Best cartrige for long range target and also for Elk hunting.

[BooBear2U]

I shoot a couple of different cartridges and use them exactly the same as what you describe -

7mm STW

300 Weatherby Magnum

338 Ultra Mag

I target shooting with all three cartridges out to 1,200 yards, and I have killed bull elk with all 3 cartridges out to that same distance.

My normal elk hunting rig is a T/C Super 14" Contender in 308X444 Improved with most all shots being kept under 300 yards.

 

[MagnumManiac]

A couple things with belted cases. They headspace on the belt vs. cartridge shoulder and the belt to case joint is a stress riser, so in general…beltless cases will last longer. I have quite a few rifles chambered in belted cartridges, but overall I think there is greater accuracy and longevity potential with a beltless case.

This is the most misinformed statement I have ever heard on here.
There is absolutely ZERO foundation to your statement regarding "case joint" being a "stress riser". The belt is ABOVE and a part of the solid web of the case, there is no "joint" to fail.
Secondly, accuracy DOES NOT come from case design, only HYPE says this unfounded BS.
Thirdly, head separations is NOT caused by belts, belted cases separate ONLY because people push the shoulder back too far during sizing. Head separations are caused by ONE THING, EXCESSIVE HEADSPACE. PERIOD.

Cheers.

 

[David_h]

I knew to the forum. I was wondering what you alls opinion was on what would be the best cartridge to get for 90% of the time shooting long range target and 10% of the time elk hunting. Initially I was debating on 4 options, 7 prc, 7 rem mag, 300 win mag, and 300 prc. I decided against the prc's due to short barrel life. Here lately I been pretty confident about going 300 win mag, especially with future reloading. Is there something better I'm missing or is this a solid decision.

I think 300PRC would be a great choice assuming a good muzzle brake and also that the target sessions are not too many shots each outing. If lots of target shots are taken I'd drop down to a 6.5 flavor.

 

[zerosprk]

Any of the 4 rounds you mentioned will check all of your boxes - that is provided you do your part.

 

[NotLongRange]

This is the most misinformed statement I have ever heard on here.
There is absolutely ZERO foundation to your statement regarding "case joint" being a "stress riser". The belt is ABOVE and a part of the solid web of the case, there is no "joint" to fail.
Secondly, accuracy DOES NOT come from case design, only HYPE says this unfounded BS.
Thirdly, head separations is NOT caused by belts, belted cases separate ONLY because people push the shoulder back too far during sizing. Head separations are caused by ONE THING, EXCESSIVE HEADSPACE. PERIOD.

Cheers.

I agree with your statement that excessive headspace and subsequent case stretch causes case head separations, but I'll challenge your statement that it is the ONE THING…PERIOD.

If we follow your logic, provided we have proper headspace, anneal necks, and don't run excessive loads…you would have infinite case life. You should be able to reload the same 20 cases 100, 200, 500 cycles and beyond and never have to replace your cases. If we have proper headspace and don't full length resize cases…why else would they fail?

Take 5 brand new, high quality, belted cases…ensure you have proper headspace, run mild loads so you don't loosen primer pockets, neck size, anneal necks and just shoot and reload those same 5 cases over and over.

Where/how do you think those cases will fail and why?

Do the same thing with belted and non-belted cases.

 

[3800fps]

I shoot a couple of different cartridges and use them exactly the same as what you describe -

7mm STW

300 Weatherby Magnum

338 Ultra Mag

I target shooting with all three cartridges out to 1,200 yards, and I have killed bull elk with all 3 cartridges out to that same distance.

My normal elk hunting rig is a T/C Super 14" Contender in 308X444 Improved with most all shots being kept under 300 yards.

Since you've been on this forum for almost 20 days now, I want to congratulate you on your multiple 1200 yd bullelk kills.

If I were that consistently good at ultra long distance shooting with multiple high intensity cartridges…I too, would handicap my hunting lethality a bit by using a handgun.

Welcome and please continue to amaze us.

 

[bigngreen]

300 PRC, let the Win mag go to the grave where it needs to go!!

 

[Get_Saum]

300 PRC, let the Win mag go to the grave where it needs to go!!

That's bold talk right there. That's sure to light a fire.

 

[Lou270]

6.8 Western! ADG makes great brass now. Berger offering hybrid target 150 gr which could make a nice LR target option. Sierra is also making 155 and 170 gr matchking for 277 fury/6.8W factory ammo but not sure will offer as a compnent.

Lou

 

[Pacecount]

Welcome and I am happy to give you a recommendation…. but I have a few clarifying questions. What do you consider long range? How important is barrel life?

With that said I will give you my $0.02:

* if you consider barrel life to be your deciding factor then you need a short action… go with .308. You can kill an elk at 600+ yards with no problem. It is less expensive to shoot and you can tag metal at 1000 yards.

You will want to shoot a bullet that is at least 175 gr and I prefer the ELDX 178 gr with a BC .552.

* I personally prefer 7MM RM. I shoot 180gr VLDs with a BC .673 at 3000 FPS. Yea, shorter barrel life but a killer down range and less expensive to shoot than 300 WM or 338.

If you shoot 3 round strings and let the barrel cool your barrel will live longer.

* 300 WM/RUM and 338 Lapua have more powder, are more expensive to shoot and have a shorter barrel life.

I hope that helps!

 

[gene146651]

Everybody's mentioning these new so-called calibers? The 300 wind mags been around long time nobody has mentioned the Weatherby 30–3 78 magnum it held the world record 10 shot group for 30 years and it is awesome for long range hunting.

 

[bigngreen]

That's bold talk right there. That's sure to light a fire.

I've worn out several reamers building them, I might resharpen my last one but I'll never wear it out when there is the PRC or 30 Sherman Mag.

 

[wyodeer]

6 creed

 

[Get_Saum]

I've worn out several reamers building them, I might resharpen my last one but I'll never wear it out when there is the PRC or 30 Sherman Mag.

I started with a 300 win and I've only got one full custom left and will likely never own another since building these 300 PRC's. Sorry guys. Not saying it's my favorite but there a lot of great things about the 300 prc. That said, my current project build is a 30-338 RUM.