Screwy1,
Addressing your original question 300 RUM or 338 RUM. Bryan Litz has a chapter in the rear of his newest book where he discusses the performance of the 300 Win mag with the 230 gr OTM vs the 338 Lapua which is pretty much the ballistic twin to the 338 RUM. He is comparing them for sniper shots out to 1500 yds.
He said out to 1500 yds the 300 win mag with 230 Bergers beats the 338 Lapua with all bullets except the 300 gr Berger hybrid.
Based on that information the 300 RUM will obviously be superior to the 300 win mag performance. If you switch to the 230 match target hybrid with its higher BC you can gain even more.
I am not going to detract from the performance of a 300 gr hybrid on LR elk from a 338 RUM or the 338 Edge. Just suggesting that the 300 RUM with either 230 gr hybrid will certainly get the job done as well. Recoil will be low enough that a brake isn't necessary. (My 8 1/2 lb 300 RUM with 230s @ 2975 is manageable without a brake) If you crunch the numbers to useful hunting distances the two chamberings are very close in trajectories and wind drift. I will admit the 338 will have more energy with the heavier bullet.
You already have the components dies bullets etc why switch when the gain not significant? Of course there is the appeal of a new chambering. Your choice.
Yeah, I had thought about this, however, the 230 grain bullet is offered only in a Target or a Tactical bullet. I spoke with Berger concerning this and their response was " these are not to be used on game", no specifications on what size of game or distance just " game ". I tend not to argue with the manufacturer. I am just stepping into the Berger bullet and am still a bit squeamish. Reviews are mixed, so I want to find out for myself and will be trying these later, but the idea of starting my experience using a bullet line that the manufacturer says not to use may, if things go bad, taint my view totally. I put a lot of time and work into working loads, and in practice ( hence the shot out barrel ). I need confidence in the bullet prior to the start of all this work.
That being said, if I stay with the 300, I am limited to a 210 gr bullet.
As I mentioned in the OP , I struggled with this decision when I originally purchased this rifle. The winning factor was that the manufacturer guaranteed a 1/2 MOA on 30 cal. or smaller, 1 MOA on anything over 30 cal. I ended up with a 1/4 to 5/16 minute gun. Even the manufacturer said that this was an exceptionally accurate rifle. That being said, I don't expect that good of results again. This shot out barrel is an opportunity to revive that struggle that I had years ago.
As far as the bullets I have are concerned, these were cheaper when I bought them and more readily available than they are now, so selling them and getting my money back from them from close friends should be easy.
The problem with the brass and the reason I wish to keep what I have is availability of brass now. I have hundreds of pieces and could sell that, the problem , however , is the availability of new brass.
I also , as I said , am not sold on Bergers, therefore I don't want to rely solely on one bullet to build this rifle. I am open to suggestions by anyone shooting these .338s.
I am also of the understanding that a 300 is a " barrel burner " and the .338 is not. Anyone have any knowledge of this?
Thank you for your viewpoint.
