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I have been fortunate for the last 35 years to have had the opportunity to deer hunt on our farm. Hay fields with partially grown up pasture with shots maximum distance of 1000 yards with most shots 250-600 yards. Also I am fortunate to fit and chamber rifles myself, which allowed me to try different cartridges and different bullets. I have learned that sectional density may be more important than ballistic coefficient. That is not so much as how well the bullet cuts through the air, but the relationship of the length to the diameter. It basically applies to every caliber. Have used 30-378 with 180 grain and can achieve 3475 fps. Hunting also with 338 weatherby and 338 RUM propels the 180 grain 3725 fps, with much more "smackability" as even though bullet weight is the same the bigger neck opening allows for more velocity and also it sectional density is less which allows to expend its energy all at once as opposed to the 30 caliber 180 having a higher sectional density which has allowed pass throughs. Shot one deer at 190 yards and the 180 passed through and killed 2nd deer standing behind it dropping it but 1st deer ran 150 yards. The 338 180 grain is much more effective. To achieve similar results in the 30 caliber I went to 125 grain bullet at 4050 fps. I almost ordered a reamer for 378 weatherby (RUM provides same velocities) and have read it is a very good cartridge. May still try it.
300 win mag 180-200 grain hits like a train
First thing comes to mind....think of this a MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST...as it is....what did your teachers TELL YOU? Always go with your FIRST ANWSER! 338 LAPUA!
When you get off the teat of factory ammo and rely on yourself generally you stock up on em. Also we are taking hunting rifles. I have many and shoot them all throughout the year but that's maybe 100 rounds a year per gun. Before everyone lost their minds you could get 1000 for $35-$45 depending on where so most of us "non mainstream cartridge people" are less affected than a person who must use factory ammo.
Fastest and hardest 30 cal hitter is the 30-378 weatherby magnum. Read the articles on what it was designed for and was purpose built to originally be the military's ultimate sniper rifle for 1,200 or to + 2,000 yds. Original goal was to push a 200 gr 212gr to 4,200 fps. Came close. 200gr at 4,000 fps but barrel life is horrendous. I can get 500 quality shots pushing a 210gr ABLR at 3,627 fps before rebarreling. I'm running a 29" barrel.
I've always liked the good old .30-06. I've shot deer at 800 yards with no problem. The recoil is manageable and factory ammo is normally available anywhere. That being said I am looking into the 300PRC as an option for my next build. (.338 RUM is on the list as well). I have a long action magnum receiver and a stock just need to find a trigger, scope and figure out what caliber to go with.
