What Caliber For Accuracy At 500 yards?

[Adirondacks]

I wouldn't discount the 25-06.
At that range a good marriage of
flat shooting and heavy enough bullets
to buck some wind would be just the
ticket. I'd say that the 25-06 would
fill the bill on both counts.

[Boyd Heaton]

For game animals up to deer size out to 500 yards.The 6br of one of its knock off's would fit the bill fine.For elk,bear and moose size game to 500 I would chose the 300 wsm.IMHO

[brandoneh297]

The most accurate caliber by far is the .338 lupua. It holds almost every long distance record. People actually use it to join something they call the 'grand slam club'. In order to get in you have to kill a groundhog or similar animal at 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 yards! It even holds the long distance kill shot record at over 3,200 yards! The only problem is that it's very costly, the rifles start around $1,500 and go up to over $10,000. You could also go with a .50bmg but thats just way to much firepower. Skip talbot shot a 3 shot 2 and half inch group at 1000 yards with it though.

[Boyd Heaton]

The most accurate caliber by far is the .338 lupua. It holds almost every long distance record.

Records for what???

[Lone Star]

All things considered, the .308 is difficult to beat. It is not as good a varmint cartridge as the .22s, 24s or 25s, but it is at the top of the heap in long range accuracy. It is less expensive than the big 30s (the .338s are so limited in usefullness they can be discounted) to load and shoot, dies are readily availabel as is good brass. The latter is the downfall of many like the .25-06, high quality brass is essential for long range accuracy. The .25-06 is accurate to a point, but not in the same class at long range as the .308 is. This is the same fault with the .30-06, it cannot compete with the .308 at long range - this has been proven for decades in competition. The reason is inconsistent ignition and a high ES. 110-to 130-grain varmint bullets at 3000-3200 fps is a decent varmint load, and the various 155 to 200-grain MK bullets are proven to excel at 600-1000 yards.

The factory .22s do okay at 500 yards, but they cannot reach 1000 yards accurately- they will require a special fast-twist barrel and high-BC bullets, ditto the 6mms; the 6.5s are very good, but a .260 Remington is plenty for 500, based on actual results in competition. The .338 Lapua has a much better press than it does performance, and who wants to put up with the cost and recoil - it stops being fun after awhile.

Good luck whatever you choose, just remember the old Texas rule - if it isn't fun, then you've wasted your money.

[JackRabbit]

The 270 is a good choice as well, with medium recoil and excelent accuracy.Good on deer,varmits or off the bench.

[royinidaho]

Target accurate varmint rifle:

To guarantee this its about gotta be a at least a semi custom. That is trued action and fitted high quality barrell plus a really decent bedding job.

Action would be savage or rem.

Barrel would be up a grade from douglas say a Lilja.

Cartridge could be a couple of choices:

Top of the list would be 6mmBR or 6mm Dasher and shoot the 107gr bullets. Dirt cheap to shoot once set up and good to twice 500 yds.

Second choice and probably way more exciting would be something like a 22 243 Ackley Improved. Then shoot the Wildcat 100 gr bullet at about 3200. Also good to twice 500 yds. Built properly it'll be competition accurate. Need at least a 7" twist though.

I'm using a 338 Win for fairly long range yotes this winter. Expect it to be a bit much, even more than a 300 Win but what the heck, its accurate enough and I can shoot it well enough but for yoting one of the above will replace it one of these days or maybe even a bigger case.

[Evan03]

you can do this with about an good centerrfire action.

remmys are the most common rifle to build a custom on. i think they just plain SUCK lol.

but actions are dime dozen

i wouldnt discount ruger or howa savage remmy winchester

id also look into cooper rifles. these are single shot bolt actions that many think are worth there weight in gold.

i think the link is
www.cooperarms.com