Posted by Panda Shooter on
URL: http://oldforum.flyshooter.com.au/Best-Centrefire-Cartridge-for-500M-tp5710204.html

I am new to the 500M Fly having only shot the event three times.  The first two times could only be described as complete disasters!  The third time was more of a learning exercise with two good targets, two bearable targets and one disaster.

My long range shooting background is F Class, which has the distinct advantage of clearly showing each shot before you shoot the next one.  In FTR and F Standard you are restricted to the .308 Winchester or .223 Remington cartridges  so most shooters choose the .308.  In F Open you are restricted to a bore size of 8mm with the most popular cartridge used for the short ranges (300 to 600 yards) being the 6mm Dasher.

I see that many successful Fly shooters choose the 6BR or a variant of it.  

I shot my .308 because it is what I have.  I hoped the bigger bullet holes would be able to be seen but that wasn't the case with all targets due to the mirage.  I assume the 6mm holes would be even more difficult to see.

So after that introduction, I guess I have two questions that I would like people to comment on:
1. what cartridge do you shoot and why did you choose it?
2. what strategy do you use when the mirage makes seeing bullet holes very difficult (or is that impossible) to see (because what I did didn't work for me!)?

Any advice you would like to offer this novice would be gratefully appreciated.

Regards

Cory Lang