[BattleRifleG3]

I am looking into a Savage rifle in this caliber, and wonder what experience people have with it. I'm talking rifle selection, adequate scopes, all aspects of reloading including bullet and powder choices, the whole deal. Specifically, would 4320 or 4895 powder work, or would we need to get yet another powder stash? And which dies out there would work with an RCBS system?

And before I shell out, are there ANY advantages to the 300 Weatherby Magnum?
My main choice is Savage 116 or 110 in 300 RUM vs Weatherby Vanguard in 300 Wby.

 

[squirrelsniper]

I bought one of the first Remingtons available in 300 RUM and I'm happy with it, but if I had to go buy another rifle chambered in 300 RUM, I'd get the Savage 116BSS. I'm thinking about buying one of the Savages in 300 RUM anyway, they just weren't available until long after I had bought my Remington. If the 300 RUM is like my experiences with other calibers, the Savage should be a bit more accurate than the Remington. By handloading though, I have gotten my Remington groups down to 1.25" for 3 shots at 100yds, but I was hoping to do a bit better. Anyway, if I were you, I would get the Savage in whatever model you like best. If you are recoil sensitive, you might want to consider one with a muzzle break or getting an aftermarket break installed. The recoil isn't very bad in my opinion, but I'm not too sensitive to recoil. If you can handle 12ga 3.5" loads in a pump shotgun, then you will have no problem at all with the 300 RUM.

As for optics, get a good scope such as Leupold or Burris. Even their cheaper models stand up to recoil better than most companies' top of the line scopes. I tried two cheap scopes on mine while breaking in the barrel and starting load development and both were trashed in no time. A Simmons Pro-Hunter 4-12x40mm AO lasted 2 shots before it blew a seal and lost all nitrogen. A Tasco Mag IV in 4-16x40mm AO lasted about 40 shots until the elevation adjuster went crazy and it would back out a few clicks (or what were clicks, now non-existent) every shot. I have used scopes like these with success on rifles in the 30-06 range, but the 300 RUM is just too much for them.

For loading the 300 RUM, you will need powders that are very slow burning such as H1000, R25, and AA 8700. I currently use H1000, you can check out Hodgdon Powder for loading recommendations. For bullets that will be used on game larger than whitetail, you will need something tough, such as Nosler Partitions or Swift A-Frames. For whitetail, I have had good luck with Sierra 180gr GameKing BTSP's and Nosler Partitions, although the Partitions are a bit overkill and aren't really necesssary. You will definitely want to use a magnum primer with this cartridge. My die setup consists of a standard full-length RCBS die set used in my RCBS Rock Chucker press. As another note, as with any of the big magnum cartridges, keep an eye on case length and case life.

As for advantages of the 300 Weatherby over the 300 RUM, the only ones that I can think of is that there are more brands of brass are available, easier to find load data, and rifles chambered for it are easier to find. If I'm picking, I'll take the 300 RUM every time. Hope this helps.

 

[BattleRifleG3]

Actually, AFFORDABLE rifles in 300 Wby are not that easy to find. All I know of is the Weatherby Vanguard, which is a WAl Mart special made in Japan. The Mark Vs and such are too pricey for me. I saw ONE stainless synthetic Wby at a gun show, and I LOVED the feel of the stock, but never saw it again. Also, I hear 300 Wby is less accurate than 300 RUM. Barrel length was I think 24", compared to 26" for RUM. I'm picky about that stuff, I like long barrels.
As far as recoil sensitivity, my shoulder can take it... I just have to keep my head away from the scope. For that reason the Savage Hunter with blued barrel and wood stock with sites looks pretty good. When I have a better idea of how it handles, and maybe perhaps modify it, I'll get a scope, and have the options of both siting methods.

 

[FALPhil]

BattleRifleG3,

IMO, the best reason for the RUM over the Weatherby is that the RUM is not a belted cartridge. I have had the devil of a time getting decent accuracy out of belted cartridges. I have had the best luck with the 7mm Rem Mag, but it took three times as much work as any other cartridge I have ever worked with (and this was on a rifle with the B.O.S.S. system!).

I'm getting ready to try the 338 ultra mag. I have a ZKK602 action that is dying for a new barrel, and I thought I'd give it a try. My hope is that it will turn out as accurate as some of the 338 Lapua sniper rifles.

 

[BattleRifleG3]

Sweeet idea for 338 Ultra. Hope it works out. And 300 RUM it will be for me, as soon as the ships come in.

 

[sadiehn]

Well this aint gonna be perrty but here we go I would not own a 300 RUM or the 30-378 wby why do I take such a hard line for one the barrel life is going to be short real short probly around 1000 shots because they are way over bore. second the accuracy is going to be substanerd do to the case volume and bore size and throat erosion.Third you will need a muzzel break kind of hard to shoot hunting shots with earplugs in.fourth loading for a cannon gets way to expensive.five with the accuracy gone now you have no advantage in range if you cant hit what you are shooting at.

In short the best 300 mag is the 300 win mag and I dont own anything bigger than an -06

 

[BattleRifleG3]

I've heard that opinion and respect it... I've heard different ones though. Anyone else agree or disagree? Any personal experience one way or the other?

 

[mjm90675]

i shot my friends 300 RUM and put three shots in a clover leaf group at 100 yards the recoil was no worse than the 338 win mag that I have. As for barrel life i don't know but he has shot his a lot and hasn't had any problems.

 

[BattleRifleG3]

Later that year I got myself a Savage 111G in 300 RUM. My biggest problem is feeding. Recoil is bearable, accuracy is so far so good, meaning I need to get more proficient with it before I can really rate it.

