Best North America Hunting/Long Range caliber.

[jcmckinney1]

I currently have a .270 WSM and .338 RUM Sendero. I am looking to build/buy 1 rifle that can do it all. What do you recommend? I have been looking at the 7mm RUM and 300 RUM.

Some items of thought:
Readily available ammunition
Down range killing energy at 800 yds.
Up to 12 lbs without scope.
From Antelope to Brown Bear

 

[Franklin]

Your .338 sendero fits the bill real well, as long as it shoots good.

 

[brentc]

No doubt. You've already got your bases covered. What more do you want to accomplish?

 

[meanmrmustard]

.338 Lapua Magnum gets my nod as far as cartridge.

AR30 in this chambering is in the 12lb range.

 

[brentc]

I currently have a .270 WSM and .338 RUM Sendero. I am looking to build/buy 1 rifle that can do it all. What do you recommend? I have been looking at the 7mm RUM and 300 RUM.

Some items of thought:
Readily available ammunition
Down range killing energy at 800 yds.
Up to 12 lbs without scope.
From Antelope to Brown Bear

Just thinking out load here, but an 9-10 lb scoped out 300 Win mag would suit you well for packability and long range capability for the critters you've listed.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

Something in the 30's!

 

[coyotelite]

you are set with what you have right now as long as you have the right optics and the right load. I can kill to 700 with my 270 wsm and I have busted milk jugs now at 900 with my 300wby mag with sub par optics. I would recommend playing with your load and optics on what you have and I think you will be pleasently surprised.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I have hunted all over North America since the 60's and taken most stuff from antelope to grizzlies. If you want one rifle 338 is by far the best caliber for everything from point blank to long range. Your 338 RUM is a good fit. The only thing that will beat it is a 338-378 wby. Readily available ammo is the thing. The 338 winchester is found everywhere and is a good cartridge to your 800 yards.

The 7mm RUM is not even a consideration and your 338 RUM is a better choice than the 300 RUM. I love to hunt antelope with my 338-378 wby at long range. It is windy on the plains and it shines in that situation. It is also a good choice for everything else to brown bears. Unless you are just looking to spend some money I would stick with what you have. You will have a hard time beating it.

I have many rifles to choose from and one of my two favorite carry rifles is a Remington 700 338 RUM with a 4-12x50 Swarovski that weighs 8.75 pounds ready to hunt. I shoot a 225 grain .64 bc Cutting Edge bullet 3330 fps out of it with 101 grains Retumbo and it is deadly at your 800 yards and further on any game animal. I would hold pat if I were you.

 

[winmag]

300 WSM
300 WIN
300 WBY
300 RUM
Basically, like the others have said you've got it covered already with your 338 Rum, & 270WSM. (excelent choices by the way!)
If it were me, & I wanted a cartrige for anything inbetween, I'd go for any of the 300 mags. Id pay real close attention to quality of brass, availability of components, cost of loading, & shooting, & find a compromise of barrel life, & bullet wt, & speed.
Imo for 800 and less the 300wsm with a 26" pipe fits the bill nicely, for an inexpensive to shoot, allround rig.
I just sold my 300wby to fund a 300WSM build for the same range, & critters you mentioned. I love my 270WSM, so I looked real hard at the numbers for almost 3 years comparing all the 300's & It's WAY cheaper to shoot, & load for than my WBY was. The 300WSM It's virtually a twin to the 300 win with 180-190gr bullets (800yds & in) I came to the conclusion that the 300WSM fit the bill for me perfectly.
If you want to fling higher wt, higher BC bullets with more authority, the Win, Wby, or RUM may be better choices, due to case capacity. But why for 800yds, & less?
However, if you wanna whack Brownies at 800, then use your 338RUM
Guess you just can't go wrong with any of the 300mags, especially when you have such great cartriges to compliment either side of it already. If you have to be in a delima, you picked a good one to be in. There's no wrong answer.
Good luck

 

[jcmckinney1]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Great feedback and information. My 270 wsm is a tack driver 1/4 - 1/2 MOA at 100 yds consistently. I have only shot the 338 RUM a couple of times trying to get a good load. It is expensive to shoot. I shoot IMR 7828 and Nosler Accubonds for both rifles (140 gr. for 270 and 225 gr. for 338) I am in the process of upgrading my scopes to nightforce for both in NP -R1 or NP-R2 reticles. I was just curious what would be the best all around caliber. I was thinking of selling them and getting one rifle. Ulitmate goal is 1000 yd kill shot, I have only broke the 600 yd barrier at this point with the 270 WSM.

 

[sp6x6]

Stick with 338 rum. Ditto LTLR. i DONT GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A 300 WSM. mY 325 WSM W/2OO nAB @ 2825 ONLY HAS 936 E at 800. That is like using a p- shooter for LR, when so much better stuff is out there. 340 WBY, been around for 49 yrs. I packed one for 25. When I take my 325 wsm I feel under gunned.

 

[brentc]

Stick with 338 rum. Ditto LTLR. i DONT GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A 300 WSM. mY 325 WSM W/2OO nAB @ 2825 ONLY HAS 936 E at 800. That is like using a p- shooter for LR, when so much better stuff is out there. 340 WBY, been around for 49 yrs. I packed one for 25. When I take my 325 wsm I feel under gunned.

Don't discount the 300 WSM. It is far more capable than you're giving it credit for and far more capable as a long range rifle the the 325 WSM. Especially when you consider that it can throw the the 200+ grainers out at velocities high enough to deliver 2000 ft lbs of energy to beyond 600 yards. The limiting factor for the 325 WSM is bullet selection.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying place the 300 WSM on a pedestal, but I think you're throwing it under the bus for no reason.

 

[sp6x6]

Don't discount the 300 WSM. It is far more capable than you're giving it credit for and far more capable as a long range rifle the the 325 WSM. Especially when you consider that it can throw the the 200+ grainers out at velocities high enough to deliver 2000 ft lbs of energy to beyond 600 yards. The limiting factor for the 325 WSM is bullet selection.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying place the 300 WSM on a pedestal, but I think you're throwing it under the bus for no reason.

What load does it do that with, and do you shoot once and throw brass away? I am just curious, because I am shooting almost same thing, and I HAVE 1341 E @ 600. If you shoot a 340 wm W/225 nab it is 2023 E @ 600, more bullet 10 gr. more case capacity? Shot that for almost 25 years. I just always see alot of talk of 300 WSM being a 1000 yrd gun and elk mentioned in same post?

 

[Franklin]

sp6x6, My 300short shoots 190vlds at 2880fps. According to jbm it still has 1900lbs at 600yds. Might want to double check unless your shooting a RN.