Caliber selection

Hi all. I don't choose to comment too often as I am a bit of a quiet sort, but I reached this very same decision point a few years ago.
As we are all aware firearm are tools. We use the right tool for the job. Based on the initial question that started the post, the quandary is what will provide more transferred energy down range accurately, in a reasonable, effective manner at a reasonable cost. Of course there are many answers to this question. I can only provide what I found. 300RUM is an excellent choice, however you will have to deal with increased recoil and decreased barrel life for a minimal gain. As well, brass will be more expensive as will the increased powder volume per round. I personally chose the 300WM. The bullet choice was another matter. I started with 200 grain Accubonds, which are a reliable bullet, and took several animals at extended ranges. However I was never quite confident due to their rapid velocity depletion in transit. I recently switched to the 210 Accubond LR. I don't want to take away from the berger or any other bullet as they are all top notch. For my purposes, living in northern Canada, having to drop the muzzle on a charging Grizzly at 10 yards is more likely than possible. I did not want to use a bullet that might disintegrate at close range.
In researching the ABLR I found that the bearing surface was less than most low drag bullets on the market. It is in fact less than the 190 ABLR. This means less friction in the barrel. I will admit, I was skeptical at first. However due to the new, if slightly lower, published BC and the heavy base on a bonded bullet I thought it deserved a try. I was not disappointed. After a standard load work up I found a high accuracy node at 2962fps, with a deviation of 12fps, which accomplished sub .5moa 3 round groups consistently. This equates to a retained velocity of 1815fps and retained energy of 1536fp at 1000 yards at my elevation. This is out of a 24" barrel with a slim line radial brake. With a little bit of math I was able to deduce that a similar load in a 300RUM would have cost approximately 25% more. As well, with the lower bullet to barrel contact surface, the copper fouling in my rifle is greatly reduced as will be the barrel wear. I should note that I am shooting a custom rifle based on a Remington 700 action. However, in this day and age I am not sure that this is necessary. My wife recently purchased a Browning X-bolt Hells Canyon in 7RM. You know, the ugly gun. It shoots lights out with a similar style of load. I have also recently used a 300WM in a tikka that was bedded into a Bell & Carlson stock with an aftermarket brake. No other work at all. Similar story, .5 MOA with a similar style load.
So I guess my suggestion to you is this. You should be able to do everything you want to do with a good, or slightly modified, out of the box rifle. Broaden your scope of bullet choices, there are offerings out there that will preform beyond your goal with only a loss of only 5 to 10 grains. There is more to a bullet than just the weight it carries. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
 
At this point I have pretty much talked myself into a circle. hahaha I am going to let it ride for a bit and see where the "needs" fill in as I go. A 6.5 Creedmoor I think would be an excellent gun for my daughters as they get older. I have a 243 which would be great too, but it is a varmint barrel and a little heavy, although most of the hunting is from a sitting stand point anyways. My 7 mag is accurate, is ballistically good, and at the elevations I shoot, carries plenty of energy to take any of the game I am shooting at their respective elevations as far as I am effectively able to shoot. The 300 win mag has always been on my list, a 7-300win wildcat has been on my list also from a custom stand point. The 28 Nosler does peek my curiosity a little bit. I have read a lot about it. I kind of have a small obsession with the 195's, but I would have to think long and hard about it I guess. At the end of the day, I am going to have to sit back and see where the needs meet the wants and go from there.
 
At this point I have pretty much talked myself into a circle. hahaha I am going to let it ride for a bit and see where the "needs" fill in as I go. A 6.5 Creedmoor I think would be an excellent gun for my daughters as they get older. I have a 243 which would be great too, but it is a varmint barrel and a little heavy, although most of the hunting is from a sitting stand point anyways. My 7 mag is accurate, is ballistically good, and at the elevations I shoot, carries plenty of energy to take any of the game I am shooting at their respective elevations as far as I am effectively able to shoot. The 300 win mag has always been on my list, a 7-300win wildcat has been on my list also from a custom stand point. The 28 Nosler does peek my curiosity a little bit. I have read a lot about it. I kind of have a small obsession with the 195's, but I would have to think long and hard about it I guess. At the end of the day, I am going to have to sit back and see where the needs meet the wants and go from there.
I am a huge 300WM advocate, but seeing as though 'want' isn't easier to decide on, and you don't 'need' a 300WM.....

JUST GET ONE!:D

YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

Every one I've had/have is more accurate than I can hold in the field.

Cheers.
:)
 
All I ever really needed was 300 win, bought a very nice milspec 5R then sold it. I wanted a 338, scratched that itch with no regrets
 
So I am just playing around with a 338 win mag idea. No, not extreme long range by any means. But if I could get 2600 fps out of a 250 grain, it actually does better than I thought. Brass isn't terrible expensive, and it would kind of fill a gap in my collection. hmmmm

I know it is definitely not known as a "long range cartridge" so to speak, but would be kind of a fun little project.
 
