My Ideal Velocity for Long Range Shooting

I have lots a friends who know I am big into hand loading and load development, especially when it comes to long range shooting. So I am asked fairly often on my thoughts when it comes to the ideal bullet weight and velocity for a particular caliber. I am not an expert on every caliber out there, but from experience I have more or less determine that generally a a good long range load has certain characteristics. When giving advise, these have become guiding principles to narrowing down a good load for them.

Since it has worked so well for me, and those I’ve helped, I thought I would share it here for others.

What is Long Range?

For the purpose of this discussion Long Range (LR) Shooting are shots that are between 800 to 1200 yards. I consider anything past 1200 yards to be Extremely Long Range (ELR). There is a reason for this. While spin drift and the Coriolis effect do play a role at LR distances, once you get beyond 1200 yards they have a much greater impact.

Quality hand loads typically maintain a velocity +/-15fps of the mean. At LR distances we begin to see how those minute differences result in some vertical stringing at the target, at ELR distances these small variations in velocity really manifest them selves. While many of the cartridges we will discuss can be used in ELR shooting, most of the shooters reading this write up will have a hard time finding places to shoot that allow for 1000 yard shots. Especially if you live near either coast.

Yes people can make 1 Mile (1750yd) shots with a 6.5 Creedmoor, but these shots are a little easier with something like a .416 Barrett shooting a 424gr CNC machined solid. These are not cartridges you learn to shoot long range with, rather they are cartridges you shoot when you are very comfortable shooting at long range and want to expand your capabilities.

Velocity is Not Everything

In the commercial ammunition world, the saying is “Velocity Sells” and there is a concerted effort to try and develop a load that will be safe, make money, and push the velocity envelope. With new high energy progressively burning propellants, it is usually pretty easy to squeeze in an extra 25 to 50fps over a legacy load. Does it really make a difference down range? No, but the marketing department will try and convince you that it is flatter shooting, and harder hitting, then other loads on the market.

Another common trick is to load a light for caliber bullet to achieve higher velocity. Lighter bullets mean you can push them to much higher velocities. However there is a trade off, lighter bullets have lower sectional densities, and will have lower Ballistic Coefficients (BC) values. So while muzzle velocities are higher, they lose that velocity fast then a heavier high BC bullet.

Another down side to the high velocity, light for caliber loads, is they tend to put more wear and tear on the barrel. Especially when you have cartridges that have large powder charges, or are considered overbore. An extreme example of this is 7mm RUM. When Remington developed the Remington Ultra Magnum cartridges they did so with the intent of maximizing the amount of powder they could fit in a Remington 700 Magnum Action.

I was tasked developing a load for this cartridge with a 145gr copper monolithic bullet. The barrel wear was so severe that within 115 rounds, could watch the pressure and velocity drop which each subsequent shot. The wear elongated the throat, washed out the rifling, and adversely affected the performance of the cartridge. Velocity was 3350fps.

On the flip side, too slow of a velocity isn’t going to do you much good either. Picking a bullet that is too heavy for the cartridge will limit the velocity it can be propelled to. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t have it’s uses, a heavier bullet can often carry more energy then a lighter bullet. If you are hunting elk, where penetration is important, heavier bullets are a better option then a lighter bullet. Even that is complicated by the bullet selection. As bullet construction has improved so much over the last 25 years, that many commercial ammunition manufacturers are choosing lighter bullets and getting as good or better performance on game as the heavier bullets of yesteryear

For long range shooting what is the right velocity?

This is a matter of some debate, but I will put forth my opinion on this, and my reasons then you can decided if what I say has merit. Personally I think a long range cartridge should develop a velocity of 2600 to 2800fps out of a 24in barrel. I like to see 2700fps as an ideal velocity but don’t panic if I fall a little short. When I develop my 308 Win loads, I do so using 178gr SMK’s which develop ~2625fps from a 22in barrel.

In my 338 Lapua Magnum I use 300gr SMK’s and Reloder 33 to get ~2700fps from a suppressed 24in barrel.

The 6.5 Creedmoor 140gr load, which has become a very popular long range load, leaves a 24in barrel at ~2700fps.

