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7mm RUM or 300 RUM?
ff.hogue
Member Posts: 213 ✭✭✭
i am going to be ordering a stiller predator action soon to start my custom rifle build. I am tore between 7mm RUM and 300RUM. I was wondering what the experts recomended? it is going to be built mostly deer and antelope hunting, but will hopefully take a few elk and caribu. I was leaning towards the 7mm over the 300 because the energy is about the same but the ballistics are better. What do you think? the action is going to Christensen Arms for ther Carbon Fiber Barrel and stock as soon as it is received. Thanks for your input in advance. Thomas
Comments
Unless you are going to shoot longer distances (over 700 yards), either will work. If you plan on shooting longer distances, I would go with a 300 RUM or 338 RUM and use the heavy bullets - such as the 300 gr SMK in the 338.
A lot of powder out the barrel really. I, personally, would change the choice to 7WSM vs. 7mm SAUM vs. .300 WSM vs. 7mm SAUM vs. 6.5 WSM/SAUM so that you could get maximum use of your powder behind a very efficient(read fast) for caliber, bullet. All that without the "ultra-kick" provided by the RUM's.
Just my opinion that you will have better success with the 'short action magnums' as target cartridges.
The smaller cartridges aren't faster. They just have a little better controlled burn than do the RUM's. You will get near RUM velocities with the short-mags as you will with the RUMS. And, therefore have good takedown power. The RUMs though will ultimately give better velocity, thus more knockdown power.
Since you are leaning more toward hunting and large cases I would go with either the .300 or .338. The 7mm tops out at 175/180 gr. bullets. Unless you get custom made bullets. Once you get up in bullet weights the .300 and .338 bullets become much more ballisticly efficient. That will give you better knockdown at long ranges. That and the larger frontal area of bigger diameter bullets.
Sorry I misunderstood your first post. My mind sort of naturally steers itself toward target shooting.