So... as an update I went with 2 different bolt action rifles, and both in 308. As one of the two is a scout rifle, setup in a 308 will prove to be versatile, accurate, and even on the barrel. The 308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor or 300WM will not cause premature wear on the barrel and preform well.
300WM vs 308 what is the true difference?
- Thread starter flashselling
- Start date
I have a 270 but looking for a 2nd hunting rifle that will allow me to use heavier ammunition.
These were my top 2 choices so, I appreciate the comparison. I’m pretty slim so think I’ll go with the 308 based on recoil. Thanks
trigger'06
CGN Regular
- Location
- Abbotsford B.C.
Interesting thread comparing short action to a magnum. There are lots of realistic comparisons here from qualified hunters.
My two cents, 300 H&H many moose last 15 years(210 ABLR) , .308 2 moose(AR 10)
, 30.06 has sat in the closet.
Lots of choices.
The Lib's are far too speedy to tell us what is appropriate to use for hunting.
My two cents, 300 H&H many moose last 15 years(210 ABLR) , .308 2 moose(AR 10)
, 30.06 has sat in the closet. Lots of choices.
The Lib's are far too speedy to tell us what is appropriate to use for hunting.
- Location
- Alberta, North America
Best answer yet lol ... less recoil and load up to 300WM performance
If you load it to perform like a .300 Win. then it will recoil like a .300 Win.
And you won’t squeeze maximum .300 Win performance out of a .30-06 case no matter what you do… it’s impossible.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I'm on the fence as far as the 300WM goes. I've shot rifles in this cartridge that kick the #### out of me. And I've shot some that weren't bad at all. From my limited experiences, (half a dozen different rifles) I think how the rifle fits the individual is one of the main reasons why this cartridge is either loved or hated.
I've never come across a situation where I desired anything beyond a 30-06.
That's not to say that that desire isn't real, or fabricated by those who do want that type of performance.
I've hunted black spruce swamps or swales my whole life and haven't seen the need for anything beyond a standard/long length cartridge.
I live in the mountains now and just sold the only Magnum I had. Which was a 7mm Remington Magnum.
This might be a "more fool, me" type of moment for me in the long run. But we shall see. I'm really digging my short action calibers, and even calibers that most would consider sub-par these days. Maybe I'll be back in the Magnum camp within a year or two. Time will tell.
I've never come across a situation where I desired anything beyond a 30-06.
That's not to say that that desire isn't real, or fabricated by those who do want that type of performance.
I've hunted black spruce swamps or swales my whole life and haven't seen the need for anything beyond a standard/long length cartridge.
I live in the mountains now and just sold the only Magnum I had. Which was a 7mm Remington Magnum.
This might be a "more fool, me" type of moment for me in the long run. But we shall see. I'm really digging my short action calibers, and even calibers that most would consider sub-par these days. Maybe I'll be back in the Magnum camp within a year or two. Time will tell.
Well... personally I haven't seen any accuracy issues with the neck length, belt has not caused us any issues ever.
We shoot out to 1000m often, sometimes farther if we get a good field, just steel plates, I started with a 7mmRem, accuracy was there at 1000m, no complaints with groups, energy difference between 162gr 7mm and 208gr 300wm was obvious, 300 with heavy bullets hits hard at 1000m. Still have my 7mm, but shoot the 300 pretty much steady now for long range. It's pretty tame with a decent brake, no problem seeing hits.
Looking at my data, for example at 600m my 300WM 208gr has 1852 ftlb vs 308 168gr 900ftlb and that is pushing it. Twice the energy and much higher sectional density. The 300 I have weighs 4.1kg including 4-16 PMII Schmidt scope and is very comfortable to shoot with suppressor.
edi
edi
The 300winmag will do anything the 308win can do, only 200-300 yards farther. To get that, the shooter has to accept significant extra recoil, and burning more powder. The 300winmag can be downloaded to 30-06 or 308win ballistics, but the 308win can't safely be loaded to 308win or 30-06 ballistics. It's up to the shooter to decide what he is willing to accept for recoil and ballistics.
redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
I'm sure it's been noted, but 300 WM in a light rifle is UGLY to shoot.
