Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

J

jaxfreebird

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Minuteman
Jul 20, 2009
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#1
I recently moved out west and bought a 338 and 300 WM for elk hunting. Like em both After 3seasons but they kick the crap outta me while practicing. I have a suppressor for the 300 and it's legal to hunt with it but it's Cumbersome to say the least. Looking for something a little lighter on the recoil but without giving up too much in terminal ballistics. Also want to have good options for reloading... Id probably never take a shot at an elk over 700-800yds with my 'skills'.

I've been thinking about the 300 wsm. Does it have a significant drop in recoil and reasonable ballistics compared to the 300 WM?

Im open to all suggestions. Thought about 7mm rem mag but killing power at distance seems a good bit better with my 300 and get more bullet choices... Thought about a270 but really would like more in the way of terminal ballistics.
 
#4
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bob L. Swagger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Install a brake on your 300. I have a badger FTE on my 300 (pushing 230 Berger OTM's with 75 gr. of H-1000) and it recoils less than a .308 win. </div></div>

This^. My 300WM hunting rig weighs about 8lbs with a scope. With the brake on, the recoil isn't bad and I've got the utmost confidence in that rig. A light, braked 300WM is an awesome combo.
 
#5
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

300WSM will do fine for big game, kicks pretty light with a muzzle brake (had one installed just last weekend). You can shoot just about any bullet weight out of a 300WSM almost as well as the 300WM, so if you're thinking about the WSM, I say go for it.
 
#8
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

Where the 270 drops off in down range energy, it makes up for in weight and ease of shooting. Low recoil meaning better shooting.

However, now there are .277 bullets out there that make it an excellent long range hunting round, does what it needs to do on elk.
 
#9
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

I had a 338 wm and a 300 wsm. Neither one kicked enough for me to ever want a brake. Your ears and other people's ears around you will thank you for not having a brake.

My first choice would be the 7mm R mag then the 300 wm or wsm. The problem with the 300 wsm is the low case capacity for reloading. Especially if you load longer bullets (Barnes TSX/TTSX). You have powder limitations if you want to avoid compressed loads. I loaded mine with 180gr TTSX and around 64 grs of R-17.
 
#10
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

I was weaned on the .270. My grandfather who was a great marksman used to say you can kill anything in North America with the .270. He is right with some qualifications.

If you insist on taking shots beyond 350 yards on elk, I would say stick with your .300 wm. In my more impoverished and starving youth, I found two occaisions to shoot beyond this distance at elk with my .270. I killed both elk but found my rifle was short of energy for the job. This helped fuel my current interest in the .300 winchester.

As far as the recoil is concerned, it seems to me that if you wish to deliver energy at distance you must deal with recoil. I guess you can either absorb what the rifle has to offer or deal with the sometimes nasty side effects of a muzzle brake.
 
#11
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

If killing large game at distance is your goal, recoil its part of the game, like 300wm said. I would have a brake installed and shoot some heavy bullets out of that 300 Winchester. Mine loves the 200grn Accubond.
 
#12
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PowerstrokeOBX</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How is the wsm going to recoil less when it pushes the same weight bullet within 50fps of the 300win mag???</div></div>

It takes less powder to get it to do that. Case efficiency.

My vote for the best all around cartridge, is the 7mm-08. Plenty of power to kill at any range you can see the target. They may not have the huge selection of bullets that .30 cal does, but the best ones all have better BC, and therefore, better hitting power at long range. You can step up in several increments from this if you want to. .280/.280AI, 7mmRSAUM/WSM, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm STW/7mm Rem Ultra.
 
#13
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 105amatt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If killing large game at distance is your goal, recoil its part of the game, like 300wm said. I would have a brake installed and shoot some heavy bullets out of that 300 Winchester. Mine loves the 200grn Accubond. </div></div>

210 and 190 VLDs out of the 300 SAUM in a SEMI AUTO with a SUPPRESSOR all but eliminates recoil.
I've taken it well outside the limits of normal hunting scenarios (13" plate at a mile), and I have no hesitation using it to take game at distance. I've got some excellent video that's going to be up shortly.
 
#14
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

recoil calculator
http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

Personal, I'd go with something in the 7mm flavor and if you’re "out west" you need a varmint gun. 223 is good for long strings of fire and a 243 would be good for more distance and larger critters including deer. Just don’t shoot high volume with it like you could with the 223.
 
#16
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Armed Citizen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keep the .300WM and have removable brake installed. Magnaport did mine, big difference. </div></div>

+1 on a great idea. Did this to mine and it's like shooting a .270 even when shooting 180's in the .300WM. Good luck.

Regards, Paul
 
#17
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

Thanks for all of the suggestions and input. Should have mentioned my range doesn't allow brakes. I know I know find a new range but I got the suppresor so I wouldn't need a brake. Also I seem get to flinching way more from loud report than I do from recoil.

Sounds like maybe the wsm isn't THAT much less recoil. Maybe changing caliber isnt the answer. Maybe i need to find a way to make it easier to hunt with a suppressor. Any suggestions? What about using a shorter barrel to make a suppressor less unwieldy? Anyone hunting with a suppressor?
 
#19
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

If you're looking for lighter weight and less recoil, and if the brake isn't an option, about all that's left is going to a sporter-weight, standard caliber rifle. .30-06/.270/.308. the standard caliber rifles work great, but like all the guys are saying on here, the way to get more energy at longer range is to have more noise and recoil.

I've been through all of this and decided that for me, a rifle that's comfortable to carry and shoot is what i'm gonna take hunting. if I have to get a little closer to the game before I shoot, so be it. YMMV
 
#20
Re: Ideal Big Game Hunting caliber?

Best selection if you want a little less recoil, and still being able to hunt big game at distance would be a 7 RM/WSM/RSaum in my opinion, good high bc bullet selection., enough power to kill big game at distance.
A 300 will carry a bit more energy though.

You don't really mention much about how you're hunting, and weight of you're rifle has a lot to do with felt recoil.
A 8 lbs rifle in 300 win mag might not be very pleasant to shoot many shots with.
You can add weight to you're rifle if you're comfortable with carrying it then, a heavier profile barrel is one solution.
You don't mention the length of you're barrel, i'd stick with a 24 barrel for these cartidges, if using a suppressor.
A well fitting, good stock design, with a good recoil pad like a decelerator surely helps felt recoil and recoil management.
Mercury recoil reducers has some effect.
Can try a recoil shield, for range sessions too.

You're suppressor would probably be the best way to help with felt recoil, and surely helps against the sound too, if that's worse for you.
If you hunt allot in woods i can understand you're concern about length. But since you mention long range shots i assume the terrain is open enough for them, and then i don't see a suppressor being very cumbersome.
Could go with a 22 barrel for a suppressor in a 300 i guess, but you sacrifice a bit of speed.
 
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