Considering a larger caliber hunting rifle

bigtuna81

bigtuna81

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As the title states I am considering on picking up a larger caliber hunting rifle. I am looking a buying something in the 30 cal family. 300 win man, 300 RUM, 338 win mag and could use any thoughts and or opinion on these choices.

A little bit about me, currently I have 2 hunting rifles a 7mm rem mag x bolt I have had for 5 years now. Good hunting rifle no real complaints. My second rifle is 270 win rem 700 that I picked up around a year ago off of this forum. Awesome deer rifle and a tack driver, this has become my go to deer rifle as it fits me well and is easy to pack around

My plan would be to replace my 7mm rem mag with the larger caliber and use it mainly for moose and elk hunting and be able to reach out to 500+ yard shots with it. While keeping and using my 270 for a go to deer rifle. I currently don't reload but it's something I am interested in starting up in the future.

Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated

TUNA
 
If you are replacing the 7mm REM mag, and its for elk and moose I would go for the .338wm. I am looking at getting a .338wm very soon and eventually a 7mm REM. I am also just getting into reloading as well. If you are going to reload down the line, there is a ton of options for .338wm. I personally like how it shows anywhere from 180grain to 300grain bullets and has serious knock down power
 
Going to .30 cal is not really a step up in power from 7mm. It is if you are SELLING the 7mm, but if you plan to keep the .270, and 7mm, but wish to increase your versatility I would have to vote .338
I have owned two .338's in the past, and they did drop the animals I shot really hard. I find that factory ammo was pretty expensive, and harder to find (not too much of it at any Can tire, or Walmart, or the other cheap sources), available in gun stores. To the reloader, it is a great caliber. (both the .300 Rem and .338 are kind of expensive for factory ammo)
I still was not satisfied in the end, and sold the .338 and got a .375 Ruger. (In a Ruger Alaskan) because I don't want to be just one of the big kids at hunting camp, I want to be THE big kid.
(I still own a .300winmag and rotate it into my hunting carry rifles because I love it, and love reloading for it. It is probably the best .30 in terms of what you get for performance but don't get for recoil. Pretty cheap ammo at the box stores too if you need it. )
 
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While going to a .30 cal magnum will be an increase in power over your 7mm Mag, it is not worth the expense and effort. If you want more than a 7mm Rem Mag, you should move to at least .338 or .35 cal. cartridges to get a meaningful increase in effectiveness on elk and moose.

There is no "need" for anything bigger for elk and moose than your 7mm Mag. "Want" is another question, however.
 
When you said "larger" caliber, I did not picture a .30 caliber... what you meant was larger in bore diameter than your 7 RM... if you are going to consider the .30 Mags, you should sell your 7 RM, because they sort of occupy the same niche... if you are keeping your 7 RM, then move up to the .338 group (at least)... but you can also consider 8mm, .35, .366 and .375 bores.
 
I have to agree that few of the .30 cal magnums offer much over the 7mm Remington, unless you're looking for an excuse for a new gun ;). If you really must go big or go home, start at .338 and up. I'm fast becoming a .35 fan...
 
Sounds to me you just want an excuse to buy a new gun. If that's the case then ha you need a 338 win mag. 338 lapua maybe. But your 7mm rem mag will kill anything in North america. Don't worry we won't tell that to your wife though.
 
Have to agree with the 7mm being more than you need for moose.

The 7mm RM is way flatter than 30 cal offerings (300 WM plus any of the standards shoot rainbow's in comparison).

A 300 Wby would be on par with your "flat shooting" 7mil in terms of trajectory.

If you wanted a 30 cal then a 30-378 Wby might be your only option for significantly more "umph" and a better trajectory than you currently have.

(and if you are looking to shoot long at something you are trying to kill, a lot less can go wrong with a flat shooting round than one that you have to aim skyward, hoping to drop it in on target)

So if your shoulder can take it a 338 Win Mag or a 340 Wby might be in order - but they do kick twice as hard as your 7 mil
 
With round "typical" to each caliber, yes.

