Flattest Shooting?

So...

So basically you all are saying that the .260 or 6.5 mm rounds are the best, but are extremely expensive right? Although I am wanting to get into reloading, $1 a shot seems pretty high. I believe I'll probably stick with the .270, as I believe the cartridges are a lot cheaper, there is a wider variety of guns, and there is a large range of bullet grains I can reload into it for different game/targets. If you all didn't know, I'm still in college and probably won't have a lot of money for the initial expenses of all this stuff once I graduate. Just saying, I'm not made of money. :D
 
Flattest shooting? Over what distance? Just guessing, without referring to ballistics tables: Out to 350-ish yds, I would say the 17 Remington. Out to 400 yds, the 204 Ruger. Out to 1000 yds, 338 Lapua or 338 RUM. Out to 1,500 yds, .50 BMG. You see, initial (muzzle) velocity is only part of the equation, average velocity enters into the equation. So even though a 17 Rem or 204 Ruger have much higher muzzle velocity, beyong 300 or 400 yds their velocity quickly drops and they start to head for dirt. 50 BMG may start out slower, but 1 mile later it shoots flatter, in fact it is still traveling well beyond supersonic.
 
@scorch, I'm just looking for an all-around caliber that shoots flat at most all distances, and is relatively cheap, and easy to find in a gun. It seems that the .270 fits the bill both for good flat shooting and affordable bullets, along with readily available guns.
 
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.264 win mag

I've not read all posts, and have not gone to the manuals, but I'm thinking over 300 yds, with a same-same zero, in a big game caliber, with big game bullet, that the .264 Win Mag may be the flattest.

Not common, but it may be tops.

Somebody look it up a see.
 
I have to agree that the .270 is the closest fit to what you are looking for. Low recoil, decent power, and plenty of rifles and ammo that can be found anywhere. Very traditional hunting round. Unfortunately, there is no "do it all" cartridge that doesn't have some major drawbacks in one form or another, ie big recoil, big price tag per round, scarce ammo, barrel burner, or all of the above. My next closest sugestion would probably be .260 Rem. or, the ol' 30-06 that has truly standed the test of time.
 
I'd go .270. the .243 is great and recoil is VERY light, but the .270 shoots flat like a .243 but carries a bigger punch (more energy) with not much more recoil. Either way is good, a .25-06 might be worth looking at as a "in-between" choice...Good luck
 
In "everything from deer to elk and target too" you can't beat a 6.5x55 Swede. Every manufacturer makes it with top-grade hunting bullets or get cheap range stuff from Prvi. You can get surplus '96 Mausers for a couple hundred or the Blaser for 10k. The round has been in continuous production for over a 100 years, and isn't going to go away anytime soon.
 
My favorite "flat" shooter is the 7MM Rem Mag. Another plus is it can be used w/ 120 grain bullets for coyotes to 175 grain bullets for moose, and still shoot "flater" than most all calibers, especially if you reload and get the velocity peaked.
 
"I'm thinking that the .243 or the .270".

I am thinking your on the right track. A .270 will do you fine. Remember that this will not be your last rifle! It only gets worst from here on out! LOL:D

A .270, .243, 7mm Mag and a 30.06 are great deer hunting choices.

As far as flattest shooting? I would more then likely go with a 22-250 but, that is not going to help in the deer hunting area unless your taking head shots only!:eek:
 
Wait a minute, how can it only get worse from a .270? Does that mean it really isn't a good choice for a gun? Because I'm looking for a caliber that is capable of shooting flat trajectories with not only light loads (target practice/varmit hunting) but also heavy grain bullets (elk/deer). Does that help clear up my problem (p.s. I'm going to reload whatever caliber I get so I can get these various bullet grains/powder charges the way I'd like to).
 
