300 rum basic loading question

[coldhunt]

I was going to build a 7stw, or 300 win, but am setting my sights on a 300 rum now, because a friend who has been loading for quite a few years, has told me that he can work up 2 loads, one for long range, hard hitting, flat trajectory for killing Elk out to about 600yds, and one tamed down for my bush hunting that will shoulder bite me like a 300win. Which will be 75% of my hunting, but both can and will happen in the same day at times, when we hunt out to our tree stands which gives us clear views from very low yardages, out to over 700yds.

My question,,, is the 2 load idea a reasonable idea?

Poking fun at my vast knowledge is OK too. I have a tough chin.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

How do you intend to sight the gun in when you have two very different loads that will likely shoot to different points of aim? I'd just work up a single load that is adequate for your elk hunting and use it for everything. or ......... skip the 300 RUM which will rarely be "needed" and build a gun in 300 wby, 7STW or a similar cartridge.

I was going to build a 7stw, or 300 win, but am setting my sights on a 300 rum now, because a friend who has been loading for quite a few years, has told me that he can work up 2 loads, one for long range, hard hitting, flat trajectory for killing Elk out to about 600yds, and one tamed down for my bush hunting that will shoulder bite me like a 300win. Which will be 75% of my hunting, but both can and will happen in the same day at times, when we hunt out to our tree stands which gives us clear views from very low yardages, out to over 700yds.

My question,,, is the 2 load idea a reasonable idea?

Poking fun at my vast knowledge is OK too. I have a tough chin.

 

[freebird63]

I have a sendero 300RUM and if I had it all to do again I would have chosen a 7MM STW instead. It will drop an elk out to 1000 yards. There are very few guns that when shooting a 140gr factory ammo can still be pushing the bullet at 2550fps at 500 yards. The 300RUM can't. As soon as my barrel is toast I am having it rechambered to a 7MM STW. Heck if I had the money right now I would be ordering a new 30" broughton barrel and have my smith rechamber it to a 7MM STW, would have to change a few things with the action, but in the end it would be a killer out to and past 1000 yards.

 

[J E Custom]

I was going to build a 7stw, or 300 win, but am setting my sights on a 300 rum now, because a friend who has been loading for quite a few years, has told me that he can work up 2 loads, one for long range, hard hitting, flat trajectory for killing Elk out to about 600yds, and one tamed down for my bush hunting that will shoulder bite me like a 300win. Which will be 75% of my hunting, but both can and will happen in the same day at times, when we hunt out to our tree stands which gives us clear views from very low yardages, out to over 700yds.

My question,,, is the 2 load idea a reasonable idea?

Poking fun at my vast knowledge is OK too. I have a tough chin.

The 300 rum Is one of the best all round cartridges available, And multiple loads is always good is you intend to hunt different types/sizes of game.

I have several rifles setup to use different loads and not just for recoil.

Bullet selection is very important to get the best performance (For close up tough skinned game I
use well constructed bullets with thick jackets, For extreme ranges I like the fast expanding
bullets like the ballistic tip.

For all round hunting I use the bonded core type bullets.

With some deliberate loading you can have 2 or 3 loads with the same Point of impact at there intended use and distance.

Remington loads 3 different levels of power/recoil for the 300 RUM so you don't have to use 180's
to hunt varmints with the RUM but if you need the power the big rum will do just about everything
very well.

It is easy to build a drop chart that will accommodate 2 or 3 different loads if you don't want to
spend the time to work them up to the same POI.

I color code my multiple load drop charts for fast recognition.

J E CUSTOM

 

[coldhunt]

Good points and this is why I am asking. We have tree stands we set up 2 years ago, about 2 mi from our cabin which give us some nice views to about 725yds. I have passed on some shots because, me and my old 20" barrel ruger were not up to the challenge. The thought was that I could build a bullet/load combination with a 200 to 210 gr using a 250 to 300 zero, then load down and with a lighter 165-175 gr using a few combos and trying to find one with a zero thats close. Wouldn't work for target
but I thought it would for hitting the boiler room.
I read about people pushing their loads to the extreme, thought this process could be done in reverse for more friendly lighter shoulder hitting for 75% of my hunting in the bush and under 300 yds.
I haven't comepletly ruled out the 7stw yet either. But would think the same could be done with any cal. Am I Wrong?

