Live up in Alaska and I'm new to LRS and want to buy a new rifle for. Long distance hunting. My hunting partner is getting a 30-378 Weatherby and I'm thinking about a 300RUM or 338RUM. I'm kinda leaning towards the 338RUM because of the barrel life of 300RUM. I've heard you get better barrel life out of the 338RUM. Any suggestions would be nice And thanks.
300 RUM,338RUM, or 30-378 which for Alaskan LRH???
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WildRose
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What is your reasonable maximum limit range wise?
The only thing I'd hesitate to take with the 300 Rum out to 1,000yds is the big brown bears up there but if they were in open enough terrain and I had the right bullet I wouldn't hesitate for long.
The .338 Rum or Edge however would be a better choice for that particular application.
Shortly after I got my .300Rum (about a week if I remember right) I got a shot on a very large boar and with the 180gr sirocco drove it straight through the shoulders and spine and he was as dirt dead right there as if I'd stuck the 44 mag in his ear which convinced me it was more than adequate for anything I would be shooting at 800-1,000yds.
Wildrose
Would use for moose hunting and maybe brown bear hunting. Hard to say really especially if it shoots really accrurate. Mostly use the big 375 H&H for up close sitations. Just lookin for ideas really, want to able to use in the field. Thanks for the input though. Hard part is deciding which caliber to go with,but have narrowed it down to those 3 calibers.
Would use for moose hunting and maybe brown bear hunting. Hard to say really especially if it shoots really accrurate. Mostly use the big 375 H&H for up close sitations. Just lookin for ideas really, want to able to use in the field. Thanks for the input though. Hard part is deciding which caliber to go with,but have narrowed it down to those 3 calibers.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I have all three and like them equally. For your needs and the versatility I would recomend
the .338 for everything but the big bears. For that I would step it up to a .416 Because it will
do it all.
The 300,30/378 and the 338 RUM are all good long range cartriges to 1100 to 1200 yards
on large game, greater distance on deer size game.
J E CUSTOM
the .338 for everything but the big bears. For that I would step it up to a .416 Because it will
do it all.
The 300,30/378 and the 338 RUM are all good long range cartriges to 1100 to 1200 yards
on large game, greater distance on deer size game.
J E CUSTOM
angus-5024
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I live in Central B.C, so cant say that I have first hand experience with Alaska, but the game is similar. I would also go for the .338 RUM if you can find one on a good platform. Its pretty tough to find a Senduro in that call (those that have em' ain't selling them).
If your going factroy, your best bet might be to step it up to the .338-.378Wby. The Accumarks are very nice.
I dont think you could go wrong with any of the three cartriges you mentioned, but the best is the .338 RUM. If you find a deal on one of the others go for it though.
If your going factroy, your best bet might be to step it up to the .338-.378Wby. The Accumarks are very nice.
I dont think you could go wrong with any of the three cartriges you mentioned, but the best is the .338 RUM. If you find a deal on one of the others go for it though.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Re: Wildrose
Inside of that there's nothing you can't do well with a .30 cal and the right bullet/load combo.
I'm a huge fan of the 300WM (which is why the last rifle I bought is chambered in it) but if I wanted to go hunt your country and planned on any serious LR shooting I'd bring and use the Rum.
If all I could carry in AK was one single rifle it would be the 300 Rum. Realistically for me though unless It's big, ugly and beyond 600yds the Rum will stay in the pack and the 7lbs Mod 70 300wm will be the go to rifle.
If I did live in AK though I'd be hard pressed to figure out an every day carry rifle thinking primarily of bear protection but it would probably be the 450 Marlin guide gun as I hate the ideal of carrying the old blued 45/70 I inherited in such a wet climate. I'm really bad about not properly cleaning and drying my carry guns which is why I started moving to all stainless and synthetic 20 years ago.
Ok I've rambled enough HA! gun)
To me the deciding factor is range. If you seriously want to try to shoot the big nasty critters at 800yds and beyond, I'd say the big 338's is the way to go.
