300WM vs 308 what is the true difference?
- Thread starter flashselling
- Start date
It all depends what you will use it for. 308 is plenty available for much lower prices than any other 30 cal cartridge (except 7.62x39 of course). Have you looked at the cost of 300WM? Not many people are using it, in fact I have 100 rounds or so here which I got for free with some other ammo, zero interest when I wanted to sell it. Most people wanted it for free. I'd rather keep it.
Most people are going from a 308 to a 30-06 before considering a 300WM, but then there are those who never get enough. Why not a 338 WM? In layman's terms, the 30-06 had more powder than a 308, the 300 WM has more than an 30-06, the 338WM has more than a 300WM with the 338 pushing a .338 bullet. The higher powder charge is intended for longer distances. The drawback is price and for the user recoil. I do not like heavy recoil rifles and I don't need them, sure, you can put a muzzle brake on or a butt pad, for me, all those cartridges are just not useful for what I am doing.
Most people are going from a 308 to a 30-06 before considering a 300WM, but then there are those who never get enough. Why not a 338 WM? In layman's terms, the 30-06 had more powder than a 308, the 300 WM has more than an 30-06, the 338WM has more than a 300WM with the 338 pushing a .338 bullet. The higher powder charge is intended for longer distances. The drawback is price and for the user recoil. I do not like heavy recoil rifles and I don't need them, sure, you can put a muzzle brake on or a butt pad, for me, all those cartridges are just not useful for what I am doing.
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migrant hunter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I have pushed the 308 into 30-06 territory with 180 gr bullets. Pressure was dangerously high and accuracy was terrible. The 308 will not match 30-06, especially with bullets over 150 gr.
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Not according to my Hodgdon 2024 manual… highest speed with a 180 gr in the .300 WSM is 3028 fps
Same bullet in the .300 Win Mag is listed up to 3193 fps
Using 10-15 grains more powder across the board to achieve that extra 150ish fps
with that 
RJ
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
If a guy can't make his mind up between 300 win mag or a 308 win the obvious answer to me would be 30-06! or am I missing something here. 
Not missing anything Peter and CORRECT he should just go to a 30-06If a guy can't make his mind up between 300 win mag or a 308 win the obvious answer to me would be 30-06! or am I missing something here.
RJAverage velocity with 150 grains in 308 is 2800 fps, it is 2700 fps with 165 grains and 2600 with 180 grains.
For the 30-06 average velocities are 2900 fps for 150 grains, 2800 fps for 165 grains and 2700 fps with 180 grains.
For the 300 Wm the numbers are 3200 fps for 150 grains, 3100 for 165 grains and 3000 for 180 grains.
So velocities for the 30-06 are 100 fps higher than the 308. Velocities for the 300 WM are 300 fps higher than the 30-06, on average. This has to do with realtive case capacities.
Whatever the 308 can do at 100 yards, the 30-06 will do it at 200 yards and the 300 WM at 300 yards.
The choice depends therefore on what is being hunted, at what distance, and what can be handled by the individual hunter.
For the 30-06 average velocities are 2900 fps for 150 grains, 2800 fps for 165 grains and 2700 fps with 180 grains.
For the 300 Wm the numbers are 3200 fps for 150 grains, 3100 for 165 grains and 3000 for 180 grains.
So velocities for the 30-06 are 100 fps higher than the 308. Velocities for the 300 WM are 300 fps higher than the 30-06, on average. This has to do with realtive case capacities.
Whatever the 308 can do at 100 yards, the 30-06 will do it at 200 yards and the 300 WM at 300 yards.
The choice depends therefore on what is being hunted, at what distance, and what can be handled by the individual hunter.
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
LOL, the 300 Win. Mag. is extremely popular, especially in the Maritimes.
There is a wide choice of easily available Ammo , even the local gas station stocks it.
The ammunition is less expensive than 45-70 Government and that's a very popular caliber as well.
Local gun shop sells a ton of 308-30-06-300 Win Mag rifles and then 6.5 CMs - 7 REM Mag - 270 Wins . 243 Wins - 223Rem Pretty much the bread & butter Cartridges 
Hardly any PRCs
Hardly any PRCs
I've always thought of 308 Winchester as best using 150-165 grain bullets, 30-06 as best using 165-180 grain and 300 Win as best using180 and up. I've never felt the need for a 300 Win - when I wanted to reach I out I prefer 7mm and for thump 338. Assuming conventional bullets, not mono.
I ended up going with both. A Sig Cross in .308 and a Sig Cross in .300WM
The .308 with a hand loaded 130gr Barnes TTSX (performance similar to a conventional 150gr) over a fairly spicy 49.7gn of Varget is right around 2900fps out of the Sig 16" barrel. Shoots lights out and has enough reliable impact/expansion velocity out to 350 yards. Pretty versatile for most places and most game in Canada.
The .300WM with hand loaded 180gr Barnes TTSX (performance similar to a conventional 200gr) over a reasonable 67.7gn of H4350 is right around 2950fps out of the Sig 24" barrel. Same same, shoots lights out and has enough reliable impact/expansion velocity out to 550 yards. I could push it a bit harder with more powder getting it into the 600+ yards range, but it consistently clover leafs at that 67.7gn powder charge. Starts to get wonky beyond that. So it will definitely drop bigger game further, but around here in Ontario, I'm really not shooting anything that big or that far. It's really a range toy until I can afford a hunting trip out to the mountains.
With a brake and the added weight, the .300WM Sig Cross really isn't any less pleasant to shoot than the .308, but the extra 8" of barrel and the longer action make it much less handy to haul around.
Short story, the .308 is the one that gets grabbed 99% of the time.
The .308 with a hand loaded 130gr Barnes TTSX (performance similar to a conventional 150gr) over a fairly spicy 49.7gn of Varget is right around 2900fps out of the Sig 16" barrel. Shoots lights out and has enough reliable impact/expansion velocity out to 350 yards. Pretty versatile for most places and most game in Canada.
The .300WM with hand loaded 180gr Barnes TTSX (performance similar to a conventional 200gr) over a reasonable 67.7gn of H4350 is right around 2950fps out of the Sig 24" barrel. Same same, shoots lights out and has enough reliable impact/expansion velocity out to 550 yards. I could push it a bit harder with more powder getting it into the 600+ yards range, but it consistently clover leafs at that 67.7gn powder charge. Starts to get wonky beyond that. So it will definitely drop bigger game further, but around here in Ontario, I'm really not shooting anything that big or that far. It's really a range toy until I can afford a hunting trip out to the mountains.
With a brake and the added weight, the .300WM Sig Cross really isn't any less pleasant to shoot than the .308, but the extra 8" of barrel and the longer action make it much less handy to haul around.
Short story, the .308 is the one that gets grabbed 99% of the time.
Butcherbill
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
The only real answer to the question.
Another thing to consider in addition to my previous post...
300wm recoils hard...blast too...especially in a reasonably carryable hunting rig. Inexperienced shooters WILL flinch ....and if you're experienced enough not to you aren't posing the question of which cartridge to go with.
Puttin whatever 30cal bullet in the right place is of course far more important than the perceived or real extra HP of the WM.
300wm recoils hard...blast too...especially in a reasonably carryable hunting rig. Inexperienced shooters WILL flinch ....and if you're experienced enough not to you aren't posing the question of which cartridge to go with.
Puttin whatever 30cal bullet in the right place is of course far more important than the perceived or real extra HP of the WM.
