New 30 cal.?

[RangerBrad]

Hey fellas, Only had my first LRR ( 25-06) out of the shop a month and still waiting on my new G7 scope for it and already planning my next project( probably getting ahead of myself a little). Looking at the 300 Win Mag, 300 RUM and 338 lapua. I'm looking at knocking the snot out of everything but me, a long way out there. My original thought's have been for the .300 WM but reading other posts get's me thinking. Father in law has a .338 Remmington custom in Alaskan hunter but says the few times he's shot it the recoil dang near broke his fingers when the trigger gaurd slapped them.( Absolutely couldn't hold it) I certainly don't want to punish myself but the Alaskan hunter is a light weight rifle also. When he first told me he owns one I thought to myself that would be like trying to hold onto a piece of dynamite when it goes off. Could yal tell me your thoughts on the comparison of these 3 calibes please. Thank's, Brad

 

[3fingervic]

I'm no ballistic expert, but I will take a shot at guiding you.

First the .300wm can kill any game in North America. There will be a limit on killing range when it comes to the biggest game. The actual yardage will be up for debate. Of the three this will be the easiest to find factory ammo for. Reloading items are readily available.

The .300 RUM has more punch than the WM due to greater powder capacity. It will have more range when it comes to taking game. Factory ammo can be had. Brass and and more gun powder use will lead to it being more expensive to shoot than the WM

The .338 Lapua will sling a 300gr bullet at 2800+ fps, and will have the enough power to drop almost any animal in North America out to 1000 and more in a lot of cases. You pretty much have to reload for this round, and will be the most pricey in all respects. Lapua brass available is a +.

Guns chambered in these offerings can be tamed by building heavier rifles and by putting muzzle breaks on them.

 

[WildRose]

Hey fellas, Only had my first LRR ( 25-06) out of the shop a month and still waiting on my new G7 scope for it and already planning my next project( probably getting ahead of myself a little). Looking at the 300 Win Mag, 300 RUM and 338 lapua. I'm looking at knocking the snot out of everything but me, a long way out there. My original thought's have been for the .300 WM but reading other posts get's me thinking. Father in law has a .338 Remmington custom in Alaskan hunter but says the few times he's shot it the recoil dang near broke his fingers when the trigger gaurd slapped them.( Absolutely couldn't hold it) I certainly don't want to punish myself but the Alaskan hunter is a light weight rifle also. When he first told me he owns one I thought to myself that would be like trying to hold onto a piece of dynamite when it goes off. Could yal tell me your thoughts on the comparison of these 3 calibes please. Thank's, Brad

Emphasis mine.

Ok so let's be realistic here.

What is the biggest, hardest to kill game you are likely to be shooting at?

Realistically what is the maximum range you will be shooting?

Relative to the highlighted statement above these two questions will give the answers to what you need.

Personally I'd not suggest the big .338's to anyone unless they have first had a chance to shoot them. I've seen quite a few people tie up a hell of a lot of money in a rifle they then find they are afraid to shoot.

Anything bigger than the 300 or 7mm Rum's no matter how you trick it out is going to have significant enough recoil to make anyone with the slightst bit of recoil sensitivity less than happy unless you build an extremely heavy rifle (over 16lbs).

 

[HARPERC]

Like others have said more details in the question might affect the answer. Given what you've provided I'd go 300 RUM.
My "reasoning" is based on my belief that good 30 caliber bullets start at 200 grains and go up. The 150-180's I like more for "medium" range activities in a 308 Winchester class rifle. The 300 RUM really starts to come into it's own with bullets in this class.
You have concerns about recoil, while comparing it to holding a stick of dynamite is exaggerated, the heavier 338 bullets will recoil more.
Nothing at all wrong with the 300 Winchester, but if the targets are flesh and bone, the higher terminal velocities provided by bigger cases generally give better results at long range. The 300 Winchester is a great general purpose hunting rifle, you could do worse. If you're looking at a more specialized long range rifle the RUM is the way I'd go. Then if you find you want more go 338.

 

[budlight]

I'd buy that Alaskan from your in-law and have an additional 2-3 pound 26 -28 inch barrel put on it. Like a Pac-nor #5 sporter rebarrel complete job is probaly $700 ish and leave it 338 wm
what do you plan on hunting?

 

[angus-5024]

i think that the first thing to do is go shoot some of these calibers or similar. All three of these calibers are in my top 10 favavorites so it really doesnt matter what route you go... as long as you can shoot it well.

If your concerned about recoil it may be wisest to get the 300wm. I have found that most people can learn to shoot the 300RUM with some guidance, given that they arent recoil sensitive and the rifle isnt to light.

Anything .338 is going to be the best performing energy wise, and my personal favorite. I would really try shooting one before you buy, because some guys just cant handle the recoil-and there is nothing wrong with not liking recoil! the other big downer to the .338's is $$$. they cost a premium to shoot, but i feel that they are very worth it.

If you posted a desired finished wieght it would be usefull.

