300 ultramag

M

milo

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I am in the planning stages of having a long range rifle built in 300 RUM. I am leaning towards a 28 inch fluted heavy barrel and have already ordered the remington 700 action that I am having the gun built on. (in the form of a complete gun)

My budget is about 3500 plus optics including the gunsmith's time etc so not unlimited but I should be able to get something good.

I am not planning to compete but I want to bang gongs in the toolies, shoot rocks and bottles at horrendous ranges and just generally have a really accurate flat shooting toy. I am looking for something that shoots like my heavy barrel 22-250 but is less affected by wind and really carries out there.

I plan to shoot off sandbags, and prone so I thought that weight would be my friend with the UM. I have never had a rifle built up though and I didn't realize there were so many possibilities.

What bullet weight should I select my rifling twist to shoot best with, should I shoot for 165 grain, 190 grain etc, what carries best.

This rifle will never be a hunter, kind of one purpose, I have lots of other rifles for hunting but I would welcome suggestions for stock, barrel, rifling rate etc.

I am also trying to figure out the optics which would best serve my purposes would a burris 8-32 be a good scope, or a vxIII 6-20 or vxIII 4.5 - 14 or what?

Anyway, I usually see a lot of collective wisdom on this site and would appreciate any help in making my decision.

thanks

milo
 
Be aware of just how short the barrel life is with a 300ultramag.If you are careful not to heat up the barrel,you might reach 1500 rounds before the accuracy falls off,and you need to have it rebarreled.Be aware how quickly the barrel will heat up,as you will be spending a lot of time waiting for the barrel to cool.If you don't let it cool before firing it again, you will be rebarreling much more often.I have two 300ultramags myself that I hunt with,but for a target gun and plinker,I would go with a different cartridge.The 300winmag would be a far better choice.
 
If you get it built, have the barrel twist for heavier bullets, 180-220 range.
Folks that have problems with the cal load hot , and shoot light bullets.
You will get excellent accuracy, good barrel life, for sure. The heavy bullets will have excellent BC , for those long shots.Hope this helps. :) 6x20 is a good choice in optics.
 
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30-338 Win Wildcat

Stubblejumber: Not to hijack the thread but what about the 30-388 wildcat for a long range rifle instead of the 300 Win Mag? Any thoughts? I am thinking of building the same thing and I have a whole bunch of new 338 Win Mag brass and another 338 rifle I need the brass for, so thought I would standardize on the cases. It is a one step process to neck down the brass through the full length sizer. Steve
 
Folks that have problems with the cal load hot , and shoot light bullets.
You will get excellent accuracy, good barrel life, for sure.
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Simply using heavy bullets loaded to the same chamber pressure will not increase barrel life.If you really want increased barrel life,either download the cartridge to produce less chamber pressure, or go to a cartridge with a smaller case capacity.Barrels do not lose accuracy due to friction wearing out the barrel.Long before friction is a factor,pressure and heat will erode the throat causing loss of accuracy.If anything,the heavier bullet being in the barrel longer,will result in the throat area being exposed to the pressure and temperature for a longer time period which could cause even more throat erosion.

Heavier bullets are used on long range rifles because they drift less in the wind past about 500 yards.
 
Simply using heavy bullets loaded to the same chamber pressure will not increase barrel life.If you really want increased barrel life,either download the cartridge to produce less chamber pressure, or go to a cartridge with a smaller case capacity.Barrels do not lose accuracy due to friction wearing out the barrel.Long before friction is a factor,pressure and heat will erode the throat causing loss of accuracy.If anything,the heavier bullet being in the barrel longer,will result in the throat area being exposed to the pressure and temperature for a longer time period which could cause even more throat erosion.

Heavier bullets are used on long range rifles because they drift less in the wind past about 500 yards.
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Ok :)
Folks that have problems with the cal load hot , and shoot light bullets.
Click to expand...

Heavier bullets are used on long range rifles because they drift less in the wind past about 500 yards
Click to expand...

Which is called high BC. Longer does mean heavier , but not fatter , and thats a good thing eh :)
 
If you haven't already ordered the 30 cal barrel you may want to look into the 338 edge or other said names they are simply necked up 300RUM brass to shoot 338. The brass is MUCH cheaper the 338 Lapua and the results are better then the 300 RUM. You can load 250 or 300 SMK that should not only hit the gong but also knock it over. You may want to ask mysticplayer I think he is familiar with this round.

Barrel length I would try for longer then 28 and wouldn't flute it unless this is a walking gun.

You may want to check out the long-range hunting website for more feedback.

Have fun
 
I have to ask you if you are not planning to hunt a very long ranges then why go with one of the RUM cartridges? Not to rain on your parrade but building a plinker gun that burns 100 grains of powder per trigger pull you will fry that match grade $600.00 dollar barrel in under 1000 rounds. It sounds like you are comitted to the Long action so why not go with a 6.5-284? It is a proven 1000 yard target caliber. If you could get a short action I would go with a 6br. The 6br barrel will last 4 times longer and is waaay more accurate. I say this as I am gathering the pieces to build a big 30 boomstick as well. I am building it to hunt with and after load development I will be shooting it sporaticly at best. I shoot a 6br and it is the gun that I find the most fun to shoot!
If you stand firm on your decision on the 300 RUM get it throated for the 200+ grain VLD bullets with the high BC. This is where the RUM cartridges really shine, over 500 yards with long match bullets. Longrangehunting.com is the best resource for info on the big 30's 6br.com is where you want to go for info on the smaller and for what you want to do with a gun calibers.
As far as optics with the budget that you are working with for the gun, don't stop short on the scope. Put a nightforce on it, or at minimum go with a 8.5x25 Leupy VXIII.
 
