What is the best low recoil, flat shooting round for punching paper?

F23Blackwidow2 · April 1, 2013, 11:13 AM

I'm looking into a gun purely for the range, and want a flat shooting round I can shoot all day, then reload at home for low cost. I've heard some of the .22 cal carriages are nice, but I want to stay away from the .223/.556 because of the insane prices in the market today. (Plus I already own an AR)

Thanks,
Ken B.

Geo_Erudite · April 1, 2013, 11:41 AM

Anything in the 6mm family would be ideal for you. If I was looking in that family I would have to decide between the 6mm Remington or the 6mm XC. 6mm Remington brass isn't manufactured by high-end manufacturers. Norma manufactures 6mm XC brass, and is the only one doing so. Also, if you want to shoot the 110+ grain bullets in the 6 mm family, you will need a barrel twist rate of 1:7.

If you are shooting 600 meters or less, I would also look into the 6.5 Grendel. I know it was designed for the AR-15, but it would be an interesting cartridge in a bolt action. Quite a few companies carry brass for it, and with a high BC 123 grain bullet it is hard to beat. It has very low recoil, and you could shoot it all day.

Buzzcook · April 1, 2013, 11:52 AM

If you're not shooting over 500yds then the .204 Ruger is worth looking at.

TxFlyFish · April 1, 2013, 11:54 AM

5.45x39 dirt cheap, low recoil, flat shooting

eldermike · April 1, 2013, 11:54 AM

I would not rule out the 222. It's very accurate, easy to load and low cost to shoot. However, 6mm PPC is king of close to medium range paper shooting and everyting else comes after that.

Liambobbi · April 1, 2013, 01:09 PM

6.5 x 47 lapua

kraigwy · April 1, 2013, 01:20 PM

243, no recoil, cheap to reload for. Super Accurate out to 1200 yards or so.

Also great deer/antelope round if you decide to go hunting.

Scorch · April 1, 2013, 01:21 PM

Go with 223. Since you already own an AR, you will have interchangeability of the ammo. The 223 is accurate, cheap (generally), and flat-shooting out to 350-ish yds.

jmr40 · April 1, 2013, 02:35 PM

I'd still recommend 223 for your uses. The ammo craziness is temporary and it will always be cheaper than any other options. A 243 would be my 2nd choice.

Nathan · April 1, 2013, 02:44 PM

Something 6mm caliber has several advantages.

6mm bullets are one of the first to rebound after the panic.

243 Win powders don't so well in 223 or 308, so they are becoming available.

Post panic, 6mm match bullets are the most accurate for short range paper punching. Over 300 yards, generally speaking, 6.5 or .308 is better.

Why flat shooting for paper?

Range: 0-300, 600, 1000, 1700?

BigD_in_FL · April 1, 2013, 02:58 PM

For one-hole groups, it is hard to beat the 6mm BR. Mild recoil, scary accuracy and you really don't need a custom 10#+ rifle. A model 7 with a 20" bull barrel which will also work for coyotes, whitetails and antelope, will punch one ragged hole all day long

F23Blackwidow2 · April 1, 2013, 04:09 PM

kraigwy~ 243, no recoil, cheap to reload for. Super Accurate out to 1200 yards or so.

Is it really that good? What kind of B.C. are we talking about hear?

And the .223 out to 300 is covered by the AR quite well, 1.5 M.O.A. average, although sub 1 is common. So I'm looking for a 500+.

kraigwy · April 1, 2013, 04:38 PM

Yeap the 243 is really that good. For targets I use 87 gr Berger's, BC G1 .412, G7 .211. running about 3000 fps they stay supersonic beyond 1200 yards and accurate in my wife's Model 70.

It's a 1:10 twist, if you go with a faster twist you can get heavier bullets that increases that range.

Many a good 1000 yards scores were posted with a 243.

As to 223s, I shoot 80 SMK's at 600 and 1000 in my Service Rifle (AR w/White Oak upper, 1:7 twist. Berger 90 grns are suppose to work well but I haven't tried them at 1000 yet.

Jim Watson · April 1, 2013, 05:09 PM

For 600 yards, I'd get a good bolt action .223 with a 7 to 8 twist for 80 grain bullets.

If you want Something Different, the 6mmBR looks good. Accurate and with less recoil and longer barrel life than .243 Win.

steveNChunter · April 1, 2013, 06:23 PM

Stay away from the .243 if you want to shoot alot of rounds at the range. You will be replacing the barrel every time you turn around.

.223 is still a good option since you're reloading, but if you want something else, a 6.5/.264 caliber round would do well. 6.5 creedmoor or .260 rem. Brass for the .260 is probably cheaper since its in the .308 family.

guntech59 · April 1, 2013, 06:44 PM

Sounds like a 22-250 fits the bill.