 

[RangerBrad]

You fellas are right and I apoligize. More info is needed. I am looking for a weapon that could kill Moose size at 1000-1400 yds. The rifle my father-in-law has is a .338 Lapua and he has mentioned nothing about selling it. A little about myself I have been a trapper/ predator caller all my life and ranges were confined to 100 yds or less. Only made my first 200yd shot(other than the range while in the military) this last winter while calling calling coyotes. Somehow, don't ask me how, 5 years ago I married into money(only child). Not money for me but, my father-in-law loves to hunt and has 2 grandboys that he wants to take hunting as they grow up. He is a wonderful fella and has started taking me and the oldest boy (Younger is to young) on hunting trips. Last year was the first( Texas for whitetail). This year is mule deer in New Mexico. Over the last year or 2 we both have been bitten by the long range bug and he also stated he would like to hunt several species over the next several years with the boys and me( he as also hunted Moose and elk) and wants to chase those and caribou. As I'm not made of money and currently have a rifle (25-06) I have recently turned into a long range shooter that will get me the deer sized animals I'm looking for something to take me to the Elk and Moose sized game. I'm hoping for this one more rifle as I don't want to have to build 2-3 diffrent sizes. Father-in-law would be more than happy to loan me one of his fine high caliber rifles if I wanted it but, ther is just something special about dropping the hammer on a varmint with your own rifle that a borrowed rifle could never do. Anyway, I know this is alot of superflouls info but just might help you see were I'm comming from. Thank's, Brad

P.S. never was worried about recoil till I was in the service and they had me shoot over and over from diffrent positions with a sawed off shotgun and 12ga. high brass double off buck. That was punishing.

 

[liltank]

I'm going to suggest the 300 RUM with 230grn Berger, 220 or 240 grn SMK's, or even the 210's at high velocity. These bullets will knock anything down in North America out of a RUM to 1500yds. I know for a fact that a 240grn works on elk. My brother in law laid one down at 1550yds with a 30-416 Rigby. It's essentially the predecessor to the RUM. I am a huge fan of the Lapua, but since money seems to be a guiding factor, than the RUM I would believe be a better option.

Tank

 

[angus-5024]

liltanks suggestion is a good one, but i would go for the .338 RUM (ballistically identicall to the .338 Lapua). the cost of brass from the rum to the lapua is a wash for me, because you get WAY more life from Lapua brass.

I still went the .338 RUM route becuase it uses the M700 action that is alot easier to upgrade, at least at the time. another reason for the .338's over a .300 RUM is more energy and more barrel life. both calibers are outstanding for bullet selection and really are the top pf the line for a hunting wieght rifle.

if I were you, and you feel that your not sensitive to recoil, I would be choosing between the 300RUM and the 338 RUM/Lapua. the determining factor between the Lapua and the RUM for me would be whatever you find cheaper.

 

[diriel]

RangerBrad,

If a sawed off 12ga with 00 is somewhat punishing, then about the most I would even consider advising is a 300wm with a 208gr Amax using H1000 powder and Win brass with Win LR primers. I happen to know a bit about the type of shotgun you mention, so realistically 1400 yards on a moose may be a stretch sir. Believe me, a 15lb + 300wm loaded as stated above With-Out a Muzzle Brake can still be an attention getter when you squeeze one off. You did not mention your max desired weight, nor did you mention if a Muzzle Brake is ok, but on the M-B I am thinking that for hunting in social / semi-social settings the noise might be objectionable. I know that if my son or daughter were going to be with me on a hunt, I would not personally take a chance on subjecting them to the heavy blast associated with a Brake.

Good luck sir,
Gary

 

[WildRose]

RangerBrad,

If a sawed off 12ga with 00 is somewhat punishing, then about the most I would even consider advising is a 300wm with a 208gr Amax using H1000 powder and Win brass with Win LR primers. I happen to know a bit about the type of shotgun you mention, so realistically 1400 yards on a moose may be a stretch sir. Believe me, a 15lb + 300wm loaded as stated above With-Out a Muzzle Brake can still be an attention getter when you squeeze one off. You did not mention your max desired weight, nor did you mention if a Muzzle Brake is ok, but on the M-B I am thinking that for hunting in social / semi-social settings the noise might be objectionable. I know that if my son or daughter were going to be with me on a hunt, I would not personally take a chance on subjecting them to the heavy blast associated with a Brake.

Good luck sir,
Gary

Emphasis mine.

In such a situation the brake is not a problem. Just keep them close beside, or behind you and wearing ear protection.

If right behind you they'll suffer no more from the blast than you do.

It's at firing ranges especially those with block walls separating the stalls where brakes can be pretty hard on everyone else around you.

 

[The Surgeon]

I thought I would like to build a 338 Lapua once. Then I found out how much it was going to cost to build the gun and buy the ammo.

I can't speak for the RUM, but I have never seen nor shot a 338 L without a break. I seen that Savage has a 338 Lapua. If I read it right the weight was just under 13 lbs for their BA model, Ouch! If I remember correctly it had an MSRP of $2200+. I have had the opportunity to shoot the 338 Lapua and the recoil wasn't to bad, but it weighed in at just under 20 lbs. The 338 Lapua was original designed as an anti-personal round. It has a pretty good following for those that hunt the Big Five.

 

[budlight]

I own a 34 inch 338 Lapua. I don't call shooting at over 1000 yrds responsible hunting. When the time of flight of the bullet exceeds one second the probability of on target hits of a possible moving target go down exponentially.

It's that line of thinking that got .50 cal banned from being used in big game hunting in most western states.

I'll get off my soap box: But the 338 Lapua is a wonderful cartridge. I had a 30-378 and almost had it rebarreled to the 338-378.

I've done the Alaskan hunts. The locals seem to like Weatherbys. 300's 340's 378's The big bear guys 416 and 458 I used a 26 inch .458 win mag with 510 gr round soft noses

 

[RangerBrad]

I wa thinking of no more than 14lbs complete. The 300 WM was my first thought and may still go with it, just interested in how it compared with the other 2 and if it would be suitable for the range and game mentioned. The shotguns I spoke of were top side security on submarines, they shot high brass were light wieght and no padding except a steel butt plate. Are these the guns you were thinking of? Believe me I think they would make all but the most masicist fear their recoil. Brad