300WM or 30-06

No one could fault you for choosing one over the other. The advantages of one over the other are small enough that in most reasonable scenarios you would have equal success with one as the other. If 30-06 ammo were still available surplus for $8.00 a box, I would have chosen 30-06, but given that you are most likely using factory loads for either, and that you can buy ammo for anywhere from $25 and up for either, I don't see it being a deciding point. I don't see recoil being a big factor either. With 150-165 grain bullets the 300WM isn't that bad.
 
If you are an experienced shooter and have alot of money to spend on practice ammo, I'd go 300WM.

I you are not an experienced shooter,a nd prefer more affordable ammo, go with the 30-06.

You will not notice much performance difference, if any.
 
I installed a Limbsaver recoil pad on my 300. Reduces felt recoil by about 60% so shooting full magnum loads is a lot easier on the shoulder.

My fav varmint load is 110gr SP with 55gr IMR-4350
 
I love the 30-06. It is half the cost of 300 WM ammo, ballistically it is not that far apart from a 300, and there isn't an animal in Canada that hasn't - or cannot be/been taken with a 30-06.

A very wise fellow on this board that I had the great pleasure of meeting at the Frosty Farky said (and I'm paraphrasing) "There is no reason anybody has to look at anything newer that 100 years old in design for accuracy and hitting power"
 
especially if he is a newer shooter he will benefit a lot more from putting a case of cheap surplus ammo through a .30-06 to practice than he will buying one $50-60 box of hunting ammo for the .300 WM and then barely shooting because the ammo is so expensive. the extra experience and comfort with the caliber - resulting in better shot placement - will be of more benefit than whatever small ballistic advantage the .300 WM has. plus 90% of people are going to develop a flinch if they start with a magnum caliber.

even better, get it in .308. pretty much all non-magnum hunting ammo costs the same (and magnums twice that), but you wont find tonnes of dirt cheap surplus ammo around for the .300WM, .270, .243, etc.
 
pharaoh2 said:
If you know where I can buy a case of '06 ammo for $80, let me know!:eek:
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never said you could :)

but theyre definitely under $10 a box (not premium hunting ammo, but you dont use that for practice). you can probably get plinking rounds for $7-8 a box (i havent bought .30-06 in a while so i dont know current prices). you are more apt to practice and have fun with affordable ammo than if it costs you $3 each time you pull the trigger.

my friends with magnums go and shoot 2-3 rounds at the beginning of each season to make sure theyre still sighted in, and thats it. all im saying is that having put several hundred rounds through a .30-06 will be more beneficial to someone than whatever small ballistic advantage a .300WM offers, assuming they arent already a great shot and a very experienced hunter - in which case they will just put 4-5 rounds through it each year so it doesnt matter what they shoot.
 
my friends with magnums go and shoot 2-3 rounds at the beginning of each season to make sure theyre still sighted in, and thats it. all im saying is that having put several hundred rounds through a .30-06 will be more beneficial to someone than whatever small ballistic advantage a .300WM offers, assuming they arent already a great shot and a very experienced hunter - in which case they will just put 4-5 rounds through it each year so it doesnt matter what they shoot.
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Now that I'll go along with. :cheers:
 
I have some friends who put 2-3 rounds through a 30.06 or a 270 at the beginning of each hunting season as well! Worst kicker I have ever shot is a 30.06 in a light Ruger stock!
 
i've been following this thread for a while now, and one thing nobody has mentioned is that your typical 06 carries 5 in the magazine- the magnums at the most 3 unless you have an extended- now i realize that everybody is going to chime in here and say you DON'T NEED 5 SHOTS or if you need 5 shots you must be a poor shot, or words to that effect, but it's also something to consider-
 
Gibbs505 said:
I have some friends who put 2-3 rounds through a 30.06 or a 270 at the beginning of each hunting season as well! Worst kicker I have ever shot is a 30.06 in a light Ruger stock!
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I watched (and tried to help) a guy sight in his 270 and his Dad's 30-06 right b/f hunting season w/ two boxes of premium ammo; neither were properly sighted in when he left and he was all out of shells. He also left w/ a nasty case of so-called "magnum" eybrow. :rolleyes: What does that say about 270/30-06 owners? Nothing. Would things have gone worse if he were shooting a 7 Rem Mag and 300WM? I doubt it. Idiots abound no matter the cartridge or cost, IME.

We're all just assuming shikaree is going to be a responsible rifleman no matter what he chooses...no offence. ;)
 
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