yr, he switched to a 6.5 Creedmoor. He’s now gained a few national-level professional matches with a 6.5 CM, so he has a singular perspective to match the 2.
“I’ve used a 6.5 CM in all matches for the reason that 2024 PRS Finale and AG Cup, by way of at this time. I plan to proceed to shoot it completely by way of 2026. Typically all you want is a straightforward, constant spherical. The 6.5 CM is simply that, and it lets me focus time and vitality on mastering excellent fundamentals vs ‘chasing the new cartridge.’” – Francis Colon, 2024 AG Cup Champ & Professional PRS Shooter
Francis used a 6.5 Creedmoor to win the AG Cup a number of months in the past (learn the article and see his 6.5 CM load information). The AG Cup is likely one of the most difficult matches on the planet, and you’ll’t win that match in the event you don’t see the overwhelming majority of your pictures.
So I reached out to Francis to ask him this query: What proportion of your pictures on the AG Cup match did you see completely with the 6.5 Creedmoor?
“I noticed 90% of my impacts on plate to inside +/- 1 inch, and about 85% of my misses in grass/grime to inside +/- 4 inches. It’s tougher to be exact on location for grime/berm impacts, however the 6.5 made that a lot simpler.” – Francis Colon, 2024 AG Cup Champ & Professional PRS Shooter
It’s attention-grabbing to know that Andy Slade gained the AG Cup the yr prior and was additionally capturing a 6.5 Creedmoor. (Examine Andy’s rifle and cargo information that he used to win the 2023 AG Cup). So the final two AG Cups had been each gained with a 6.5 Creedmoor!
Francis did agree that fundamentals with a 6.5 Creedmoor need to be tuned in, and he’s been in a position to do this by coaching with a 300 Norma Magazine and a lighter-weight 6.5 Creedmoor. Francis: “I exploit these to focus my fundamentals previous to matches to make my 6.5CM match weapons really feel nearer to a Dasher. The trick for me has been coaching visible impression detection with comparatively violent recoil, then switching to extra ‘sedate’ recoil. This offers me extra processing time to learn every shot.”
To study extra about how Francis manages recoil and trains, try Miles to Matches Podcast Episode 148: 300 Norma in a PRS Match?
Perception from Professional Shooter Morgun King
Morgun King is one other man who has gained a dozen national-level, PRS Professional Collection matches with a 6.5 CM. Morgun just lately launched a brand new episode of his Mythology of Marksmanship podcast, the place he extensively mentioned cartridge choice.
I really feel like Morgun presents a really balanced view of when one cartridge or one other may give a slight edge, with out blowing these small variations out of proportion. I loved listening to it, so I reached out to Morgun and requested if I might embrace some highlights of that content material right here in additional of an interview format.
What cartridge are you utilizing today? Morgun: “When you ever hear me say one thing aside from 6.5 Creed, it’s a really uncommon event – one thing have to be flawed with my 6.5 Creed!” 😉
Weren’t you at the least partly chargeable for the development again to the 6.5 Creedmoor within the PRS? Morgun: “I don’t know, however I do know there was a development of men utilizing it once more. Some time in the past, once I began profitable with a 6.5 Creedmoor, a few of the good shooters had been like, ‘Possibly there’s something to this factor.’ However the prime guys, they don’t care. They realize it’s not that huge of a deal in the event you use that cartridge over one in all these others. After which there’s the fellows which can be slightly below that and so they assume, ‘Possibly I do want to alter calibers, as a result of if I alter calibers someway it’ll make me shoot higher or get an edge.’”
Do you assume there is likely to be slightly little bit of an edge? Morgun: “Nicely, I consider there’s for me.”
Does the 6.5 Creedmoor have a bonus over a 6 Dasher? Morgun: “That’s a troublesome query as a result of there are strengths to the Dasher that make it a tremendous cartridge. For the man simply moving into it, I believe you simply go forward and begin with the Dasher. The reason being as a result of it’s going to be enjoyable sooner. That’s simply the best way it’s. The Dasher is really easy to load for, and it does every little thing fairly dang good. For the ranges that we shoot most frequently, the small variations are a wash in comparison with a bigger cartridge just like the 6.5 Creedmoor.”
