28 Nosler or something bigger?

[Behyot]

I'm wanting to get a custom rifle built for long range shooting and elk/deer hunting and wanted to get feedback on caliber options to help as I debate with myself what caliber to get. If I ever get my proficiency with it to where I'm confident in these distances and the right opportunity it'd be nice to have it elk capable out to 800-1000 yards and able to try target shooting out past a mile. I'd like factory ammo to be easy to find (not necessarily now but assuming the current ammo shortage lightens up, which I know is a bit uncertain). Hopefully I'll reload for it eventually but I'm not sure when I'll get the time to get into that. Currently 28 Nosler or 300 PRC are the two I'm thinking would be best options.

I have a 6.5 PRC that I think will be great for deer and elk at the majority of distances I would hunt, but I'm wanting something that'll shoot a heavier bullet for elk at further ranges if I ever get the opportunity. I know shot placement is more important than bullet weight but I still think having a bigger bullet would make me feel more comfortable with taking the shot. I'm hoping these two rifles will satisfy me for any big game hunting I'll do so I'd like them to cover quite a range of possibilities. I have other rifles that are great for within a few hundred yards but I'm interested in learning to stretch my capabilities.

Does anyone have recommendations on whether 28 Nosler offers enough of an increase in capabilities over the 6.5 PRC or should I step up to a .30 caliber or something else right away? Any recommendations on another caliber would be appreciated too, I know the classic 300 WM would probably be a popular choice. Thanks for any input

 

[Texanjohn]

Just go with a 300 win mag, you'll have access to ammo till the day you die, and it's more than capable of doing all you ask without beating you up too bad

 

[Mark37082]

I'm a fan of the .284. I've had several 7RM's and in the process of a 280ai build. I've also had 300wm and several other 30 cal. rifles. That 28N will get the job done. It will eat a barrel fairly quickly, but that just goes with territory. The STW is a great cartridge from what I have been told and read. You just need to make up your mind on what you are looking for in purpose and desire.

 

[quarterman]

I am also more off a 7mm fan then a 30 cal fan. My reason for it is in a similar bullet weight the 7mm bullets have a higher b.c. and I can push them just as fast. So I end up shooting flatter and retaining more energy and velocity then I would with the similar weight bullet out of a 30 cal magnum. If you compare a 28 nosler to a 300 wby or prc using a bullet with similar BC then the 28 will be going faster then the 30 cal bullet.. I like higher velocities and I dont worry to much about barrel life, so for me velocity is king. As far a how they kill, you wont be able to tell a difference between how a 300 prc or a 28 nosler kill elk, deer or moose. You cant go wrong with either choice. In my case I sold my 300 prc and 300 weatherby. My go to rifles are both 28 noslers. As far as comparing thses to your 6.5 PRC , I do feel there is a fair difference on heavier game if shot placement isnt perfect. But that being said all the game animals I have shot with a 6.5 prc, 6.5 RPM and 6.5-300wby have more or less died in thier tracks. I have found elk to take a couple steps before falling over. Just my two bits. Good luck with your decision.

 

[HSmithTX]

I have 28N, 300WM and 300RUM, and I would tell you to go with the 300WM if factory ammunition is even a small factor. My first big game rifle was a 284, and I have used 7mm something or other more than anything else. But I will also tell you a 30 cal given similar/same bullet and placement kills better than a 7mm on elk sized animals, and substantially better in my opinion. 338 is substantially better than 30 cal also, like WAY substantially better LOL. I might try a PRC when good brass is readily available but as long as Hornady is what you can get I'll stick with something else.....

 

[Hunterjones]

IMHO, the 28 Nosler is leaps and bounds above the 6.5 PRC In power.

 

[Orange Dust]

I have a 28 and a 300RUM. The RUM just kicks a little harder. Really they are nearly redundant. Both fine, hard hitting long range rifles. If you want noticeably more than either of these look hard @ the .338's. The Edge is the sauce if handloading.

 

[QuietTexan]

300 WM is a turd, it doesn't do anything that a 300 RUM turned down can't do, can't do anything like what a 300 RUM turned up can do, it pretty much only exists because the Army finally gave up on the equally turd-y 308 and went to the 5.56 made for the 60s Flower Children who were too in love with Socialism to shoot a facist's-***-kicking man's rifle like a 30-06.

That embarrassed their 30-06 shootin' WW2 vet dads' so dang much their collective solution was turn the 30 cal up to 11 to compensate. They tried hard to make something good, but the poor thing still has to wear a belt to keep it's *** crack from showing

They tried again and 300 WM's little brother 7RM at least went to the gym and pumped up that overbore a little bit more, Momma still lets him come around for dinner once a week, but 300 WM only gets to come over to shovel the driveway. All he and his bastard son 264WM probably get for Christmas is a $5 wrapped around a rock instead of a new hand-made quilt, a tin of cookies, and a new puppy for some dang reason like all the 6.5mm grandchildren that she actually loves which she got from her hot (but slightly dim) daughter 7-08 hooking up with 6.5x52 Italian Sperm Donor that time they went to Anzio to visit the cemetery where her Uncle is.

