Anybody regret NOT going 338?

[BlackSS]

I'm in the process of ordering parts for a semi custom build.
This build is intended to be the biggest baddest gun in the safe.

With my current abilities and the time I have for practice I doubt I would ever attempt to take game at 1,000 yards, but I would like the gun to be capable of doing so.

So, with an absolute max of 1000 yards, on lets say elk to be aggressive, is something in the Edge / Lapua category really necessary?

Or would something with slightly less recoil and cheaper to shoot, say 7 STW or be enough for this kind of build?

How is barrel life of these smaller "ultra" magnums in the 7mm - .300 range.

I initially was trying to decide between Edge and Lapua (think I prefer Edge of the 2), but am now second guessing myself as to whether or not a 338 is totally overkill. I already have a 270 WSM that shoots very well, and want a marked stup up from that.

 

[Broz]

If you are NOT going past 1000 , and with the explanation you just posted, Go with a 28" barreled , Sendero contoured, 300 win. With a 210 to 230 bullet and be done with it. The BC's and energy of this round will do all you want. Add a good brake and enjoy watching your hits and recoil that is un-noticed.

I just took a lady out to shoot mine that had never shot long range, she is a hunter but never shot long. There was an orange sized white spot on a rock wall at 780 yards. She hit the edge of it cold bore. Then I took her to a rock wall at 954 yards and a dark spot under 1/2 moa. She center punched it on her first shot.

All you asked for in your post above is there in the 300 win mag. and the ammo, brass, bullet selection is awesome.

Jeff

 

[J E Custom]

I'm in the process of ordering parts for a semi custom build.
This build is intended to be the biggest baddest gun in the safe.

With my current abilities and the time I have for practice I doubt I would ever attempt to take game at 1,000 yards, but I would like the gun to be capable of doing so.

So, with an absolute max of 1000 yards, on lets say elk to be aggressive, is something in the Edge / Lapua category really necessary?

Or would something with slightly less recoil and cheaper to shoot, say 7 STW or be enough for this kind of build?

How is barrel life of these smaller "ultra" magnums in the 7mm - .300 range.

I initially was trying to decide between Edge and Lapua (think I prefer Edge of the 2), but am now second guessing myself as to whether or not a 338 is totally overkill. I already have a 270 WSM that shoots very well, and want a marked stup up from that.

The best advice I can give is to look at the ft/lbs of all the rifles you are thinking about and
consider 1200 ft/lbs minimum at the point of impact (1000 yards). This will tell you what
cartridges and bullet combinations will work.

There are lots of cartridges that will kill an Elk at 1,000 yards but how far will/can they run is the
problem. 1500 ft/lbs is the recommended minimum energy for Elk but 1200 will work good.

A 338 is not necessary but they hammer Large game. the big 300s will also do a good job and even
though they may have the same energy they don't transfer it as well (Bigger is Better in this aspect).

If I were to make a recommendation it would probably be something like the 300 RUM if you are
not constantly shooting/Hunting at or over 1000 yards.

Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[royinidaho]

What jeff said. . .

 

[luke]

Well put jeff. I agree

 

[HuntFarther]

with you having a 270 wsm and knowing the game I have to say that the edge by no means would be a bad gun. They have recoil but what if.

What if you shoot 1000 yards and decided 2000 is your dream next.
What if you always have bulls coming out further than 1000. I am not disagreeing with jeff or anyone. Just I do like the edge and know people in this game push limits when one is broken.

All that being said I would go with the 300 win, 300 ultra, or the edge.

 

[Broz]

with you having a 270 wsm and knowing the game I have to say that the edge by no means would be a bad gun. They have recoil but what if.

What if you shoot 1000 yards and decided 2000 is your dream next.
What if you always have bulls coming out further than 1000. I am not disagreeing with jeff or anyone. Just I do like the edge and know people in this game push limits when one is broken.

All that being said I would go with the 300 win, 300 ultra, or the edge.

Just to clarify, I agree, if going past 1000 go 338. That is why I used CAPS on the (NOT going past 1000) in my first line. My two favorite rifles are the 300 win and a good 338. My new .338 Terminator +P Is being built and I will have soon. If you even feel you would want to "shoot game" past 1000 go 338. But if you only feel that you may just practice past 1000 the 300 win with a 215 will keep you smiling to well past a mile.

Jeff

 

[HuntFarther]

Just to clarify, I agree, if going past 1000 go 338. That is why I used CAPS on the (NOT going past 1000) in my first line. My two favorite rifles are the 300 win and a good 338. My new .338 Terminator +P Is being built and I will have soon. If you even feel you would want to "shoot game" past 1000 go 338. But if you only feel that you may just practice past 1000 the 300 win with a 215 will keep you smiling to well past a mile.

Jeff

I am 100% on board with you. I think with this information he now can make a really informative decision.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Just for the sake of discussion, If you compare a 230 gr Hybrid with an MV of 3000 fps to a 300 GR OTM with an MV of 2850, @ 4000' elevation, both bullets arive at 1500 yds with 1600 fps veloity. The 230 has 3.1 MOA of drift in a 5 mph wind and the 300 has 2.95 MOA of drift. Energy is 1321 vs 1722. The 338 will have more authority on game at those ranges but ballisitcally the 2 are very close to that distance.

The RUM will have shorter barrel life, but that said, I'm having my new RUM barrel nitrided which will hopefully double it's life or more.

 

[MMERSS]

Just for the sake of discussion, If you compare a 230 gr Hybrid with an MV of 3000 fps to a 300 GR OTM with an MV of 2850, @ 4000' elevation, both bullets arive at 1500 yds with 1600 fps veloity. The 230 has 3.1 MOA of drift in a 5 mph wind and the 300 has 2.95 MOA of drift. Energy is 1321 vs 1722. The 338 will have more authority on game at those ranges but ballisitcally the 2 are very close to that distance.

The RUM will have shorter barrel life, but that said, I'm having my new RUM barrel nitrided which will hopefully double it's life or more.

I would agree. My 300 RUM with 230 Berger and 338 Lapua with 300 Berger are almost identical in wind drift at 1000. Obviously there is no debate with which is king in the energy department.

 

[Broz]

Obviously there is no debate with which is king in the energy department.

Or which one will be easier to spot hits or bullet splash at ELR targets.

Jeff

 

[FEENIX]

I too agree with Jeff's .300 Win Mag recommendation. Whichever gun/caliber you decide on, I doubt it if it's going to be your last, so why worry about it --- just do it and without regret. gun)gun)gun)gun)gun)

 

[porkchop401]

I think a 300 win mag is a great cal for hunting out to a thousand and further target practicing . Numbers are what we tend to focus on these days fps, ftlbs, bc, ect. After owning a 300wm in a ruger action that was a nice rifle that just fell short in the accuracy department I decided to have a rifle built on a m700 and decided on a 338 rum. After a brief handload development I rezeroed at 200 and headed to the range with 300 gr elite hunters loaded. After waiting for a few to shoot, I settled on my mat , I was intending to shoot the 500yd target but after a little crap from my shooting buddies I decided hurl one at the 1055yd target . I was estimating my velosity at 2775, any how long storie short I knocked the target over and this is a fixed target that has been pounded on various other calibers before and never been knocked over before . My point is sometimes bigger is better , just like a more blood will pour through a bigger hole. with that being said , if I had to replace the 338rum I am not sure it would be another, more likley a 300 rum or a 8mm rem or even 300 win.

 

[BlackSS]

8 mm seems like a good compromise for me, but brass and bullet selection scares me.

What lies between a 300 win and 300 rum in terms of performance?