Not every cartridge is effective for extreme long-range shooting. Some are better than others, and for unique reasons.
For instance, some lightweight cartridges like .22-250 and .223 are commonly used for long-range shooting because they are fast and shoot flat.
That being said, they don’t really carry enough energy to the target to be viable for ELR shooting, especially if the application is hunting or anti-materiel.
Other, heavier cartridges, like .50 BMG, .408 CheyTac and .375 CheyTac, are more practical. This short post will take a closer look at the three of these.
.50 BMG
For close to a century now the .50 BMG has been a staple for extreme long-range shooting for military applications, and many sniper rifle platforms have been chambered in it. Because it is a behemoth of a round, it can also be highly effective for anti-materiel applications.
It fires a massive bullet, but to make sense of its ballistic performance, let’s consider a round like X-TAC’s Match .50 BMG that fires a 740 grain bullet, leaving the muzzle at 2830 FPS with 13162 ft-lbs of energy.
At 500 yards, this round will still be traveling at 2344 FPS and will still retain more than 9000 ft-lbs of energy, making it excellent for anti-materiel applications. It will drop a lot, though; 36.5 inches at 500 yards.
The other thing to keep in mind with .50 BMG is that ammo is extremely expensive and recoil is very significant. There are other more specialized ELR rifle cartridges, like .408 and .375 CheyTac ammo, that fire “Balanced Flight Projectiles” that are designed to stay supersonic to the target.
.408 CheyTac Ammo
First, let’s look at .408 CheyTac ammo, the older of the two remaining cartridges. This cartridge is loaded with a solid-copper, CNC-machined bullet that weighs between 419 and 420 grains. It generates about 2850 to 3000 FPS of muzzle velocity and 7700 to 8000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.
It generates slightly higher muzzle energy than .375 CheyTac ammo but the tradeoff is that it drops slightly faster. So let’s take a closer look at its lighter, slightly smaller cousin.
.375 CheyTac Ammo
Like .408 CT, .375 CheyTac ammo is loaded with solid-copper, CNC-machined, “Balanced Flight Projectiles”. They weigh between 350 and 375 grains, and generate between 3000 to 3200 FPS of muzzle velocity and 6800 to 7500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.
So, the .375 CheyTac doesn’t hit as hard as the .408 CheyTac, but it does shoot a little flatter, which can make it more effective if literally all you’re doing is target shooting. If the target is literally just that, a target, there really isn’t much reason to go for the .408 CT instead.
Where to Get .408 or .375 CheyTac Ammo?
Need a place where you can get ELR ammo, specifically .408 or .375 CheyTac ammo, as an alternative to common ELR chamberings like .300 NM, .338 Lapua or .50 BMG? Check out B&B Firearms. In addition to a diverse catalog of some of the best long-range and precision rifles in the industry, they also load and sell ELR ammo. Visit their website and get in touch with them if you have any questions before you buy.
For more information about intervention sniper rifle and Cadex Defense Please visit: B&B Firearms LLC.
