Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Help me find my caliber!

I might be moving hunting spots next season, and either way I probably will find it better to move to long range hunting. I have a. 308 m77 Hawkeye, but outside of 300 yards me and that rifle just don't "click." I live and GA and pines in my hunting area are starting to get cut down, so we can make large food plots for long range. I am only 14, i'm a good shot if I do say so myself, but not the best. I am looking into a .300 saum(short action ultra mag), with its acceptance with the AR-10 platform, I think it might have a new rise in popularity. Just in case, I reload my own rounds to save my family money and help out my accuracy a bit, but is the .300 saum really worth gambling for? Or should i just go with an Ultra mag or Winchester mag? I need some experience to guide me on this decision, please help.

Practice more with the .308 until you and the rifle "click," and save the money for a better scope and some reloading supplies.

This.

To be honest, i'm not a fan of the. 308, it lacks individuality, and the rifle itself in reality is my father's, he just doesn't hunt. I'm looking for a rifle for me. I want something that I can go to the range with and enjoy, which I don't with the .308. Also, when somebody asks me at the range what I'm shooting, I can say. 300 saum, which in and of itself makes for good conversation. And as for the. 308 not clicking, I can shoot the exact same rifle in 7mm mag and 30-06 more accurately, I am willing to put forward the practice to master shooting willingly, but I don't enjoy the. 308, I do enjoy less common rounds significantly more, and you can't put a price on fun.

243ai

.308 is hard to beat, but how about a 25-06. I'd skip on the Saum and short mags, but maybe that's just me.

This is just my opinion.

Figure out what rifle you like that feels good in the hand and handles well concerning stock fit. Some rifles feel right for me when they come to the shoulder and my eye lines up with the sight.
Others feel wierd to me and I never bond with them.

I've learned that the caliber of the rifle doesn't make much difference if the rifle doesn't fit me or feel right(a very subjective thing to say the least)

If you choose the rifle and its attributes to suit what you want in a rifle first, providing it is in a caliber that is suitable for the critters you hunt you will be fine, at least untill you fall in love with some other rifle.

This will make you an inccurable rifle looney.

If you stay with one of the old popular rounds such as a 25-06, 270Win, 30-06 , 308 or a 300 Win Mag(the old long version) then if this rifle loses favor with you at some point it will be more marketable due to the popularity of its caliber.

If you want one of the newer magnums I would go with one of the WSM's instead of the SAUM's unless the SAUM was in a rifle that was configured the way I like, fit me and was a steal.

Hope this helps.

Lee

The 300SAUM in an AR10 is a poor choice. If you have that kind of money, get a Winchester M70 Supergrade in 270 Winchester...the regular kind, not the Short Mag or the Sooper Dooper Shorty Mag. Just a Regular 270 and a 3-9x40mm Leupold VX-2.

7 saum in a rem 700 platform and zeiss scope with tactical knobs and if u have cash left over jewell trigger

I have a 300 ultra mag xcrii with a nikon 4-16x50 BDC shot elk at 100-300 yards and confident to shoot something out to 800 yards but it takes a lot of practice just my 2 cents..

For something different...how about a .280 Rem, .30-06, or a .257 Weatherby Mag. All will shoot past 300 yards.

I like the .308 a lot but if you don't find one you do. It's a big jump from the .308 to a .300 mag of some type. I don't know a dang thing about the 300 SAUM, but have had a few 300 WSM's and I can't think they're a lot different.

If you haven't shot a 300 mag, I'd try to find someone to let you shoot it first, so you'll know if you have flinch from it or not.

6.5 Creedmoor!

BagABuck you must have a long paper route because you're looking to spend some money. I think the best advice given is to use the money and practice with the 308.

With that being said, you want to be an individual and have your "own" gun, nothing wrong with that. Personally I'm a 7mm kinda of guy and would recommend a 7mm-08/280/7mm wsm-saum personally but you can do the same with a 25-06/270 and host of others.

Practice hunting and the ways of the whitetail while you are young and get a bit closer. LR sniping at animals is a well practiced form and at 14 yrs old just don't know if you're there. Hell, i'm not there at 43, one main reason is I do not have that kind of practice range to get good.

What ever you decide, good luck with the new gun and practice, practice, practice

Nowdays with all the goobers I see at the range I feel like the odd ball out shooting 30-06, 270 and heaven forbid I show up with a levergun in something like 300savage. Have you ever tried to explain to a gunshop comando type what a 300 savage is? Nothing but blank stares I tell you.

It ain't the arrow.....

Pick what you want, then practice a lot. I must say though, if you've already got a .308 set-up, you could buy a LOT of practice ammo components for the price of a new/used rifle.

That is one thing I am worried about, but plan to get a break. Even though, 30-06 recoil isn't really a problem, and the 30-06 I shoot has a rock hard recoil pad, I don't know how I'm so recoil resistant, i've shot a box of 480s out of an alaskan without any pain. But nevertheless i'm not extremely worried, but might be an issue

good advise here

A .300 mag will hit you a lot harder than a .30-06, but a good margin.

You have a long time to save up for the .300. Find a gun you like in a .280/.30-06, .25-06, whatever you find.... and work up to being comfortable to your max range. Learn to hunt, shoot better, become a better woodsman. Trust me, at 14 you have a lot to see and learn, but you'll get there.

Good luck with what you pick and keep us posted on what you decide to do.

+1

Nothing wrong with a 300 SAUM, I have two. Find the rifle YOU WANT in the caliber YOU WANT an shoot until you can shoot it well. As to recoil I use a PAST recoil sheild for bench shooting and or practice.