which rifle would you choose?

[tlbradford]

Geez Mark.  I am writing you a hundred dollar check right now.  Please go gambling for me.  I need an AR, or a .17hmr.  I can't decide.  Just win enough for me so I can afford both and you can keep the rest. 

[BlackTail]

My first response was going to be a .300 win mag, but in thinking about it the .300 RUM now has the three power levels of ammunition.  Level 1 is supposed to be the equivalent of a .30-06, level 2 a .300 win mag and level 3 the .300 RUM.  I have no experience with the power level ammo, but those are three pretty sweet calibers to have in one gun!

[Curly]

I won't say that it is impossible to find accurate loads in three "power levels" of ammunition, but I think it would be very unlikely that a certain rifle would shoot accurately in 3 different levels.  My rifles generally seem to shoot the best groups just under max load.

If a guy "needs" an ultra mag why not just get a 338 Ultra instead of the little 300UM ?

[BlackTail]

I won't say that it is impossible to find accurate loads in three "power levels" of ammunition, but I think it would be very unlikely that a certain rifle would shoot accurately in 3 different levels.  My rifles generally seem to shoot the best groups just under max load.

If a guy "needs" an ultra mag why not just get a 338 Ultra instead of the little 300UM ?

I have a 7mm RUM and I've shot the 150 scirrocos (at 3325 fps) up to the 175 grain A frames (at 3025fps) and the 160 gr partitions ( at about 3150 fps) and my gun shoots all of them fantastic.  In looking at Remingtons site the difference between power level 1 and power level 3 is only about 300 fps so I doubt your going to go from a tack driver to not being able to hit the page. 

[300UltraMagShooter]

I am getting sub MOA groups with power level I ammo.

I am using the 300 um instead of the 338 because I wanted a 30 caliber bullet; however, I believe the question was requarding 30 calibers.    

338 ultra is awesome though...

I won't say that it is impossible to find accurate loads in three "power levels" of ammunition, but I think it would be very unlikely that a certain rifle would shoot accurately in 3 different levels.  My rifles generally seem to shoot the best groups just under max load.

If a guy "needs" an ultra mag why not just get a 338 Ultra instead of the little 300UM ?

[Curly]

300UltraMagShooter, yeah the question was about 30 cals.......I just had to add my 2 cents.  I have two 300WM rifles so I am partial to the 300Win; also, I have always thought that if I ever decided that I need more rifle than the 300WM, then I would likely get a 338Ultra.

[hunterofelk]

Try the Vanguard in 300 Weatherby.  I won one and a scope at a RMEF banquet for ten dollars, like M Ray, shoots great!  Worked up a load to take a Muley at 300 yards and ended up shooting one under a hundred.  Kicks like a mule!  Like the gun a lot. 

[M_ray]

Geez Mark.  I am writing you a hundred dollar check right now.  Please go gambling for me.  I need an AR, or a .17hmr.  I can't decide.  Just win enough for me so I can afford both and you can keep the rest. 

  Looks like you'll have to make two checks ... one for me and one for hunterofelk! 

[MountainWalk]

Of the two, I'd take the old Win Mag. But I'd personally take the old 30-06.  The Win mag is only a couple fps faster than the old Springfield. Which means very little to any critter out there. If you ask me, out to 300 yards, there is little difference between the 308,30-06, and any 300 mags. As for the 338 ultra, it may look impressive on paper, but it offers little over the old 338 Win mag. But a couple hundred fps is enough to dazzle most people. Something  like all thats gold doesnt always glitter comes to mind.

[7mag.]

Try and remember, Jack O'conner took more trophy North American big game than most of us will ever dream about, and he did it all with a .270. Bullet placement and hunting skills, not bullet diameter and feet per second, puts meat on the table. Just a thought.

[MountainWalk]

Actually, Jack o Conner, who made the 270 so famous, did more hunting with the 30-06 then most people realize.

[7mag.]

My bad, everything I've heard about him, mentions his favorite .270. Thanks for the correction.

[MountainWalk]

Yeah, he loved his beloved 270, but after reading some of his old letters and ancient mag articles, I found that he also used the 30-06 tons, and also the 7x57 mauser..... As fine as a writer he was, I do not concur with him on lots of gun related things.