300 Win Mag seems to perform best with 220gr SMK leaving the barrel at ~2750fps.

Hornady recently introduced the 300 PRC shooting a 250gr 30 cal bullet at ~2675fps

Another example from Hornady the 6mm ARC shoots 107gr bullets around ~2750fps.

223 Remington loaded with 77gr SMK performs well out to 100 yards with a muzzle velocity of ~2750fps.

I’ve just given a handful of examples of traditional and modern cartridges that are often used for long range shooting.

I am looking at a balanced approach between these these factors

1.Barrel Life:

Long range shooting takes lots of practice. To become a proficient shooter you need to plan on sending 1000’s of rounds down range under various atmospheric conditions. As you approach velocities at and over 3000fps typically barrel wear becomes a concern. Barrel wear will gradually reduce pressure and velocity, and will result in the groups opening up. The 7mm RUM was an extreme example, where that barrel wore out in about 300 rounds. However less extreme examples might include 22 Nosler where Nosler said the barrel life is around 2,000 to 3,000 rounds. When it comes to velocity, more is not always better.

2. High Ballistic Coefficient:

Ballistic Coefficient is a caparison to an ballistic ideal. The G1 and G7 curves are based on two different drag curves which have two different bullet shapes associated with them. G1 Drag curves have a flat base and a rather mild tanget nose (Picture Bullet Bill from the Mario Games), while a G7 Bullet has a boat tail and a secant curve. (Basically any modern rifle bullet suitable for long range shooting.)

In both G1 and the G7 models the closer to 1 the better the bullet cut’s through the air. It is possible to have numbers greater then one, meaning these bullets are more efficient then the standards used to create the model. We live in the age where we can measure drag with doppler radar, and have real world data on the Drag Coefficient, which is really what the Ballistic Cofficient is based off of. However the average Joe blow is used to seeing B.C. values so the industry has been slow to adopt listing actual Cd.

Looking at sectional density alone is not a good indication of bullet performance down range. A soup can full of lead has great sectional density but it flies like a brick.

3. Twist Rate:

This is what makes or breaks a load. For example a 22-250 could be an excellent long range 22 Caliber cartridge, however when conceived, the engineers designed it to be a 22 caliber deer rifle. They knew that most shots on deer occur within 300 yards, and the light bullets the caliber was designed to shoot would retain enough velocity and energy to be effective at those ranges. Since overspin is a thing, and that can impact accuracy they elected to give the cartridge a 1:12 twist rate. This limits the cartridge to shooting at most a 55gr bullet.

Twist rate plays a limiting factor when it comes to cartridges like the aforementioned 7mm RUM. It was designed to handle bullets up to 175gr which at the time was a long bullet. Since that time bullets in the 183gr and even up to 197gr weight range have entered the market. If the twist rate had been a little bit slower, this barrel burner may have seen more utility as a long range contender, outside of custom builds.

All this is to say, it does no one any good to try and use a heavier bullet then what the rifle is able to stabilize. While I like my 2600-2800 velocity window, I’m not going to tell someone shooting a 300 RUM to shoot a 250gr bullet just to bring the velocity down to where I like it. The rifle won’t stabilize the bullet, the load won’t fit in the magazine, and the shooter will not be satisfied.

4. To a lesser degree Cartridge Overall Length:

The modern long range cartridges being release have a lot of exposed bullet. The secant and hybrid ogive designs endow these bullets with long noses. The brass case tends to be short and fat to try and provide the powder needed while still fitting within a reasonably sized action. The shoulders are often blown out to a 35 or 40 degree angle which helps to provide just a little extra capacity.

However some of the legacy long range cartridges such as the 300 Win Mag only utilize bullets with short ogives. A shooter loading a modern low drag, high B.C. value bullet will quickly discover that it will not fit in a 300 Win Mag magazine, and in some cases will not chamber in the 300 Win Mag chamber. This is something to be aware of, modern cartridges and chambers designed for long range shooting make accommodations for high B.C. bullets, while adapting older legacy cartridges for long range shots can be difficult as they were designed with the bullets of the time in mind.

Even more modern cartridges like the 338 Lapua Magnum were not forward enough in design and begin to take a back seat to cartridges such as the 338 Norma, which better utilizes the modern ultra sleek bullets.

