Is 300 WSM, Win Mag, RUM, RSUM overkill for your hunting needs?

Mudduck said:
My question was - do hunters find the 300 magnum family to be overkill- Bullet types are not the only difference I WSM. there are differences in bullet weights (220 grain for 300 WSM).. Which then gets into a subject of hydrostatic shock ... But we won't go there.

I know I can do everything I need with my current 223, 270, 270 WSM, 3006 ( and my 300 Wby which I just sold) but the essence of my question was about the merits of the 300 magnum caliber family.

I know an elderly gentleman who shared that when he was growing up would earn extra money by selling venison to families in the city. He took hundreds of deer using a 22 LR .... Before it was illegal and he never lost a deer, because he understood shot placement. I do believe him about not loosing a deer after seeing him shoot

This question isn't about if I need a 300 magnum caliber, but for most hunting purposes is it overkill. - meaning ..... does it destroy too much of the meat ... so far I'm not hearing that from most of the posters.
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I'm sorry I replied to this then, should have just kepted my (damn mouth shut) fingers off the key board ...
 
Adrian J Hare said:
I'm sorry I replied to this then, should have just kepted my (damn mouth shut) fingers off the key board ...
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Hey no need to be sorry, I realized by in clouding a few of my current caliber sit appeared as if I was asking if I needed something with more power then my current zombie protection arsenal. Lol. Your comment made me realize I needed to
Clarify what and why of my question.
 
The more I think of it the more I kick myself for selling my 300 WBY - especially after installing a Romney trigger, muzzle brake and stiffening the stock. I'm thinking I'll either go with a vanguard backcountry because of the lighter weight or a mark V fibermark in 300 cal ... Even if costs are more than the 300 wsm or wm for reloading ... Not like I'm using it as a target range gun!
 
For my regular hunts 300 mag of any flavor is too much. For actual long range hunting I would say it is not enough and go to 338 lapua or 50bmg
 
My .300 wsm does less damage with 150 gr nosler partitions that my .308 did with cheap walmart winchester bullets. I love my .300 wsm, i shoot everything from muskrats (loaded with 110gr vmax) to beavers, deer, moose. Tons of killing power but not overkill at all for deer. I literally ruin no meat with the nosler bullets, well maybe a 2'' diameter spot but half of what my .308 would do.
 
saskboy said:
My .300 wsm does less damage with 150 gr nosler partitions that my .308 did with cheap walmart winchester bullets. I love my .300 wsm, i shoot everything from muskrats (loaded with 110gr vmax) to beavers, deer, moose. Tons of killing power but not overkill at all for deer. I literally ruin no meat with the nosler bullets, well maybe a 2'' diameter spot but half of what my .308 would do.
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sounds like if you didn't cheap out on ammo for the 308 and even hand loaded for it like you post with the 300wsm you would have had better results
 
300WM is what I use for moose, its plenty of gun and will work for those longer shots out to 400m.

It tends to be hard on deer, I have a 25 06 for deer also good for some longer shots. Some wide open spaces out west.

All bullets are handloaded. 200grn accubonds for the 300, and 110grn accubonds for the 25 06.

My spare gun is a 7mmRM, and for varmits I use a 22 250.

But if your not hunting where you will need to shoot over 200m you dont really need the extra speed.

Good ammo is important
 
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I think if the shooter can handle them the magnums work well. Are they needed in average hunting situations...maybe. I hunt in Ontario for deer bear and wolf. I don't feel I need a Magnum. My hunting buddies do. My 2506 with 120 gr sierras wasted much more meat then their 300wm and 180 grs. I've never had to track an animal hit by my 2506. For my style my 4570 works great. I like to hunt thick cover where shots are close. I've used a 308 and 300wm just I love my 2506 and respect its limitations. A 300rum would take some of those limitations away

Like when compared to cars and trucks earlier. If i had a car I'd let my gf drive it in the snow. My new Titan oh hell no. She couldn't handle the ass end sway and horsepower and wreck it

I love recoil and fast rounds but meat wasted depends on impact velocity bullet construction placement and animal type not head stamp
 
all i can say is for myself i have lost count of the number of animals that i have take using a 358 winchester and a 7mm08 remington,personally i feel for my self this is all i need out to 350 yards with good shot placement they have been all one shot kills.
 
I loved my 300 Win mag as a great all rounder.

When I lived in Alberta, I usually had tags in my pocket for multiple animals bigger than deer, that was when I carried the 300. It was a beautiful Sako AV, accurate reasonable weight and recoil.

