Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

[stiletto raggio]

I am leaning toward a Sako TRG-42 in .300 WM. Why? Factory gun, seven round detachable mag, no mods necessary, on a purpose-built military-grade action. The bipod looks impressive, too, although $200 for spare magazines seems really excessive. I was also considering the AI since I could later switch to .338 Lapua but the cost difference is almost $2k and would definitely result in buying a lower-grade scope. Zak Smith's review of the Sako and AI in .338 LM showed they produce almost indistinguishable results and are certainly in the same class.

The other option is a custom or semi-custom rifle on a Big Horn or Surgeon action with a detachable (AI-type) mag system and a quality stock. I have heard that there are 10 round .300 WM magazines for the AI but cannot find them through online retailers. I figure a quality built rifle will cost as much the Sako. After buying the rifle, mount, rings, bipod, scope and a couple spare mags, total cost for either option should come out to about $5000.

I already have a .300 Win Mag (a BAR for hunting) and have picked up 400 pieces of "practice" brass and 190 and 200 grain SMKs. The 200 grain bullets seem to be a really good choice for the .300 based purely on ballistic tables and reloading data, but the 190s seem to get a lot of good results, too. At any rate, I've got a long time to figure out the details, but I figure I can build my skills on a .300 for half the cost of shooting a .338 and "graduate" to the Lapua if and when I am ready.

 

[sable]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

Well you've obviously done alot of reading. When i was new, i started out with an M700 chambered in .300WM. i like it. I was told to practice shooting it until id shot 1000s of rounds and am getting good, then purchase the very best optic i can possibly afford. like a NF or Hensoldt or S&B. That part is up to you. Then get the rifle of your choice. You really can go wrong with the TRG or with a custom gun. I like my custom gun, because i picked out all the parts i wanted, just for me. It feels like i built it. The TRG is a factory rifle, but it does come with everything you would probably add to a custom rifle and is ready to drive tacks. either way, you really cant go wrong.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

If you really want to get everything out of your 300wm, pick up some 208 Amax's or 210 Berger/JLK's. They will wollop those 190's and 200's past 1200 yds. High BC is your friend.

John

 

[desertHK]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

I have a semi custom 300 win mag in an AICS stock done by GAP. It's a great gun and very accurate. It certainly costs a fraction of my AIAWSM. That is also a way to go. Of course, AIAWSM has its reputation, and don't get me wrong. I have two of them, but the GAP custom is NOT exactly chopped-liver either. To maximize your practice for long range, it's certainly cheaper to shoot the 300 WM than the 338LM. I use the 208 AMAX bullet and have shot it out to 1550 yards with decent accuracy.

 

[coyotesniper]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?


+1 ON gap

loves Black hills 190 gr BTHM
also likes some A191 every now and then

 

[samnev]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

+1 on the TRG 22. I went thru the same dilema before buying my TRG in 308. Coulld decide between the AI and the TRG. Finally decided on the TRG and have never been sorry.

 

[mbandy13]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

Yes the ten round AI mags do exist, best of luck finding them. I own two and waited awhile to get them. Personally both platforms are excellent but I would go the custom route if I were you, nothing better than picking all your own parts. Just my two cents.

mike

 

[virulosity]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

I am in the same boat. I have definitely narrowed down to the .300WinMag. Lots of bang for the buck if you reload. Some other rifles I was considering were the Cheytac LER/300 and the Desert Tactical SRS. The only review I read on a Cheytac was a bad quality unit that the owner had fixed by a 3rd party (and they are pricey). After Desert Tactical raised their prices, an SRS costs almost as much as the AIAW. That puts us back at the Sako. I keep trying to find a reason that it wouldn't be the right rifle for me to get and it keeps winning

 

[stiletto raggio]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

I think I have been talked out of the .300 and the Sako, both.

Zak Smith has pretty well convinced me that the 7mm WSM will do everything a .300 will do up to 1500 yards. The 7mm requires less powder (and produces less recoil) when shooting bullets of similar BCs to the .300 and will do it out of a short action. The WSM is also at least as good a round as the 7mm Rem Mag, so I have no reason to go with a long action, and AI 10 round mags hold seven round of 7mm WSM (with ten round WSM mags in development). This opens up all the options for a short-action rifle.

Also, Sako is raising their prices on pretty much everything, exchange rates be damned, and I don't want to be married to a rifle with little or no aftermarket support in the US.

Right now I am leaning toward a custom with a 700-type footprint, but that is a topic for another thread.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: stiletto raggio</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 7mm requires less powder (and produces less recoil) when shooting bullets of similar BCs to the .300 and will do it out of a short action. The WSM is also at least as good a round as the 7mm Rem Mag, so I have no reason to go with a long action, and AI 10 round mags hold seven round of 7mm WSM (with ten round WSM mags in development). This opens up all the options for a short-action rifle. </div></div>

The 7's are not my area of expertise, but I've been around a couple guys that are shooting 300wsm's out past 1500 yds. and they are having to use custom reamers and a long action to get the bullet out of the case far enough to get the case capacity up for the 208/210's.

Are you certain that you can shoot 180 VLD's out of a short action with enough velocity to compete with a 300WM?

John

 

[ChrisF]

Re: Which .300 Win Mag for long-range shooting?


I am looking at building a AWM clone in 300WM , using a Badger action & a AICS 2.0 stock & a 2 stage trigger .

If you wanted to use a std Rem700 , I would use a new one piece M24 bolt from PTG .

Later Chris