28 or 30 cal for build

[Spilks]

Hello folks,

I love this website wealth of knowledge here. I have finally decided to build a rifle got smith lined up and decided on most components. It will be primarily for whitetail but planning on mule deer and elk in next few years. I will have shots in Tennessee ranging from 50-600 yards primarily with most shots 350 and under. In the past I have shot 7RM, but currently shoot 6.5 PRC with 143 ELDX. Before I was shooting a built 300 WBY with 210 VLD. I like terminal peformsnce off the 300 WBY better than the 6.5 PRC have not tried 156 and with component shortage have shot the factory 143. I have had things with all my rifles I did not like so why I am building.

I want to "gun up" and initially was leaning towards 28 nosler shooting berger 180 or 195. I know barely life is not good and also feel like I can't go wrong with 30 caliber shooting 215 berger reloads.

Build will be

Manners EH/1A or LRH
Defiance Action
Arcs Rail for tripod with ball head
26 inch proof barrel with suppressor
Timney trigger
ZEISS V6 5-30 already have or possibly NX8 2.5-20

Main thing I'm struggling with is 28 or 30 cal. If 30, 300 win, 30 nosler.

I am not worried about meat damage. When I shoot something I want as much damage, little to no tracking. Of course need to avoid shoulder, proper placement.

I know 28 or 30 cal is big for whitetail but I do not mind recoil and want hammer deer rifle good for western hunts (elk and mule deer) as well.

Let your advice opinions role on. I am ready to start build and start stacking components as I can.

Thanks

 

[6fatrat]

My recommendation would be 300 win mag.
On your western trips or trips north of the border if you lose your ammo there is a good chance some one will.
Steve Bair

 

[BEEMAN]

With most shots 350 yds and under I'd go with a 280 AI. Don't need a high BC bullet for that range. So a Accubond, hammer, Barnes etc would work good for your application. The 280 AI will still work on elk if and when you go for them. At the 350 yd range I wouldn't go with a big magnum. No need for it. But then again, if you want a magnum, there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Reelamin]

All of those cartridge's you listed are good and only one I dont have is a 30N. I do have a 300RUM as close to the 30N as I can get, and you can cut some velocity and its the same. You can take the barrel life internet wonder garbage (kinda showed my cards) how you want and purchase accordingly. I really like that you dont intentionally ruin meat on what you shoot.

I have a 7STW with 1000 rounds down it, and it still shoots its varmint (120BT @3600), and its new Deer/Elk load (175ABLR @ 3250) into .5" any day. I used it for shooting groundhogs (We shoot 15-20 rounds quickly) more than anything and only killed four elk with it no deer. 28N I just finished load development this summer and not shot anything with it (muzzle loader elk, archery deer). The 300RUM I have shot quite a few elk, mule deer, and a couple whiteys, a few Antelope. I have killed the most animals with the 300WM, Deer Whitey/Mule, elk with the widest range of bullet weight and types.

My vote is for the 300WM with a 180-200 Partition or anything you are happy with for accuracy. I am not a booger fan for anything other than paper and varmints. It is just a deer and they are not hard to kill, and if you want to shoot any bullet is fine by me.

 

[500000KV]

30N or 30/28N with 215 Berger is a hammer. Have owned 1 30N and 2 30/28N's (still have 1). 30N was right at 3,000 FPS. 30/28 is a touch over 3,100 FPS. All 26" barrels.

 

[memtb]

Either will be good on deer, and neither is "overkill".....whatever that is! memtb

 

[waveslayer]

Since you have the 6.5 prc go 300 prc of you want a step up. Easy to reload for, has a following that is growing. Shoots the 215 perfectly

 

[tonyf3]

I had a 7mm Rem Mag built in 2013 that shoots 180 Hybrids @3030fps. I broke down and built a 300 PRC. I could only convince myself to do this if i was shooting 220gr and up and eventually settled on the 230 Hybrid OTMs. The separation makes it easier to grab one gun over another.

In hindsight, if I started all over again I would have built just a .30 cal that allowed me to shoot a larger range of bullets like 180s to 230s.
a 30 cal with the right twist rate will give you alot of options.

 

[Muddyboots]

Ok, how about .270 Win (LRH named Thors Hammer!) I recently built 700LA, 27", 1:8tw, 5R, 0.290 freebore added to shoot 156HH. My final load was 3200fps (maxed out 3300) and this will reach out and do everything you state easily. Shoots 170EOL at 3050 as well. Just a little different direction to consider.

