308 or 338
 

I am wanting to buy a good 1000 yrd gun for varmints and maybe some big game. What I am wanting to know is which caliber would be better and i am going to put a leupold tactical scope. Or maybe a 325 WSM.

RE: 308 or 338
 

For big game at 1000 yards you just as well go for the 50 BMG. I wouldn't consider anything less that the 30-378 if you really think you will try big game at that range. A Ray gun would be even better;).

RE: 308 or 338
 

I don't see a lot of varmint hunters packing around 338's, might be a reason for that :)

RE: 308 or 338
 

For 1000yrd’s on varmints I would recommend a 6.5/284 or a 6.5rem Magnum you don’t want a lot of recoil when you’re shooting way out there and you want a very very good scope. One of those should work well on medium game also but for big game a 30/378 might be the go but I would keep shots to 600yrd and aim very carefully.

RE: 308 or 338
 

I assume you're meaning hunting game at reasonable ranges and target shooting at up to 1000 yds. Then I could possibily offer you some advice. You must understand that much of what I tell you comes from material I have read and not from personal experence. To shoot with any degree of accuracy at 1000 yds with a 308 you have to load a heavy bullet very hot. I'm talking about a sierra 175 gr bt match as minimum. The reason being that a lighter bullet will drop below supersonic speed before reaching the target. And the 175 gr has to leave your barrel very fast in order to do so.All I've read on this subject indicates that a bullet that transgresses from supersonic to subsonic in flight loses its stability and therfore it's accuracy potential . Perhapes some other readers can add more info. to help you. But my thinking is, if you are serious about shooting at 1000 yds go to a 300 mag or 338 mag . Just be sure their are good match bullets available in the calibre you choose. Another thing I should mention about the 308 is the barrel length should be at least 26 ins. and 28-30 ins would be better to help achieve the needed M.V.

RE: 308 or 338
 

Why 1000 yards? I would not advise taking big game at a 1000 yards, even if you can gurantee a accurate shot. That is a disaster waiting to happen. For target use, I use both my .308 Win. and my .338 Lapua for long shot target competitions for target up to 1500 yards, but I would never take any animal at this range.

RE: 308 or 338
 

My vote is for the ray gun...lmfaoooo :D

RE: 308 or 338
 

Let me team up 260rem. If you meant 1000 for big game, which I assume you didn't mean it like that, FORGET IT. Moving on. For a 1000yard gun a couple popular calibers are the 300s, 7mm Mags. There are alot less popular calibers out there. The tried and true 308/30-06 shouldn't be ruled out either. If you're wanting a whiz-bang howitzer-of-a-gun the 338 Lapua and several of the big Weatherbys are good options.

RE: 308 or 338
 

In all seriousness I would not hunt at 1k, but in fact our snipers killed from 900-1100 meters with the 7.62 nato which is close. (The military version of the .308.) But really you are talking about long range shooting and the .30 caliber bullets have good ballistic coeffecients. There is also a long range hunting forum in a different website (www.longrangehuntingc.com,) and long range rifles are what they are all about! Minimally you would want a Remington with a heavy 26" barrel and a good scope to start getting out there. So the initial cost is substantial. 1k shooting is a moot point for me. Too many trees and cornfields.

RE: 308 or 338
 

I don't think tecnology has caught up with you yet. Good luck.