Choose one Western big game caliber

[SCdeerhunter]

Your original post makes it sound like you don't reload. So, based on that, I would choose the 300 WM
I would also recommend learning to reload, as it is very simple.
I shoot a 7-300WM but will rebarrel to the 300 WM in the future

I plan to be reloading within a year. Trying to figure out what all I need. Wanting to find a book that Covers all the info and explains it all from a precision rifle standpoint.

 

[middleofnowhere]

30 Nosler

If bear is ever a possibility and factory ammo is necessary, i'd go 300 WM.

I don't have budget for multiple rifles so I chose a 30-Nosler as my one rifle. Since I am in California, I have to shoot non-lead, so I pretty much have to hand load. I've got everything I need and 200 pieces of brass thanks to a sale on factory Nosler ammo at Midway. My 30-Nosler should last me my lifetime for hunting.

 

[SCdeerhunter]

If bear is ever a possibility and factory ammo is necessary, i'd go 300 WM

A coastal brown bear hunt is literally my #1 bucket list hunt. But that's at least 10 years out probably. But if I can ever afford that I'd probably save up and go 338 win mag or 375H&H mag. A brown bear is one animal I never want to go up against under gunned lol

 

[middleofnowhere]

Brown bear, for me, won't happen until I establish AK residency

 

[SCdeerhunter]

Brown bear, for me, won't happen until I establish AK residency

Yeah itll take a while to save up for that one. Plus I actually want to hunt them with a bow. That's been my dream hunt since I was 10. To fling an arrow at a 1000lb bear 20 yards from me lol. Sounds kinda crazy when I type it out

 

[MudRunner2005]

Yeah I've always been intrigued by the stw. My cousin had a sendero chambered for one when I was younger. My longest shot on an animal was actually with that rifle. Then he ruined the barrel with some handloads someone gave him that were really hot. It's a beast of a round though. What kind of barrel life have you gotten with yours?

One of mine has over 750, and still shoots sub-1/2 MOA groups, so I'd say it's doing pretty good. And I don't load light either...I push mine a bit more than i should.

 

[MudRunner2005]

That's one reason I'm leaning towards the 300 win mag. Kinda need to fill that void in the gun safe and get a 30 caliber magnum. One caliber that will cover all the animals in North America.

Max range I'd use it for would be around 600. Might shoot steel further than that but 600 would be my limit on animals. And one day I'll have a 338 of some variety.

The 7mm RemMag will kill everything in North America inside of 1000 yards. And factory ammo availability is right up there with the .300WM.

 

[bigngreen]

Right now I'd build a 30 Nosler but voted for 300 win, for the western hunter the ability to hammer an elk starts at heavy for cal 30 cal bullets. You can kill any elk in North America with just about any thing that goes bang but kill elk with authority every time is a whole different thing!!

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I was tossed between building a 300Wby and a 30 Nosler. In the end I chose the 30 Nosler in a magnum action.

 

[martinakl]

I shoot a 300 win for everything, big and small. Same gun, same bullet.

If you're buying a factory rifle. Find the rifle you want first and then pick the caliber. It'll probably come in 300 win and/or 7mm Rem Mag. If going custom, pick what ever seems the most interesting to you. I like the 30 cal pills from berger in 210, 215, and 230grain.

If going custom, I'd do a 300 Win (or bigger) with a 1:8 or 1:9 twist barrel. I keep reading about a 245-250 +/- grain berger coming out.

 

[Clark]

I handload over 60 different cartridges, but I have only killed big game with:
270 Win, 7mmRemMag, 300WinMag, 257 Roberts Ackley, 6.5-06, and 6mmBR.

I consider the 7mmRemMag 140 gr the optimum choice for a 10 pound rig with my shooting skills out to 625 yards.

If I were a better shooter or could carry a heavier rig, I would move up in cartridges and bullet weight. First stop would be 300 WinMag 150 gr.

If I were a worse shooter, or needed to go lighter, I would move down in cartridges and bullet weight. First stop would be 6.5-06 129 gr. That works very well.

 

[desertcj]

Right now I'd build a 30 Nosler but voted for 300 win, for the western hunter the ability to hammer an elk starts at heavy for cal 30 cal bullets. You can kill any elk in North America with just about any thing that goes bang but kill elk with authority every time is a whole different thing!!

I'm sorry, but this is purely conjecture and so subjective that I'm quite sure you can't prove a difference between heavy 7mm bullets and heavy 30cal bullets. They BOTH stomp elk.

 

[Ethan Dunn]

I haven't been shooting long range very long but I love a 300 win mag

 

[fmajor]

Given the choices and thinking of all the western game animals i'd pursue (not limited to elk), a 7mm Rem Mag handloaded does quite well.

I've had a 300 Win before and it is an amazing cartridge and flat-out out-powers the 7mm Rem Mag - no doubt about it.

However, i don't believe i need the extra ummph the 300 Win provides from the 7mm RM. If i want/need more measurable power (as in distance greater >~700yds, wind, strictly for elk) then i'd move up to a big/fast 338.

For me long-ish range starts in the 600yd department and out to about 1,300-1,400yds or so where exceptionally long range starts. I'd not try a shot on game out to 1,000 or so with a 7mm Rem Mag (can't say it can't be done...), but i'd want a big 338 for that to ensure enough power and cross-wind resistance.