If you sight both for 200 yards and look at the 500 yard results you get:

7mmRM/140 grain partition (moose round)

+1.4@100 0@200 -6.4@300 -18.8@400 -38.2@500

300WM/180 grain partition (moose round)

+1.6@100 0@200 -7.4@300 -21.9@400 -45.0@500

He wants to make a 500 yard shot (according to his "wants")

The 300 is 7" lower @ 500 than the 7mil - that leaves a lot more room for error/misjudgment and a lot more of a "rainbow".
 
I would go bigger. I have a 243, 30-06 and a 375 ruger.
Pretty brod spectrum I think.
If you want to step it up. The H&H or Ruger will easly reach out to 500 and carry one heck of a punch.
 
galamb said:
With round "typical" to each caliber, yes.

If you sight both for 200 yards and look at the 500 yard results you get:

7mmRM/140 grain partition (moose round)

+1.4@100 0@200 -6.4@300 -18.8@400 -38.2@500

300WM/180 grain partition (moose round)

+1.6@100 0@200 -7.4@300 -21.9@400 -45.0@500

He wants to make a 500 yard shot (according to his "wants")

The 300 is 7" lower @ 500 than the 7mil - that leaves a lot more room for error/misjudgment and a lot more of a "rainbow".
Click to expand...

I can read charts too... or run the numbers through JBM... but you have chosen a lightish bullet in 7mm and a medium weight bullet in .300 WM... get it more apples to apples and there is less than half that difference... and you can hardly call that a "rainbow."
 
When you said "larger" caliber, I did not picture a .30 caliber... what you meant was larger in bore diameter than your 7 RM...
Click to expand...

Larger bore diameter is larger caliber.:) Unfortunately so many people incorrectly use caliber to describe a cartridge, that some people just assume that they mean cartridge.
 
stubblejumper said:
Larger bore diameter is larger caliber.:) Unfortunately so many people incorrectly use caliber to describe a cartridge, that some people just assume that they mean cartridge.
Click to expand...

You missed my point... of course larger caliber is larger bore... but when he said "larger" he meant as it relates to him as opposed to the way I was interpreting it from the title as; "on the larger end of the spectrum." I don't think of the .30 cals as "large."
 
galamb said:
The 7mm RM is way flatter than 30 cal offerings (300 WM plus any of the standards shoot rainbow's in comparison).
Click to expand...


HAHA good one. I missed your sarcasm on that...or at least I hope for your sake you are being sarcastic and don't actually believe that statement. Just for comparison a 7mm RM shooting a 150 gr bullet, which seems to be a common standard in the cartridge, with a 200m zero has a drop of 5.4" at 300yds 15.7 at 400 and 31.7 at 500.
A 300 WM shooting a 180 gr, which is what I'd consider the most common bullet weight, with the same zero would have a drop of 5.7" at 300 16.6" at 400 and 33.4" at 500. So at 500 yds the 300 WM is shooting a bullet 30 grains heavier only 1.7" lower. If you wanted to really put them on the same level a 300 WM shooting a 150gr bullet as well is 2.1" higher. They must have some strange looking rainbows in Inverary
 
StevieK said:
HAHA good one. I missed your sarcasm on that...or at least I hope for your sake you are being sarcastic and don't actually believe that statement. Just for comparison a 7mm RM shooting a 150 gr bullet, which seems to be a common standard in the cartridge, with a 200m zero has a drop of 5.4" at 300yds 15.7 at 400 and 31.7 at 500.
A 300 WM shooting a 180 gr, which is what I'd consider the most common bullet weight, with the same zero would have a drop of 5.7" at 300 16.6" at 400 and 33.4" at 500. So at 500 yds the 300 WM is shooting a bullet 30 grains heavier only 1.7" lower. If you wanted to really put them on the same level a 300 WM shooting a 150gr bullet as well is 2.1" higher. They must have some strange looking rainbows in Inverary
Click to expand...

That's not a "rainbow"... it's a "smile."
 
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