Originally Posted by
Ridge Runner
for 500, go 300 wm of your choices, its capable much, much farther its also IMO a better choice than the 338wm because the 338 winny just doesn't have the case capacity to make use of the very good high BC 338 bullets.
The 300 rum and the 338LM are excellant ....at 750 and beyond, too much of a good thing closer.
you'd be hard pressed to find a better 500 yard elk rifle than the 7mm RM or 300 winny.
RR
Not wanting to argue but isnt the 7mm Rem. mag and the 300 Win mag built on the same case as the 338 Win mag? If you use heavy bullets in either the 7mm or the 300, you will have less case capacity than the 338, both have longer bullets meaning they have to be seated deeper therefor losing more case capacity. I have never tried them but look at the loading data and ballistics of the 338 with a 180gr. Accubond, it pushes the 180 at over 3200fps (same as the the 300RUM with a 180). With a 180 Accubond the the 338 is as flat shooting as the 300 Weatherby and with a 250Gr. bullet it hits as hard as a 375H&H. In my opinion the 338 Win mag is the best all arround belted ever mag made, but like I said it is just my opinion.
Even though the 180 Accubond doesnt have a high B.C. it has enough speed that at 500 yards it is as flat if not flatter than even a 270. Check the ballistics on that bullet, you will be surprised. With that bullet it is flatter than the 300 and possibly the 7mm mag. At 500 yards, if the 7 has anything over it it will only be a bout a 1" and it wont have the energy the 338 has. It has maybe 2" or less drop than a 300RUM shooting a 180 Accubond at 500 yards. The 300 and 7mm are both good elk rounds but the 338 is a better elk round and is concidered by many people who hunt elk to be THE elk round.