The reason isn’t always obvious but apparently some people are happy with single feeding bullets. I remember working with an engineer on a bore rider design for 300 Win Mag. It was clear the ogive was far too long to fit in any magazine despite the bullet weight being in that 220-230gr range and having a phenomenal BC. When I pointed that out, he mentioned that there are a class of shooters out there who could careless about feeding from a magazine, and this bullet was for the shooter who appreciated high BC, while accepting the limitations that might bring.

Some Counter Points

I know there are a several counter points my 2600-2800fps window. It’s important to remember I am not saying that this velocity window is the best velocity window bar none. It is just my opinion based on my experience that you get the most bang for you buck that balances bullet weight, BC, barrel life, and overall performance when shooting bullets within this window with the goal of being effective at long range. I also recognize that some cartridges are not designed to to be either shot that fast, or conversely shot that slow, and bullet stability becomes a real issue.

Here are some counter points to my arguments.

“The higher the velocity the higher the BC Value.”

This is very true, a quick glance at either the G1 or G7 curve will show drag becomes quite high when you reach the trans-sonic range and the gradually drops off the faster the bullet is driven. Lower drag means the bullet retains it’s energy longer, and will travel further faster equating to less bullet drop (flatter trajectory) and will be less susceptible to the wind.

My counter argument is how much powder is takes to get there. The theoretical speed limit to modern bullets using our current powders is around 6,500fps. The speed limit is based on the speed of the expansion of the gas created by the burning gun powder. Practical speed limit is somewhere below that, and people are constantly pushing the limits.

The faster you want a cartridge to go, the high the sustained pressure needs to be behind the bullet. The higher the pressure, the higher the temperature of the gases. The higher the temperature, the hotter the barrel steel gets. More then just bullet friction, the extreme temperatures of the barrel gasses begin to erode steel. Each shot may wear just a few microns off the surface, but if the barrel isn’t allowed to completely cool, the next shot get the steel to even hotter temperatures and several more microns may be lost then were on the previous shot. Pretty soon the throat is worn out and the rifle’s performance is diminished.

The closer you get to the theoretical maximum to more the law of diminishing returns applies, that is to say it will take more powder for every fps you hope to gain. Cartridge efficiency, or the ratio of the potential energy contained within the powder, compared to the kinetic energy of the bullet, drops. The loads tend to be loud, and the muzzle blast extreme. Both of those are evidences of a low cartridge efficiency, the sound and blast being physical manifestations of energy that was not transferred to bullet. You can overcome some of this by increasing the length of the barrel, but few people want to carry around 30 or 36 inch barrels these days.

Another way to illistrate the law of diminsing returns is to compare three different cartridges. the 7mm-08, the 7mm Rem Mag, and the 7mm RUM

7mm-08 shooting a 150gr bullet with a 48.5gr powder charge at 2900fps.

7mm Rem Mag shooting a 150gr bullet with a 72.5 powder charge at 3000fps

7mm RUM shooting a 150gr bullet with a 104.5 powder charge at 3225fps

These graph illustrates diminishing returns, in the sense twice the powder, doesn’t equate to twice the velocity. Even though the 7mm RUM runs higher pressure, and it is using slower burning powder, a greater percentage of the potential energy is wasted. When you are on the cutting edge sometimes you don’t care what the cost is to get 1% better performance, but for the vast majority of shooters, chasing performance is waste time and effort that can be used to invest in more practice.

Hopefully with that charts I’ve shown you, i have shown that chasing velocity isn’t everything. While it is true a 30-378 Weatherby can take a 165gr bullet and accelerate it to 3500fps an get outstanding performance at range, the performance is usually much better if it’s pushing a 220gr bullet, or if fitted with a proper twist rate barrel, I bet it would contend with the 300 PRC shooting 250gr pills.

This is perhaps a long winded way to say, if you want the higher B.C start with a bullet that will give you the higher B.C at a reasonable velocity. Do not try and use velocity to overcome poor bullet choice, or bullet design. Always favor a set up that will allow you to practice more rather then a set up that will cost you more to shoot.

“I Need the Extra Velocity for Terminal Performance”

I have approached this from a target shooter’s perspective. I’m only concerned with punching paper. I’m not concerned with ethically killing animals, two legged or otherwise. There can be an argument made that terminal performance requires a high starting velocity, especially when it comes to military applications. However for arguments sake, lets talk about long range hunting.