Inside of that there's nothing you can't do well with a .30 cal and the right bullet/load combo.
I'm a huge fan of the 300WM (which is why the last rifle I bought is chambered in it) but if I wanted to go hunt your country and planned on any serious LR shooting I'd bring and use the Rum.
If all I could carry in AK was one single rifle it would be the 300 Rum. Realistically for me though unless It's big, ugly and beyond 600yds the Rum will stay in the pack and the 7lbs Mod 70 300wm will be the go to rifle.
If I did live in AK though I'd be hard pressed to figure out an every day carry rifle thinking primarily of bear protection but it would probably be the 450 Marlin guide gun as I hate the ideal of carrying the old blued 45/70 I inherited in such a wet climate. I'm really bad about not properly cleaning and drying my carry guns which is why I started moving to all stainless and synthetic 20 years ago.
Ok I've rambled enough HA! gun)
WildRose
Well-Known Member
With the right bbl length and twist rate they certainly should.
Before buying one though check Berger's site for recommended twist rate and make sure the one you are looking at meets that spec.
If you decide to go that route be sure and cruise the LRH and Sniper's hide classifieds as you'll find them fairly frequently at very reasonable prices because so many people buy or build one and then figure out it's just way more gun than they want to shoot.
angus-5024
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My reasoning for shooting the .338's is because the barrel life is longer. The massive amount of energy is a second. The 300 RUM is great and more than sufficient for anythign in NA, and if the shot placemnet is really good, the world.
I do have the train of thought that, at least with grizzlies hanging about, I want more than sufficient. Ive been bluffed a few times, and my Father's hunting partner had to dispatch a charging one with his 300 winny (did the trick, but took the ole' bear a while to die). Bears arent made of steel, but for some reason I still like the bigger bore (especially with fragile bullets).
That being said... If you cant shoot a .338 well, dont do it. Go smaller. If you cant shoot a .30 well, dont do it. Go smaller. If you cant shoot a 7mm well, dont hunt AK.
And to the OP. Yes, the .338 RUM will run 300 grain bullets between 2700-2800 fps with a 1-10, and run them well.
I do have the train of thought that, at least with grizzlies hanging about, I want more than sufficient. Ive been bluffed a few times, and my Father's hunting partner had to dispatch a charging one with his 300 winny (did the trick, but took the ole' bear a while to die). Bears arent made of steel, but for some reason I still like the bigger bore (especially with fragile bullets).
That being said... If you cant shoot a .338 well, dont do it. Go smaller. If you cant shoot a .30 well, dont do it. Go smaller. If you cant shoot a 7mm well, dont hunt AK.
And to the OP. Yes, the .338 RUM will run 300 grain bullets between 2700-2800 fps with a 1-10, and run them well.
Up here the 45/70 is the ticket in really tight country,in this kind of area like bear baiting for Blackies I use a 444p Marlin and my partner uses a 45/70. but we're trying for long distance shots on moose and big Brownies. Normally I shoot a 300WSM for everything, but I'm really interested in a long range calibers with some pop and the 338 rum is sounding good.
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WildRose
Well-Known Member
Call me crazy but look at the edge then. The edge guys here swear by them for a long list of reasons.
I haven't bought one yet because I just have a hard time justifying it with all the other calibers I own but the .338 Marlin really appeals to me for a handy truck or saddle gun and I do have something of a fetish for the lever actions.
barnesuser28
Well-Known Member
Why would he want to look at an edge? And what are some reasons the edge guys swear by them?
WildRose
Well-Known Member
I'm not an "Edge guy" but start a thread on it and let those who are answer.
Wildrose. I love my lever action for what i use it for, just works faster than my bolt actions. But back to my dilemna,I'm gonna go with the 338rum. If I cant find a Sendero model, I'll buy a barrel and have my father inlaw work on it. Nice to have a gunsmith in the family..