I think Savage makes one with a 1-10" or 1-9" twist for the heavier bullets. Mine is a 1-14" twist and will stabilize up to the 60 Partition.

tahunua001 · April 1, 2013, 06:51 PM

if you already own an AR and don't want 223, then how about a 22-250?
shoots faster and flatter than the AR but still uses those easy to find, lightweight and low recoiling 224 bullets

steveNChunter · April 1, 2013, 07:42 PM

.22-250 is another notorious barrel burner

Pilot · April 1, 2013, 07:46 PM

Flat shooting round, that can be shot all day, at ranges over 600 yards are three requirements that need materials in the realm of Unobtanium. Pick two.

If you want to "shoot all day" you are talking about .223, .222, etc. If you want flat shooting, over 600 yards, you've already got some good suggestions, but get a good shoulder pad or two.

F23Blackwidow2 · April 1, 2013, 09:13 PM

Are we talking about the .243 WIN or .243 WSSM? What's the difference?
And how's the .270 WSM and .WIN?

F23Blackwidow2 · April 1, 2013, 09:14 PM

It would also be nice if I could use it for long range varminting. I'm sure all the rounds will cover this, but just to put it out there.

FrankenMauser · April 2, 2013, 12:30 AM

If you're just punching paper, you don't need to worry about the "flat shooting" aspect.

Pick a "low recoiling" cartridge, and call it a day.

steveNChunter · April 2, 2013, 04:17 AM

Brass for .270 wsm won't be very cheap, and either one will probably have a little more recoil than you will want to shoot all day.

Quote:

Pick a "low recoiling" cartridge, and call it a day.

I agree, as long as its not something you plan on shooting up near or past 4000fps with. .222 rem or .22 hornet are decent alternatives in the .224 caliber bullet.

F23Blackwidow2 · April 2, 2013, 07:51 AM

FrankenMauser, the reason I want a flat shooting round is so I can varmint hunt with it. I'm not very good at range estimation, and I'm not going to spend money on a range finder any time soon...

Geo_Erudite · April 2, 2013, 09:28 AM

The more I think about this thread, the more appealing the 6.5 Grendel becomes. As I stated before, it was designed for the AR-15 platform which constrains it to a lower pressures. The 6.5 Grendel has 8.9 ft/lbs of recoil when you are shooting a 120 grain bullet at 2,600 fps. That is very low recoil. Lapua, Hornady, and Nosler (Nosler start making brass this summer) make brass for this cartridge. Lapua and Hornady also make 6.5 mm 123 grain high BC bullets for cartridges like the Grendel.

This would be my choice for a low recoil gun out to 600 meters.

April 1, 2013, 11:13 AM	#1
F23Blackwidow2 Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: NY, sadly. Posts: 80	What is the best low recoil, flat shooting round for punching paper? I'm looking into a gun purely for the range, and want a flat shooting round I can shoot all day, then reload at home for low cost. I've heard some of the .22 cal carriages are nice, but I want to stay away from the .223/.556 because of the insane prices in the market today. (Plus I already own an AR) Thanks, Ken B. __________________ Just a young guy that likes old cars and straight shooting guns

April 1, 2013, 01:20 PM	#7
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	243, no recoil, cheap to reload for. Super Accurate out to 1200 yards or so. Also great deer/antelope round if you decide to go hunting. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

April 1, 2013, 01:21 PM	#8
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Go with 223. Since you already own an AR, you will have interchangeability of the ammo. The 223 is accurate, cheap (generally), and flat-shooting out to 350-ish yds. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

April 1, 2013, 04:09 PM	#12
F23Blackwidow2 Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: NY, sadly. Posts: 80	kraigwy~ 243, no recoil, cheap to reload for. Super Accurate out to 1200 yards or so. Is it really that good? What kind of B.C. are we talking about hear? And the .223 out to 300 is covered by the AR quite well, 1.5 M.O.A. average, although sub 1 is common. So I'm looking for a 500+. __________________ Just a young guy that likes old cars and straight shooting guns

April 1, 2013, 04:38 PM	#13
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Yeap the 243 is really that good. For targets I use 87 gr Berger's, BC G1 .412, G7 .211. running about 3000 fps they stay supersonic beyond 1200 yards and accurate in my wife's Model 70. It's a 1:10 twist, if you go with a faster twist you can get heavier bullets that increases that range. Many a good 1000 yards scores were posted with a 243. As to 223s, I shoot 80 SMK's at 600 and 1000 in my Service Rifle (AR w/White Oak upper, 1:7 twist. Berger 90 grns are suppose to work well but I haven't tried them at 1000 yet. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

April 1, 2013, 11:41 AM	#2
Geo_Erudite Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: SE WI Posts: 158	Anything in the 6mm family would be ideal for you. If I was looking in that family I would have to decide between the 6mm Remington or the 6mm XC. 6mm Remington brass isn't manufactured by high-end manufacturers. Norma manufactures 6mm XC brass, and is the only one doing so. Also, if you want to shoot the 110+ grain bullets in the 6 mm family, you will need a barrel twist rate of 1:7. If you are shooting 600 meters or less, I would also look into the 6.5 Grendel. I know it was designed for the AR-15, but it would be an interesting cartridge in a bolt action. Quite a few companies carry brass for it, and with a high BC 123 grain bullet it is hard to beat. It has very low recoil, and you could shoot it all day.