So the place does the 6.5 Creedmoor shine? Morgun: “The 6.5 CM shines when there’s mirage, or after a rain, when you’ll be able to’t see a complete lot. It shines once you’re capturing targets in a grass discipline, and that grass can simply absorb 6mm bullets – but it surely’s exhausting to cover a 156 grain 6.5mm bullet! So there’s that half, however then previous 800 yards, you begin to get an edge with the 6.5mm in comparison with the 6mm. These heavier, high-BC bullets just like the Berger 156 begin to shine just a bit bit. They’ll maintain within the wind just a bit bit higher, however I don’t really feel such as you get the benefit till about 800 yards. Now we’re speaking about very small variations in wind drift. Now, one other factor you do get is slightly bit extra downrange results out of your bullet: slightly extra spall, slightly bit extra motion of the plates, slightly bit extra mud, and issues like that.”
Is there a spot the place that additional vitality heading in the right direction generally is a drawback? Morgun: “Oh, yeah. Particularly up shut. I really feel like within 400 yards, the sting goes to the Dasher. However the factor is, these shorter distance targets are the best to hit anyway. The Dasher does provide you with an edge up entrance, however do I really want an edge on these nearer targets? I don’t know – perhaps not as a lot as I want it on the again finish on the farther targets. The difficulty is we obtained a complete lot extra targets to shoot within 400, however I can deal with the recoil adequate the place it’s not an enormous deal.”
Ought to a man run a number of cartridges to optimize for no matter match they’re capturing? Morgun: “When you consider many of the good guys capturing, like Austin Orgain, Austin Buschman, and Clay Blackketter (all golden bullet winners), they do change round. Nicely, perhaps not Bushman as a lot. However, Orgain could shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor typically, a 25 caliber typically, a Dasher typically. I believe Clay has shot a 6.5 CM loads currently, primarily that or a Dasher. I used to change on a regular basis, however now I simply form of shoot my 6.5 Creedmoor usually. And I may very well be fully flawed as a result of I haven’t talked to Clay about it shortly, however I believe that’s form of what he’s began doing – principally simply capturing a 6.5 CM. I’m undecided if it issues on this sport, as a result of actually, I can’t really feel the distinction between my Dasher and my 6.5 Creedmoor, proper? After I shoot 10 rounds, it’s all the identical. As a result of I’m used to it by then, and I do know what’s coming.”
Are you saying the cartridge isn’t what drives a win? Morgun: “Most of it comes all the way down to who makes 200 good set off pulls at a match. That isn’t 100% of it, since you in truth don’t have to interrupt an ideal set off to hit a few of these targets – however I believe that you need to dang certain attempt for it. It normally comes down to at least one hit right here or one hit there that may make or break whether or not you win a match, so simply make actually good squeezes.”
Some individuals are speaking concerning the new 7 SWC with the 190-grain bullets. What do you concentrate on it? Morgun: “Nicely, I imply, heck, if I wasn’t capturing manufacturing unit ammo, I’d most likely strive it to assist Derek. Prefer it’s gonna shoot positive. Like I stated earlier than, after I shoot about 10 rounds with it, properly, then I simply modify and get used to the recoil. Now, the one factor that you could be not get used to is how exhausting these 190-grain bullets are going to hit the plate. I’ll provide you with slightly professional tip: the toughest factor about capturing a 6.5 Creedmoor is that plates snap quick. It may make it powerful to see what facet of the plate you hit. I missed one shot on the 2025 Impression/Basis PRC just lately due to that. I solely dropped one shot on day two of that match, and I most likely would have cleaned day two with a Dasher. The reason being as a result of that plate snapping would’ve occurred a lot slower with a Dasher. The goal was at 774 yards, and my first shot hit on the downwind edge, however the plate snapped freaking exhausting, and it was so quick that I couldn’t inform for certain which facet I hit. I can nonetheless see it in my thoughts; it simply form of appeared prefer it vibrated backwards and forwards. So I used to be making an attempt to assume, “Nicely, which approach did it rock first?” Then you definately’re making an attempt to parse by way of all that data in your thoughts. I do know I hit one of many edges, however I simply don’t know which one as a result of it snaps so exhausting with my 6.5 Creedmoor. However, a Dasher is just 2/3 of the bullet dimension, and that bullet goes about the identical velocity as my 6.5, so actually, you’re dropping most likely round half the vitality heading in the right direction. Which means the plate motion slows approach down, and it’s approach simpler to course of. After I couldn’t determine which edge I hit, I paused and appeared on the situations for a minute. I couldn’t inform if the wind died, so I ended up simply sending the identical maintain on the following shot, hoping I’d catch an edge – however I missed. However, I believe that’s a type of locations the place the benefit goes to the 6mm Dasher. If a 156-grain bullet is snapping the crap out of a goal, what does a 190-grain bullet happening there out of the 7 SWC do? The recoil on the 7 SWC isn’t dangerous, but it surely wallops a plate. How way more typically does it try this and make it tougher to learn precisely the place you hit? I don’t know.”
