Caliber selection

mrb1982 said:
I shoot a 243 and 7 rem mag with 95 and 180 grain bullets. I have a 270 win BDL I shoot 130's out of. I have a 22-250 and 223. I am looking at something new, I just don't know what yet. I am thinking another magnum long range rig. I have always wanted a 300 win with 215's but is kind of close balliatically to my 7 except a little more energy. 300 RUM sounds entertaining but when getting to that size it starts to get more spend to shoot which I am not terribly opposed to.

A couple questions to help with my decision. Also if you have any personal suggestions of preferences or thought processes on the topic go ahead and let me know what you are thinking.

1) This most likely will be a factory rig, so how much velocity can I expect to get out of 215 grain Berger's in a 26" barrel on a 300 win mag and an RUM?

2) How much velocity will I expect to see out of 230's?

Any other caliber suggestions are cool. I am leaning towards more horsepower rather than less. Just because I guess.
Click to expand...
Since you asked, I would recommend a 300 WSM, love mine and shoots like a laser.
 
I have a .340 Weatherby an$ every 340 has a 338 winmag inside. My son killed a moose with nosier 300's at 525 yards...a shot he would not normally taken, but the hunt was near end and the guide said shoot. The rifle did its part. With a muzzle brake the recoil is not bad at all and without, it is tolerable. Think I got the rifle second
ShtrRdy said:
How about one of the 6.5mm offerings? 260 Rem, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5x47mm Lapua?

If you're still thinking bigger consider the 338 RUM.
Click to expand...

hand with a scope for under a $1000.
 
mrb1982 said:
I shoot a 243 and 7 rem mag with 95 and 180 grain bullets. I have a 270 win BDL I shoot 130's out of. I have a 22-250 and 223. I am looking at something new, I just don't know what yet. I am thinking another magnum long range rig. I have always wanted a 300 win with 215's but is kind of close balliatically to my 7 except a little more energy. 300 RUM sounds entertaining but when getting to that size it starts to get more spend to shoot which I am not terribly opposed to.

A couple questions to help with my decision. Also if you have any personal suggestions of preferences or thought processes on the topic go ahead and let me know what you are thinking.

1) This most likely will be a factory rig, so how much velocity can I expect to get out of 215 grain Berger's in a 26" barrel on a 300 win mag and an RUM?

2) How much velocity will I expect to see out of 230's?

Any other caliber suggestions are cool. I am leaning towards more horsepower rather than less. Just because I guess.
Click to expand...


Probably the opposite direction you're looking for but I've been having fun with my new 224 Valkyrie. I've had it out to 650 yds, need to find some place that goes to 1,000. You could just replace the upper on your 223 if it's an AR 15 platform then get some 6.8 magazines and you're good to go. Cheap way to go and the rounds are less then I reload my 7 Rem Mag for. Just getting set up to reload for the 224 so I don't have a price figured out for it yet.
 
mrb1982 said:
I shoot a 243 and 7 rem mag with 95 and 180 grain bullets. I have a 270 win BDL I shoot 130's out of. I have a 22-250 and 223. I am looking at something new, I just don't know what yet. I am thinking another magnum long range rig. I have always wanted a 300 win with 215's but is kind of close balliatically to my 7 except a little more energy. 300 RUM sounds entertaining but when getting to that size it starts to get more spend to shoot which I am not terribly opposed to.

A couple questions to help with my decision. Also if you have any personal suggestions of preferences or thought processes on the topic go ahead and let me know what you are thinking.

1) This most likely will be a factory rig, so how much velocity can I expect to get out of 215 grain Berger's in a 26" barrel on a 300 win mag and an RUM?

2) How much velocity will I expect to see out of 230's?

Any other caliber suggestions are cool. I am leaning towards more horsepower rather than less. Just because I guess.
Click to expand...

I had my gunsmith build a .284 Jarrett (7mm) for the new 195 EOL Berger bullet. The necked down 300 WM case takes 72.4 gr of Retumbo and approaches 3000 ft/sec. The G1 .755 BC of the Berger is 40% better than the .533 185 gr SMK that I used to shoot in my former Surgeon Scalpel 300 WM. And unlike the Surgeon 300 WM (even with suppressor), the 284 Jarrett doesn't beat you up with recoil making it much easier to stay on the scope. It's closer to my Rem .260 in that regard. Granted, with a J Allen stock and PMII 5x25 scope, the 284 Jarrett weighs about 22 lbs. But for a rifle that easily shoots out to 1800 yards with sub-MOA groups while remaining shooter-friendly, I find it hard to beat.
 