April 1, 2013, 11:52 AM	#3
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	If you're not shooting over 500yds then the .204 Ruger is worth looking at.

April 1, 2013, 11:54 AM	#4
TxFlyFish Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2011 Posts: 1,246	5.45x39 dirt cheap, low recoil, flat shooting

April 1, 2013, 11:54 AM	#5
eldermike Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 545	I would not rule out the 222. It's very accurate, easy to load and low cost to shoot. However, 6mm PPC is king of close to medium range paper shooting and everyting else comes after that.

April 1, 2013, 01:09 PM	#6
Liambobbi Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Posts: 51	6.5 x 47 lapua

April 1, 2013, 02:35 PM	#9
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	I'd still recommend 223 for your uses. The ammo craziness is temporary and it will always be cheaper than any other options. A 243 would be my 2nd choice.

April 1, 2013, 02:44 PM	#10
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	Something 6mm caliber has several advantages. 6mm bullets are one of the first to rebound after the panic. 243 Win powders don't so well in 223 or 308, so they are becoming available. Post panic, 6mm match bullets are the most accurate for short range paper punching. Over 300 yards, generally speaking, 6.5 or .308 is better. Why flat shooting for paper? Range: 0-300, 600, 1000, 1700?

April 1, 2013, 02:58 PM	#11
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	For one-hole groups, it is hard to beat the 6mm BR. Mild recoil, scary accuracy and you really don't need a custom 10#+ rifle. A model 7 with a 20" bull barrel which will also work for coyotes, whitetails and antelope, will punch one ragged hole all day long

April 1, 2013, 05:09 PM	#14
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	For 600 yards, I'd get a good bolt action .223 with a 7 to 8 twist for 80 grain bullets. If you want Something Different, the 6mmBR looks good. Accurate and with less recoil and longer barrel life than .243 Win.

April 1, 2013, 06:23 PM	#15
steveNChunter Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns Posts: 1,520	Stay away from the .243 if you want to shoot alot of rounds at the range. You will be replacing the barrel every time you turn around. .223 is still a good option since you're reloading, but if you want something else, a 6.5/.264 caliber round would do well. 6.5 creedmoor or .260 rem. Brass for the .260 is probably cheaper since its in the .308 family. __________________ DEO VINDICE

April 1, 2013, 06:44 PM	#16
guntech59 Junior Member Join Date: March 15, 2013 Posts: 5	Sounds like a 22-250 fits the bill. I think Savage makes one with a 1-10" or 1-9" twist for the heavier bullets. Mine is a 1-14" twist and will stabilize up to the 60 Partition.

April 1, 2013, 06:51 PM	#17
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	if you already own an AR and don't want 223, then how about a 22-250? shoots faster and flatter than the AR but still uses those easy to find, lightweight and low recoiling 224 bullets __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

April 1, 2013, 07:42 PM	#18
steveNChunter Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns Posts: 1,520	.22-250 is another notorious barrel burner __________________ DEO VINDICE

April 1, 2013, 07:46 PM	#19
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 4,193	Flat shooting round, that can be shot all day, at ranges over 600 yards are three requirements that need materials in the realm of Unobtanium. Pick two. If you want to "shoot all day" you are talking about .223, .222, etc. If you want flat shooting, over 600 yards, you've already got some good suggestions, but get a good shoulder pad or two. __________________ Pilot

April 1, 2013, 09:13 PM	#20
F23Blackwidow2 Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: NY, sadly. Posts: 80	Are we talking about the .243 WIN or .243 WSSM? What's the difference? And how's the .270 WSM and .WIN? __________________ Just a young guy that likes old cars and straight shooting guns

April 1, 2013, 09:14 PM	#21
F23Blackwidow2 Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: NY, sadly. Posts: 80	It would also be nice if I could use it for long range varminting. I'm sure all the rounds will cover this, but just to put it out there. __________________ Just a young guy that likes old cars and straight shooting guns

April 2, 2013, 12:30 AM	#22
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	If you're just punching paper, you don't need to worry about the "flat shooting" aspect. Pick a "low recoiling" cartridge, and call it a day. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

April 2, 2013, 07:51 AM	#24
F23Blackwidow2 Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: NY, sadly. Posts: 80	FrankenMauser, the reason I want a flat shooting round is so I can varmint hunt with it. I'm not very good at range estimation, and I'm not going to spend money on a range finder any time soon... __________________ Just a young guy that likes old cars and straight shooting guns

April 2, 2013, 09:28 AM	#25
Geo_Erudite Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: SE WI Posts: 158	The more I think about it... The more I think about this thread, the more appealing the 6.5 Grendel becomes. As I stated before, it was designed for the AR-15 platform which constrains it to a lower pressures. The 6.5 Grendel has 8.9 ft/lbs of recoil when you are shooting a 120 grain bullet at 2,600 fps. That is very low recoil. Lapua, Hornady, and Nosler (Nosler start making brass this summer) make brass for this cartridge. Lapua and Hornady also make 6.5 mm 123 grain high BC bullets for cartridges like the Grendel. This would be my choice for a low recoil gun out to 600 meters.