Wait a minute, how can it only get worse from a .270? Does that mean it really isn't a good choice for a gun?
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As I see it, part of the "problem" with some of the responses you're getting stems from the question you posed in your initial post: "...In your all's opinion, what caliber bullet shoots the 'flattest'? I.E. The least amount of bullet drop from distance to distance..." Some posters are only responding to "what's the flattest", irrespective of how practical, available or cheap the cartridge is; ergo, suggestions like mine (the .257 Weatherby Magnum) were posted-not an especially available or cheap alternative, but certainly offering a very flat trajectory.
When caveats like the cartridge being relatively cheap to shoot, having manageable recoil, being fairly "flat" shooting and being available at the local WalMart are thrown into the mix, the .270 Winchester becomes a much more viable candidate for the purpose(s) you outlined.
However, if you want the "flattest" shooting cartridge that is readily available, relatively affordable and having moderate recoil, I'll stick with my earlier recommendation: the 7mm Remington Magnum.
 
"Does that mean it really isn't a good choice for a gun?"

Nope, means that at some point you'll want something different. Not "better", just different.

For instance, if I'm in a serious mood about horns and a larger deer, and hunting in wide-open country, I'll grab my '06, since I know it's good to 400 and 500 yards. If I'm just sorta messing around, about halfway pot-hunting, I'm not gonna bother with any long shot. I'll generally take my .243 carbine.

If I'm gonna go up to Colorado and do mean things to prairie dogs, I'll take some sort of small centerfire or at most the .243.

A .270 is real easy to load for. Just fill the case with 4831 and seat the 130-grain bullet and go ruin Bambi. Not quite a max load, but Bambi never knew the difference. :)
 
Wait a minute, how can it only get worse from a .270?
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No I only meant that your not going to stop at buying one gun and worse meaning your pocket book is not going to like it! LOL

Both the .270 and .243 would make for good choices in a deer gun.
 
Although I am wanting to get into reloading, $1 a shot seems pretty high.
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You're kidding right? $20/box is way less than standard these days. Good, premium ammo typically runs $30-$40/box and up.


I'm thinking over 300 yds, with a same-same zero, in a big game caliber, with big game bullet, that the .264 Win Mag may be the flattest.
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Bamaranger, I also like the idea of a .264. it shoots a 130grn bullet at 3100fps. However, they say you only get about 1000 rounds out of a barrel before it burns the throat. I'm thinking that if a reloader backed it down to about 3000fps, then that may turn the .264WM into a great shooter.
 
Yep, ask for opinions and you'll get myriad answers!

Start out with a .270 and you'll be set for a long time. Yes, eventually you'll WANT something else to go with it, but you won't really NEED something else.
Anything you choose will have a compromise on one point or another, but overall, the .270WIN covers more of your criteria than anything else. Again, you're covered from varmint to elk. It's known as a flat shooting round. Easy to find, affordable ammo. Mild recoil, relatively speaking. Just about every gun maker offers their rifles in .270.
There's good reason the .270 is so popular and has been for many years!

EDIT: Just saw your last post:
so would you recommend buying the premium ammo first regardless of caliber so I'll have good brass to reload?
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Not really needed. I'd bet the brass used in Remington CoreLokt ($18 a box) is just as good as the brass used in Federal Premium ($40 a box).

I'd recommend buying standard Remington/Winchester ammo to practice with. Save the brass for reloading. Maybe buy a bag or two of new Remngton or Winchester brass. I am of the opinion that the average person won't get a huge benefit from expensive brass (Norma, etc).
 
@Doyle
so would you recommend buying the premium ammo first regardless of caliber so I'll have good brass to reload?
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I don't know that premium ammo gives you any better quality brass as long as you are sticking to the name-brand stuff. Some reloaders do prefer a certain brand of brass over another, but within a certain manufacturer I'm pretty sure that they use the same brass regardless of the bullet it is loaded with. I don't think I'd ever want to use any brass from the low-end stuff that comes from eastern Europe.

When I'm talking premium ammo I'm talking about the better quality bullets from a major manufacturer. Take Federal for instance. In .308 (one of the most common calibers) Federal offers the standard blue-box Power-Shok for about $20/box. On the high end of that same caliber Federal sells cartridges loaded with Barnes MRX bullets. Those go for about $53/box. While I haven't closely examined fired brass from those two extremes I'd be surprised if they were not the same.
 
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