Thanks, Morgun, for sharing your insights and expertise with the remainder of us in your podcast! I’m fairly certain I’ve listened to each episode. I’m glad to listen to that you just’re publishing new content material. Try the Mythology of Marksmanship Podcast: Apple | Spotify.
Perception from Professional Shooter Austin Orgain
Final, however undoubtedly not least, Austin Orgain is a two-time PRS Season Champion, and he was the primary shooter within the prime 50 within the PRS to begin competing with a 25 caliber. I reported on that again in August 2023 once I revealed a deep-dive interview I had with Austin.
What makes Orgain distinctive is that he’s gained national-level, PRS Professional Collection matches with a 6mm Dasher, 25×47, and a 6.5 Creedmoor – and a 6×47, 6mm Creedmoor, and 6 BRA. Austin is clearly top-of-the-line shooters on the planet and has been for nearly a decade, so he tends to win with no matter is in his palms on the time!
Austin gained each his golden bullets in 2020 and 2021 utilizing a 6mm Dasher, however in 2022, he began experimenting with bigger cartridges just like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Here’s what Orgain shared with me about it:
“I had tried the 6.5 Creedmoor slightly bit in 2022, and I didn’t actually prefer it. I didn’t just like the recoil of it, and I didn’t like that it was much more troublesome to remain heading in the right direction and see the place you’re hitting on the plate with a 6.5 Creedmoor in comparison with a 6 Dasher, which is what I’ve run essentially the most by far. I did like the massive signature the heavier bullet left in the event you missed or the larger signature on the plate once you did hit.” – Austin Orgain, 2-Time PRS Champ
Proper across the similar time, Austin was experimenting with a 6.5 CM, the fellows from Hornady reached out to him to see if he’d be keen to check some new 25-caliber bullets they had been prototyping.
“After I tried out the brand new Hornady bullets in my 25×47, I used to be like, ‘Man, that factor truly shoots actually good!’ I had tried the 6.5 Creedmoor slightly bit final yr and didn’t actually just like the recoil, however I did like how the larger signature from the heavier bullets. So I believed this 25-caliber is likely to be a pleasant steadiness between that recoil and the heavy bullet – and it truly is. It’s fairly a bit much less recoil than that 6.5 Creedmoor, and clearly, it’s extra recoil than a Dasher – but it surely’s an excellent steadiness between the recoil and the vitality of the bullet downrange and on the plate. I don’t know that it actually provides you an enormous benefit over the rest, aside from carrying slightly bit extra vitality – but it surely has shot properly for me.” – Austin Orgain, 2-Time PRS Champ
Austin gained just a few main PRS matches utilizing the 25-caliber through the 2023 season, which caught the eye of different prime shooters. The primary main, two-day PRS match Austin used the 25×47 in was Clay’s Cartridge Firm Traditional in March, which is understood to be one of the difficult PRS matches, and Austin gained it with a 7-point lead over 2nd place and a 15-point lead over third place! Then simply a few weeks later, he took it to the Field Canyon Showdown in Kansas, the place he completed 1 level behind Morgun King, however these two had been 10 factors forward of third place! Two months later, Orgain gained the Hornady Precision Rifle Problem along with his 25×47. All 3 of these matches had been within the first 6 months of 2023! “After that sequence of occasions, the 25-caliber actually began catching some traction, and it appeared like lots of people began ordering 25-caliber elements,” Austin stated.
Here’s a have a look at how the 25 caliber compares to the 6mm and 6.5mm:
The 25 caliber is between the 6mm and 6.5mm, however barely nearer to the 6.5mm by way of bullet diameter and weight. The 25 cal is sort of precisely 2 elements 6.5mm and 1 half 6mm.
The truth that the 25 caliber is a mixture of each a 6mm and 6.5mm, and now has just a few nice, high-BC bullet choices, explains why we’ve seen just a few of the highest shooters making the change or at the least experimenting with it.
Professional Take-Aways: Bringing Stability To It All
Having stated all of this concerning the cartridges these guys are utilizing, I’d prefer to wrap up with just a few issues to assist us keep a balanced perspective on this matter. First, I need to remind us of one thing Morgun King stated:
“The highest guys, they don’t care. They realize it’s not that huge of a deal in the event you use that cartridge over one in all these others. Then there’s the fellows which can be slightly below that and so they assume, ‘Possibly I do want to alter calibers, as a result of if I alter calibers someway it’ll make me shoot higher or get an edge.’” – Morgun King
Whereas evaluating cartridges might be enjoyable, in case you are utilizing any of those cartridges which can be well-liked within the Open Division (so excluding the 308 Win and 223), you aren’t prone to see a major enhance in efficiency by switching to a unique cartridge. At most, these guys are usually speaking about perhaps getting 1 or 2 extra impacts over a course of 200 rounds. That’s not going to take anybody from twentieth to 1st, and even fiftieth to twentieth.