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TheCanuck said:
Personnaly i think i'd go with a 7mm RUM.
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... Same, I shoot with three guys that all jumped at the 300RUM for a long range rifle. None are very happy with what they have. Just a very loud, hard recoiling .308. Their words not mine. I can tell you this about them, I shot 40 rounds one afternoon out of one of them and fought with a migraine for three days. Two of the three guys I know with them are trying to dump theirs for that very reason. .....FYI.....
 
HPBT said:
... Same, I shoot with three guys that all jumped at the 300RUM for a long range rifle. None are very happy with what they have. Just a very loud, hard recoiling .308. Their words not mine. I can tell you this about them, I shot 40 rounds one afternoon out of one of them and fought with a migraine for three days. Two of the three guys I know with them are trying to dump theirs for that very reason. .....FYI.....
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Guys,

I have to disagree with you on the 7 RUM. I own one that I bought for the action only (I am a leftie and the only Remingtom LSS I could find was in 7 rum) Since I own one I thought I would see what it does, maybe it would surprise me, contrary to what I have heard and read about this caliber. I bought some dies, bullets, bedded and free floated, trigger job, etc. I loaded with 2 different powders (Retumbo and RL25), all with the 175 grain SMK. With the RL 25 Working from 81 to 88 grains I got maybe a 80 FPS increase in velocity. With the Retumbo I got pressure signs at the Minimum powder charge. Did not get over 3000 FPS with these loads. The 7mm STW does this with 18% less powder. I see the 7RUM as being grossly overbore, and to add to this I was talking to Dave Brown at Sierra and this is the reason they are not even releasing loading info on this caliber. My plan is to go with the 300 RUM, or maybe the 300-338 RUM, 28" Sendero contour barrel and a muzzle break! Shooting the 220 grain bullets with the 300 RUM, or the 300 grain SMK with the 300-338 RUM.
 
I've got a 7mm Ultramag (actually Imperial Magnum, but same thing), and it hasn't left the case in 7 years. I think I have 150 rounds through it. maybe.
 
Longdraw hit the nail on the head with every point he made.
1.)Go 6.5-284 for great accuracy at long range
2.)If you go with .30 cal get it throated for long bullets(220grSMK)
3.)NF or Leuppy 5.5-22 or 6-20
 
Dear ol'Milo! Why is it I am not surprised to read this thread??? I might as well tell all others to stop trying to influence you towards a smaller caliber. After all, powder and barrels are meant to be burned! I like the choice of 300RUM, but personally I would be more inclined to get one done in .338 Lapua Mag, loooonnng range, lot's of bullet weight and of course fantastic case capacity!

Always yours in K-town, Troutseeker

P.S. I have new to me toy, a Savage in.308 or long range plinking.
 
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I'm getting a 338-300 RUM built myself based on the 338 Edge from the LongRangeHunting.com forums (LRH). I've ran the numbers for it in QuickLoad, it shows to be a VERY accurate round using H1000 - as demonstrated in LRH.

If you're looking for ultra long range, use the SMK 240 gr bullets - they will stay supersonic further than just about any other.

.. and consider a muzzle brake so you can actually enjoy shooting it.

JK
 
Since I trust troutseeker and your need for a big boomer, I will share my experiences with my 300RUM.

At 35lbs, recoil is still pretty hefty using 220 and 240gr MK. Wasn't until I put on a big muzzle port that things calmed down. I hate recoil and this will have lots.

I found H50BMG to work very well when lit with a Fed 215M primer in RUM cases. I FL size them in a Lee die and the runout is surprisingly low. Tried neck sizing but the cases grew too much and chambering became a pain.

My load is now a 220gr MK going 3000fps. I can say that my 7 Mystic (162gr Amax at 2900+fps) has pretty much the same windage/elevation needs at 1km. The RUM does shoot flatter beyond that.

My 6.5 Mystic has not seen alot of time LR as I have been prepping for the Kamloops shoot. However, the 139gr Lapua at 2900fps is no slouch at LR. Definitely needed a bit more elevation and windage compared to the other two but not that big a deal.

Ballistics programs show that all three combos are very similar out beyond the mile. I hope to test some 180gr Bergers in my 7 Mystic shortly.

To be perfectly honest, I now shoot my 300RUM very little due in large part to costs. Plus the noise gets tiring after a while. Still lots of fun but I get the same ballistics more or less from the 7 and 6.5 Mystic for 1/2 the costs.

All are similarly accurate with the 6.5 the best. I use muzzle brakes on the 300 and 7 and I can spot my own shots at LR. No brake on the 6.5 but with the extra weight, is fine to spot.

I have played with a 6BR with a slow twist and only went to 800yds. However, it is one of the most fun plinking cartridges I have used. It was also superbly accurate using a Gaillard barrel. No brake and can spot own shots. I used an 87gr Vmax and was very impressed with velocity, ballistics and accuracy.

If you want a boomer, the 300RUM is the best option right now. Got a 338 Mystic that needs a stock. However, I know that after development, this will become a closet queen. Just too much money and recoil to shoot (I shoot alot when I go out).

I am building another 6.5 Mystic and stocking supplies for this rig so you know what I enjoy shooting the most.

As to optics, elevation will be your limiting requirement. The Elite 3200 10X is a great entry level scope. The Super Sniper next up, then the more expensive items. I use the Elite 4200 6X24 with mildots and can go from 300m to a mile using dots and turrents. You need to shim this scope.

The Weavers have quite a bit of elevation and seem to have a good rep as does the Sightron. Nikons are also excellent scopes and very well priced. The Nikon tactical will give you superb optics, quite a bit of elevation and reliable turrents for much less then the NF/L equivalent. You will likely not need a lot of mag. I usually top out at 16X so that I can spot my shots and get a wider field of view. Mirage gets very bad where I shoot.

Jerry
 
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