I considered the 338 wm route and my smith said to throat it for a little extra, but I wanted different.
 
I used to own a .338 WinMag... Won't own another one. I can lob Berger 210 and 215's in my .308 Win at 2,500 FPS MV... Why would I need the .338 WinMag? :cool:
 
So I am just playing around with a 338 win mag idea. No, not extreme long range by any means. But if I could get 2600 fps out of a 250 grain, it actually does better than I thought. Brass isn't terrible expensive, and it would kind of fill a gap in my collection. hmmmm

I know it is definitely not known as a "long range cartridge" so to speak, but would be kind of a fun little project.

There's nothing wrong with the .338 WM, you are correct they are not for extreme long range for today's standards but ~30 years ago or so, they were considered elk cartridge for a cross canyon shots. A have one of those NAHC books somewhere in my house that showcased it. They are no slouch by any means. When it is time to re-barrel mine, I'll keep it .338 WM with longer barrel and maybe with 1:9" and throated for the 300 grainers ... because I can.

http://store.iqmetals.com/hsm338winmag300grbergerotmhybridtactical.aspx
 
Man I remember when I was a kid, the 338 win mag was the king of the big calibers before the ultra mags, lapua's, and numerous Wildcats, knock offs, bullet developments, and the growth of long range interest. Now it is nearly forgotten. Could be kind of fun to play with.......
 
All I ever really needed was 300 win, bought a very nice milspec 5R then sold it. I wanted a 338, scratched that itch with no regrets
I have 4 hunting rifles in 300WM and 1 custom F-Class rifle with 3 300WM barrels, that itch is well and truly scratched. One of those hunting rifles is an unfired custom shop 5R I couldn't pass up.
I also have 2 hunting rifles in 338WM, 1 rifle in 338-06 and 2 LR/ELR rifles in 338 EDGE & 338-416 Rigby Improved, those itches have also been scratched. Then I have a 6.5x47 Lapua, 260AI (retired) on a switch barrel set up and another set of barrels for the F-Class rifle in 264WM. That itch has also been scratched seeing as though I have run 6.5 Swede and 6.5-284 Norma in the same platform previously.

Funny thing is that until you get to 338 cal, all the others perform at the same level, give or take, but the 338 is a step up that you can really see.

Cheers.
:)
 
Hi mrb1982,

I went through a similar process a couple of years ago when I wanted to get my first Long Range Rifle, I was fortunate enough to get a lot of help from the members here, thank you guys!

My criteria was that I wanted a rifle that fit me perfectly for snap shots when necessary, was as light as possible and had the energy to drop an elk at 1000 yards.

After doing a lot of research I decided to go with the 300 Win Mag because combined with Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range Accubonds in 190 Grains you get similar energy and velocity's as off the shelf .338 ammo without the recoil and I do not like muzzle breaks on my rifles.

From the Nosler Box @ 800 yards:
Velocity: 1826
Energy: 1407


I purchased a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight that was on sale at Cabela's for $1,499.00 because the Monte Carlo Stock fit me like a glove and it was light. I topped it with a Huskemaw Blue Diamond 5-20x50 scope because they are way lighter than the Nightforce.

After shooting it I thought I had made a "YUGE" mistake because the bullets were all over the map even at 200 yards. After consulting with members here and my great gunsmith I swapped out Weatherby's factory #2 barrel and replaced it with a #3 Wilson Match Grade barrel that my gunsmith fluted to minimize the weight. Now my Long Range Rifle is shooting .25 MOA @ 200 yards which in my books is pretty hard to beat.

My long range rife cost me under $3,000.00, it weights exactly 10 lbs. it shoots like a champ and isn't a tank to carry in the bush.

I could not be happier!

PS: Len's Backu's Long Range Hunting Online Magazine RULES! Thanks Len!
 
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I lusted for the 300 RUM and finally purchased one with a 26" barrel. Prior to making that purchase a friend offered his 300 WinMag at a price that was less than the price of the Leupold scope that was mounted on it. I shoot it for three years before buying the 300 RUM. I used this rifle for four years before I realized that I belong to the bigger and faster club when it comes to hunting elk. Read some articles about the 338 Edge and then had a chance to shoot one. That was a costly shot (actually four shots). Long story short I found an incredible smith, since retired. I told him my only goal was a rifle that shot itty, bitty groups. He built it and I have never looked back.
As others have said, pick something that YOU really would like and go for it.
Most important, have some fun.
 
I shoot a 300 win factory sendero 26" and ive got it shooting the 215 bergers at 2850 fps. This is a mild load of h4831sc. Shoots so much better then retumbo or h1000. I could settle for 1 moa groups with retumbo and get 2950 but when it's shooting .5 moa groups I'm happy. I've got a bud that's got a sendero in 300 rum but he's settled on 190gr bullets because it won't shoot the heavies very well. I like the rum and it should give you an extra couple hundred feet per second. I agree that the 300 win and the 7mm are pretty close in ballistics and the rum will separate the two very nicely. But I do love my win mag.
 
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