Sniper Rifle Chamberings: Factors Influencing Suitability

Long-range precision shooting is commonly done with rifle platforms colloquially known as “sniper rifles,” and the shooting discipline takes years and years of training to develop proficiency. 

Moreover, it is not just the training and the suitability of the rifle platform itself to the discipline, but the cartridge chosen for it, that will impact accuracy at extreme ranges. Some cartridges make good sniper rifle cartridges (and ELR rifle cartridges) and many do not. 

Let’s take a closer look.

What Should a Sniper Rifle Cartridge Offer?

There are several attributes of a potentially effective sniper rifle cartridge, including the following: 

• High muzzle velocity and energy.
• High ballistic coefficient, resulting in minimal drop and drift. 
• Retained energy to the target. 
• The ability to remain supersonic for longer. 
• Bullets that exhibit superior radial symmetry for a high degree of accuracy. 

So now let’s take a closer look at some cartridges that are commonly used in sniper rifle chamberings. 

.50 BMG 

The .50 BMG cartridge is currently the oldest cartridge in use by the US military, and it has a long history of use as a sniper rifle cartridge. Primarily used for anti-materiel applications, including as an anti-aircraft round, the .50 BMG delivers immense stopping power and can be used to execute shots in excess of 2000 yards. 

.338 LM

Developed in 1983 to fill a role somewhere between the .50 BMG and .300 Win Mag cartridges, the .338 Lapua was created with the intention of being able to penetrate 5 layers of military grade body armor at 1000 meters. It delivers high sectional density and ballistic coefficient and is credited with some of the longest confirmed kills by snipers in history. In addition to being an excellent sniper rifle cartridge, the .338 LM is a great cartridge for sporting applications, such as big game hunting at extreme ranges. 

.300 WM

The .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge is a great all-around sniper rifle cartridge even though it produces less energy than .50 BMG and .338 Lapua. Developed primarily for big game hunting, the .300 WM cartridge produces more energy than the .30-06 and, loaded with appropriate bullets, can achieve an effective range of close to 1500 yards. 

.375 CT

The .375 CT cartridge, developed by Cheyenne Tactical and paired with the M200 Intervention, is a special ELR cartridge loaded with CNC-machined, solid copper bullets that are called “Balanced Flight Projectiles” capable of remaining supersonic to a target out to 2500m, giving it an amazingly long effective range, and making it one of the most accurate sniper rifle cartridges on the market. 

.408 CT

The .408 CT is actually the predecessor to the .375 that is its cousin and offers pretty much the same performance except for the fact that it is loaded with larger, heavier bullets. Consequently, it doesn’t shoot as flat, though it does retain more energy to the target, making it potentially more effective as an anti-materiel round. 

6.5 Creedmoor

Not necessarily dedicated as a sniper rifle cartridge, the 6.5 Creedmoor produces little recoil and shooters flatter than the .308 Winchester, with an effective range of approximately 1000 yards. Though smaller and lighter than many of the cartridges mentioned here, its great effective range makes it a solid option for hunters that need to execute long shots.

.308 Winchester

Cheap and available, and with a significantly shorter effective range than the other sniper rifle cartridges mentioned here, the .308 Winchester is still a reliable staple, and one that can make an effective chambering if the rifle in question is only going to be used for intermediate range shots. With all of this being said, for true ELR shooting, there are better options.

Explore Sniper Rifles and Ammo at B&B Firearms

Interested in learning more about sniper rifles from CheyTac, McMillan, Accuracy International, Barrett, and other industry leaders? Visit B&B Firearms; they carry some of the best rifles in the industry at competitive prices and even offer an interest-free purchasing plan on many models, something you aren’t likely going to run into elsewhere.

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