300 Rem Ultra Mag advice

muelrexp · #1 09-01-2009, 10:11 PM

Gentlemen, I am a S Texas hunter that likes to stalk hunt and I am looking for some recommendations as to what rifle to purchase. After looking over the ballistic tables I would like to purchase a 300 Rem Ultra Mag, but I would like one that is light, and has some kind of muzzle break/ported 26" barrel, composite stock as I usually log 5-6 miles a day when stalk hunting/rattling for whitetails. Is there a good production rifle out there without having to go custom that you can recommend. I also plan on utilizing this rifle for Elk & Mule Deer and in the brush Country our average shot is 250 yards and can be much longer depending on how confident a shooter you are. Thanks

Tang · #2 09-02-2009, 12:59 AM

Welcome to the forum first off !

Then, the .300 RUM and lightweight are just not two things you want to throw together. As bad as I hate to say this (Im most of the time all for more power), 250 yards is NOTHING for the good ole .300 Win Mag. But I'm one who knows a man wants what he wants. So that is your call.

I'm not aware of any factory ported/braked 300 RUM's in production, but I could be wrong. You also did not mention how much you want to spend on this new rifle ?

You could look at the Weatherby Vanguard "Back Country", weighs 6-3/4 lbs , and can be had in .300 Wby Mag, or if you are dead set on the 300 RUM, get an XCR Rem 700 and have a brake installed. Shouldn't cost too much.

Personally, in that situation, I'd look to a new Ruger Hawkeye in .300 Win Mag. Recoil won't be violent, and it weighs 7-3/4 lbs in the synthetic version. Put a Sims Limbsaver on it and a good scope, and you will have a nice shooting package. But I am Ruger Bias, and I know I probably didn't answer your question at all. But the .300 RUM packs a lot of recoil and muzzle blast, and thats something else to think about with a muzzle brake. Do you hunt with friends ?

The .300 Win Mag can reach 500 yards with a 180gr Bullet still moving over 2000 fps, which is plenty for reliable expansion with any good bullet.

jeffro · #3 09-02-2009, 06:28 AM

muelrexp,

I am not trying to change your mind but you might want to reconsider your choices. I too hunt in south texas and I can just tell you that the 300 RUM is a whole lot of gun to be carrying down there. I have a 300 and 7mm RUM and they are both great rifles but they work very well on elk sized game and at longer distances.

The problem seems to me that if a deer is out there at 400-500 yards then the 300 RUM wont do too much damage and sure will knock him down. But what happens if you are stalking and come across a deer at say 80 yards? That 300 RUM will destroy the deer.

If it were me, I would be looking at something more in the range of a 300 win mag, 7mm mag, or even the 264 win mag.

Just my opinion.

jeffro · #4 09-02-2009, 06:31 AM

Oh I forgot Welcome to the forum!

muelrexp · #5 09-02-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffro

muelrexp,
I am not trying to change your mind but you might want to reconsider your choices. I too hunt in south texas and I can just tell you that the 300 RUM is a whole lot of gun to be carrying down there. I have a 300 and 7mm RUM and they are both great rifles but they work very well on elk sized game and at longer distances.

The problem seems to me that if a deer is out there at 400-500 yards then the 300 RUM wont do too much damage and sure will knock him down. But what happens if you are stalking and come across a deer at say 80 yards? That 300 RUM will destroy the deer.

If it were me, I would be looking at something more in the range of a 300 win mag, 7mm mag, or even the 264 win mag.

Just my opinion.

Jeffro, Thanks for the input, I already have a 264 Win Mag custom, but it has a wood stock and weighs about 12# with the bull barrel and I regularly carry a lighter wood stock .270 for my stalking now. I have an 11 year old son who loves to hunt and I was thinking about if I was to own just 1 rifle to do everything with and then I can use the others for client guns or for when we arn't stalking. At 11 he has not much patience to sit in one spot very long and I am looking for an excuse to get another rifle, but I did not want to pay $3,000 for it.

Tang · #6 09-02-2009, 08:56 AM

Then go with the Remingong XCR (about $800) and have a brake installed. If you spend wisely, you can have it set up and ready to go for well under $2000

jeffro · #7 09-02-2009, 02:28 PM

Muelrexp, I think that I misunderstood your post but were you considering having your 11 year old shoot a 300 RUM? The recoil is really stout with one of those guns.

I think that tang is right. If the 300 RUM is what you want then probably the best choice is the remington XCR.

tjrahl · #8 09-02-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffro

Muelrexp, I think that I misunderstood your post but were you considering having your 11 year old shoot a 300 RUM? The recoil is really stout with one of those guns.

I think that tang is right. If the 300 RUM is what you want then probably the best choice is the remington XCR.

when/if i have kids if they start talking about how awesome magnums are I'm going to build a 6 pound .338 lapua and let them give it a whirl! Personaly i wish i had never started shooting magnums, i was perfectly happy with .270s and .30-06s until i tried out a 7mm rem mag, now im addicted and paying $5-10 more for factory amunition, reloading is not to bad but my gun just loves 150 grain federals!

I don't think that's what the op was intending tho

muelrexp · #9 09-02-2009, 07:38 PM

Gentlemen, My son shoots a 25 06 as the stock throw on my 270 is too long for him right now and my dad is going to give that one to him at Christmas. I would not think of strapping him on a Magnum as hunting is supposed to be fun. The only time I feel the kick is when I am sighting it in, after that I am more concerned about the end result. Thank you for the advice about the XCR. Muelrexp

mattsbox99 · #10 09-02-2009, 09:45 PM

The 300 RUM is cool, but the .25/06 will do everything you plan to do, so will your .270, but any excuse to buy a new gun is a good excuse!

Buano · #11 11-02-2009, 02:57 PM

I went the magnum route for deer 2 decades ago with a 7MM Remington Mag Stainless Stalker. It's a great rifle but it was a mistake. Inside 150 yards I could ONLY take head or base of skull shots or I would have a hole that looked like a cannonball went through . I downsized to a .25-06 a decade ago & haven't been sorry. It will reach out 400 yards if I need to, is cheaper to shoot & doesn't destroy what I shoot. This year I'll be down to a .243 for most of my hunting. As I've gotten to know what I really need I've found I need less gun.

Then again .... the 7 mag took a really nice 6x6 elk in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Western Montana September 15th! The elk was all of 27 feet from my muzzle when I shot him through the lungs.

I like the Remington XCR (and have one) but would opt for the Sendero in .300 RUM since I don't want to hunt wearing earplugs. An XCR with a muzzle brake would mean wearing earplugs or going deaf.

osprey572ci · #12 11-03-2009, 12:29 PM

The nice thing about the 300RUM is that Remington offers the new Power Level ammunition which gives you ability to hunt with approximately the same power as a Level 1 =30-06 / level 2 =300 win mag / level 3=300 ultra mag using the same cartridge. I am currently trying prove/disprove their claims.