I am wanting a Hunting rifle. My most powerful now is a 30-06. I have been looking at a 300 ultra mag or a .338. I am wanting something that packs a punch at 400+ yards. Looking to spend around $1500 with glass. The issue fir me would be cost of ammo. Please help me decide. thanks.
Want new rifle..need help
- Thread starter Nkesler84
- Start date
headhuntermax
Inactive
i have hit bulls eye with custom handload bullets with a 308 bull barrel. at 600 yards
Cost of ammo is considerable in these larger calibers if you're gonna do much target shooting. But just in terms of sighting in and hunting, you obviously won't consume very much.
My dad loves his 300 WSM. Packs lots of wallup, even way out in the distance. Factory ammo is about $35-50 per box of 20 and is readily available at most LGS or big box stores like Academy, Gander Mountain, and Bass Pro. He has a Weatherby Vanguard, which is an awesome rifle at a nominal price. That would leave you plenty left over for ammo and glass.
I like the 300 Win Mag, too. And the 7mm mag.
I think it's not really which caliber you choose (because all that have been mentioned should be fine for your purpose) but rather how much you want to spend on the make/model of the rifle...which will determine how much is left for accessories, ammo, and glass.
My dad loves his 300 WSM. Packs lots of wallup, even way out in the distance. Factory ammo is about $35-50 per box of 20 and is readily available at most LGS or big box stores like Academy, Gander Mountain, and Bass Pro. He has a Weatherby Vanguard, which is an awesome rifle at a nominal price. That would leave you plenty left over for ammo and glass.
I like the 300 Win Mag, too. And the 7mm mag.
I think it's not really which caliber you choose (because all that have been mentioned should be fine for your purpose) but rather how much you want to spend on the make/model of the rifle...which will determine how much is left for accessories, ammo, and glass.
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What is your .30-06 set up? The 06 still packs quite a bit of power at 400 yards. I'd probably just upgrade my current rifle and buy reloading equipment or goodness ammunition to practice with before I stepped into an UM. Especially if I was worried about the price of ammo.
I have hit a bullseye at 600 yards with 60 year old surplus ammo in a 69 year old rifle. Frankly, BFD. Shooting 600 yards on a flat surveyed range is not that difficult.
Elk are rarely at exactly 600 yards, and the bullet drops over a foot per 50 yards at that range. When you get the range wrong, and you will, you will miss or have a cripple. When you get the wind call wrong, and you will, you will miss or have a cripple.
Generally speaking, if you think taking such a shot is a good idea, you probably have no business even trying it.
If ammo cost is going to be an issue for you, I strongly suggest you scratch the idea of the .338 if your talking about the Lapua Mag. They are around $100 for a box of 20. I think the .300 Win Mag is a great cartridge for 400 yards hunting larger game. You can find 20 rounds for about $35 for the good stuff. I have a Rem 700 in 300WM and it is a great rifle. You can usualy find one for around $500.
sc928porsche
New member
+1^ I agree if you are concerned with cost. Recoil will be another consideration. 300RUM and 338 are into the heavy recoil range. 300WM is at the high end of medium recoil. In fact, that is what most people dislike about the 300WM.
BusGunner007
New member
My suggestion will probably be contrary to what you think you are looking for.
I believe you already have the punch-packing 400-yard rifle you seek...
A wise Man once told me I could hunt anything in North America with a .308 & a .45-70.
I took my tax return and bought a Remington 700 POLICE in .308 & a Marlin 1895 22" bbl. Rifle in .45-70...
YOU have a .30-06 already!
MAYBE you could do well with a nice .45-70 for the Elk & Mule Deer Rifle.
Just a thought.
This internet forum stuff can lead us to take different paths sometimes.
Good Luck with whatever you choose!
I believe you already have the punch-packing 400-yard rifle you seek...
A wise Man once told me I could hunt anything in North America with a .308 & a .45-70.
I took my tax return and bought a Remington 700 POLICE in .308 & a Marlin 1895 22" bbl. Rifle in .45-70...
YOU have a .30-06 already!
MAYBE you could do well with a nice .45-70 for the Elk & Mule Deer Rifle.
Just a thought.
This internet forum stuff can lead us to take different paths sometimes.
