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Most long range shooters are shooting some sort of 6.5, .30, or .338 caliber. This is due to the high b.c. bullets available for these calibers. If you're shooting to 500 yards I wouldn't consider the .338 mainly because to get the high b.c you're looking at 300g SMK bullets and some nice recoil to go with it. A 6.5 shooting 142SMK or 140 Amax or other match bullets (Lapua's, Bergers, etc.) will shoot flatter and have less drift (when shot at the same velocity) as most of the .30's. To get better in a .30 you have to shoot a 220 or 240g bullet. You don't need that at 500 yds.
All that being said, look at the winners of the latest 1000yd bencrest comps and notice the number of 6.5x284's. The reason people shoot them is because they are inherently accurate and can shoot the high bc 140's over 3000fps without the big recoil.
Again, you really don't need a 6.5 to shoot to 500yds. As posted earlier another good choice would be a 243AI with a high bc. bullet but then again, once you kill something at 500, you're going to want to shoot to 700, then to 1000, then you're into a whole new ball game. (Trust me, that's how I wound up with the 6.5) As far as accuracy you can reasonably expect a 6.5x284 from a competant gunsmith and good shooter to shoot under MOA at 500yds mine shoots 3 shots into 2" at that distance. The 6.5 will kill ghogs as far as you can find them and will kill deer sized game quickly at over 800yds. I'm sure further, but I haven't shot one that far away yet so I won't say for sure. I also know the big .30's are impressive over 800 yards and we'll soon have a .338Tomahawk to use so we'll keep you posted.
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