roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
Yeah, I have to agree, regarding large case capacity contributing to barrels losing accuracy quickly, especially when fired hot. About 10 years ago, I was convinced that I needed a big Magnum cartridge for elk hunting. Over time, I learned that 30-06 was more than enough for elk, but I got gun rag reading crazy and bought a Browning rifle in 300RUM.
I was already running my 30-06 pretty hot using 180gr. bullets and expected to get a lot more muzzle velocity, which should translate in flatter trajectory, from the new 300RUM. I found out quickly that the 300RUM was very finicky in terms of what propellant and bullet it liked. I worked my way through a number of bullet/propellant combinations, until I was getting good accuracy. I then began to work upwards to attain the speed that I thought that I wanted. The accuracy matched my old 30-06, which was very acceptable, UNTIL I went into higher MV. As soon as I was getting 50fps over what my 30-06 was providing, the groups opened up! I tried mightily, not wanting to give up. My log book showed over 900 rounds fired through the 300RUM bore. On each outing to the range, I took a number of rifles, so that I could allow the RUM to cool for an honest 20 minutes between firing. As you may guess, I was burning lots more propellant than in the 30-06 and the gains were minimal. Reports, that I read, claimed a loss of accuracy in many 300RUM rifles after 1200 rounds fired! I was rapidly approaching that limit, when I gave up and sold the rifle, dies and cases. It was an interesting experiment. Your mileage may vary. I am not knocking the 300RUM, but only reporting on my own, first hand experience.
Given today's premium bullet performance, no elk can stand against a good shot, launching a 165gr. bullet. That said, why the craze for Magnum cartridges?
My 7mmRemMag was a marvelous game getter for many years, but I sold it and got a rifle chambered in 280Rem. Reasons; less recoil, less propellant used and a lighter hunting rifle, with very little lost in effective range. I will say that I put thousands of rounds through the 7mmRemMag bore and never saw a loss of accuracy, but again, I never did shoot it hot and always laid it down and fired other rifles, in order to allow the thin sporting barrel to cool.
Best,
Steven in DeLand, FL
I was already running my 30-06 pretty hot using 180gr. bullets and expected to get a lot more muzzle velocity, which should translate in flatter trajectory, from the new 300RUM. I found out quickly that the 300RUM was very finicky in terms of what propellant and bullet it liked. I worked my way through a number of bullet/propellant combinations, until I was getting good accuracy. I then began to work upwards to attain the speed that I thought that I wanted. The accuracy matched my old 30-06, which was very acceptable, UNTIL I went into higher MV. As soon as I was getting 50fps over what my 30-06 was providing, the groups opened up! I tried mightily, not wanting to give up. My log book showed over 900 rounds fired through the 300RUM bore. On each outing to the range, I took a number of rifles, so that I could allow the RUM to cool for an honest 20 minutes between firing. As you may guess, I was burning lots more propellant than in the 30-06 and the gains were minimal. Reports, that I read, claimed a loss of accuracy in many 300RUM rifles after 1200 rounds fired! I was rapidly approaching that limit, when I gave up and sold the rifle, dies and cases. It was an interesting experiment. Your mileage may vary. I am not knocking the 300RUM, but only reporting on my own, first hand experience.
Given today's premium bullet performance, no elk can stand against a good shot, launching a 165gr. bullet. That said, why the craze for Magnum cartridges?
My 7mmRemMag was a marvelous game getter for many years, but I sold it and got a rifle chambered in 280Rem. Reasons; less recoil, less propellant used and a lighter hunting rifle, with very little lost in effective range. I will say that I put thousands of rounds through the 7mmRemMag bore and never saw a loss of accuracy, but again, I never did shoot it hot and always laid it down and fired other rifles, in order to allow the thin sporting barrel to cool.
Best,
Steven in DeLand, FL