 

[500000KV]

30N or 30/28N with 215 Berger is a hammer. Have owned 1 30N and 2 30/28N's (still have 1). 30N was right at 3,000 FPS. 30/28 is a touch over 3,100 FPS. All 26" barrels.

I should've mentioned as well, between myself and my uncle we've got 3-28N's running the 195 bergers. They're hammers too. Kills from 40' out to 600 yards(haven't had to take a longer shot yet). All run around 3,050-3,125 FPS. Obviously barrel life on these Leave a lot to be desired.
So, 28, 30 or 30/28 you really can't go wrong, just know the barrel life of a 28 is short.

 

[WildRose]

Hello folks,

I love this website wealth of knowledge here. I have finally decided to build a rifle got smith lined up and decided on most components. It will be primarily for whitetail but planning on mule deer and elk in next few years. I will have shots in Tennessee ranging from 50-600 yards primarily with most shots 350 and under. In the past I have shot 7RM, but currently shoot 6.5 PRC with 143 ELDX. Before I was shooting a built 300 WBY with 210 VLD. I like terminal peformsnce off the 300 WBY better than the 6.5 PRC have not tried 156 and with component shortage have shot the factory 143. I have had things with all my rifles I did not like so why I am building.

I want to "gun up" and initially was leaning towards 28 nosler shooting berger 180 or 195. I know barely life is not good and also feel like I can't go wrong with 30 caliber shooting 215 berger reloads.

Build will be

Manners EH/1A or LRH
Defiance Action
Arcs Rail for tripod with ball head
26 inch proof barrel with suppressor
Timney trigger
ZEISS V6 5-30 already have or possibly NX8 2.5-20

Main thing I'm struggling with is 28 or 30 cal. If 30, 300 win, 30 nosler.

I am not worried about meat damage. When I shoot something I want as much damage, little to no tracking. Of course need to avoid shoulder, proper placement.

I know 28 or 30 cal is big for whitetail but I do not mind recoil and want hammer deer rifle good for western hunts (elk and mule deer) as well.

Let your advice opinions role on. I am ready to start build and start stacking components as I can.

Thanks

It isn't about the amount of damage, it's about shot placement. Really anything 6mm and above is more than adequate for TX WT's. If you're shooting beyond 400 yards then you need to consider higher BC bullets which all else being equal larger diameter and heavy for caliber is where you need to be shopping.

A few years ago I was given a CZ in 260 Rem to try for a year and I shot everything in three states and 12 species of plains game in Africa with it and I was amazed with the results.

It's not as popular today as it should be but the 264 is outstanding and easy to come by components.

Unless you're shooting big bears and DG in Africa you're never undergunned with they old dependable 300wm.

I've fallen in love with the .375 Ruger case and I'm in a position where I no longer really worry about factory ammo so I'm experimenting. I have a 6.5-375 Ruger that is amazing pushing 140cl bullets at 3400fps with great accuracy.

Over the next couple of years I'll build wildcats using at least 7mm and .338's with the same case.

If you really want to keep it simple though go with something with endless factory ammo support such as the .264wm or 26Nos and you'll never be disappointed.

 

[Wolf76]

I think deer are not part of the discussion because both options are overkill for deer.
For big game I'll take big bullets. The biggest bullets are in the 30 cal. The 30 is far more versatile than the 28/7mm. Just compare bullet options between them.
As for the 30 cal cartridges...easy button 300wm....more bang 30N or 300RUM. I'm set up for the 300wm, so rebarreling for me is easy.
I wouldn't feel undergunned with any of the options in your list.

 

[Spilks]

I appreciate everyone's input. I am more than likely going to go with .30 Nosler will reload. its a solid round and I am just attracted to it. Gunna run it and see. When I get build finished I will let y'all know my impression.

 

[WildRose]

I appreciate everyone's input. I am more than likely going to go with .30 Nosler will reload. its a solid round and I am just attracted to it. Gunna run it and see. When I get build finished I will let y'all know my impression.

The Nosler proprietary rounds are virtually guaranteed to stand the test of time because of all they invested in their development and with manufacturers to be sure there would be rifles and ammo available pretty much from day one once it hit the market.

As I was discussing with a very reputable smith and gun builder the other day, we both think they will have, "staying power".

A guy on a budget should really avoid fad's that will come and go quickly. We used to have basically just Winchester, Remington, and Weatherby who all produced proprietary rounds, rifles and factory ammo. Today we have start up's and new companies trying everything they can to break into a very tough market.