 

[coldhunt]

Thanks for jumping in guys. The points made are valid to me. It does seem as JE put it that in theory I could do this, and get a bit less bite in the old shoulder, and maybe a longer barrel life, and still have the great hunting caliber that I know the 300 rum is.

 

[budlight]

I always tell people that dead is dead. I own a wild cat 7STW and sold my 30-378. One you have 175 grain bullets and the other chucked 210's - 240's My st is fun to shoot compared to the muzzle brake 30. Both have 8 pound barrels

The 300 rum is cannon also. You should have it made with 28 -30 ich barrels.

 

[freebird63]

I think your going to find barrel life about the same in both, 300RUM & 7MM STW. Yes you have a larger bullet selections, but the BC's on the 7MM bullets are better. Your powder use is going to be about the same. Most people are going to want a muzzle brake on a 300RUM, I had one on my sendero but had it cut off. I don't think a muzzle brake is as important on the STW is it is on the RUM. I you look around on gunbroker you might find an older sendero in the STW caliber and it should be the first version of the sendero and you won't have the big palm swell as the newer sendero, I think more people dislike the palm swell then like it.
As far as BC's go, look at JLK bullets, their 168gr 7MM bullet has a BC of 690, the 189gr 7MM bullet has a BC of 735. Then compare that to berger 168gr -BC 617 and 180gr -BC 659
With 30cal bullets a 210 berger has a BC of 631 and JLK bullets 210 bullets have BC's of 665 & 680.
If I could sell my sendero tomorrow and have enough money to buy a STW I would do it in a heart beat. Also retumbo is one of the better powders. Now on the regular 7MM I use to use IMR 4831 @ 67gr with a 162 hornady BTSP, it was very acurate and deadly on Oregon coast blacktail deer.
Good luck on your search.
Chuck

 

[coldhunt]

Thanks guys, I appreciate that you understand that I am a little unsure
as to which way to go. I decided last year that I want a nice well balanced lighter weight gun. For walking/stalking, as well as for shots out to 600yds. The 7 stw sounds like a great option.

I know the bullet, load combination is as important as a good gun, and I will be learning as much as I can about reloading.

I don't mind recoil all that much while hunting, just want to set up something that is a bit more comfortable, for a follow up shot, and I want to shoot flat and hard for the elk at range. This is why I asked about loading down with a smaller bullet, in the 300 rum.

I can buy a very nice 300 win, but wonder about the drop and wind affects at longer range. I have one shot at this, I don't want any gun safe queens.

 

[freebird63]

About the only cartridge that I see that has the STW beat in downrange velocity and energy is the Lazzeroni and there your going to spend big bones to get the gun and their cases. If you go to best of the west's website they have a chart that shows a comparisson between the 7MM mag and 300RUM and just the 7 Mag has it beat for downrange stuff. I know the best of the west guys really use the heck outta the 7Mag. But I still think the STW is the cats meow. Find a good gunsmith in your area and when you get the gun have it accurized, bedded, floated and get either a timney or jewell trigger. I myself have a jewell and don't regret spending a little extra, they are sweet triggers.
Another awesome long range cartridge is the 6.5X284, the benchrest guys are shooting out to 1000 yards with it. I would not have a problem taking an elk with it out to 600 yards. Very little recoil and light gun, excellent for packing around all day in the mountains and never know its there.
I like my 300RUM, but if I had it to do all over again I would go 7MM STW all the way and not look back. Good luck

 

[coldhunt]

I know this is a reloading section and I have helped to hijack my own thread, but anyone else care to comment on the 7stw, vs a 300 rum, for shooting, recoil, and down range killing power. I wont try to beat this thread to death, and again my appretiation.

 

[Jeffpg]

Is there any particular reason why you aren't considering the 7MM RUM ?

 

[freebird63]

I like the balistics of the 7MM STW better then the 7RUM. Very few guns can still be pushing a 140gr bullet at 2550fps out at 500 yards, the 7RUM is only getting just over 2200fps at 500 yards with a 140gr bullet. Of course that is with factory ammo.

 

[coldhunt]

I have been doing some reading in the last while, and now think that the 300wsm is a good candidate as well. Why I am not sure but the 7rum was never in the picture. The 300wsm has a lot going for it, including accuracy, and barrel life. One load for all hunting will be it.