However, when I was hunting deer exclusively I usually carried something smaller and lighter in a short action cartridge like 308, 260 or today a Tikka T3 in 6.5 Swede. If you only hunt deer, the 300 is overkill, personally on moose etc I like to be able to drive a 168gr TSX hard and have two holes.
 
Mudduck said:
I have a 3006 and a 270 WSM. Considering another rifle but really wondering if I need something in 300 series - at least for hunting in Ontario, considering 90 percent of hunting is for deer and moose
Anyone found that their 300 mag does too much damage or is way more power then needed? ... Or have you found some real benefits since moving up from a 270 w or 308.
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You have more than enough power with the calibers you have currently to efficiently take any game or your list. And to answer the question in the title, yes they are overkill for my hunting needs, (moose and deer in typical Ontario hunting situations.) As others have mentioned, muzzle velocity and bullet construction are key. A well constructed bullet that is not going "too" fast will do less damage to the meat while still having plenty of punch to get the job done. Try heavy for caliber premium bullets for hunting and practice with whatever you like.

hoochie said:
I used a sierra 130gr in the .270 WSM this year, blew a nasty hole in the deer. in the ribs, and out through the shoulder of the other side. It has plenty of power. And from what I recall from looking at my ballistic software, the .270 WSM has more power than the .308, and almost as much as the .300WSM.
If you want a new rifle.. go for it.
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If that was a Sierra Game King than I am not suprised. They tend to come apart violently over about 28-2900 fps as I understand. If you like the bullets, try the 150 gr. version to slow it down a little. Or just run a more expensive, premium bonded bullet for hunting and keep the Sierras for practice.
 
Brian46 said:
For my regular hunts 300 mag of any flavor is too much. For actual long range hunting I would say it is not enough and go to 338 lapua or 50bmg
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Really? And what great experience has brought you to this conclusion, I have taken game beyond 600 mtrs and never felt I needed a 50, my 300 has performed perfectly. This statement leads me to believe your voice is one of a parrot, not one of experience..........
 
I moved down from being a "One-rifle Guy" with my Sako m75ss 300WM, to having a few. LOVE my 270WSM's. Great caliber, wanted something smaller than my 300wM and the 270WSM fit the bill, plus my fiancé back then (now wife) shoots it great. I just sold the two T3 LS 270WSM's I had -(1-fatherinlaw/other to my bro-inlaw - to help finance my new to me Yamaha Rhino 700), since I picked up a mint Sako m75ss 270WSM last December.

I think since you have the 30-06 the 300WM/WSM is not needed, but never an excuse to buy another rifle. A 300WM with 180gr premium bullets (AB's / TTSX's) is a great setup for NA overall.
 
Well. I decided to go big or go home. I got a Weatherby Mark 5 ultralight in 300 Wby with muzzle brake. I figured if I wanted something with long range hitting power and would be nice and light to carry then this was it. And since I already had the 270 wsm and 3006 the 300wsm or Win mag didn't offer enough of a jump in performance to spend the money. Or at least that's how I have rationalized it
 
c-fbmi said:
Really? And what great experience has brought you to this conclusion, I have taken game beyond 600 mtrs and never felt I needed a 50, my 300 has performed perfectly. This statement leads me to believe your voice is one of a parrot, not one of experience..........
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I own both the calibers I mention in my post and many below them, 300mag/rum etc is like an inbetween IMO/experience
 
Mudduck said:
Well. I decided to go big or go home. I got a Weatherby Mark 5 ultralight in 300 Wby with muzzle brake. I figured if I wanted something with long range hitting power and would be nice and light to carry then this was it. And since I already had the 270 wsm and 3006 the 300wsm or Win mag didn't offer enough of a jump in performance to spend the money. Or at least that's how I have rationalized it
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CONGRATS!! Great pic. 300RUM would of been the other for the BIG JUMP !!
 
Mudduck said:
Well. I decided to go big or go home. I got a Weatherby Mark 5 ultralight in 300 Wby with muzzle brake. I figured if I wanted something with long range hitting power and would be nice and light to carry then this was it. And since I already had the 270 wsm and 3006 the 300wsm or Win mag didn't offer enough of a jump in performance to spend the money. Or at least that's how I have rationalized it
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Don't forget ear plugs when hunting. I have 300 and 6.5 and really a 30 06 and 270 wsm is all you need. Reload.
 
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