300 rum or 338 edge ??

I am interested in rebarreling an old rifle in one of these calibers for 1000-1500 target and hunting. Presently have a 16lb Sako AV action( from the early 90's) Hart 30" 1.25 diameter in 7/300 Weatherby Laminated walnut stock 4"wide forend. (Old style LR setup) Would just rebarrel in 300 RUM or 338 edge Same diameter and 30" length and feed single shot. Thoughts as to which caliber?? deer elk and target

A faster twist .300RUM throated for the 245 Berger (if it ever comes out), or 230 Berger/240 SMK would be pretty good to 1300 on elk. You are not going to get much more out of a .338 Edge pushing a 300 Berger or SMK, if any. My criteria is 1800fps min & 1500 ft/lbs of retained energy for elk.

For steel, flip a coin. For deer, the minimum velocity if what will be your limiting factor.

Because you are keeping the same barrel length and diameter I would go with the 338 edge. I have both and love my 16 lb 338 edge. Put a brake on it and it will be a ***** cat to shoot. I did a lot of walking this year and the weight definitely told me I wasn't in good enough shape haha

lancetkenyon said:

A faster twist .300RUM throated for the 245 Berger (if it ever comes out), or 230 Berger/240 SMK would be pretty good to 1300 on elk. You are not going to get much more out of a .338 Edge pushing a 300 Berger or SMK, if any. My criteria is 1800fps min & 1500 ft/lbs of retained energy for elk.

For steel, flip a coin. For deer, the minimum velocity if what will be your limiting factor.

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Thanks for the info

Ndfarmer said:

Because you are keeping the same barrel length and diameter I would go with the 338 edge. I have both and love my 16 lb 338 edge. Put a brake on it and it will be a ----- cat to shoot. I did a lot of walking this year and the weight definitely told me I wasn't in good enough shape haha

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Thanks !

Costs a little more to load the edge, but both will hit with authority.
If you have another 300 mag around, I'd go edge.

338 is my choice but I have the 300 rum to . From left to right ..
338 Edge 30 " Mcgowen 14.4 pds.
338 Edge Heavy Palma Kreiger 30 " 17 pds with scope
338 Rum 30 " Carbon Benchmark as is 10.4 pds.
338 Edge 30 " Proof 10.7 pds.
The other two not in the picture are factory 338 Rums and shoot the 285 eldm's lights out . Our family likes the 338 's .
I would have spent more time with them last fall but the Darn Open Heart Surgery set me back till this Spring Bear Season .

Tough choice! Influenced by what else you might already have to a degree. I'd go .300 RUM if pressed today, as I already have a .338 RUM.

The .338's are pretty tough to beat if you don't already have one.

Wolf76 said:

Costs a little more to load the edge, but both will hit with authority.
If you have another 300 mag around, I'd go edge.

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Thanks As I have several LR 30 cal setups

338 edge. Terminal effect of the 300 gr bullet is quite impressive. 230gr out of 300 RUM has a good trajectory but cannot match on game performance. The 338 is quite fun to shoot in a heavy rifle with a brake.

bullfrog said:

338 edge. Terminal effect of the 300 gr bullet is quite impressive. 230gr out of 300 RUM has a good trajectory but cannot match on game performance. The 338 is quite fun to shoot in a heavy rifle with a brake.

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thanks!

I've shot animals out to the 700 yard range with the big 300s and the Edge. I've been in the target pits pulling targets for people shooting both from 1K out to 2K yards. You can tell the difference between them downrange at all ranges but past about 1300 yards they start to really separate...338s are hitting harder.

For steel I would be fairly indifferent, but for hunting, I'll take a 338 if I want to carry the weight. I still use my 300 but not when I really expect long shots at elk.

I love big fast 30's so I'd say the 300RUM and a 215gr Berger....I honestly see no point in the 230 but that's another argument. That said there's no denying the extra authority 338's provide.