I’m not entirely sure why, but a few months back I got a sudden urge to ring steel… at one mile! Did I have anyting in the cabinet capable of doing that? Probably not. Actually, let’s be honest—definitely not!
Could a 5.56 round accurately travel that far? I had my doubts, but I pulled out the ballistic calculator anyway. With the fastest, highest BC round I’ve got, we were looking at a drop of 237.5 feet. That’s 158.5 MOA or 46.1 Mils. Doesn’t look particularly likely to me! Feel free to check my math and comment below.
So, I started looking for a budget-friendly round and rifle combo to make it happen. I don’t currently reload, so factory ammo will have to do for now. My research narrowed it down to two rounds: the classic .308 Winchester or the 6.5 Creedmoor. Budget quickly ruled out the .338 Lapua and similar heavy hitters.
The Ammunition Comparison (based on my forum crawling):
- 6.5 Creedmoor: This seems to be the top budget pick for most shooters. It has an excellent balance with high-BC bullets (like the 140–147gr ELD-M) delivering good wind resistance. Factory match ammo is often $1–$2 a round, and rifles like the Bergara or Ruger Precision are widely available. It’ll hit a mile on large steel, though it’s a bit marginal in heavy wind.
- .308 Winchester (7.62×51): It’s the classic, ubiquitous, and cheap choice. You can find practice ammo for under $1, though match loads are closer to $1.50. With heavy bullets, it can reach a mile, but it goes transonic earlier and drifts more than the 6.5. It really forces you to work on your fundamentals.
Comparing the two almost feels like a traditional V8 muscle car versus an over-revving Honda or Nissan! After asking a few friends and getting a fairly even split of opinions, I decided to go with the 6.5 Creedmoor. I hope I don’t regret it!
I didn’t want to break the bank on the rifle either, so I kept the budget under $1500—ideally closer to $1000. Here’s a summary of my top three contenders:
- Savage Axis II Precision: This is the best ultra-budget chassis option, often found under $900. It features a 22″ heavy contour barrel and an MDT aluminum chassis. Out-of-the-box accuracy is excellent, with many reviews showing sub-0.5 MOA with handloads. It’s a proven budget king.
- Bergara B-14 HMR: A great balance of refinement at around $1,000–$1,300. It has a 24″ barrel and uses the Remington 700 footprint. It’s got a smoother bolt action and a more “refined” feel than the Savage.
- Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR): Highly modular and adjustable, usually priced between $800–$1,200. It’s got a folding stock which is great for transport, though some find the bolt a bit rougher than the Bergara.
In the end, my final choice was the Savage Axis II Precision. A major influence on that decision was the fact that I already have the Savage B22 Precision, so I’m already used to the format and that MDT chassis. To get things started, I threw an Arken 6-24 on it to match the one on my B22.
-English Bob