Actually, Morgun King even states an enormous motive he makes use of the 6.5 Creedmoor is that Eagle Eye Ammunition gives loaded ammo for that cartridge. He stated in the event that they stopped providing loaded ammo in 6.5 CM and began providing it in one thing like 6.5×47 as a substitute, he’d change immediately. So whereas Morgun actually likes the 6.5CM, clearly having nice ammo to compete with is a a lot larger precedence than getting nitpicky about minor variations between particular cartridges.
I reached out to Austin Orgain proper earlier than I revealed this text to confirm just a few info – as a result of publishing dangerous data is my worst nightmare. There’s already an excessive amount of dangerous data on the web! 😉
Austin added this in his final textual content to me: “Folks get caught up in calibers and cartridges, and I believe it actually doesn’t matter that a lot.” That isn’t flippant. It’s coming from a man who’s actually one of the aggressive folks I’ve ever met in my life. He’s an professional amongst consultants right here! He has gained national-level matches with a number of 6mm cartridges, in addition to a 25×47 and a 6.5 Creedmoor. Clearly, it has extra to do with the person behind the gun than comparatively minor distinction in chamber dimensions.
Whereas many people have enjoyable tinkering with totally different cartridges, in the event you’re seeking to be aggressive, one of the best recommendation is likely to be to select one and keep it up. After you burn out 2-3 barrels on the identical cartridge, you’ll actually realize it. However many newbie shooters leap from one cartridge to a different, and by no means actually grasp any of them.
The Suggestions for Most Rivals
The 6 Dasher is 5 occasions extra well-liked than some other cartridge, so it’s the clear selection that’s confirmed, forgiving, and offers you constant match efficiency. Like Morgun stated, “For the man simply moving into it, I believe you simply go forward and begin with the Dasher.” It is not going to disappoint. Alpha Munitions makes world-class brass for the 6mm Dasher, which is what most of those execs use. A few of these shooters have loaded virgin Alpha brass straight from a brand new field after which used that ammo to win professional matches. The one potential draw back for the Dasher is that there are not any mass-produced, inexpensive manufacturing unit ammo choices accessible for it (not a SAAMI-standardized cartridge). Nonetheless, customized loading firms like Clay’s Cartridge Firm and Phalanx Arms do promote excellent match ammo in 6 Dasher (and most of those cartridges), and a number of other of those professional shooters use their ammo in competitors. (Study extra about ammo choices for these not reloading.)
The ol’ 6.5 Creedmoor is one other nice possibility, and it has extra manufacturing unit ammo choices than some other cartridge! Hornady gives their “Match” whitebox ammo for each the 6.5 CM and the 6mm GT, so these are nice choices if comparatively inexpensive manufacturing unit ammo is vital in your state of affairs. Berger additionally makes glorious 6.5 CM match-grade ammo. You would additionally copy Morgun King and easily use the 6.5 Creedmoor manufacturing unit ammo from Eagle Eye Ammunition. He’s used Eagle Eye to win at 10+ national-level professional matches, so it appears to work!
Associated: The 6.5 CM Manufacturing facility Ammo Area Take a look at
I truly examined each sort of 6.5 Creedmoor manufacturing unit ammo that was marketed as “match-grade” a few years in the past. It is likely one of the most in-depth ammo checks ever carried out. I included a number of kinds of ammo from Berger, Hornady, Federal Premium, Copper Creek, Barnes, PRIME, Black Hills, Norma, Sig, Nosler, Winchester, and Remington. I fired 40 rounds of every model from two totally different rifles and measured the speed of each shot with 3 LabRadar Doppler radars and fired 8 five-shot teams for document from a rock-solid Benchrest place. I collected all of the live-fire information after which analyzed the info and calculated hit likelihood from 400 to 1,200 yards for every sort of ammo and ranked them by efficiency and worth. Try the outcomes!
Different What The Execs Use Articles
This publish is one in all a collection of articles that have a look at the tools the highest PRS shooters use. Listed below are hyperlinks to different well-liked articles in that collection from the previous yr:
View all “What The Execs Use” articles
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