For the typical hunter going after elk or moose, then I would point out most game is taken at ranges below 300 yards, and 99% of game is taken at ranges under 500 yards. Some of these cartridges (Such as the 7mm RUM) owe market success to hunters over estimating the range they are taking their game. People will regularly boast taking game at 600 or 700 yards, when the actual shot was closer to 200 yards.

Velocity is a crucial component in the energy equation, more so then bullet mass. The amount of energy that is dispersed in an animal is what kills it. In order to transfer this energy efficiently bullets expand, and bullet manufactures design and test bullets within velocity window to ensure reliable expansion. Taking game while the bullet is moving either faster then, or slower then this design window is adverse to bullet performance.

I have heard many complaints of people bringing too much rifle to the hunt and then telling the bullet failed to do it’s job. That the bullet passed through the animal, but didn’t down the animal. Almost always what has occurred is the bullet expanded and the petals sheared off in the animal while the slug continue through. The energy contained within the slug was wasted in the berm behind the target. (There is also the age old argument of LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…hunters often are worse shot’s then they think they are)

In these cases the hunter is better off using a smaller cartridge with more modest velocity, as simply extending the range of the shot usually resulting in a higher percentage of wounded game then hunters who shoot game within the the typical 300 yards. This comes from my observations of shooters who are of above average skill, having difficulty hitting 12in pie plates at 700 yards with a mild to no cross breeze on a cold bore first shot, as is typical in a hunting scenario.

Commercial ammunition manufacturers have some blame here. While it is always up to the hunter to make the final decision if the shot they are going to take with ethically end an animal’s life. Ammunition manufacturers should not be encouraging the behavior. Perhaps one of my darker experiences working as an R&D Engineering Technician was confronting this, and when myself and another engineer protested the development of new long range ammunition specifically for hunters, we were told it that we were out of line to bring up such concerns.

I suppose when you are fine with developing ammunition that is designed to kill two legged trash, or could be used to do so, you don’t get to draw the line on what is or what isn’t ethical. The bottom line is this, with modern bullets and the right ammunition a hunter can take game at anywhere from 50 yards to 700 yards and beyond. However it doesn’t mean a hunter should look to make shots beyond 500 yards. All the energy and terminal performance in the world isn’t going to matter if you miss or wound and animal.

My Concluding Thoughts

I believe that the vast majority of shooters who are looking into long range target shooting will be best served by a cartridge that shoots a high B.C bullet within the 2600-2800fps window. This presents the best balance between barrel life and down range performance.

Cartridges that boast velocities over 3000fps have their merit, especially ranges beyond 1200 yards but for 95% of shooters, ranges that allow 1200+ yard shots are hard to come by, and these cartridges are expensive, the rifles are large and heavy, and with cartridges like the 375 or 408 Cheytac, if you can afford to shoot out a barrel you can probably afford to replace it when it is time.

There are many fine cartridges that regularly shoot 3000fps or better some such as the 5.56x45mm/223 Remington even have excellent barrel life. Other examples may include 22-250, 204 Ruger, 17 Fireball, 300 Win Mag, 338 Lapua Magnum, 25-06, 7mm Rem Mag and 6.5 Creedmoor with some loads. Those examples are just the tip of the ice berg. My point is not to take away from those cartridges or loads, they are just not the best choices for long range performance.

In many, but not all instances, you are better off loading the heaviest and highest B.C. bullet those rifles can stabilize to reduce the velocity, closer to my Ideal window of 2700fps +/-100fps , rather then going with a light bullet and maximizing velocity. Running ballistic tables, will show you what is best for your rifle. With that said, you should not reduce your load by reducing the load density below 80%, or using a slower powder then typical, as both those remedies can result in inconsistent velocities or in very rare instances, a secondary explosion event (SEE).

If you are looking to develop a load for long range shooting and are looking to push velocity, hopefully I have made some reasonable arguments as to why you might reconsider and instead go with a little heavier bullet. If you are like me, and have been at this game for a bit, and have made some of your own observation and have your own thoughts on this, I’d love to hear them. Shoot me an email at jayandrew338@gmail.com or post them on Facebook.