 

[lucasb67]

i'm italian, i have a sendero 300 rum with a nightforce 5,5-22x56 and at 300 meters i shoot five lapua scenar 185 moly bullets in 50 mm with 92 grains of hogdon 1000 or sierra mk 220 in 70 mm with 87 grains of vithavoury n165

 

[ArkansasHunter]

BRG3 In front of me is a 07-2007 copy of Field and Stream. Field and Stream had a feature story by David E. Petzal.
The story is called The Last Cartridge Guide You'll Ever Need.
It has a section for each of the following. Varmints, Varmints and Big Game,
Big Game: The Light Kickers, Big Game: The All Around Rounds, Big game At long Range, Heavy or Dangerous North American Game, Handguns, Africa: Light rifles, Medium rifles, Heavy rifles...

You mentioned the .300 Weatherby Magnum This cartridge fell in the Big Game at long range catagorie. And was 1st choice by Petzal.

He said : Let me be the first to acknowledge the various huge .30's made by Remington, Lazzeroni and Dakota, all of which will do everything this one will do, but the fact is that the Weatherby got here first, and it has a track record on game equaled by few other cartridges. If you would like to kill something, particularly a big something, that is far, far away, here is your choosen means.
Weatherby loads the .300 with bullets ranging in weights from 150 grains ( at 3500 fps) to 220 (at 2850) However, there are only two weight's you should consider :
the 180 grain at 3150, and the 200 at 3000 or just a little bit under.
The heavier slugs carry just as well as light ones, fight the wind better, and do not result in a lot of ruined meat.
Recoil and muzzle blast are for experienced shooters ( only take that to heart ).
Petzel's faviorite load for the .300 Weatherby Magnum is Weatherby 180- or 200-grain Nosler partition.
I hope this helped some...A.H

 

[HEMI]

Accuracy depends on the gun more than the caliber.
I have a 300 weatherby mark V that will group 200gr x bullets 3/4" and speer 180s at a 1/2" if I do my part.
The 300 ultra is a good caliber,does it offer anything new?. No. Is it more accurate? NO.
But neither do the short mags.
And they have feeding issues, which I think are easily fixed.
If you like them go ahead, they'll get the job done.

 

[thebigitch62]

.300 Rum

I've been lurking around this site for some time I finally decided to join. I just started deer hunting 3 years ago. The first years I borrowed a 25-06. My brother got me onto a nice 3 pt. muley 1 hour into the first day. My wife gave me a.300 RUM sendero for Christmas after that. It may be heavy, but does it anchor them. In 2 years I got 2 more muleys and an Elk. I see alot of folks on this and other site say "That's just to much gun". You should what I shoot. Well I shoot a Remington .300 RUM.

 

[lefty o]

aint no such thing as too much gun!

 

[samuel]

Love that .300RUM!!! 1 1/2" groups,very large bullet and powder selection,great trajectory,big enough for anything in North America even at extended range and would do it for most african game.And at long range out performs the .338,s. sam.

 

[BattleRifleG3]

I like the predictability of the 300 RUM trajectory combined with the versatility of the 308 bullets. The fact that my 300RUM happens to be my most accurate setup helps, even though that's due to many factors including my own preferences.

 

[Midas]

The .300 RUM seems like a neat cartridge for the long range hunting of elk and moose, but it isn't a .338 or .375, if I need more gun then a 30-06 or .300 Win mag can provide, I will opt for a larger bore diameter, its the bullet that kills the animal, not the amount of powder it burns, or the size of the case. I know that a lot of folks like the RUM, and thats fine, as it really isn't a bad cartridge, but it isn't superior to a .338 or .375 on the larger species of NA game, and African game.

 

[samuel]

The .300 RUM seems like a neat cartridge for the long range hunting of elk and moose, but it isn't a .338 or .375, if I need more gun then a 30-06 or .300 Win mag can provide, I will opt for a larger bore diameter, its the bullet that kills the animal, not the amount of powder it burns, or the size of the case. I know that a lot of folks like the RUM, and thats fine, as it really isn't a bad cartridge, but it isn't superior to a .338 or .375 on the larger species of NA game, and African game.

I stated at long range the .300RUM would outperform the .338.-A 180gr Nosler partition maintains 2454fps and 2407ft-lbs and sighted in at +2.4" at 100yds is -12.7 at 400yds.A .338RUM at 400yds using a 250gr Swift A-frame has 2057fps-2347ft-lbs and sighted in at +1.7" at 100yds is -22.1" at 400yds.That seems superior to me both in trajectory and power. sam.

 

[Lng Rng]

Yes an No Samuel. Paper ballistics don't kill too many animals. Can you really kill more with a 7MM STW over a 7MM Rem Mag? Shoot flatter, yes, but probably not kill any larger of an animal.

 

[Midas]

I stated at long range the .300RUM would outperform the .338.-A 180gr Nosler partition maintains 2454fps and 2407ft-lbs and sighted in at +2.4" at 100yds is -12.7 at 400yds.A .338RUM at 400yds using a 250gr Swift A-frame has 2057fps-2347ft-lbs and sighted in at +1.7" at 100yds is -22.1" at 400yds.That seems superior to me both in trajectory and power. sam.

Well, if paper ballstics are indicative of a cartridge's effectiveness, then we should do away with the .375 H&H, and .416 Rigby, because they have been outdone in the energy dept. by many cartridges since their introduction. I have seen many deer killed, and their is absolutely no difference in killing power between a .30 cal with 3000 ft lbs, and a 30 cal with 4000 ft lbs. Paper ballistics are just that......paper ballistics, they bare very little merit in a hunting scenario, they are good for argueing on hunting forums though