300 RUM or 338 Win Mag?

[Reelamin]

I've read with much interest about using rifle scopes, but I'm a little nervous about getting my eye that close.

The RUM is stout but totally manageable with consideration for proper form. I shot my 300 RUM (10lbs loaded to hunt) for years with no muzzle brake in all hunting positions possible even prone uphill. Those hunting loads were a 165gr at 3600fps, and the current one is a 180gr at 3400fps. Scope magnification was usually in the 10-18x range. Closest I ever came was bumped my glasses a couple times.

 

[yorke-1]

33 cal in a SP requires a good muzzle brake and a lot of weight.

They move a lot with the heavy bullets you would want for the SP.

7 or 30 in a big magnum is the sweet spot where you can get a reasonable weight gun and use a good brake and be rifle scope happy.

I do have a 33 nosler. It's heavy….as in 12 lbs and it still moves a lot.

I don't think the 338s are that bad. My 338/375 Ruger Striker weighs 7.5# and uses an old style 3 port Muscle brake, which isn't the most effective one out there by any means. I'd call that gun very manageable with a 250gr bullet, similar to a 44 mag.

 

[taylorms]

Don't beat me up (I saw where you don't want any other cartridge recommendations), but for sake of conversation, I am asking- Would a 300wsm or 325wsm not be a practical option for the short barrels you guys are using? (I named those as they are comparable to what you started with)
I am merely asking because it has always been my understanding that the WSM, SAUM... (short action magnum cartridges) design is more efficient in a shorter barrel than their counterparts-300 RUM or WM and 338WM.

 

[big johnson]

Why not a 30-378. Go big with some heavy bergers they should be impressive. I'm to old to do it , but I'd love to see the muzzle flash in our western sky (might resemble the northern lights.

 

[BCC72]

338WM would be my first choice out of the two.
I ran the numbers a while back for a light, hard hitting mountain rifle and the 338's seemed to be the way to go (for me). I liked the short , light package.
My 338RPM Ti weighs in at 6.3 pounds on the scale with a 1-6x24. I don't find the recoil horrendous. It's actually very manageable. There's a lot to be said for a big slower moving bullet. I'm getting 2635 out of an 18" barrel with 225gr and 2890 with 185gr (Labradar chrono). That gives me less than 10MOA, a bit over 1800fps and 1750 energy at 500yds.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Why not a 30-378. Go big with some heavy bergers they should be impressive. I'm to old to do it , but I'd love to see the muzzle flash in our western sky (might resemble the northern lights.

If I'm not mistaken he's talking about a pistol build... Short action cartridges like 300wsm would be a preferred choice so the action will work without pulling the bolt. A standard action like a 338win may work if pulling fired rounds.
As to using something like the 300rum in a small shank Savage; there's a reason Savage went to a larger shank size with rums, etc.. I personally wouldn't buck that reasoning.

 

[Buttermilk]

I've done a 30 Nosler XP-100. I like it so well, I'll be dropping parts off a the gunsmith in a few days for a second 30 Nosler.

Recoil is mild on my setup with a 9 pound gun and a 5 port MBM Beast brake.

Berger 210's @ 2850 FPS from 18.5" bbl.

I considered the 300 WSM, 300 RSAUM, 300 RUM, 30-28 Nosler, when I chose the 30 Nosler.

 

[Bearman375]

I've got a 338 win mag in an encore pistol 13" bbl with a brake added. Got it off JD Jones from SSK industries. It shoots a 200 grain ballistic tip about 25-2600 fps. I currently running a 2x7 Burris on it, but will be using a 3x9 Burris on it that I recently got. It hammers bears and deer. I have a 300 win mag too. A bit longer at 15" with small brake. I run 165 ballistic tips at 2700 with that one. The 338 will do anything you want plus you have 180 to 250 grain bullets to choose from and can go to 300's but certainly not necessary, good luck

 

[Bearman375]

Thanks for your suggestions Ernie. I appreciate your experience and time replying to this question.
While I did state 5-600 yards as my maximum range I guess secretly I was hoping to use this for extra long range shooting this coming summer. I reasoned that the best choice at 500 would also be the best choice at greater distance.
I should have been honest with myself and others about what I was actually looking for
I have a 300 Win Mag Striker and that pretty well duplicates the performance of 30 caliber the suggestions you made.
Maybe it's winter boredom, but after reading some of the threads about long range specialty pistols here I got the urge to build something with a little more horsepower/flatter trajectory.
My main difficulty has been in finding data for 16" barrels. So ballistic charts are worthless.
You provided a link to a wealth of information on the 300 RUM in a 16" barrel, which was very helpful, THANKS!
I haven't found any 16" data for the 338 Win Mag.
I am primarily looking to use available factory barrel chamberings, nothing exotic.
I would greatly appreciate if you would offer pointers on selecting a rifle scope for this build. Other than as much eye relief as possible what is the criteria I should be looking for?
THANKS.

Figure 50 fps per inch velocity loss, as stated by JD Jones , he tested and shot about everything, that's my go to guy for information

 

[Mike Matteson]

i use a Ruger Mark 11 in a 24" barrel. I get 3200fps with a 200gr accubond. It's very accurate too.

 

[30378wbymag]

Why not a 30-378. Go big with some heavy bergers they should be impressive. I'm to old to do it , but I'd love to see the muzzle flash in our western sky (might resemble the northern lights.

Marshmallow roasters!!!!!

 

[koja]

My 17" 28 nosler ,80+ grains of retumbo with has less muzzle flash than my 16" 6.8 spcII with a casefull AA2200,Pulling the bolt? 99% of the time ,empties.not a big deal.

 

[duster]

I've got a 338 win mag in an encore pistol 13" bbl with a brake added. Got it off JD Jones from SSK industries. It shoots a 200 grain ballistic tip about 25-2600 fps. I currently running a 2x7 Burris on it, but will be using a 3x9 Burris on it that I recently got. It hammers bears and deer. I have a 300 win mag too. A bit longer at 15" with small brake. I run 165 ballistic tips at 2700 with that one. The 338 will do anything you want plus you have 180 to 250 grain bullets to choose from and can go to 300's but certainly not necessary, good luck

Really good information on the 338 Win Mag pistol. Thanks for that.
Just when I was going to give up on the 338 you have revived it LOL.

 

[Bearman375]

Not be cocky but it's one badass gun….it kills like a laser, this was taken with a 200 grain accubond, he went one leap.