Good Luck with whatever you choose!
If you really just want a new rifle, then go get yourself a new rifle.
Don't try to justify it in your mind with some mythical shot on game.
Living in Wyoming, I get to see quite a few elk. I even get to see moose. There's actually few elk shots I've seen on big bulls that are out at 400 yards. Come hunting season, the elk go into some nasty thick timber in Wyoming, confounding most all the guys who are all set up to snipe on elk. I've actually taken long shots on game. I was disgusted with the results. I want my animals "dead right there," as in they never take another step. At 200 yards, I can do this with a .270 or my .338 WM. At 400 yards in actual western wind, neither rifle will guarantee a "dead right there" shot.
As for moose: You'd better think long and hard about what happens after you pull the trigger on those, regardless of what rifle you're packing. You'd better be thinking "How the (*&(*& am I going to get him out of there?!" long, long, long before you drop the hammer on him.
As other folks have said: The .30-06 is plenty powerful enough for elk. With a 200+ grain bullet, it's probably enough for moose. Use some heavier, premium hunting bullets in loads you develop for yourself and you will have a dandy 400+ yard elk rifle. There's nothing you cannot take in the lower 48 states with an '06 if you know how to shoot well.
Now, if you just have a jones to spend $1500 on a new rifle, then let's talk about what floats your boat and we'll help you spend it. ;-)
Oh, and the .338 Lapua Mag? Pffffft. Don't go there. Seriously. If your budget is only $1500, don't even think of going there. If you really, really want to go play with a .338LM, you'd better be at least doubling your budget.
Don't try to justify it in your mind with some mythical shot on game.
Living in Wyoming, I get to see quite a few elk. I even get to see moose. There's actually few elk shots I've seen on big bulls that are out at 400 yards. Come hunting season, the elk go into some nasty thick timber in Wyoming, confounding most all the guys who are all set up to snipe on elk. I've actually taken long shots on game. I was disgusted with the results. I want my animals "dead right there," as in they never take another step. At 200 yards, I can do this with a .270 or my .338 WM. At 400 yards in actual western wind, neither rifle will guarantee a "dead right there" shot.
As for moose: You'd better think long and hard about what happens after you pull the trigger on those, regardless of what rifle you're packing. You'd better be thinking "How the (*&(*& am I going to get him out of there?!" long, long, long before you drop the hammer on him.
As other folks have said: The .30-06 is plenty powerful enough for elk. With a 200+ grain bullet, it's probably enough for moose. Use some heavier, premium hunting bullets in loads you develop for yourself and you will have a dandy 400+ yard elk rifle. There's nothing you cannot take in the lower 48 states with an '06 if you know how to shoot well.
Now, if you just have a jones to spend $1500 on a new rifle, then let's talk about what floats your boat and we'll help you spend it. ;-)
Oh, and the .338 Lapua Mag? Pffffft. Don't go there. Seriously. If your budget is only $1500, don't even think of going there. If you really, really want to go play with a .338LM, you'd better be at least doubling your budget.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
I'll go along with Wyop on this.
The '06 is plenty good beyond 400. The deal is to learn the trajectory of the load you'd use. That's needed for any other cartridge, no matter how much more Oomph it might have. Even an earsplittenloudenboomer has a curved trajectory to be learned.
The '06 is plenty good beyond 400. The deal is to learn the trajectory of the load you'd use. That's needed for any other cartridge, no matter how much more Oomph it might have. Even an earsplittenloudenboomer has a curved trajectory to be learned.
customaquatics
New member
if he wants the .338 let him get it the Savage M-110 is about $2.1k here but it did set the record for the longest conformed kill durin the war which was around 2,750 yards i believe.
the Savage M-110 is about $2.1k here but it did set the record for the longest conformed kill durin the war which was around 2,750 yards i believe.I've seen more good bulls on the edge of timber above or below timberline than have in the timber here in Co and some drainage 400yds be a short shot across.
I've shot one bull with the 300RUM and couple with the 338mag and I still have the 338mag along with couple 30-338mag that I'll use for bulls on public land.
I've shot one bull with the 300RUM and couple with the 338mag and I still have the 338mag along with couple 30-338mag that I'll use for bulls on public land.