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30 boo boo for ELR?

James n TN

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 26, 2004
401
22
Tennessee
I've been following this thread for a few weeks and with wanting to build an ELR rifle I'm wondering have you guys considered the 8x68 RWS case necked down to 30 cal? I was considering building a 338LM but after going thru several threads of it compared to the 300 WM, I've steered away from the 338 and now considering a 30 cal.

Now I'm done rambling can some of you with more knowledge of ELR rifles, cartridges and accuracy offer advice on pros and cons of going with the 8x68 RWS case over the 300 WM for a ELR 30 cal setup.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to some feedback from you guys.
 
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That would be an RWS case, so expense would be one con. Finding brass another. I shoot a 300 Norma mag, it has some pro's, but brass cost has went up since I purchased mine. Very consistent, good velocity with heavy bullets (3100 fps with 208 A-MAX).
 
It is a very strong 1000 round with 210 Bergers and others. Cost of brass and price is a factor. If you can't buy a lifetime supply of brass forget it because RWS comes and goes every few years in the states. Life of the RWS case for reloading is very good, Careful with loading because of case thickness. very thick, creates xtra pressure if you run a high end load from a lesser case. Probably the most accurate 30 at 1000 yds.
 
We have a guy in our F-Class club shooting a 7mm Boo Boo, shoots well but the addded cost of brass is a pain in the butt.

I love RWS brass, 100 rounds should last the life of a barrel, it's amazing stuff.

Guy could do a 300 Win Mag and get set up with RWS brass, that way if the supply chains fail you still have a source of brass.

Norma also makes 8x68s and maybe Smelly Belly.
 
Thanks guys, it's just a thought and I hadn't looked for the brass as of yet I know Dave Tooley use to have a great supply on the RWS brass. Guess I need to do some more looking into the components I'd sure hate to chamber one in this cartridge and not be able to get brass. Probably if I find a source i will get 500 pcs for security.
 
Worse case scenario order 500 rounds of RWS from Johannsen in Germany or Triebel Online Shop, they charge a $50 import fee on top of their prices, but since you aren't paying German tax on it, it's usually cheaper than America.
 
Pick Dave's brain on the BooBoo. It's a great round and he likes it lot. However, I'd be curious if he thought his lists of pros and cons would lean to the Norma. Might be a good time to ask what happened to the 300 AI.
 
Personally if you want to mess with a wildcat and bringing brass in from the Neder-regions then do it.

If not 300-375 Ruger, looks pretty good.

But nothing wrong with a 300 Win, WBY, RUM or H&H.
 
I am not going to speak for Dave but I had the same idea awhile back and I do have over 300 pieces of RWS 8x68s brass. He told me to look pretty hard at the .375 Ruger necked down to .30. I don't have the case capacities in front of me but the BooBoo and the .375 have to be pretty close, no?
 
I recall Steve123 shooting a 30/375 Ruger. My memory may be plaging tricks but he has posted at least a few pictures of that cartridge.

Jeffvn
 
The 30-375 falls just short of 300 Wby capacity. It would be/is ideal for heavy bullets. 210 and up. 225 Hornady's @ 2865 FPS with reasonable pressure w/26" barrel. I've shot that to 2K and was impressed. The BooBoo is perfect for the 200-210 gr range. RWS brass is just the best. I've got over 50 firings on some brass I have here. In terms of cost it's a non issue to me.