I'm looking to acquire (build or buy) a long-distance rifle for some 1000yd plus sniper comps and similar competitions. I've got a decent amount of experience with .223 out to 1000 yards, but I need something more capable from 600yds to 1200yds.
My main requirement is that I DO NOT RELOAD. I know, this is a major restriction, but I don't have the time, or equipment. My job has me on the road constantly, and I spend all the time I can at the range. I don't want to spend time reloading too right now.
So I'm looking for a caliber where good ammo is available off-the-shelf, for a somewhat reasonable price. I know I'm not going to be buying any $0.50 per shot ammo, but I'd like to avoid $4/shot .338 Lapua too.
.308 certainly has the popularity, and there are certainly some higher-BC loads available, but it still seems I can't find anyone that loads the best long-range bullets.
Other calibers I've been interested in, like 6xc, 6.5 creedmore, 7wsm, and similar calibers don't seem to have much in the way of pre-loaded ammo.
Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places - I don't know quite where to look for match quality ammo in some of those calibers with the better BC bullets. But I'd be willing to build a gun around a top-notch commercially available ammunition choice.
So can anyone provide some guidance on this? I've heard 100 different variations of "it doesn't take that much time / space / investment" to reload, and I understand this. But it's not in the cards short term, which is why I'm looking for another solution. That said, if you know of someone who will load ammo in some of those custom calibers for a reasonable price, then I'd be interested.
-Scott Whitehead
My main requirement is that I DO NOT RELOAD. I know, this is a major restriction, but I don't have the time, or equipment. My job has me on the road constantly, and I spend all the time I can at the range. I don't want to spend time reloading too right now.
So I'm looking for a caliber where good ammo is available off-the-shelf, for a somewhat reasonable price. I know I'm not going to be buying any $0.50 per shot ammo, but I'd like to avoid $4/shot .338 Lapua too.
.308 certainly has the popularity, and there are certainly some higher-BC loads available, but it still seems I can't find anyone that loads the best long-range bullets.
Other calibers I've been interested in, like 6xc, 6.5 creedmore, 7wsm, and similar calibers don't seem to have much in the way of pre-loaded ammo.
Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places - I don't know quite where to look for match quality ammo in some of those calibers with the better BC bullets. But I'd be willing to build a gun around a top-notch commercially available ammunition choice.
So can anyone provide some guidance on this? I've heard 100 different variations of "it doesn't take that much time / space / investment" to reload, and I understand this. But it's not in the cards short term, which is why I'm looking for another solution. That said, if you know of someone who will load ammo in some of those custom calibers for a reasonable price, then I'd be interested.
-Scott Whitehead