No one knows where 22-250 came from. He looks kind of like the uncle and showed up one day and everyone just kind of went along with it, but now it's been too long and it would be awkward to ask so that little sneak is probably in the will too.



Life's to short to shoot boring rifles, get what makes you happy. 300 PRC might have the edge in ammo availability, but the 28 Nosler is a step up from the 6.5 PRC. I love my 300 RUM, but the Nosler would probably be my choice over a 7 RUM.

 

[Reelamin]

Same question I always ask. What velocity of what bullet weight are your minimums for on target numbers? That would be for both animals and targets. Only then could I choose what cartridge I would suggest.

 

[skipglo]

If I want to consider jumping......I jump....338 lap or Rum....go bigger...or stay home...300wm is a baby step ahead from your 6.5 prc....just me!

 

[RandySch]

I'm wanting to get a custom rifle built for long range shooting and elk/deer hunting and wanted to get feedback on caliber options to help as I debate with myself what caliber to get. If I ever get my proficiency with it to where I'm confident in these distances and the right opportunity it'd be nice to have it elk capable out to 800-1000 yards and able to try target shooting out past a mile. I'd like factory ammo to be easy to find (not necessarily now but assuming the current ammo shortage lightens up, which I know is a bit uncertain). Hopefully I'll reload for it eventually but I'm not sure when I'll get the time to get into that. Currently 28 Nosler or 300 PRC are the two I'm thinking would be best options.

I have a 6.5 PRC that I think will be great for deer and elk at the majority of distances I would hunt, but I'm wanting something that'll shoot a heavier bullet for elk at further ranges if I ever get the opportunity. I know shot placement is more important than bullet weight but I still think having a bigger bullet would make me feel more comfortable with taking the shot. I'm hoping these two rifles will satisfy me for any big game hunting I'll do so I'd like them to cover quite a range of possibilities. I have other rifles that are great for within a few hundred yards but I'm interested in learning to stretch my capabilities.

Does anyone have recommendations on whether 28 Nosler offers enough of an increase in capabilities over the 6.5 PRC or should I step up to a .30 caliber or something else right away? Any recommendations on another caliber would be appreciated too, I know the classic 300 WM would probably be a popular choice. Thanks for any input

I would give the nod to the 28 Nosler. Personally, I went with 7MM STW because I reload and brass is less than half the price. If I was shooting factory ammo I would go with the 28 Nosler.

 

[SteveBurton]

I have both a 6.5 PRC and 28 Nosler. With the 156's @2880 fps, the PRC is a solid 900 yard rifle with 1800+ FPS and 1100+ ft/lbs of energy. The 28 N, with 195s @3080 fps, is a solid 1150 yard rifle with 1800 fps and 1500 ft/lbs of energy. IMHO, the 6.5 PRC is a capable elk rifle under 800 yards and the 28 Nosler is overkill on deer sized game. If you are stuck on a 28N or 300 PRC, go with the 300 PRC. Since you already have a 6.5 PRC, I would go with something bigger like a 338 Edge or 338 NMI. The only ammo I have consistently seen on the shelves in the past year has been 270 Win, 30-06 and 300 WM. No idea what will happen to ammo availability with the world going to h3ll but I don't think the 300 WM will give you a ton more performance than your PRC, especially with factory ammo. Let the begin.

 

[Trm82]

A 28 nosler with a 180 vld or any other high bc bullet launched at 3100-3250 FPS is devastating out really far on what ever it hits and there's not a lot in that range of firepower that will do it any better.
I don't worry about burning a barrel out because to me if your shooting a magnum then shoot it at magnum velocities and barrels are like tires !! You wear them out and you change them !!

 

[Behyot]

Thanks everyone for the great feedback already! It's always good to read individual's experiences on here way better than what I get off youtube and the gun magazines trying to make money. Of course there is no one right answer to what I'm looking for but it's nice to get real world experiences.

Same question I always ask. What velocity of what bullet weight are your minimums for on target numbers? That would be for both animals and targets. Only then could I choose what cartridge I would suggest.

Unfortunately I know I'm looking into this sooner than I have the experience to justify doing it, but I'm sure most in here understand the itch to get another new toy. Currently my 6.5 PRC will be capable of hunting elk out to the distances I'm comfortable with, so it's hard to know what velocity/bullet weight I'll need down the road. I'm just hoping to be able to expand my capabilities.

For now I'll just continue to research and get more acquainted with the 6.5 PRC, and at the point I decide to get something new it sounds like I can't go wrong with any of the options mentioned.