30 nosler vs 300 wby vs 300 rum

[Ryan Avery]

I have had mixed results like you are reporting on whitetails with the 210 gr hunting VLDs out of a 300 RUM. I don’t like hearing this because OTMs were all I could find while I was waiting for my rifle to get back from the gunsmith. Unfortunately, I think I have read where Mike at Hells Canyon Armory has said pretty much the same thing. I was comparing the void depth between the 230 gr OTM and the 215 gr HT tonight. It was much deeper with 215s. However, the diameter of actual hole was much smaller with the 215s.

If I can’t find some 230 gr HTs, I might have to go with the Best of the West high shoulder shot.

As an aside, I went with the 230s over the 215s because the odds of me having a less than 300 yard shot are greater than me having a shot over 600 yards.

The 230 HT is the perfect bullet for the RUM IME. We also shot a few elk with the 225 ELD-M with the RUM under 200 yards and it was VERY deadly.

 

[BAKPAKR]

The 230 HT is the perfect bullet for the RUM IME. We also shot a few elk with the 225 ELD-M with the RUM under 200 yards and it was VERY deadly.

I do have a box of 225 ELD-Ms to try and some 199 gr Hammer Hunters.

 

[gbflyer]

My wife shot a bull elk at 1165 yards with a 300 win mag. It left a baseball-sized exit hole. It's got plenty of horsepower.

Holy shit brother. You’re punching way above your weight class there.

Get a .300’WM

 

[Indian Summer]

Define long range. If your goal is 1000 yards then I would suggest considering something other than factory ammunition. Here’s a link to a custom ammunition manufacturer in Montana.

Home

Choice Ammunition is an American manufacturer of ammunition cartridges, components and handloading equipment, based in Victor, Montana.

choiceammunition.com

By purchasing ammunition through someone like that you’re free to choose whatever caliber you want. A couple things to consider for comparison. A 300 ultra mag has 17% more case capacity than a 300 Weatherby and 27% more than a 300 Win Mag. A substantial difference!

One thing to think about when choosing a caliber and a bullet is trajectory. When a bullet gets way down range it’s dropping a lot faster. When a bullet is dropping at a steeper angle range estimation becomes much more critical. Therefore a flatter shooting gun is more forgiving at longer distances. And a heavier bullet retains energy longer and therefore shoots flatter at extreme ranges. For that reason my choice, and the choice of many long range shooters is the 300 Remington ultra mag. My bullet of choice is a 200 grain Nosler Accubond.

It’s a 1000 yard cartridge all day long. It’s not about that one 975 yard shot my grandpa made with his model 70 way back when. It’s about a gun that’s truly capable of making long shots consistently as well as one that still has the energy to drop an elk in it’s tracks when it gets there. Any of these guns will have some recoil so consider a muzzle brake and you’ll be fine. Remember to top your gun off with a quality scope with adjustable turrets.

 

[BucksNDucks]

300 RUM here but I do hand load, 210 Berger Retumbo / N570
I did use factory Nosler 200 AB and had outstanding results!!

 

[AaronMColeman]

300 RUM and 300 WBY are too much for most shooters. Some guys love them, but in general the people I know with those two rounds would be better served with something less powerful.

300 WM if you don't reload. So many choices and still an amazing round for killing elk.

300 PRC if you do reload. No huge advantage over the WM but I'd give it a shot since I reload, but I just don't see a major advantage for the PRC unless you are reloading.

ANSWER: 300 WM

 

[Indian Summer]

“Too much” refers to recoil. This can be a very true statement. But like I said a good muzzle brake does wonders. I was amazed when I first tried one. I’d been shooting my .300 RUM without one before that.

The weight of your gun makes a difference too. But gun weight is a consideration depending on how you hunt. If you’re mobile you’ll want a carry gun. But a big number of long range hunter’s are only mobile when getting to their glassing spots. Then we sit.

If I were to buy a factory long range gun right now it’d be a .300 RUM in a Remington Sendero. A bit heavy for a carry gun but great for long bombs and less recoil due to the weight. Comes with a heavy barrel also great for stability and long range shooting. Barrel is also fluted to keep weight down. Put a brake on that and you’ll be happy.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928248136

 

[Ryan Avery]

Holy shit brother. You’re punching way above your weight class there.

Get a .300’WM

Life's too short to marry an ugly woman or own an inaccurate rifle.


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[QuackAttack]

230 Targets work great on elk.

230 OTMs have not been great. One will work great the next would ice pick right through. I changed lots but still had bullet schizophrenia with the OTMs.


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This is a fairly universal problem with target bullets. DOD saw this with the 77 gr Sierra Matchkings in MK 262. Sometimes, they went off like a grenade...sometimes, the tip would bend shut and they would totally fail to expand.

It's a big part of why target bullets are often a poor choice for a hunting load. Yes, they can be precise...but their terminal performance is all over the map. That's not even addressing the risk of taking a quartering away shot or having to punch through bone.

I love the precision of match bullets...but I am very cautious about using them on game.

YMMV

 

[SteveCNJ]

My wife shot a bull elk at 1165 yards with a 300 win mag. It left a baseball-sized exit hole. It's got plenty of horsepower.

Congrats! I'm not a bad shot but doubt I'd hit anything that far away without a few thousand rounds of practice.

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[Elkhntr08]

Maybe I missed it, but I don’t see where the OP defined “long range”.
I know this’ll stir up a hornets nest, but I’d say the 257 Weatherby would be a long range round. May not have the “knock down” of a 300 whatever, but it leaves a nasty hole in critters.
Antelope at 428 yards with a 100 TSX @ 3600.

 

[jimh406]

Shop for the ammo and rifle together. I think you'll find the 300 Win Mag is going to be hard to beat.

I agree that 300 Win Mag is most available at a cheaper price, but I've also had no issue finding 300 WBY and 30 Nosler. 300 RUM of any kind and 300 PRC with more traditional hunting bullets are both hard to find.

That being said, I have a 300 WBY. Most people say it kicks a lot more than a 300 Win Mag because most people use it with hot loads. Just a little more velocity gives a lot more kick. YMMV.

 

[elkguide]

I am a .30 caliber "O'haulic!" There, I've said it.

I have "at least, (not exactly sure since a few won't fit in my safe and are in my son's safe) a dozen .30 caliber rifles and have taken elk with the .300 WSM, the .300 Win Mag and the .300 RUM. I am not recoil sensitive and only have brakes on the RUMs. That should be a consideration too.

So glad that I don't have to choose but if I had to, it would definitely be the .300 Win Mag.