There’s not one single attribute that makes a cartridge effective for extreme long-range, or ELR, shooting, but there are a few cartridges that offer performance that will hit on several of them at those ranges.

Generally, you want to look for a cartridge with low drop and a high ballistic coefficient, which means it will deliver a relatively flat trajectory. However, heavier bullets tend to be more stable with respect to wind drift, which usually indicates that they will drop slightly more. Heavier bullets also tend to retain more ballistic energy downrange, which is critical if you’re shooting at an actual target and not just paper or steel.

There is a happy medium, and the following 6 cartridges serve it up.

.50 BMG

All things being equal, the .50 BMG cartridge has a lot of drawbacks. It is extremely expensive, produces a lot of recoil, and doesn’t shoot the flattest on this list. Also, rifles chambered in .50 BMG tend also to be very expensive.

But at the same time, it fires a very heavy bullet that is very stable, and has an impressively long range in excess of 2 miles, which, in its own right, makes it one of the best ELR cartridges out there.

.338 Lapua

Somewhat more affordable than the .50 BMG, the .338 Lapua also has an extremely long range, in excess of 1000 yards. Skilled shooters can push this envelope even further, making this a popular ELR chambering.

Another advantage of this cartridge is that it retains a lot of energy downrange (without being over the top like a .50 cal), which makes it popular for hunting. At appropriate ranges and given effective placement, this cartridge can take any game in North America.

.408 and .375 CheyTac

Both the .408 and .375 CheyTac are extremely effective ELR cartridges. They are lightning fast and shoot laser-flat, and are literally purpose-engineered for accuracy.

Unlike many other cartridges, both the .408 and .375 CheyTac are loaded with solid copper bullets that are CNC machined for uncompromising consistency. If pinpoint accuracy is what you need, in excess of a mile, there is hardly a better ELR cartridge.

.416 Barrett

The .416 Barrett was designed to improve on the performance of .50 BMG as an ELR cartridge and in fact is considered a wildcat cartridge, developed around the .50 BMG case, shortened and necked down.

With a muzzle velocity of 3150 FPS, it is blazing fast and shoots flatter than .50 BMG thanks to its speed and higher ballistic coefficient, making it perfect for extreme long-range shooting,

37XC

The 37XC, developed by a guy named David Tubb for ELR shooting and compatibility with a bolt face for a .338 Lapua, is one of the most effective extreme long-range cartridges out there.

It is one of the few that can be effective at nearly two miles. You’ll have a hard time finding it (you should probably just load your own) but if you can get brass, bullets, and a rifle chambered for it, there are very few ELR cartridges that can rival it.

Where to Explore ELR Rifles

Whether you landed here solely to break the ice on long-range cartridges or you’re ready to pull the trigger (pun intended) on an ELR rifle, visit B&B Firearms for more information.

They sell a lot of rifles in these chamberings from the best manufacturers in the business, including but not limited to CheyTac, Barrett, McMillan, and Gunwerks, and offer an industry-leading, interest-free payment plan.

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