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Help choosing Large 30 cal.

K

Kubitza123

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 15, 2012
806
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Central Texas near Waco
I can't say I really need one but I want one. I'm looking to either buy, build or trade for a large 30 cal rifle in the near future hopefully but need to determine what's the best one.


Looking at 300 win mag, 300 ultra, 338 ultra, 338 Norma, 338 edge, 338 Lapua

Might hunt with it if I ever needed to but moslty for punching paper and because I want one. Weight not a factor.

So which of those choices should I be looking for? Want it to be good lets say punching paper at minimum 1200yrds accurately with plenty of power.

What's the most accurate and affordable to shoot and load for without sacrificing accuracy and power?

Any help would be great. And if I should be looking at a different caliber all together not mentioned please post it up.

Please mention why the choice you mention is the better of the group in your opinnion .
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

300WSM is a nice solid .308 that is not over the top, is actually fairly practical, and hits hard.

300WM hits harder and is max to still be considered fairly "practical".

The 300RUM and other bigger/badder .308s burn a lot more powder for a minimal gain in power/speed... A 338 will make better use of 80+ gr of powder than the big 30s.

Hard to argue with the 300WM.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

300 WM for reasons in previous post ... or look to the 7mm family of magnums. The ballistics will be better for paper punching without going really big ... as in 338's. Compromise is down range impact.

Do you reload? The big calibers are expensive to shoot, especially if you buy factory.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I'd say .300 Win Mag. It punches hard and can reach out but not so hard that your shoulders get punished when matched with a muzzle brake.

I've shot ultra mags and all I can say is "Owww!". .300 Win Mag is more economical too. Cheaper bullets and "free range" brass. I found 50 once fired Remington .300 Win Mag brass the other day at the rifle range. That's a nice value.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

If going bigger than 308/260, 338 ultra makes sense with cheap brass and is a long range boomer.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

So far looking like 300 win mag or 338 ultra

More opinions welcome.

I figured there would be more love for the 338 edge?? Not any better than 338 ultra? Same with Norma.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

In my opinion, 300 WinMag. That's the point of diminishing returns in my mind.

Unless you are looking to build a 36" barreled wunderhammer, with less than 1000 rounds of useful barrel life.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I personally went with the .300 mag. In my mind, the next step up was the Lapua, and I'm not interested in paying the ammo costs for it. Ammo costs for the .300 mag are comparatively reasonable, IF you are a handloader. It is still burning a lot more powder than a .308 every time you pull the trigger, though. Think 65-75 g of powder vs 40-45 g of powder.

My .308 will get a lot more use than either.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

Guess I should have asked what's the barrel life on any of these calibers ?

Slipped my mind when posting but that is important to me.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I am having a 300 Hulk built by Tom Sarver at Thunder Valley. It's a 338 Lapua case shortened and necked down to 30 cal.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

It wasn't on your list but what about .300 weatherby mag? shoots flatter then the win mag unsure about knock down performance above the 300 win mag though. But I've been happy with mine
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

Lots of good choices, I have a 300wm, 300ultra, 338Edge and hopefully a 300 Norma or 300HSM at some point.
I would pause for a second- choose your favorite action and trigger combo-ensuring compatibility, then choose your feed option- then see what option(s) you have left.
(i.e. my 338Edge loads are 3.990"++ COAL- that rules out a lot of mags and actions for a repeater)
If loading costs and barrel life are high on the list, 300wm is the only viable option in your list imho.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kubitza</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Guess I should have asked what's the barrel life on any of these calibers ?

Slipped my mind when posting but that is important to me. </div></div>

If barrel life is important to you, then you probably won't want <span style="font-weight: bold">any</span> of these cartridges. They all eat barrels.

Obviously, barrel life is dependent on a lot of factors, including but not limited to:

- how much powder you're burning
- how small the hole is your sending the blowtorch into
- how fat the barrel is
- how much pressure you load to
- how fast you shoot

I think ~1500 is about right for typical tactical use of a 300WM or 338LM

The bigger/badder cartridges will be less that the 300WM and 338LM. Considerably less, all other factors being equal.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

.300WM hands down! I don't think there is anything walking this planet that will take a dose of 230 OTM moving 2770 fps and live to tell about it..

