Sniper Rifle Ammunition
Contents
Popular NATO Sniper Rifle Cartridges
308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO)
The T-65 cartridge was introduced in the 1950s as a shortened 30-06 with the same caliber bullet. The new case length is 51mm. In 1957 the US Army adopted the M14 rifle in this 7.62x51mm round.
30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm NATO)
This cartridge has also been known as the 30 Government M'06 and is made from an adapted 30-03 back in 1906 for the Springfield model 1903 Service Rifle.
The 30-06 is a longer, at 63mm, than the 308 and can hold more powder. The 30-06 was superseded by the 7.62x51mm (308 Win) but in Europe the 30-06, designated 7.62x63mm, is still widely used.
The 30-06 is considered the most flexible, useful, all around big game cartridge available to North American hunters. Although loads up to 220 grain may be used, many expert hunters consider 180 grain loads the best choice for a wide variety of medium to heavy game under almost any hunting condition. The 220 grain load is generally recommended for large African game, but remains inadequate for the heaviest species.
300 Winchester Magnum (7.62x67mm)
Introduced in 1963, the 300 Winchester Magnum is considered in the same class as the 300 Weatherby and suitable for any North American game.
The U.S. Army is upgrading its M24 bolt-action sniper rifles to fire the .300 Winchester magnum (7.62x67) round. They will become known as the M24E1. The rifle previously fired the less power 7.62x51mm round.
The 308, 30-06, and 300 Win Mag Debate
Some of these points vary depending upon source and so called expert opinion. Here is a culmination of various talking points from different sources.
- the .300 Winchester Magnum is superior to the 308 [7.62x51 NATO]'
- The 30-06 is a longer cartridge than the 308 and can hold more powder
- The 308 has slightly less power but was a good compromise
- The M1A is a civilian legal semi auto M14
- 30.06 =7.62 X 63mm long
- 7.62mm = 7.62 X 51mm long
- Reports that 7.62 X 51mm is slightly more accurate
- 7.62x51 (.308) is 180 grains. The 7.62x63 (.30-'06) can load 220 grain
- The .30-06 round has more power (barely) and theoretically longer range
- More precision ammunition is made for the .308 Winchester rifle.
- The .308 also has less recoil and barrel life will be longer,
- The .308 is a short-action rifle that is less expensive and more common
- .308 win. and 7.62x51mm/NATO are technically different and arguably interchangeable
- there is a larger variety of ammo types offered for the 30-06 than any of the .308 win. and 7.62x51mm/NATO combined.
- The .300 Winchester Magnum military designation is (7.62x67)
- The US Army is upgrading .308 (7.62x51 NATO) to .300 Win Mag (7.62x67)
Sniper Long Range Ammunition
Cartridge Weight fps Description .223 Rem 69 gr 2800 69gr HPBT Match .223 Rem 75 gr 2700 75gr HPBT Match (Hornady T1) .223 Rem 77 gr 2680 77gr HPBT Match .223 Rem 80 gr 2650 80gr HPBT Match .223 Rem 90 gr 2600 90gr HPBT Match 5.56x45 NATO 69 gr 2800 69gr HPBT .260 Rem 123 gr 2800 123gr HPBT Match (Lapua Scenar) .260 Rem 142 gr 2700 142gr HPBT Match 6.5x55 142 gr 2700 142gr HPBT Match 6.5x284 Norma 142 gr 2840 142gr HPBT Match 6.8 SPC 110 gr 2680 110gr VMax 6.8 SPC 115 gr 2625 115gr HPBT Match 7mm Rem Mag 162 gr 2950 162gr Amax Match 7mm Rem Mag 168 gr 2950 168gr Berger VLD Match 7mm Rem Mag 168 gr 2950 168gr HPBT Match .308 Win 155 gr 2860 155gr HPBT Palma Match .308 Win 155 gr 2875 155gr Amax Match .308 Win 155 gr 2860 155gr HPBT VLD Palma Match .308 Win 168 gr 2600 168gr Amax Match .308 Win 168 gr 2625 168gr Berger VLD Match .308 Win 168 gr 2625 168gr HPBT Match .308 Win 175 gr 1090 175gr HPBT-Match Sub-Sonic Moly .308 Win 175 gr 2600 175gr HPBT Match .308 Win 178 gr 2600 178gr A-Max Match .308 Win 190 gr 2500 190gr HPBT Match 7.62x51 NATO 168 gr 2625 168gr AMAX Match 7.62x51 NATO 168 gr 2625 168gr HPBT Match 7.62x51 NATO 175 gr 2580 175gr HPBT M118LR Equiv. .30-06 Spr 168 gr 2790 168gr HPBT Match .30-06 Spr 175 gr 2650 175gr HPBT Match .30-06 Spr 190 gr 2600 190gr HPBT Match .30-06 Spr 208 gr 2700 208gr AMAX Match .300 WSM 178 gr 2900 178gr AMAX Match .300 Win Mag 168 gr 3150 168gr HPBT Match .300 Win Mag 185 gr 3100 185gr D46 FMJBT Match .300 Win Mag 190 gr 2900 190gr HPBT Match .300 Win Mag 200 gr 2850 200gr HPBT Match .300 Win Mag 210 gr 3050 210gr Berger Hunting VLD .300 Win Mag 220 gr 2836 220gr HPBT Match (Mk248Mod1) .338 Lapua 230 gr 3137 230gr T-50 Match (Solid) .338 Lapua 250 gr 2911 250gr HPBT Match .338 Lapua 300 gr 2735 300gr HPBT Match .338 RUM 230 gr x 230gr T-50 Match (Solid) .338 RUM 250 gr x 250gr HPBT Match .338 RUM 300 gr x 300gr HPBT Match .338-378 Weath 230 gr x 230gr T-50 Match (Solid) .338-378 Weath 250 gr x 250gr HPBT Match .338-378 Weath 300 gr x 300gr HPBT Match .50 BMG 690 gr 2910 690gr Armor Piercing .50 BMG 750 gr 2700 750gr T-50 Match (Solid) .50 BMG 750 gr 2719 750gr AMAX Match .50 BMG 773 gr 2650 773gr T-50 Match (Solid)