So, everyone will have opinions on what they think you might enjoy, and I will just throw this out there for you to think about.. I was in your boat wanting something a little bigger that would just put the smack on elk and bigger animals because I already had a 7mm rem mag, 28 Nos, 30 win.. Just for shooting a lot I got a 6.5 saum…

I was looking for something in the 338 cal but, didn't want to pay a boat load for brass and the works.. I also didn't want to get my shoulder kicked off, and wanted something that was packable for hunting.. I Ran on to a 33 Nosler that Dallas Lane Built and it really scratched that itch for me.. It has a brake on it and doesn't kick harder than a 270. I went middle of the road on big bullets.. I am shooting the 250 elite hunter Berger at 2900 fps.. I have killed animals out to 1100 yards with this gun and it has met all my expectations. It is easy to reload for with a little 4831sc and it fits all the normal reloading tools. It was 7.5 lbs bare rifle and with a nightforce atacar 5x25x56 it is right around 10.. very packable and it has all the punch I need for anything.. Is it a 338 LM? NO... it is not, but it has its punch and velocity is great for me. It has a little freebore on it so you can seat the Berger's how you like. I am not saying this is the gun for everyone but it definitely filled my 338 itch without kicking my arm off and it can be hunted.. and packed.. You might give one a look...
 
I have the same calibers as you plus a few more. I have the 300 weatherby and 300 RUM. I love both. But when it comes to hunting really big things afar and with claws I always carry my 340 Weatherby Accumark. All guns shoot 1/2 MOA and are factory. All have been tweaked but have factory barrels.
 
Fwiw, I have a savage 110 BA stealth in 338 lapua. I only have 20rnds through it S far, but the 5 3rnd groups I shot after sight in were all .5 moa or less with the Barnes 285 lrx tracking point factory loads. Recoil with the break and the 12lb gun is about the same as my 9lb unbaked 308. It's laughably less than my 9lb unbaked 300rum and 7lb unbaked 375h&h. There's a model 111 lrh in 338 lapua in the classifieds right now that I may pick up if it's still there in a couple weeks when I get paid. It's a lot more hunting focused, and would be a great base for a 300norma if you decided you didn't like the lapua.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/savage-338-lapua.203861/
 
mrb1982 said:
I shoot a 243 and 7 rem mag with 95 and 180 grain bullets. I have a 270 win BDL I shoot 130's out of. I have a 22-250 and 223. I am looking at something new, I just don't know what yet. I am thinking another magnum long range rig. I have always wanted a 300 win with 215's but is kind of close balliatically to my 7 except a little more energy. 300 RUM sounds entertaining but when getting to that size it starts to get more spend to shoot which I am not terribly opposed to.

A couple questions to help with my decision. Also if you have any personal suggestions of preferences or thought processes on the topic go ahead and let me know what you are thinking.

1) This most likely will be a factory rig, so how much velocity can I expect to get out of 215 grain Berger's in a 26" barrel on a 300 win mag and an RUM?

2) How much velocity will I expect to see out of 230's?

Any other caliber suggestions are cool. I am leaning towards more horsepower rather than less. Just because I guess.
Click to expand...
 
I don't understand the point of your question. What exactly do you plan to shoot? Ground squirrels, prairie dog, feral hogs, deer, bears.....what?
 
I like the .338's for hunting anything from mule deer on up. I have taken a number of animals up to large moose with a Browning A bolt in .338 mag. and my wife has taken both deer and elk with her Tikka .338 Federal (a very under rated caliber - especially with the 160 grain Barnes bullets). However, my all time favourite is the 338/06. It has to be one of the most efficient cartridges available. If I was to go for another rifle it will probably be a 338/06 AI. I have had 7/06, 30-06, and 8/06 AI's in the past with mixed results, to the point of saying never again - but I am beginning to waiver. Brass is easy. Just neck down .35 Whelan, leave a false shoulder and then fireform, and the resulting performance should be close to .338 mag. Maybe I am just daydreaming but you asked for opinions.
 
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