All things being considered equal (rifle weight, design and fit) how would you compare the 300RUM/200gr to 338wm/250gr? I have shot only one 300 RUM it was the wrong side for me and as a result fit was less then ideal. I suspect due to improper fit this would have a bad effect on felt recoil but didn'treally enjoy shooting it. I have no problems with the 338wm.

I have been looking for a 338wm LH when I came upon a 300RUM LSS LH NIB at an attractive price but admit I am leary. Plan is buy something to be a deticated moose/elk gun and relegate my current gem - 7mm rem mag to deer sized game (of which I shoot with great pleasure off the bench). Don't really need it but thinking it is time to change the menu just a touch.

FWIW I want/need to be able to shoot my rifle off of bags/bench using my shoulder as the holder of recoil (not interested in a lead sled requirement). I am thinking I should keep looking fro the 338 but I really do like the LSS as well...help

Appreaciate any and all feedback. Thanks

Have 7mm Rem Mag, 300 WinMag, 338 Win Mag, and 375 H&H Mags. The 7mm RM has a lot of muzzle blast as does the 300 WinMag and the 300 WinMag kicks moe than the 338 WinMag. I shoot 180 adn 200gr bullets in the 300 and 225 and 250s in the 338 WinMag. The 375 I shoot basically 270s in and its fine also. Just never have liked the 300...am settling in on the 7 and 338 for all around use. Getting rid of the 300.

300 RUM with 200 kicks harder than 338 WM with 250s. I've done both.

I use small ear plugs, and I got a break on my 300 Ultra. I have never had an issue with muzzlebreaks and/or adding a better recoil pad.

I can shoot 338 with 250s at range all day without any special pad or break. I cannot do that with the 300. Hence the added "cushion" on both ends.

I shoot that 300 RUM every year...one of my favorite calibers.

Don't buy that 300 just because you shoot LH and it is LH and available. Buy it because you really want that CALIBER.

Given the type of shooting/hunting I do, I prefer the ultra over a 338WM.

I also have a 7mag. Yours will kill any elk you shoot, put a stout bullet in the shoulder and down they go.

Thanks guys.

Doc I know the 7mm rm works on elk and moose as I have harvested a number of each animals. Just thought seeing I now hunt elk yearly and moose as often as possible it made sense to look for a dedicated cartridge for this purpose, the 7mm will not be going anywhere and will serve as a back up in this capacity(if and when i finally do buy something).

I hear what your saying about not buying b/c its available but finding anything lh that I like is a real chore! So kind of hard to fight the urge when you finally pick up one you dolike. Though from what you've said I am pretty sure the RUM in its standard config would be more then I want to give or should i say take. BTW always liked the 300RUM, just not sure I need it.

While the 300 Ultra is a great long range round its only a 3006 farther out. The 338 is a bigger bullet. For big animals bigger bullets are better.

I love the 338 WM. To me it is one of the best balanced cartridges available. I have only used 250 gr Nosler Partitions on Elk with either of my 338's. One shot = dead elk - that is that way it has been.
I sold the first 338 to a friend, his teenage daughter uses it on deer, with 200 grain Hornady's. It is her favorite rifle.
My Brother-in-law bought a 300 RUM for elk, he thinks it kicks too much, but he only had a 30-06 up until that 300.

Being a died in the wool 30-06 man, believe me when I tell you that there are better options available for elk and moose, and the 338 Winchester magnum is it. Almost as powerful as the 375 H&H and possessing a trajectory similar to the 30-06 makes the 338 a top choice. The fact that the 250 grain .338" bullet possesses excellent sectional density is only icing on the cake.
The 30-06 and 338 offer something else too, ample power without punishing recoil. Yup, compared to the 30-06 the 338 offers 20% more of a good thing when using 180s and 250s respectively. IMO, this is precisely why these two calibres have been so successful for so long. Stout bullets possessing ample sectional density sent downrange at 2750f/s will always be effective game getters, and that's what these two calibres do best.

I have found that the 300 RUM recoils shooting a 200gr bullet 36.28 Ft Lbs. Shooting a 180 gr bullet 37.51 Ft Lbs.

With the 338 Win recoils shooting a 250 gr bullet 39.79 Ft Lbs