I started LR shooting with 2 300 RUMS over a decade ago. The 300 RUM were both very accurate in those factory rifles (pet load sub 1/2 MOA and more than a few groups going 1/2" at 300 m and almost always sub MOA at any distance), and very predictable and consistent in dial-ups out to 800 metres (likely due to the flat trajectory at 3300 fps velocities with 180 AB). I loved it, but only remington and nosler brass; both soft and neither giving more than 3-4 firings per brass. So the cost of brass added up quick, and its a thirsty cartridge (93+ grains of powder per shot).
During that time I had my first .308 win built, and then I purchased one of the first .338 Lapua M700 MLRs in Canada, which is now rebarreled with a heavy 28.5" barrel. The 338 Lapua pushing 300 SMKs at 2700-ish fps with ~87 grains of powder is a LR hammer, and my first batch of brass is now on it's 7th firing and going strong with no annealing to-date. The issue is FL resizing every time (could be the tight chamber?), and regular trimming if I want to keep the case to SAAMI 2.714" case length spec, but the case neck length of my chamber allows brass to grow to 2.740" OAL, so trimming does not have to be done as often as I once thought. My .338 LM is a keeper and a hammer well past 1000 yards, where it stands alone and by a fair bit from the others. But its a heavy rig (16.5 lbs) and the big brake has some percussion to it. 20 rounds per session or so and that is usually good for me. 40 rounds is enough, not from the recoil, but the blast of the brake.
But today, having gained some experience and with good reference, the 300 RUMs are now gone; one sold and the other rebarreled to 7mm Rem Mag. I now believe the 7mm rem mag pushing 160+ grain pills over 3000 fps may be the best of them all for practical sub 1000 yards ranges, and certainly retaining plenty of energy for taking down big game out to 700 yards, which is very far without a bench. The relatively lightweight package (~9lbs loaded) is easy to pack in the field, has low recoil, is easy to shoot well, very accurate, and cheaper to shoot than the other mags. Good brass life too - my winchester brass is on its 6 firing, and trimming the brass has been minimal.
But IMO, re LR work, the boring .308 Win is hard to beat as barrel life is forever, it is so cheap to shoot, and I can therefore shoot it alot - time behind the rifle is more important than any cartridge. Now, if I could have only one, my first pick would be the .308 Win, followed closely by the 7mm Rem Mag.
During that time I had my first .308 win built, and then I purchased one of the first .338 Lapua M700 MLRs in Canada, which is now rebarreled with a heavy 28.5" barrel. The 338 Lapua pushing 300 SMKs at 2700-ish fps with ~87 grains of powder is a LR hammer, and my first batch of brass is now on it's 7th firing and going strong with no annealing to-date. The issue is FL resizing every time (could be the tight chamber?), and regular trimming if I want to keep the case to SAAMI 2.714" case length spec, but the case neck length of my chamber allows brass to grow to 2.740" OAL, so trimming does not have to be done as often as I once thought. My .338 LM is a keeper and a hammer well past 1000 yards, where it stands alone and by a fair bit from the others. But its a heavy rig (16.5 lbs) and the big brake has some percussion to it. 20 rounds per session or so and that is usually good for me. 40 rounds is enough, not from the recoil, but the blast of the brake.
But today, having gained some experience and with good reference, the 300 RUMs are now gone; one sold and the other rebarreled to 7mm Rem Mag. I now believe the 7mm rem mag pushing 160+ grain pills over 3000 fps may be the best of them all for practical sub 1000 yards ranges, and certainly retaining plenty of energy for taking down big game out to 700 yards, which is very far without a bench. The relatively lightweight package (~9lbs loaded) is easy to pack in the field, has low recoil, is easy to shoot well, very accurate, and cheaper to shoot than the other mags. Good brass life too - my winchester brass is on its 6 firing, and trimming the brass has been minimal.
But IMO, re LR work, the boring .308 Win is hard to beat as barrel life is forever, it is so cheap to shoot, and I can therefore shoot it alot - time behind the rifle is more important than any cartridge. Now, if I could have only one, my first pick would be the .308 Win, followed closely by the 7mm Rem Mag.
There, i fixed it for you Archie 
