(You'll all think I'm nuts).
My rifle experience is mainly with scary-looking military style autoloaders. My experience with true "rifle calibers" is limited to a 308 FAL. I could try to coax a scope onto it; but that's probably a waste of time.
I usually purchase from the "soon to be banned" end of the spectrum, this would be a deviation so I don't want to buy a bunch of good boltactions - just one.
I am not a hunter - I am after a rifle that will be used for recreational shooting at long range.
I was thinking 308 boltaction Rem 700; but am now seriously considering, after looking at the stats "on paper" (reloading manual) of the 300 Win Mag I am considering it as being more flexible wrt. REAL long range target shooting.
I am not too concerned about ammo availability vs. 308 - I'm not going to use this weapon with junk milsurp 150 rounds at a time. . . . from what I see I can buy some casings, and use the same bullets as 308, it's just a matter of spending more on powder from what I see.
What does concern me is how flexible the weapon is, and what the barrel lifetime is on a 300 Win Mag, and vs. a 308 or 30.06. Anyone here who owns one ever worn out a barrel?
Also, I've heard talk that the higher-pressure 300 win mag wears out chambers faster. Is this wear reduced to being equivalent to 308 wear in loads that match 308 velocities?
How much leeway is there in scaling BACK the power for shorter range work so as to reduce wear on the weapon? Of course, I'm not implying using the same powder measurements as in a 308; but rather light, proven and published 300 WM loads that imitate it ballistically (and requiring more powder).
Any information appreciated.
Thanks,
Battler.
My rifle experience is mainly with scary-looking military style autoloaders. My experience with true "rifle calibers" is limited to a 308 FAL. I could try to coax a scope onto it; but that's probably a waste of time.
I usually purchase from the "soon to be banned" end of the spectrum, this would be a deviation so I don't want to buy a bunch of good boltactions - just one.
I am not a hunter - I am after a rifle that will be used for recreational shooting at long range.
I was thinking 308 boltaction Rem 700; but am now seriously considering, after looking at the stats "on paper" (reloading manual) of the 300 Win Mag I am considering it as being more flexible wrt. REAL long range target shooting.
I am not too concerned about ammo availability vs. 308 - I'm not going to use this weapon with junk milsurp 150 rounds at a time. . . . from what I see I can buy some casings, and use the same bullets as 308, it's just a matter of spending more on powder from what I see.
What does concern me is how flexible the weapon is, and what the barrel lifetime is on a 300 Win Mag, and vs. a 308 or 30.06. Anyone here who owns one ever worn out a barrel?
Also, I've heard talk that the higher-pressure 300 win mag wears out chambers faster. Is this wear reduced to being equivalent to 308 wear in loads that match 308 velocities?
How much leeway is there in scaling BACK the power for shorter range work so as to reduce wear on the weapon? Of course, I'm not implying using the same powder measurements as in a 308; but rather light, proven and published 300 WM loads that imitate it ballistically (and requiring more powder).
Any information appreciated.
Thanks,
Battler.