The Flattest-Shooting Cartridges Might not be the Ones You Think: Old Legends vs Modern Speed

What are the flattest-shooting hunting cartridges available—and does a flatter trajectory actually make one cartridge better than another? In this episode of the Barnes Bullets Podcast, Dale, Gregg, and Mitchell sit down for a deep dive into several of the fastest and flattest-shooting cartridges hunters can carry into the field. The conversation covers everything from modern cartridges gaining momentum to legacy magnums that can still compete with nearly anything available today. The featured cartridges include: 22 Creedmoor, .257 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum, .300 Weatherby Magnum - The guys also discuss several honorable mentions loaded with lightweight Barnes TTSX bullets: .243 Winchester — 80gr TTSX, .25-06 Remington — 100gr TTSX, .270 Winchester — 110gr TTSX, .300 Remington Ultra Magnum — 165gr TTSX But this conversation goes well beyond muzzle velocity. Gregg and Mitchell break down how ballistic coefficient, retained velocity, bullet drop, wind drift, recoil, barrel length, bullet construction, and impact velocity all determine whether a cartridge’s paper advantage translates into better performance during an actual hunt. Does a high-velocity magnum provide a meaningful advantage at normal hunting distances? Are classic Weatherby and Ultra Magnum cartridges being overlooked for newer designs? Can a lighter, faster Barnes copper bullet transform a familiar cartridge into a legitimate flat-shooting performer? And perhaps most importantly: Is “flat shooting” still as valuable now that nearly every hunter wants efficient, high BC bullets? Whether you are preparing for a western hunt, researching a new rifle build, comparing long-range hunting cartridges, or simply enjoy debating speed and trajectory, this episode offers more than an hour of practical hunting-ballistics discussion. Subscribe for more episodes of the Barnes Bullets Podcast, Ballistics Briefs, terminal-ballistics discussions, cartridge comparisons, ammunition testing, and practical hunting education. - #BarnesBullets #HuntingCartridges #LongRangeHunting #Ballistics #HuntingAmmo #Podcast #NewEpisode