30.06 Vs. 300WSM

Woodsman said:
.30-06. One to two more bullets in the magazine. Ammo at half the cost available everywhere, including your camp buddies which will likely have one. Plenty powerfull, accurate, and flat shooting for all game in North America (outside of the very large bears...and even then). Nice long neck on the casing that can take long heavy bullets if you reload. A touch less recoil, but if you can shoot one, you can probably shoot the other.

...and I don't like short and fat! I like long and slender!
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Ummm WallysWord ammo is only 22$ a box for 300 win mag.... You get better ballistics, more knockdown power, and more boom baby reaction :);)
 
I own 2 .30/06's, and have hardly touched them since I picked up my .300wsm. I tested several loads and found 4 loads that will shoot two hole groups with three shots at 100yds, using both 165 and 180 gr bullets. I like the short action, I don't miss the one extra round in the mag. I hunt with 180 gr. interbonds and 65gr imr 4350 at about 2950 fps. I have had good luck with imr 4831 also.
 
death-junky said:
Ummm WallysWord ammo is only 22$ a box for 300 win mag.... You get better ballistics, more knockdown power, and more boom baby reaction :);)
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I was pleasantly surprised to see the price of 300 Win Mag was often on par with .303 British in many places. :)

If I didn't have a semi auto which eats up a huge amount of recoil I would prob' go with either a 300 wsm or a 30-06 in a bolt gun... I've shot both, and they are all great cartridges IMHO. I'd look more at quality fit and finish of the rifle.

(That is if one couldn't find another 6.5x55 Swede). :D
 
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I was in the exact same situation as you, B.Ruddick. I was looking for a 30-06 two years ago when I came across a beautiful Kimber 8400 in 300WSM. Athough I had been a WSM skeptic, the price was right on the Kimber, so I bought it. It turns out to have been the right decision. The rifle is very accurate. It shoots well under an inch with factory Federal Accubonds, about MOA with factory Federal TBBC and about 1 1/4" with factory Federal Nosler partitions. I have not shot any other factory ammo through the gun, nor have I reloaded for it. With this performance, I have not felt the need. It has been the most accurate "out of the box with factory ammo" rifle I have owned.

Recoil is quite manageable. If you can shoot an '06 in a light rifle, you can shoot a 300WSM in a light rifle. The only downside with the rifle was rough feeding from the magazine for the top cartridge. I gave it to a gunsmith who polished up the feedramp, and it cycles flawlessly now.

True, you can only carry three rounds in the gun, but I don't really consider that a downside. Some folks like the Ruger #1, and that doesn't even have a magazine!

In short, if you like the rifle, don't let the cartridge scare you. It will do everything the 30-06 does, and more.
 
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