first custom big game rifle?

[matt_3479]

i would like to get my first custom big game rifle and dont know which way to go? I mainly hunt Moose and Black bear from ranges as close as 50 yards (but i have a 300. wsm for that) and had shot opportunities all the way out too 1200 yards! i have only practiced out too 600 as for i dont think my 300 wsm has much more in it past that for the animals im going after. As of this year and multiple following years to come, i will be hunting elk and whitetail as well down in montana. i would like to have my 300 as the light carry around and something for long range shots! I was strongly looking at a 300. RUM but some people told me its too close to my gun it wont give me that much more yardage, only like 200 yards more. I was then thinking of a 338 such as a 338 edge, or 338 RUM or 338 Lapua. I would like to hear some recommendations on a caliber please? any suggestions. i know i need to do a lot more practicing and i will! i love playing at the range, but i am extremely interested in long range hunting as well. any suggestions would be wonderful!

 

[liltank]

Not to knock your friends, but you will get much farther than 200 more yards w/ a 300RUM over your 300WSM. Just a quick comparison, the RUM will push a 208grn A-max to 3200, where the 300WSM will only get to 2850. If you want to go to 1200 and want a RUM that would be the way to go. But I would suggest going with a 210grn bullet or heavier. You can also load the RUM up w/ 240grn SMK and push it to 2950. That will get you there w/ authority and then some. However I know there are going to be guys pushing you in the direction of the 338 Edge, Rum, and Lapua. Nothing wrong with any of them. If you want a reason to go big, this would be the time to do it. Both calibers with big bullets will get you there.

Tank

 

[matt_3479]

knock them all you want i know more then them and as you know im here asking you so i know next to nothing well i wouldn't say nothing but i do need some help. Alot of people were trying to push me in the direction of a 338 due to the extra power, and bullet weight. But i dont really think i need much more then a 300 RUM anyways.

Now if i went 300 RUM and decided later the 338 EDGE would be a better way to go, the 300 RUM action is the base for a 338 EDGE correct? so i really couldn't go wrong starting with the RUM moving to an edge if needed. I dont think i will ever need too but knowing myself i will probably move up anyways to try new things. To be honest what i would actually do is keep the RUM and get an edge as well

 

[bogger01]

one question is do you hand load.if not,the 338 edge is out.thew 338 lapua is very expensive to shoot factoryammo. if you have your mind set on a 338 caliber then the 338 rum is my top pick.there is plenty of good factory hunting quality ammo for this round and if you do reload the 300 grain smk is hard to beatfor that long range shot.but don't sell the 300 rum short.there is plenty of good hunting ammo avalible plus to the handloader the quality bullets are plentyfull.any one of the 2 rums are going to be hard to beat.the edge will give you more velocity than the rum but it has its draw backs.one is case forming and the other is the o.a.l. of the cartridge makes it hard to have a repeater without a lot of work.in a hunting rifle, i feel this is important to have a repeater so you can have a quick follow up shot if need be.obviously the rest of the rifle as far as stock selection,action,barrel make and contour will be of personal preferance but these caliber options are are a good starting point.i do believe that if you decide to build a rifle,go ahead and build it the way you want it the first time unless you are wanting us to help you justify adding a few more rifles to your collection.which in that case i think you need more rifles.

 

[sp6x6]

Im going to say 338, why, you already have a 30. And I been shooting a 340 wm for 20+. My dad had a 300 wm, we both have weatherby tatoos, if you know what I mean.That was a good choice back then and I still like it. Now I would lean toward 338 rum, if budget or 338 lapua. I am packing a 338 norma now, 16 yr. old son is shooting the old stick 340.Someday I would like one of the larger 338's . I would save and watch the classifieds here, great rifles come up for sale, quite a difference from build your own.

 

[Buffalobob]

its too close to my gun it wont give me that much more yardage, only like 200 yards more.

That's about correct. As a general rule to use when you don't have instant access to a ballistic program, every 100 fps of extra muzzle velocity will give you 50 yards of extra killing range. Obviously a ballistic calculator will give you more accurate results but just for standing around talking, it a good rule to remember.

 

[liltank]

Obviously a ballistic calculator will give you more accurate results but just for standing around talking, it a good rule to remember.

By the numbers under a theoretical hunting situation via JBM:

Temp: 35deg. Baro: 29.92 Hum: 70% Elev: 1000 (All numbers reflect my hunting situations this past year)

300WSM: Muzzle vel: 2800 (good avg. to use) 208 A-max @1000yds= 1550fps 1110.8 ft. lbs energy. 27.8MOA elevation

300RUM same bullet: 3200fps (popular speed on this sight) @1000yds= 1849fps 1578.7 ft. lbs. energy. 20.2 MOA elevation

300RUM 240SMK: 2925 (guesstimate, but doable looking at loading info) @1000yds= 1670fps 1485.8 ft. lbs of energy. 24.7MOA elevation

So according to these numbers, the RUM will by far be the better rounds for such large animals compared to the WSM.

Just for fun here are some 338 numbers: We'll use the the avg. speed for the RUM and EDGE which is right around 2820. Same scenario.

300SMK @1000yds= 1736fps 2008.2 ft. lbs. energy. 24.6 MOA elevation

The Lapua will net you about 2850fps but can get a little more depending on the barrel length.

Tank

 

[MSLRHunter]

I would recommend the300rum with the 208 or 210 gr bullets. Then you can always upgrade to a 338 later, but I suspect the 300 rum will do what you need

 

[Mr.Moa]

i would suggest a 338 edge if you reload. main reason is a 338 edge brass is cheaper. get the 300 rum brass and neck it up to 338 cal. lapua brass is quite a bit higher priced.

 

[matt_3479]

i am very new to reloading but i do reload. i have begun reloading for my 300. wsm, about to try my 7mm mag and going to start my 243. win shortly as well. So from the general consistence it seems like the 338. EDGE is the best bet. i wasn't really sure if the 338 was really offering me that much more then the 300. RUM but i realized if i ever wanted to step up in distance, or even wanted to just have some fun i bet the 338 really kicks in there

 

[Mr.Moa]

you should get good BCs in the 338 cal. I would plan on having a muzzle brake for whatever you get. Mainly because a 338 edge is probably gonna need it to shoot accurately with no flinch but it helps to see your shot too from reducing muzzle rize. then you can see for yourself where you hit and dont have to rely on a spotter ... just a thought.

 

[rsbhunter]

Rum 300, custom Rem 700 with Krieger bbl, Jewell trigger, Vais muzzle brake....91.0 Retumbo, 210 Berger VLD, 3050 over chrony....put the "pill" where it needs to go and this cartridge will do all you ask

 

[Hbb6601]

Rum 300, custom Rem 700 with Krieger bbl, Jewell trigger, Vais muzzle brake....91.0 Retumbo, 210 Berger VLD, 3050 over chrony....put the "pill" where it needs to go and this cartridge will do all you ask

Wow, now that is nice! What barrel length and twist are you running?

 

[rsbhunter]

28" with muzzle brake, 1-10 twist....here is the other group i shot this year...don't shoot it alot, i use it for hunting...heavy at 12 lbs, but kicks less than a 308 varmint gun off bags....

measurement is CTC