.30-378

[R.J.]

Anyone here shoot a .30-378? I am interested in this cal for long range Fox/Goat work. Any pros/cons to consider????

[Rinso]

What sort of ranges are you talking about ?

cheers
Rinso

[R.J.]

300-350m ish. Does that sound reasonable? Its long rang for me....

[Mevo2230]

Thats a pretty big cartridge for something that small that close.

Something 308 based should do that easy, thought about the 260 rem?

[R.J.]

I currently shoot a .204R and while I know speed is not everything, I like the idea of 4000fps. I see the .30-378 can send a 130gn projectile down range at around 3700fps. So to me, that means little or no hold over for 300m shots.

[bushchook]

Good choice ! If you miss they'll still be killed by the muzzle blast at that range . Really serious overkill and a very poor choice for little foxes and goats at 350m . Barrel life with light projectiles perhaps 500 - 700 rounds . It's a cartridge with sufficient energy to take moose at 500m plus with heavier projectiles . Well suited to the long range trophy hunter that fires 20 shots per year but not for culling of copious light skinned ferals .
.240 - .257 Weatherby would be absolutely heaps . .25/06 or .270 (Win. , WSM or Weatherby) would work very well . I would be supremely confident on either species at that range with my .243AI .
Suggest you get a rangefinder and print off a bullet drop chart if you have difficulty estimating range .

[Rinso]

I agree with bushchook the 30-378 is way too much gun for what your looking at anything from 25.06 to 308 should do it easy and yes even a 243.
I would lean to a 243, 25.06, 260, 6.5x55 or 6.5-284, 7-08 or 308 as more than capable and easily reloaded or run on factory ammo.

[Glenn]

Did rinso just recommend a 243!!!!!!!!

Glenn

[dave]

if youre a speed freak try a 6-284 or a small roy round, otherwise i think the ye olde 25-06 will do everything you need and if you push them hard they are pretty damn flat!

[1kshot]

Glenn I had to read it twice as well
Single minded accuracy nut bench rest shooters must loose there minds in spring (it is the windy months)

J.R. it is a lot of gun for work in that close and for 30 cal in a carry around weight it recoils like a pig grabbed by the back leg.

For a goat/pig/dear a 308 will be more than enough out to 300 and give you a good selection of pills or if you want something faster and flatter look at the 30-06 or even a 300wsm (just remember the short fat cases don’t feed as nice as a 06 style case)

For a fox/goat gun a 6mm/243 - 6.5mm/264 range would be a good selection and yes I would have to agree with rinso the 243win is a fine choice

Just something to think about you only have to hit a vital zone eg on a fox about 4in on a goat about 6in even a 308 with 150grns at 2700 and a 200 zero will stay in the vital zone only drop about 9in at 300 which on a goat is only a 3in hold over (or a shot at the top of the spine) and a 243with 87grn and 200 zero brops about 6 in.

Out shooting most shots you see at longer ranges are going over the top because most people think it’s a 500mtr shot when its only 250mtr and a zero hold would of hit the mark.

All the best
John

[R.J.]

Thanks for the replies.
After reading your thoughts, I am now looking at a .25/06 or .243

Cheers!

[trevort]

300wsm cases feed just fine

[feralbuster]

R.J.,
I'd agree with the 25-06 for both species, but for long range on goats the 243 lacks energy IMHO. (I replaced my 243 with a 7-08 for culling goats, and it's good up to 300yds)
I'm considering a tactical style rifle down the track for goats at the ranges you are talking about, and am thinking a 300WSM fits the bill. Other LR choices would be a 270WSM, or even a 6.5-284. Good trajectories, accuracy and projectiles with good BC's.
Also, for long range work on goats, velocity isn't everything. If you did buy a 30-378, for example, a 180gn pill has much better Ballistic coeffecient, and you'd probably find that it would have more velocity (and obviously energy) out past 300yds than a 130gner, even though it starts slower.
Have a look at the remington catalogue's ballistics page and you will see what I mean, it shows trajectories/velocities/energies for all their factory ammo.

[R.J.]

Thanks feralbuster, Im heading to that page now.
After reading my Reloading Manual, the 25.06 sounds perfect for my needs.

[Rinso]

the 25.06 sounds perfect for my needs.

Well look at that ... No real prompting from .. even gave the puny little 243 a plug and still the 25.06 shines brighter ... just goes to show that if given all the info any sensible human being reachs the conclusion that the quarter bore cant be beat ...