IMG_4664-2.jpg


IMG_4261.jpg



3 shots @ 100 yards:


IMG_4744.jpg




3 shots @ 300 yards:


IMG_4751_zpsdf8b6a15.jpg
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

Everyone that says 300wm I agree with. Mine sends the Hornady 225bthp at 2840 ft/sec. Plug in that speed with G7 of .351 and you see it doesn't give up much the 338 Lapua shooting the 250gr pills.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: alpha6164</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Everyone that says 300wm I agree with. Mine sends the Hornady 225bthp at 2840 ft/sec. Plug in that speed with G7 of .351 and you see it doesn't give up much the 338 Lapua shooting the 250gr pills. </div></div>

While I agree that 300 WM is capable, if you look at the ballistics at >1000+ yds you'll see that it isn't in the same league as a 338 LM shooting 300gr SMKs or a 300 Norma shooting 230gr Bergers.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I shoot a .300 RUM with 200gr Accubonds at 3075fps with .431 MOA at 100 yds. I sold my .300WM and haven't looked back.I belive the .300RUM is a perfect hunting round and a damn good long range steel/paper round. WHatcha got to trade?
smile.gif
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I had or still have many different .30 magnums. I shoot my .30-8mm Rem. Mag the most. It burns about 5 grains more powder than a .300wm and gains about 125fps. It gives up about 50-100fps to a .300RUM but uses 10grs less powder as well. It's extremely accurate as well.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

30-378 Weatherby Magnum. (It's the big one)

30_calibers%28.308_.30-06_.300winmag_.300ultramag_.30-378Weatherby%29.jpg


.30-378 Weatherby, .300 Ultra Mag, .300 Win Mag, .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester.

weatherby_mag_30_378.jpg
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

30-375 Ruger is what the .300WM ought to have been and is probably ideal.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

30-06 is plenty capable out to 1000+ yards, with readily available selection of powders, bullets, quality rifles, and brass.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

30 vs 338 is a decision you have to make. Both shoot very flat and will kill things well. But so will a 7STW, 7ultra, 7wby. You just need to ask yourself how much power will you be satisfied with?
I said 338 ultra because its a very nice value. Great ballistics, can be very accurate, but brass and dies are much cheaper than the Lapua/338edge.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

Looks like after going threw my reloading books in 30 cal the 300 ultra would be the way to go.

Haven't had time to really search out the Edge but 338 factory cartridge looks like the 338 ultra will do anything the Lapua will but cheaper.

Anyone have FPS with 300 gr loads on the Edge and 338 Norma by chance?
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I have a 300 Ultra LSS, Son has one and so does the Lady. Thursday my McRees will be here and i'll put my 338 Ultra in it. Can't wait to try it out.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cyberpuppy42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">30-06 is plenty capable out to 1000+ yards, with readily available selection of powders, bullets, quality rifles, and brass. </div></div>

for the complete picture of cost/ performance/ recoil etc if you go beyond the 30-06 then go right to the 338 lapua - IMO nothing in the middle is worth it

any of the .30 magnums are serious under performers compared to the 7mm twins for similar cost
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

The 300wm is the only one of your listed rounds I've worked with, so take this for what it's worth.

I went with the old standard because I figured it had been popular for so long for a good reason. I have no regrets.

Other than a bit of hassle figuring out my barrel doesn't like the 208 Amax, my rifle has been an absolute pleasure to load for and shoot.

I can go 40 rounds in a session with no discomfort. The gun in question weighs 16-17lbs and does not have a brake.

The farthest I've had the opportunity to shoot with it so far was 800yds and it made me look much better than I am.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bob L. Swagger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.300WM hands down! I don't think there is anything walking this planet that will take a dose of 230 OTM moving 2770 fps and live to tell about it..

IMG_4664-2.jpg


IMG_4261.jpg



3 shots @ 100 yards:


IMG_4744.jpg




3 shots @ 300 yards:


IMG_4751_zpsdf8b6a15.jpg
</div></div>

+1
300WM,hands down, hard to beat to date.and good quality brass still available. needless to say the endless amount load data.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

I have a 300 Rum and I love shooting it.Every body says they kick like a mule.I don't think so but that's me.I sent mine to William Roscoe to work his magic.Should be getting it back soon.And yes it will have a break on it.My next build will be a 338 Norma AI.Got the barrel and the action is coming soon to a Tac 338 Stillers.I say if you like "Big Go BIG"If not then don"t It's your choice you have to make your self HAPPY NOT ANYONE ELSE.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

Well after talking with Defensive Edge i've decided that ill either try and build a 338edge or 338 ultra. They seem to pack the most with least reloading expense with good results.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RyanScott</div><div class="ubbcode-body">30-375 Ruger is what the .300WM ought to have been and is probably ideal. </div></div>

Yep. What's not to love about 230 hybrids clipping along at 2960 fps with 79.5 grains of Retumbo. Compared to 338's it's a soft shooter as well.
 
Re: Help choosing Large 30 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RyanScott</div><div class="ubbcode-body">30-375 Ruger is what the .300WM ought to have been and is probably ideal. </div></div>

I've seen this listed as the 30 HSM and also the 300 Accuracy International. Is there more than one version of this wildcat, or did a consensus get reached?

If it is consistent in specs, the OP would have a winner regardless of name...
 
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