300 RUM vs. 338 win mag

[codybrown]

Using the same weight bullets to keep velocities comparable, is there enough difference to justify having both calibers? From what I see, they are pretty much neck & neck with the same weight bullets, but where the 338 shines is the availability of heavier bullets. I don't currently have a practical use for either, but from what I see, the 338 with lighter bullets is a perfectly capable 5-600 yard gun.

Input??

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I've got both... Actually two 300 rum rifles and a 338win.
The 338 seems much like a '06 firing a lot heavier bullets.
The paper ballistics lie a bit. I use my 338win for a mid range rifle and my 300rum for longer range rig.

The 300rum seems to be a lot better at putting lead on target when the range stretches a bit. Either will hit very hard and kill most anything in the lower 48, but you need to step up to the bigger 338's to get similar downrange as the 300rum. Much of the difference is wind-bucking ability and time of flite I suppose...

 

[MudRunner2005]

I had a .338WM for a bit...Due to inaccuracy I rebarreled it to 7mm RemMag. I just was not impressed with the cartridge or its ballistics, since it's basically nothing more than a .338 bullet stuffed into a 7mm RemMag case.

That being said, between those 2 choices, I would go with the .300RUM hands-down.

 

[Jud96]

The .300 loaded with 200s at 3150fps is a much better long range cartridge compared to a .338 Win Mag loaded with a 200 at 3000fps. This data comes from Nosler's load data. A .30cal 200gr Hornady ELD-X has a BC of .626 while the 200gr SST .338 has a .455 BC. Now if you load a .338 up with 300gr VLDs with a .818 BC going 2450fps it is a near equivalent of a 215gr Berger out of the .300 RUM at 3050fps when it comes to downrange energy. The .300 will drop a lot less and have less wind drift though.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I had a .338WM for a bit...Due to inaccuracy I rebarreled it to 7mm RemMag. I just was not impressed with the cartridge or its ballistics, since it's basically nothing more than a .338 bullet stuffed into a 7mm RemMag case.

That being said, between those 2 choices, I would go with the .300RUM hands-down.

you had a crappy pipe Muddy... also the 7rem is a 338 necked down with a 7mm pill stuffed in not the other way around.... the 338win is older (1958)... or is the 7rem a necked up 264 Winchester(1959)...

The accuracy is there, but with decent bc bullets you can nearly walk faster than the 338 can toss 'em. The long pills can also be hard to get stable in the little 338; I couldn't get accuracy with my 338win using 285 hdy pills at pressures low enough pressures to be deemed safe to run the rifle at.

 

[gohring3006]

Justify both??? Do you even rifle bro?


Of course you need both!!!!
I have a 300 Weatherby and just picked up a 300 Win mag barrel for a Savage action I have. I have a 30-06 and a .308. A 22-250 and a couple 223s.... Heck yea you need both...


For 5-600 yards the 338 will be fine. But the Rum will be more versatile.... I would set the Win Mag up with a 2.5-10 Variable scope and a Rum up with something in the 4-14 to 16 power range. I would run 225-250s in the Win Mag and 212 ELDs in the Rum. You would have a really nice back up rifle. And the Win Mag will have the classic cool factor...

 

[FEENIX]

Using the same weight bullets to keep velocities comparable, is there enough difference to justify having both calibers? From what I see, they are pretty much neck & neck with the same weight bullets, but where the 338 shines is the availability of heavier bullets. I don't currently have a practical use for either, but from what I see, the 338 with lighter bullets is a perfectly capable 5-600 yard gun.

Input??

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gun)

 

[codybrown]

Well, I have both and they both just sit in the safe. I'm cleaning out a few guns that I never shoot to make room for new ones. My 338 has sentimental value so it's staying regardless. I don't reload for anything 30 caliber besides the occasional 30-06. My go to rifles are 7mm and below.

 

[MudRunner2005]

you had a crappy pipe Muddy... also the 7rem is a 338 necked down with a 7mm pill stuffed in not the other way around.... the 338win is older (1958)... or is the 7rem a necked up 264 Winchester(1959)...

The accuracy is there, but with decent bc bullets you can nearly walk faster than the 338 can toss 'em. The long pills can also be hard to get stable in the little 338; I couldn't get accuracy with my 338win using 285 hdy pills at pressures low enough pressures to be deemed safe to run the rifle at.

7RemMag came about from a necked-up .264WinMag, which probably (I'm not positive) came about from a necked-down .338WinMag, just judging by the timeline of creation.

I have no doubt the cartridge can be an accurate one, and no doubt mine was simply a bad barrel, but after running ballistics on it, I was not impressed with the results to rebarrel it back to the same caliber. Plus, I needed a lightweight 7RM at the time for deer hunting that season, so everything worked out fine.

 

[FEENIX]

Well, I have both and they both just sit in the safe. I'm cleaning out a few guns that I never shoot to make room for new ones. My 338 has sentimental value so it's staying regardless. I don't reload for anything 30 caliber besides the occasional 30-06. My go to rifles are 7mm and below.

I think you answered your own query. I too have several rifles that don't get shot as much as I used to but once in a while I make an effort to go the the range for a day of fun with them.

I have two sons to pass them on so I don't get rid of any of them but rather convert some of them to something else.

My go to chambering for antelope to elk size game up 1K yards is the .300 WM and I have 3 of them.

Good luck!

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Like FEENIX and gohring3006, you need both.

Well really, the thing with a 338WM is that you can rechamber it to 338/26-Nosler and good to go.

Ballistics wise, the 338WM can not throw the heavy for caliber bullets fast enough to achieve long range goals that the 300WM can.

So, in reallity, you need a 300RUM, a 2 338WM so you can rechamber one to 338/26-Nosler.

 

[HARPERC]

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The basic question as I see it is more in rifle "style" and intended use. I've found the .338 Winchester Magnum a good, maybe best rifle for general hunting, one gun North America type rifle. Good accuracy, and effective in the 500-600 yards mentioned.

Some more specialized choices, are better at particular jobs. Specifically we're talking LRH here. This group is where I think the RUM's begin to demonstrate benefit. Generally bigger rifles, bigger scopes, less portable, and flexible.

 

[LoneTraveler]

The 300 RUM was designed and built as a long range rifle to top the 300 Weatherby and was the top factory load till the 30-378 Weatherby hit the market. In 1958 Winchester came up with cartridges to hunt about any animal with in a 30-06 length action Mag Cartridge. First was the 458 Win. Mag. Then the same cartridge case sized to, 338 WM 1958, 264 WM in 1958. The 338 was designed to duplicate the old 333 OKH wildcat developed by Elmer Keith a popular gun writer of that time. To him the 338 should only be used with 250 gr. or better. Winchester came out with ammo in 200 and 250 gr. loads. Then when Nosler made a 225 gr. Partition and other bullet companies came out with 225 gr. they found the 338 WM with 225 was a great Med Range cartridge. Delivering more power than the old 375 HH at 400 yards. I have shot through the shoulder ribs, chest and rib on other side and into Ontario bush with a 225 Nosler Part.

When Remington went from 721-722 to the 700 about 1962 is when the 7mm Rem Mag. came on the scene.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Like everything else on this site..distance matters ! Under 200 yards and/or hunting heavy game I'm reaching for the .338wm and Nosler partitions, moose/brown bear/big plains game etc. Once past 200 the long slender bullets take over and it's easy reaching for any of the big .30's. Every gun cabinet needs both so don't argue with yourself.