Maverick,
i had less to choose from when i got a 338L...many new platforms available now.
less than zero experience with the OT "SRS", had to hunt it up on the net. you say you have little experience with the kind of shooting you plan to use it for, this raises many questions:
the 300WM still has 44 mag energy @ 1,000 yards. this isn't enough?
when the target is that far away, bolt cycling time is likely non-issue. but have you tried working the action on this system? looks awkward even if it was a 20 degree throw bolt...what if you NEED to cycle it fast?
the quality 308 match loads are very good to about 600yds in real world scenarios, in 22" or 30" bbls. (yes, i know they have performed admirably much further out, but only for those intimately familiar with the round) have you explored all of capabilities of your 270WSM?
did you check into the above advice from zak about ballistic coeffecient? where it goes subsonic is pretty much how far it will be accurate/effective, this regardless of remaining energy. with only 38 special remaining energy, a well placed hit will wreck your whole day. (38 snubbies are used to save life and limb every day of the week. the well placed shots terminate the threat rather than just stopping it.)
originally i was leaning toward the AI offering, (as stated above less to choose from then) but i chose the AR-30 because it was sightly more accurate in a side by side comparison with the accuracy international shooting black hills 300 grain SMK ammo in "special weapons for military and law enforcement" magazine. get range reports with this bullet and pick based on that to take advantage of the best long range loading for this caliber.
i chose the nightforce 5.5x22 because dialed in for 200yds, the "NPR2" reticle is good past 1,000 yards (300gr SMK) on a 15 minute base, ~with no cranking on the knobs~. i see the notion of 3-400 yard zeros as making the iron clumsy and slow should close work become needed. when time is NOT available.
despite the calibers usefullness beyond that range, it starts getting into the gray zone as to above mentioned "real world" uses. very few small arms systems/users are a threat at over a half mile distance.
for that matter, how many venues do you have access to beyond that for practice? better still, how many 1,000 yard ranges do you have access to? using the 44 mag analogy again, the 300 grain still has 44 mag energy @1,600. is the answer to these questions a reliable bullet stopper, or remote enough to allow for saftey beyond the target?
if all of the above seem like i'm trying to talk you out of getting this, please note that i bought one anyway. just variables to consider.
gunnie
i had less to choose from when i got a 338L...many new platforms available now.
less than zero experience with the OT "SRS", had to hunt it up on the net. you say you have little experience with the kind of shooting you plan to use it for, this raises many questions:
the 300WM still has 44 mag energy @ 1,000 yards. this isn't enough?
when the target is that far away, bolt cycling time is likely non-issue. but have you tried working the action on this system? looks awkward even if it was a 20 degree throw bolt...what if you NEED to cycle it fast?
the quality 308 match loads are very good to about 600yds in real world scenarios, in 22" or 30" bbls. (yes, i know they have performed admirably much further out, but only for those intimately familiar with the round) have you explored all of capabilities of your 270WSM?
did you check into the above advice from zak about ballistic coeffecient? where it goes subsonic is pretty much how far it will be accurate/effective, this regardless of remaining energy. with only 38 special remaining energy, a well placed hit will wreck your whole day. (38 snubbies are used to save life and limb every day of the week. the well placed shots terminate the threat rather than just stopping it.)
originally i was leaning toward the AI offering, (as stated above less to choose from then) but i chose the AR-30 because it was sightly more accurate in a side by side comparison with the accuracy international shooting black hills 300 grain SMK ammo in "special weapons for military and law enforcement" magazine. get range reports with this bullet and pick based on that to take advantage of the best long range loading for this caliber.
i chose the nightforce 5.5x22 because dialed in for 200yds, the "NPR2" reticle is good past 1,000 yards (300gr SMK) on a 15 minute base, ~with no cranking on the knobs~. i see the notion of 3-400 yard zeros as making the iron clumsy and slow should close work become needed. when time is NOT available.
despite the calibers usefullness beyond that range, it starts getting into the gray zone as to above mentioned "real world" uses. very few small arms systems/users are a threat at over a half mile distance.
for that matter, how many venues do you have access to beyond that for practice? better still, how many 1,000 yard ranges do you have access to? using the 44 mag analogy again, the 300 grain still has 44 mag energy @1,600. is the answer to these questions a reliable bullet stopper, or remote enough to allow for saftey beyond the target?
if all of the above seem like i'm trying to talk you out of getting this, please note that i bought one anyway. just variables to consider.
gunnie
