And that s really the jist of it, do everything a 30-06 can do and then some. Any claim that the 30-06 has a wide range of bullets available is countered with the .300s using the exact same bullets. Having said that, someone is going to have to prove to me that a .300 needs anything other than a 180.
The Ultimate North American Hunting Round?
- Thread starter Ardent
- Start date
And that s really the jist of it, do everything a 30-06 can do and then some. Any claim that the 30-06 has a wide range of bullets available is countered with the .300s using the exact same bullets. Having said that, someone is going to have to prove to me that a .300 needs anything other than a 180.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
For the sake of the conversation, JP please illustrate for me why you would chose a .308 over a .300 Win Mag (or better) for a menu that includes 1,000kg+ Wood Bison, Polar Bear, 400 yard Sheep, Antelope, and Goats. What benefit of the .308 pushes you to decide it is a superior choice to the .300 Win for this? I mean this is the warmest of ways, but for the life of me cannot understand how somebody can call the .308 the ultimate North America round unless they are deathly afraid of and cannot tolerate recoil.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I voted 30/06 as well. Hard to ignore what millions of shooters have been saying for over 100yrs and with the better bullets we now enjoy, it's a slam dunk.
1. Best bullet selection of any bore size. Most weights, most types, most makers.
2. Best ammo selection of any chambering. Most weights, most types, most makers.
3. Ammo available ANYWHERE.
4. Best selection of rifles in this chambering. Bolt/single shot/pump/semi/lever action with right and left hand as well.
5. Tonnes of loading data.
6. Works well on all NA game and at longer distances.
7. Recoil levels that most can shoot.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Because of perfect balance between power, recoil, superb accuracy, short action that are totally reliable in SA rifle...The only place i would choose a 300 WM is were shots will be 400 yards +... My Scout Steyr 308 give me total satisfaction on all my hunts... I dont hunt grizzlies and polar bear for the rest i dont feel a bit undergunned , the 308 is a chirurgical round, powerfull enough, easy to play Kentucky windage with and so predictable, for me i am a better hunter with a 308...
I own many other calibers but i always reach for one of my 308, question of confidence... Maybe... JP.
I own many other calibers but i always reach for one of my 308, question of confidence... Maybe... JP.
JP; There is a very valid reason why the 30-06 make a better all round choice than the 308 Winchester.
It does not center around 165 grain bullets, either.
The 308 is a great round, no argument, but if you are hunting something that bites back, or is very large, the 30-06
is a superior choice due to the fact that it is capable of driving 200-220 grain bullets quite a bit harder than the 308 can.
The velocity advantage of a 30-06 with 150/165 grain bullets is not huge, only 100-150 fps, but the big 220 Partition at close to 2600
is a force to be reckoned with, and is about 300 fps faster than the 308 can muster at safe pressures.
This is the reason why.
Regards, Dave.
It does not center around 165 grain bullets, either.
The 308 is a great round, no argument, but if you are hunting something that bites back, or is very large, the 30-06
is a superior choice due to the fact that it is capable of driving 200-220 grain bullets quite a bit harder than the 308 can.
The velocity advantage of a 30-06 with 150/165 grain bullets is not huge, only 100-150 fps, but the big 220 Partition at close to 2600
is a force to be reckoned with, and is about 300 fps faster than the 308 can muster at safe pressures.
This is the reason why.
Regards, Dave.
I am a short action fan... 80% of my rifles are chambered for cartridges in the .308 family... but given the criteria of Ardent's thread, I would choose .30/06, even if .308 were on the list... it is just a more versatile round... and I believe the minimum chambering to handle EVERYTHING in NA... ergo it is the answer Ardent is seeking... sorry JP... hopefully it will come in a rifle with excellent finition.
Says the guy who doesn't own one.
Says the guy who doesn't own one.
I voted 300 Win mag for the Ultimate. Don't have one but for what I would hunt a 30-06 is better. I don't know if the 300 Win is as common as 30-06 as far as ammo is concerned, and I don't know if you can load down the 300 very effectively for lighter target rounds. How long does a barrel last between the two???
Yeah, but then its just like a 35 Whelen. I've got one of those and to me its not even in the running as the ultimate NA caliber, but it would be higher on the list than a .308.
That seems expensive to test the theory.
It costs much more than the replacement barrel, so if you can afford to shoot them out the barrel cost won't mean anything. And that's with handloads.
When you consider the original question and criteria posed by Ardent I choose the 30-06. Very versatile cartridge with bullets offered from 110gr. to 220gr. Over the years I have shot critters from ground hogs to moose with my 06 with out issue. If God forbid I had to clean out the safe and just have one rifle I would hang onto the 30-06 for sure. But I would be very sad to see my second choice the 375 HH go. I am not a lover of heavy recoiling rifles and the 30-06 and the 375 are comfortable shooters in my M-70's.
