COBrad
Well-Known Member
I'm getting 3057 fps from a 300 NMI with 245 grain EOL's from a 30" barrel. 88 grains N570 and no pressure signs. Gun shoots in the .3's at medium ranges and still shooting in the .4's at a mile in calm conditions.
300 norma imp v 30-338 lapua imp
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Frank in the Laurels
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..why ! For all the expense, time and anxiety I can't see any major advances over the plain Jane ho-hum 300wm that makes either worth the effort..I hardly think any big game animals vitals will notice the difference...unless you got lots of time and $$$$ laying around and just need a tinker toy project..just an opinion.
sable tireur
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Regarding cartridge choices:
The 7x57/7mm Mauser/275 Rigby has been acknowledged as a fine big game hunting cartridge.
The recent advent of superbly designed and crafted bullets for many of our cartridges has made the current use of some of these cartridges more than acceptable, including the 300 WM as suggested.
But that certainly doesn't eliminate the acceptance and usability of cartridges such as the 300 Norma Mag or the 30-338 Lapua Imp. Both of these cartridges leave the 300 WM in the dust when we consider the longer ranges and the desire for more energy on target. And don't forget the .30-30 Win. More deer have been harvested with this cartridge than many of the highly touted, high performance cartridges. Poachers insist that the .22 LR is the very best in the furtive procurement of illegally shot game.
Arguments supporting any number of cartridges as being the better choice exist when those supporters choose to speak up. Many choose to use that old saw of 'the game animal won't know the difference...".
The great advantage of being here in the U.S.A. is the prolific number of choices we still have when it comes to both the cartridge and bullet selection.
Enjoy the freedom of choice!
The 7x57/7mm Mauser/275 Rigby has been acknowledged as a fine big game hunting cartridge.
The very same can applied to the opinions regarding the .30-06 Springfield and several other cartridges depending on the point of view and the overwhelming number of rifles chambered for these cartridges.
The recent advent of superbly designed and crafted bullets for many of our cartridges has made the current use of some of these cartridges more than acceptable, including the 300 WM as suggested.
But that certainly doesn't eliminate the acceptance and usability of cartridges such as the 300 Norma Mag or the 30-338 Lapua Imp. Both of these cartridges leave the 300 WM in the dust when we consider the longer ranges and the desire for more energy on target. And don't forget the .30-30 Win. More deer have been harvested with this cartridge than many of the highly touted, high performance cartridges. Poachers insist that the .22 LR is the very best in the furtive procurement of illegally shot game.
Arguments supporting any number of cartridges as being the better choice exist when those supporters choose to speak up. Many choose to use that old saw of 'the game animal won't know the difference...".
The great advantage of being here in the U.S.A. is the prolific number of choices we still have when it comes to both the cartridge and bullet selection.
Enjoy the freedom of choice!
COBrad
Well-Known Member
300 WM is unquestionably an outstanding long range hunting cartridge… but my 300 NMI far exceeds it. I hunt marmots at loooong ranges, my furthest at 1402 yards so far. The 245 Bergers launched at 3057 from the Norma at those ranges bring capability to the table that the WM can't. Also, I've killed elk at over 1K yards. I want the energy, momentum, and high BC's at those ranges.
yobuck
Well-Known Member
Have you ever compared the trajectory performance of a 200 gr bullet to the 245 gr bullet at 1400 yds with your rifle?
COBrad
Well-Known Member
All I've shot from my rifle are the 245's. This rifle was built specifically for that bullet. Trajectory alone is only part of the equation for me. I have an 1800 yard range I shoot on and want the higher BC.
QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
The velocity and BC differences between 300LIMP/300NMI and the 300WM are pretty much the same as saying:
"I can't see any major advances over the plain Jane ho-hum 308 WIN that makes 300 WM worth the effort."
The same-velocity (~3000FPS) bullet weight jumps here are 168gn/308WIN, 180gn/30-06, 210gn/300WM, 245gn/300NMI. Shawn Carlock's 300 Terminator (throated 30-338 Lapua Improved) has been clocked at 3300FPS with a 230gn Berger. What could a 300WM push that too?
If the 300WM has been throated, faster twist, etc, it's not "plain Jane ho-hum" anymore is it? Broz loves his 300WMs and pushes them as hard as anyone probably ever has, but he's not running standard anything, and he's way deeper cost and time wise into his tricked-up 300WMs at this point as I am into 300 LIMP.
blksno
Well-Known Member
Whelp...I finally got mine put together (300 Norma Mag Imp) and touched off the first two fire forming rounds today.
230 Bergers at 2950 with H1000. I just wanted to use them to break in and form. Once I get all my cases taken care of...I plan to switch to 250 Atips and RL33. Time will tell.
230 Bergers at 2950 with H1000. I just wanted to use them to break in and form. Once I get all my cases taken care of...I plan to switch to 250 Atips and RL33. Time will tell.
Alex Wheeler
Well-Known Member
I have designs for both. A 35 degree 300 NMI and a 40 degree 30-338 lapua imp. For most people the NMI is the better choice. The main difference is barrel wear. The lapua is much harder on barrels. This is not a problem for some things. If its strictly for hunting and minimum ballistics the lapua is the one. But if you want to shoot a lot it wears fast, its like a 28 nosler in that regard. The 338 version of my lapua imp is easy on throats and is my first choice, it checks all the boxes. But the rifle has to be built heavier. All good choices, but it just comes down to your actual use of the rifle.
Marine sniper
Well-Known Member
I wonder if something in the middle might be the ticket for ELR use. I shot on a team that required the 33 XC, frankly I am not a fan of the 33 XC due to its terrible barrel life. I get .0065 throat death every 100 rounds with a 33 XC running 300 Bergers at 3150. I thought my 338 LAI shooting 300 Bergers at 3050 with 106.5 of RE33 was more inherently accurate over a course of fire than a 33 XC shooting the same bullet at 3150 with 115 or more grains of N565. I have switched both of my light class ELR rifles to 35* 300 NMI's built by Earl F in Montana. (I am actually loading fire forming rounds as I type this).
I have two fresh 33 XC barrels and will continue to test / shoot them, but I think I am probably done with that cartridge for competitive ELR use. I might do another 338 LAI barrel to run against my 300 NMI's in a 26 pound rifle and see what I think. Ballistically they are pretty identical re: 245 Berger at 3050 vs. 300 Berger at the same speed. The NMI I am going to run in mag fed bolt gun to decrease follow up shot times.
There is a lot of case capacity difference in a 300-338 LAI and a 300 NMI, all that extra powder burn in the LAI ends up being very tough on barrels. I wonder if the two cases were met in the middle at around 115 grains of water if you could get 3100-3125 fps with a 245 Berger, maybe 3150 and not kill the barrel in 500 rounds. In ELR that extra speed does help with wind drift since we have no wind flags and very short shooting times.
Alex Wheeler
Well-Known Member
Of all of the ones discussed, in my experiance the most accurate is 100% the 338 lapua imp version. I agree with you on the xc.
Marine sniper
Well-Known Member
Even more so than the 300 NMI, interesting.
Now I gotta order 2 more barrels for the 338 LAI.
I've shot groups in the .1s at 1k with both cartridges multiple times in different rifle. The 300nmi excels in hunting weight rifles.
I feel like both cases are as big as I like to go for their bore size.
Something worth mentioning that adds value to me, is the 300 nmi is easier on optics and mounts. Especially these big 40oz scopes that guys like to use. I've built a few 33xcs for guys and they wreck optics…especially in the lighter weight rifles.
My xc took down a atacr 7-35 on a Bigfoot
