300 short Mag or 30-06?

[thunderstruck]

Between these two cartridges, you are really splitting hairs. I kind of chuckle when people say that a cartridge is flatter then another when the differense IMHO is miniscule. I ran the balistics of winchesters advertised silver tip 180gr bullets through my balistic calculator just to see the exact difference. The 300wsm puts a 180gr silver tip out the muzzle @ 3010fps. With a 200 yard zero the wsm drops 6.46'' at 300 yards, delivering the bullet with 2415 ftlbs. The 30-06 winchester silver tip exits the muzzle @ 2750fps. With a 200 yard zero it drops 7.95'' and delivers the bullet @ 2229ftlbs. The difference in tragectory is only 1.49'' @ 300 yards. The difference in hitting pwr is only 186 ftlbs, 7%. I don't think the average hunter will be able to tell the difference in tradgectory in field hunting conditions. I don't think any moose, deer, goat, sheep or bear would be able to tell the difference when eather of these bullets were passing through their engine room. I personally like the 06 only because I find that the bullets feed into the chamber smoother being that their slighty longer. If your buying factory ammo the 06 ammo is generally cheaper as well. Pick your poison.

 

[Kenny_G2]

300 wsm just because 30/06 is boring.

I have both and the 300wsm sees more action than the ought6

 

[t-star]

300 wsm just because 30/06 is boring.

I have both and the 300wsm sees more action than the ought6

until you can't get brass and there's no sign of any coming in= then you're screwed

 

[Johnn Peterson]

300 wsm just because 30/06 is boring.

I have both and the 300wsm sees more action than the ought6

Boring? How so?? Anyway, sure glad my Dad saw fit to bore me when he willed this one to me.

 

[ben hunchak]

I'd take the 30/06 as it is easier to reload, esp. with the long neck, and every one that I've shot has been so damn accurate.

 

[hawk-i]

The 300 WSM is nothing but a lot of hype in my IMHO that cost more for the rifle and 10.00 more per box than the 300 win mag...don't waste your money on a WSM, go with the .06 or better yet (again IMHO) ditch the thought of the WSM and go with a 300 win mag....that is unless you're planning on buying a savage model 12 VLP, in that case the only option worth considering would be the 300 WSM....LOL,,,,boy I've even confused myself with this post. I guess the bottom line is, they"re all good so if you enjoy it, you made the correct decision.

 

[Whitetail Junkie]

Old \ New School....Generation Cartridge

The 30-06 is old school,thats why my dad has one in a Krico...Being From, "The New Generation" ,I went with the 300WSM in a Sako Bavarian...

Both are Great Cartridges

 

[agilent_one]

Can't go wrong with either - and both are just as common to be found in the bush (or at a rural FasGas) around here. I'd take the WSM, but find no fault with the '06 - other than it makes me yawn.

A1

 

[sgt.rock]

Depends on where you live I guess. I live in Yellowknife N.T. , and we only have 2 places to buy ammo. CT and Wallyworld. The price of 300wsm ammo here is 49 dollars a box for winchester supreme with the ballistic 180 silvertips. The best .30-06 ammo I can find locally is 32 dollars a box. Average is 22 to 24 dollars a box.
The 300wsm doesn't quite feed as smoothly due to the sharp shoulder angle (in some rifles, not all)
You generally will only be able to carry 2 rounds in the mag plus one in the tube. For most 30-06 rifles you can load 4 or 5 in the mag, depending on the rifle.
So For an extra 200 f/s , you get a slightly shorter gun (not all guns are shorter though, just because they are chamberer in a short action caliber) that may or may not chamber rounds reliably, and will cost anywhere from 30% or more a box of ammo (if you can find it) all so you can develop a flinch from your new magnum.
Just get the .30-06 and if you find its a pussycat to shoot, by all means , fill yer boots with the magnums. But, really, its just overkill. Thousands upon thousands of animals are killed each and every year (and each of the last 100 years) with the '06. Its more than powerful enough for any game animals that occupy this continent.
I haven't ever owned an 06 that wasn't accurate. The long neck of the round helps with that accuracy.

 

[lledwod]

I think the 300wsm will fade away in the next decade or so. My friend who bought one always had problems reloading the case and loading the gun. It makes me mad that the manufacturers bring out this cartridge that has such problems relating to its shape and neck profile. Guess they sold a lot of new guns though.

 

[wolfen1960]

Your town of 10,000 has a walmart and Canadian tire?

Pharoah..our town of 7000 (taber) has a Wal Mart. We can get 300wsm at Mohawk gas station and UFA to name just two places! I reload so I can't say where else, just noticed them on the shelves in these locations. 300wsm brass is readily available, online once fired and at a number of gun shops.

 

[agilent_one]

I think the 300wsm will fade away in the next decade or so.

Really? - because I'd wager a guess that it will continue to eclipse 30-06 sales - as it's been doing since it's inception.

It's not exactly a new cartridge anymore.

 

[SuperCub]

Really? - because I'd wager a guess that it will continue to eclipse 30-06 sales - as it's been doing since it's inception.

While I don't think the 300WSM will fade away, I doubt very much any cartridge will ever eclipse the 30/06 for sporting use here in NA.

If so, I'll be long dead before it happens.


.

 

[blargon]

.308

 

[agilent_one]

While I don't think the 300WSM will fade away, I doubt very much any cartridge will ever eclipse the 30/06 for sporting use here in NA.

If so, I'll be long dead before it happens.


.

I would *guess* that if you took a look at total new gun sales in the last 5 years - you would probably see the Wizzum outselling the '06.

Personally I don't care much for either cartridge, and have owned both.

 

[rdelliott]

.30-06. Because your great-grandkids will still be able to buy ammo for it in Canadian Tire, long after you're dead.

 

[jethunter]

Thomas Pigion from Canada in the Rough says only the .300 WSM is truely capable of being an all around rifle while the .30-06 makes an ok deer gun. Using that logic, it was only natural I would vote for the .30-06.

that would be a good enough reason for me to say 30-06 as well.

 

[mcp1]

If in new gun sales the 300wsm eclipses the 300 win mag and 30-06 thats a nice tidbit of info. Wouldn't something like reloading dies sales or maybe more importantly ammunition sales show which one is more popular?

Lots of guys buying the 300wsm that is "eclipsing" 06 sales probably have an 06 or three in the cabinet since its over a hundred years strong...

 

[Kevan]

I'd take the 30/06 as it is easier to reload, esp. with the long neck, and every one that I've shot has been so damn accurate.

100%...

 

[Northman999]

30-06.

Ammo is more readily available and costs much less. 1F brass I can get for $20 per 100. Forget that with the WSM.

In terms of killing animals, the 300 WSM is going to give you a small range advantage and that's it. The 300 WSM will do exactly the same at 500 yards as the 30-06 will do at 400 yards. (180gr bullet w/BC of .475, at 2800 or 3000 depending). Maybe that's a big deal for you, for me it isn't.

For a "one rifle" solution, the 30-06 just keeps on coming up as THE answer.