Long Range Elk/Bear Rifle???

[davewilson]

i don't want to start another BC debate, but i guess there's no other way around it.myself and several others, that would be Darryl Cassel and a few of his long range hunters/competitors have tested these bullets and all i'm gonna say is,the 338/300 gr SMK has a higher BC than the 200 wildcat.

last year i had a 7RUM and shot 200 gr wildcats. this year i'm shooting a 338/300RUM shooting 300 gr SMK's.i will never go back to a 7mm after having a 338. if you want to kill elk at 1500, a 300 gr 338 cal is just better than any 7mm.

[goodgrouper]

I think both guns have impressive exterior ballistics. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind. One, the 7 AM mag leaves no room for practice because it is what you might say is an overbored overbore. Barrel life will be fleeting so you'd better luck into a load quick and then just shoot several rounds per year or you will be rebarreling. This is the price you pay for a lazer flat, long range hammer.
Second thing to remember is that a flat trajectory has little to do with terminal ballistics. Bullet construction is paramount. I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but thus far, Wildcat bullets are too new to say it is the optimum killing bullet that can be chosen. Most of the stories I've read here about their damage on game at extreme range have yet to win me over. Take it from a guy who has documented a full cartridge development from step one with a certain bullet in mind and then had it fail in the killing department, it really sucks to blow precious rounds down your spendy barrel only to find that the bullets just zipped through.
Third thing to remember, Berger is going to make a VLD .338 250 grain and 300 grain next year. If these are made with a J4 jacket, you can bet they will open up nicely even at 1500 yards and the bc is reported to be huge.

Another point to consider:
I have actually tested one batch of 300 grain MK's at .810 bc. Then the next batch was .790. If the 250 or 300 grain Berger VLD is in this neighborhood of bc, it will render the 300 grain MK basically useless.

Good luck with your decision!

[remingtonman_25_06]

Well after having my dad look at the ballistics and from what everyone is saying, he still wants to go with the 338 EDGE. He has always kinda liked 338" cals anyway. He had a good idea in saying that he'll build the 338 EDGE for LR elk, and then I"ll build the LR 7mm for deer. He said he would still rather have that 300g slug hitting an elk then a 200g. The choice is completely his, just thought the 7 AM would give him food for thought. When Berger comes out with there 300g VLD, it should have a higher BC then the SMK. Thanks for the comments guys.