30-338 lapua, 300 RUM, or 300 win mag

[wvuredneck09]

cost aside which cartridge would you pick and why, used for long range hunting on a 10 lb build.

 

[15Tango]

30-338 Lapua, you couldn't give me that one. Too inefficient for my taste, same with the .300 RUM. The .300 Win. Mag's okay but for long range precision I'm not a huge fan of belted cases, I know you can headspace off the shoulder and all but I'm still not a fan of belts or long actions.

I'd take the .300 WSM over any of those three. It's efficient, accurate, you can buy the ammo in a store if you have to and the velocity difference between the .300 WSM and Magnum are negligible.

Wayne

 

[Klong]

I agee with 15Tango on this one. The 300 RUM is a usable long range choice, but you need a rifle heavier than 10# with a good muzzle brake to use it with heavy bullets.

How far is long range and what game?

The 30-06 is where I would look for a 10# rifle in 30 caliber.

 

[Nodak7mm]

300 WM without a doubt.

• A match proven accurate LR cartridge
• The availability of good brass.
• The least amount of recoil

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have a 700 BDL .300 rum that Billy Stevens put a brake on for me. It shoots sub 1 inch 5 shot groups at 200 yards, is comfortable to shoot and will do the job at longrange. My bullet of choice is a 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, powder Retumbo. There is nothing wrong with a long action... I also have a .300 Lapua that sits in the closet. It's nicknamed the Lazerbeam, Greg Tannel built it..

 

[fullersson]

Tom Sarver set the 1000 yard world record in 2007 with a 1.403" five shot group using a necked down .338 Lapua mag. Tom's .338 was necked down to shoot a 30 cal. 240 grain Sierra Matchking at almost 3000 f.p.s. So I would say that the 30-338 Lapua would be a good choice.

 

[brianc74]

In these rounds it is not how fast you can push them but how well you know your rifle and round, and how much you practice. I shoot the 300 WIN MAG 185 Berger VLD at 3100 fps, and at 100-1200 I can do well on big game every animal I have shot I have recovered. I shoot my rifle every 2 wks. My rifles weight is 10lbs rifle,scope,bypod,sling. You do your job and the round will do its.

 

[Erik Cortina]

In these rounds it is not how fast you can push them but how well you know your rifle and round, and how much you practice. I shoot the 300 WIN MAG 185 Berger VLD at 3100 fps, and at 100-1200 I can do well on big game every animal I have shot I have recovered. I shoot my rifle every 2 wks. My rifles weight is 10lbs rifle,scope,bypod,sling. You do your job and the round will do its.

What kind of powder do you use for the 185's? Accuracy? Bullet performance on game? What kind of game are you hunting?

Sorry for the questions, but I shoot a 300 WM with 168 Barnes TTSX but was thinking about the 185 VLD's, but all I use it for is Elk and was wondering if the 185's would do good on Elk. Thanks

 

[brianc74]

With the 185 VLD hunting bullets I use 79 of H1000 and a Federal 215M primer. I hunt Moose on down here in Idaho.

 

[robbor]

Probably the Lapua because it probably the best made brass of all of them, have to worry the least about primer pockets loosening up with heavy/hot loads.

 

[Kenny474]

Unless you are planning hits beyond 700 yards, I feel the Lapua and RUM are overkill. I have shot a braked 11lb RUM and it's not the most fun I've ever had. The 300WM or even 300WSM will do fine with VLD's on large game to 700yds and maybe beyond. More a matter of knowing your rifle than needing the flattest shooting ultra mag made. If you need more power, maybe step up to a .338? Seems like it would be more effective than a monster mag 30.

The guys at GreyBull Precision are making really long shots with the 7mm mag and vld's, so I see no reason why the 300WM wouldn't do the same.

As a final note, my 30-06 kills deer just as dead at 400 yards as my uncle's 300 RUM. And it's easier to carry and shoot.

 

[people]

I have both the 338LM and the 300WM. I am happy with both of them. Granted each are far more than 10lbs. Each rifle has a really nice break on it. I am getting 3015fps with 220gr SMK’s from my 3 groove barrel. First round hits are pretty easy with each rifle to 1000 yds.

Granted nothing is free and everything costs. Where the 338LM is handy is it will be deflected less than my 300WM and hits far harder. Now without the cost of brass my 338LM is costing me almost $1.00 each shot and my 300WM is around the $0.60. When I go hunting where I know I will only have long shots I will take my 338LM. It is a right hand bolt and I am left handed. My 300 is a left bolt and I carry that when shooting may be close to extended ranges.

I do not know what tube life on each will be as I have not had to replace either tube as of yet. I do know the bigger the charge and smaller the bullet the faster your tube will wear out faster.

 

[UK]

I would pick the 300RUM every time, I have a 338LM and load ammo in 300RUM for a buddy, its a standard remmy 700 sendero with a bedding job and recrowning plus a GC 2 stage trigger, it shoots 3 shot groups sub 1/4 inch with everything from the 208 Amax to the 110g vmax @ 4000fps. Now that nosler custom brass is availible in 300RUM its a winner, I have owned and load 300WM for a friend but the lapua brass is discontinued and the cases are a pain after 3 or 4 firings due to head expansion above the belt, granted it is exceptionally accurate if the rifle is properly chambered. THe 300RUM has been to Africa and used on really big stuff with Barnes 180 tipped triple shock, as for the short magnums I wouldnt tuch them with a barge pole, dont see the point just to get a slightly shorter action, and if you can get Norma brass its very expensive.
As other comments personally I would go 30-06 every time, its so versatile.

 

[Evan]

my 30-06s will hit pop cans at 600 yards off a bipod consistently. I agree with the above posters, knowing your rifle is far more important than what round you're shooting. 30-06 with 180gr hasn't been around for a century because it is a sub-par choice. I still believe it is THE hunting rifle to have above all others.

If I was required to choose a magnum, 300WM is proven and cheaper to shoot than the others by a lot.

 

[gbee]

Just finished one......(10lb hunting rifle) I really like the .300 WM