Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Long range calibre?

What is preferred for Long range (500 -700 yards) , when "tough" animals are involved?

- 338 Win mag?
- 340 Weatherby

or will the lowly 300 WSM with 180's get it done?

The 300 WSM will do it, the 300 RUM is my choice. If is was to go bigger I would try the 338 Lapua. I have been eyeing a Armalite AR-30 in 338 Lapua.

if tough animals are involved than i will vote for the .340 wthby and the 250 n.p. hits like a sledge and shoots as flat as a .30-06.

the .338 lapua is a fine long range cailber and is in use by the u.k. for snipers. several other countries use it to great effect as well. i beleive it is effective beyond 2,000 yds.

but, have you ever met or even heard of someone using a .338 lapua to hunt with? i have not. good luck finding ammo at your destination.

.340 wthby...

300 ULTRA

If the tough you are talking about is elk, then anything from the 7mm Mag to the 338-408 Chey-Tac has been used. For production rifle calibers, the 7mm STW, 7mm & 300 Ultras, 30-378 & 338-378 Weatherby are the big boomers with the other 7mm and 30 cal mags being good too.

Lets not forget the 300 Win.It's been doing the long range thing for 45 years now with great results.

CZ

I'd even wonder about finding 340 wtby at most destinations. IF thats an issue, 300 win mag or in AK, 338 Win mag.

My choice, a 338 caliber, at least the 338 Win mag, probably will be a 338 off the 300 RUM case though. 338 RUM I"ve shot a fair amount so far and is no slouch. Either accuracy, or recoil.

JEff

I wouldn't let the lost ammo concern dissuade me from an exotic caliber. If the performance window really is 500-700 yards, I don't think you are going to be able to buy replacement ammo of any caliber and be back up to speed. Point of aim and trajectory would all be different; you would be starting from scratch. Even factory loads of different lots should be presumed different until proven otherwise.

Ethical LR shooting requires a precision system, with the ammo being a critical component. You have got to have knowledge of and experience with that load. No way can you go down to Ace Hardware and replace those.

Utah

Totally agree. Guess I didnt' come across with that point. Replacement is hard to find unless you are actually shooting factory, it will make a big difference.

I was more taken with the reply about no 338 Lapua, but 340 wtby vs finding ammo.....

I personally tend to ship a box or two of ammo ahead of time, AND take a few along with. Just like my clothing normally. I ship one complete set, and take a second with. Then I'm not without regardless, but maybe no backup.

Hard to do anything about the gun though unless I ship it too....

Jeff

Depending on how tough you are talking, but the .378 Wby carries a punch a long way out.

Sako

Totally agree there. Unfortunately that is one round I cannot handle at all. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. Without a brake I'd rather shoot a 460 all day long.

Jeff

A 225-275 grain .338 bullet tucked away in any 2.8+ inch case. Serious long range stuff.

+1 for the 300 RUM

What Utah said about a total rifle system. Well said.

Sako you must have been checking the ballistic tables,something a lot of guys don't do enough of. They heard someone say this or read some article but if you really want to find out something for yourself look at the ballistic tables. See what is hitting hardest at 500 yards with a 270 grain slug. You know but few others do. Good to meet someone that does his homework before they spout off.

I agree with the above. In other words if someone fixates on just the cartridge I find that your going to be disappointed. In other words your going to miss.

More is required starting with a rifle that shoots right on from a cold barrel with the first shot. Not all rifles do that and in fact few do until they are proven. Then of course you need to know the conditions and what your load does.

Having missed a few pests at long range I can assure you its not just the cartridge. Perhaps the best thing to have is to have practiced. For me the best practice is to fire just one shot at a rock and then if you can't spot the shot to go and look. The walk to the rock and back is interesting as you may find the wind to vary along the way. I prefer close shots to be frank!

Of course the wind can vary along the way. Thats why the grass points one way at X yards, is dead at Y yards, and is the ohter way at Z yards. And its why the mirage at those different distances tells you its this and that etc.... The info is almost always out there, its how you learn to look for the signs thats the most fun. Outwitting it is winning.

But I"m with you totally on close shots. If I can I'll get closer, or if they are coming, bring it on!!

I had hogs the other month, easy within range, but I opted out to wait till they were 100ish yards so that I could head shoot #1 and have a chance at the rest. Which worked out. Started with 3 hogs in the sendero. 3 were dead shortly thereafter. Had I started out when they were 100s of yards out, I"d have had 1 and maybe 2 but thats it.

Jeff

Its a great round for the rare shooter that can handle it enough to shoot accurately. That long range, hard hitting bullet isn't much good if you can't hit anything with it. Its good that you know you are not in that group(few are). Its a great round on paper and a great round for the guy who shoots big rifles a lot.
Look at the energy it carries out to 500 yds. Impressive!
http://www.weatherby.com/products/ammo.asp?prd_id=11

Elk is as tough as I get so my 7's do well for me. I have also used 30's with no complaints on elk as well.