Big Game Rifle Caliber?

[FEENIX]

I figured. So...300 WM or 7 MAG? I am thinking I might as well just get the 300 WM gun)

I like heavy bullets, even in my .270 AI, pushing the 175gr Matrix VLD at 2993 FPS (my current accuracy load). The lightest I load for my .300 Win Mag is 180gr (load them 180s and lighter on the -06). Last year, I harvested a young bull elk at 931 yards with 190gr Berger VLD, only because I ran out of .210s and .215s.

If you read Jeff's (BROZ) thread I posted on #6 you'll have a better appreciation. lightbulb

 

[CC268]

Cool thanks for all the help guys! Looks like 300 WM is the way to go for me gun)

 

[gohring3006]

I agree with feenix on the heavy bullets, the 300 is so versatile you got everything covered. But if your recoil sensitive and that scope hits you in the eye you will develope a flinch then its over you will have a hard time not thinking about recoil so the scope is just as important as the rifle

 

[WildRose]

Yea it seems like the 300WM is the general consensus. Ammo is generally fairly easy to find and not too expensive.

Like I stated in a previous thread I have shot bigger calibers than the 300WM but I am curious as to what the 300 WM recoil is like with a 7lb + gun since I have never shot the 300WM although I have shot multiple 300 RUM.

7mm Mag seems to be a good second choice.

It's not a lot of fun in a light rig with heavy bullets and no brake.

You pay the price for that power one way or another either with added weight or a muzzle brake, there just aren't any freebies. With the right brake though like the Snowy Mountain Rifles or other good one's out there a light weight 300wm can be easily tamed.

 

[CC268]

It's not a lot of fun in a light rig with heavy bullets and no brake.

You pay the price for that power one way or another either with added weight or a muzzle brake, there just aren't any freebies. With the right brake though like the Snowy Mountain Rifles or other good one's out there a light weight 300wm can be easily tamed.

Yea I could either go light weight with a brake or go heavier weight.

 

[gohring3006]

And the 6.5 140gr Berger VLD has a better BC than the Berger 7mm 140. That doesn't matter! Why? Because if you want the best BC, you are not going to use lightweight bullets. I cannot believe that we keep seeing that comment...

what's funny about it is we are debating-arguing over 1 millimeter to .5millimeters difference so small yet so big....

 

[MudRunner2005]

And the 6.5 140gr Berger VLD has a better BC than the Berger 7mm 140. That doesn't matter! Why? Because if you want the best BC, you are not going to use lightweight bullets. I cannot believe that we keep seeing that comment...

Fine, let's compare case size to bullet weights. 7mm RemMag with 180 Hybrid to .300 Win with 215 Hybrid. The 7mm 180 Hybrid has a BC of .674. The .30 cal 215 Hybrid has a BC of .696.....That's not that huge of a difference. The velocities should be similar from both cartridges with those weight bullets. Recoil would be lighter on the 7mmRM. But that isn't really a factor.

So, all-in-all......Coin toss.

But you're not gonna find factory ammo with Berger Hybrids in it. So, you have to take what you can get.

You CAN find factory 7mm ammo with Berger 180 VLD's. But you won't find factory .300 WM ammo with Berger 210's to shoot at distance till he reloads.

Take your pick.

 

[gohring3006]

Fine, let's compare case size to bullet weights. 7mm RemMag with 180 Hybrid to .300 Win with 215 Hybrid. The 7mm 180 Hybrid has a BC of .674. The .30 cal 215 Hybrid has a BC of .696.....That's not that huge of a difference. The velocities should be similar from both cartridges with those weight bullets. Recoil would be lighter on the 7mmRM. But that isn't really a factor.

So, all-in-all......Coin toss.

But you're not gonna find factory ammo with Berger Hybrids in it. So, you have to take what you can get.

You CAN find factory 7mm ammo with Berger 180 VLD's. But you won't find factory .300 WM ammo with Berger 210's to shoot at distance till he reloads.

Take your pick.

who is shooting longrange (400+)anyway with factory ammo? No matter what bullet if its long range its reloads

 

[CC268]

Either way its a lose lose situation for me....everyone has their own specific opinions on the fine details. If I go with a 300 WM I should have gone with the 7mm...if I go with the 7mm I should have gone with the 300 WM.

 

[MudRunner2005]

who is shooting longrange (400+)anyway with factory ammo? No matter what bullet if its long range its reloads

The OP doesn't handload yet, and wants a long range capable caliber and long range capable factory ammo, until ge starts handloading.

CC, buy whichever one YOU want. Either caliber will be fine. The war will always rage on around here...Don't worry about what we think. LOL

 

[Barrelnut]

CC, buy whichever one YOU want. Either caliber will be fine. The war will always rage on around here...Don't worry about what we think. LOL

Very true. The 7mm vs. 7 STW vs. .300 WM debate is almost as fun for us as the 260 vs. 6.5 Creedmoor debate!

FWIW. I have a 7mm as my general carry for deer and elk. Then I have a 300 WSM and 300 RUM as long range rifles.

Either one will do the job. But, if I was going to get a "light" rifle for long treks with no brake, I would get the 7mm.

 

[gohring3006]

your right mud they're both good rounds that will do what they're asked with in there limits but I think factory ammo is not a good choice for long range but I don't consider gunwerks,best of the west,or comparable ammo as factory ammo it seems to be taylored to their rifle throats but some of us are lucky and it works for us but it also doesn't work for alot of rifles and at 75$ for 20 round in 3006 its not worth it when I can find a hand load for less than half the $. Especially if my handloads are custom to my rifle, so I think, if your going long, reloading is part of the equation if you don't your at mercy to what you can buy and its not always available on the shelf...

 

[WildRose]

who is shooting longrange (400+)anyway with factory ammo? No matter what bullet if its long range its reloads

I've killed truck loads of critters with factory ammo beyond 400yds.

 

[WildRose]

Either way its a lose lose situation for me....everyone has their own specific opinions on the fine details. If I go with a 300 WM I should have gone with the 7mm...if I go with the 7mm I should have gone with the 300 WM.

You can't really "Lose" with either one. The 300wm just offers you more potential to stretch it out on bigger critters as your skills increase.