Ok people, I want to build a new rifle . Im looking for all north american big game except maybe the big browns. I want down range power and a flat shooter (as posible) Ive looked at 300wm to 416 rig. Im thinking about the 30/378 or the 338/378. The 30s have much better BC. What do ya think , Im open for all ideas?

Hey bro, you wont be disapointed with the 30/378. It's a long flat hard hitter!!

338 RUM......

IV

A .300 Ultra will do it all !! Shoots almost as flat as a .30-.378 and takes a bit less powder. If building one, use at least a 26" barrel.

The 338-378 weatherby with a 30" barrel is about as good as it gets besides the 408 and 50bmg.I have two 338-378s in Weatherby Accumarks.They have shot .25 " groups at 100 yards and under 1" at 300.The 30-378s burn the barrels out quickly.I shoot only 250 gr or bigger in my 338-378.Look at the Serria 300 gr match king with the .85 bc.Its used by aloy of long range shooters.I will take the 338 bore over the .308 for long range shooting any day.

I'd go for the sneaky approach and get a lil closer.

the chef

What have you hunted with so far and in what way has it let you down?

The 30/378 will serve you just fine.

If I was building a 300+ rifle I would go heavy bbl., finish, scoped wt. about 11#. Either .300 or .338RUM. The only problem is you are limited to RP brass but it's cheap enough you can buy bulk & sort to get 200 good cases.

With a 30" barrel in a 338-378 you can easily get 3300fps or 3400 fps with a 250 gr bullet.If you want to know alot more about long range shooting go longrangehunting.com

7 mag and you can shoot it all day without getting beat up.

For 300 yards buy anything from the 308 to the 270 or 30.06, up through any magnum cartridge. You're only talking about a couple of inches differences in trajectory.

I have an Accurmark 30-378 and just recently sold one in 338-378. They are very accurate guns, in my experience, right out of the box.

I use them exclusively for long range deer hunting where ranges can be over 400 yds. Either one will work well for that task and they bring enough freight to handle larger game, such as Elk...with the right bullet weight and construction, there are only a few animals I would not consider them adequate for... and those few inhabit Africa.

I use the Swarovski PH 4-16 50mm w/TDS for my application...with the right "sight in" it works well at very long ranges...no holder over, no turret adjustment....these guns/chamberings shine @ ranges beyond 350+yds but the shooter must know how use that capability...

I'm of the same belief as Fjold, buy any decent big game chambering and you'll be fine for 300 yards. If you feel you need a magnum the 300 Win mag class is fine. 300 yards is not very far and a decent bullet will function fine.

12.9x50.8jdj... excuse me, did you ask a question? I was somewhat distracted by your avitar and I think I missed it. (-;

Someone give me a spoon to gouge my eyes out!

friar

Well, I am not an expert on long range shooting and hunting, but I doubt that any rifle out there can provide a greater punch that a .50BMG and such. The only ones that come close are the .338 Lapua, and a .416 wildcat I have seen advertised to compete with the .50BMG.

So, if I was trying to decide what cartridge to use on game at long range, I would analyze the reasons why those cartridges I mentioned above are used. At least for me, the .338-caliber bullets would be the way to go. Now, the problem with the .338 Lapua would be the expensive brass, and the weight of such a rifle. But lighter versions of the .338 Lapua exist.

If a .338 Lapua can't be considered because of the added cost, my next obvious pick would be a .338RUM with a 26" barrel.

Since big bear is not the target, can't imagine needing more than what the 300 Win Mag or 300 Weatherby would offer at ranges of 300 plus yards???? Just how far the "plus" is over 300 yards, don't know, but if occasions to shoot at moose, elk, sheep, goat, etc. at say, 400 yards or more is frequent, then I would go for the more potent rounds. If one could handle it, and few can in reality, that 416 Rem. is quite a slammer out there at such distances. Long range hunting shots require lots of practice and skill from the shooter to bring about humane kills. Personally I would go for the 375 HH and w/ right loads/bullet, lot of fine long range shooting can be accomplished if it is needed. Just a suggestion

Driver makes an excellent point.
Practice trumps fire power in almost all cases. Its an inverted situation. If you practice enough to stay handy with a boomer, then you can do what needs to be done with a much lesser cartridge.
If you practice often --from field positions-- and learn woods skills and range estimation, then you wouldn't need the cannons that are being suggested.
If you want a little extra insurance over a garden variety 30-06, get yourself a .300WM. BTW, forget the magic bullets too. A NP or Grand Slam will do anything you need done.

338 Kahn

Apparently you use a gun bearer to pack this 30 inch barreled 18 pound cannon?

bwest:

Now, Now! Be polite. He did say that he wanted a rifle for everything but "big browns". ( I assume he means Alaska brown bears. Given the dispute between US Fish & Wild Life and the state of Alaska, I'm wondering what he wants to use on a "grizzly") You are from a real hunting part of Canada. Please believe that not all Americans think this way.

I own 3 .300 RUMs, a 7 STW, a couple of 7mm RM, and a .338 Win.

If I was buying only one rifle, I would buy a .300 Win Mag. The secret to shooting at long range is knowing how to dope wind. Problem with big fast 30s is that you can't shoot them a lot without buring up the barrel. So if I only had one, I would take a .300 Win. If I had two rifle, I would buy a .308 Win and a .300 RUM. Practice mostly with the .308.

Ok men,
thanks for all of your ideas. Just wanted to clear a few things up I never said anything about a 30in barreled 18lb gun
So relax. I now a 30/06 will work, Im not an idiot. Lets face it none of use need all the guns or power we have , its just part of the sickness Im not a huge believer in long range hunting. However if you have the best gun for the worst condition and practice until you are confident, thats the best you can do. Ive shot custom xp-100 and TC for the past 18 years. Ive shot them at 300 yard quite well, but would never try a shot with a handgun that far on an animal. If I dont feel I can cleanly kill with one shot, I dont take it. But I am a big believer in never being under gunned. I believe I will be building a 300 or 338 RUM with a 26 in barel 7.5 to 8 lbs. Not too bad.
Thanks for all you help , I love this site.

300 win mag 338 Rum are some of the best choices for this type of work.

Good Luck

Hmm, If I were going to start taking pot shots at Elk and inland Grizz @ 400 yds then I would probably go for an 8X68s..

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
Hmm, If I were going to start taking pot shots at Elk and inland Grizz @ 400 yds then I would probably go for an 8X68s..

who said anything about taking pot shots???

quote:

who said anything about taking pot shots???

What would YOU call it? You really wouldn't call it "hunting" would you?

Brent

I suprised no one has mentioned the .300 Wby. or .340 Wby.. While the large superultraduper magnums are fine cartridges in their own right thay lack one thing I consider absolutely necessary to a hunting rifle. That is a degree of practicality. The .30 and .338-.378 and their derivatives require larger actions and longer barrels than I want to carry about in elk country. Ammo is harder or impossible to find in the places I'm interested in hunting as well. I can get max performance with a 26" barrel with the .300 & .340 Wby.. And my rifle will be trimmer and lighter as well.

There's no flies on the .300 & .338 win. either.