Many years ago I calculated the difference between the .308 and the 30-06, the 06 was 6% faster and used 17% more powder in the process, this highlighted the efficiency of the .308, somebody with some time to waste should do this to also include the 300 WM using the data available for todays available powders. When I did it probably 30 years ago I averaged the top 3 powders for each cartridge. We have better propellants today, so thing may be drastically different, but maybe not?
Stock ergos and good recoil pads make a 300wm a pleasure to shoot. I have a 8.5lb semi custom i built off a vz24 mauser action that is rather soft shooting considering I'm pushing a 180 AB at 2980fps. My buddy's t3 light in 300 kicks like Satan's mule in contrast.. same bullet/ velocity.. get a decent weight rifle with good recoil ergos fitted with a good pad and id say most grown men should be able to shoot it.
As for differences i have both 308 3006 and 300wm..all are great none are like the other unless your just talking bore diameter..those guys saying the 308 does exactly what the 06 does are kidding themselves same goes for 06 to 300wm. Now I would say for 90% of hunting situations the 308 is more than adequate so going bigger doesn't always make sense...but there certainly is a difference.
As for differences i have both 308 3006 and 300wm..all are great none are like the other unless your just talking bore diameter..those guys saying the 308 does exactly what the 06 does are kidding themselves same goes for 06 to 300wm. Now I would say for 90% of hunting situations the 308 is more than adequate so going bigger doesn't always make sense...but there certainly is a difference.
John Barsness did pretty much what you mention quite a few years ago; using chronographed loads and a mountain of data. What he came up isn’t that far from where you landed. In general the velocity increase is 25% of increased case capacity with equal bullet weights when powder choices are optimized in both instances.
I don’t know about that. My Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 300 Weatherby weighed 6 3/4 pounds and wasn’t all that bad. My boy was shooting it when he was 13. I don’t remember what my Kimber in 338 Win Mag weighs but it would be close to the Weatherby but lighter. It isn’t a big deal to shoot; recoil is faster than most are used to though. I compare it to a major league pitcher windng up and throwing a potato chip at you. Lots of speed then nothing much happens. Its over so fast that theres not much use getting too excited about it.
On the other hand there was a tupperware T3 stainless 300 Win making the rounds of my friends that I could have got for 200 bucks. Nobody liked shooting it much. Gun fit and recoil pads can make a world of difference in percieved recoil.
To me the the differences between the the calibers are mostly subjective as objectively they end up doing the same thing and arguing over power and velocity mostly equated to mental masturbation. I have taken tons of elk with a 30/30 for ages before I started to listen to the BS that it can't be done. I learned to be a good marksman because there was not much room for error with the intermediate cartridge, especially if you actually wanted to recover the animal. For the later part of my hunting voyage I had been using 308 but by far 3006 was my favorite in that you could be a lazier marksman and still take any animal down promptly. To me my 300WM rifle is abject excess only as I prefer not to shoot game beyond 400 yards. That said when I feel like being a bad ass or drop a bear in its tracts with unconditional authority I will gravitate for either 300WM or 300WBY over 3006 simply just because I can and its kind of cool.
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No real comparison between .308 and .300 win mag. The .308 is very effective within normal hunting ranges which in my mind is 300 yards or less for most of us. If you have the inclination (and more importantly the ability) to stretch out to 500 or 600 yards the 300 magnum is the way to go. Recoil is subjective and I have fired 8 or 10 different .300 magnums at the range(where recoil is most apparent), some were pleasant, some a little harsh and two were absolutely obnoxious. I have a custom 98 mauser in .338 magnum with 21 inch barrel that is less unpleasant then ANY of the .300 magnums I have used. I think the trend towards light rifles is taken too far today especially in magnum chamberings. My .338 wieghs 9.5 lbs scoped and loaded and is not overly burdensome and is pleasant to shoot off a bench and hangs nice offhand.
I think the .308 is perfectly adequate for 90% of shooting game, the 300 magnums shine for the other 10%. As far as power goes, it doesnt make up for poor shooting by an occasional shooter who has been pounded into a flinch by a too light, poorly stocked, ineffective recoil pad equipped rifle.
If you're going to shoot the magnums practice, practice, practice with them. If not most would be better suited with a .308.
I think the .308 is perfectly adequate for 90% of shooting game, the 300 magnums shine for the other 10%. As far as power goes, it doesnt make up for poor shooting by an occasional shooter who has been pounded into a flinch by a too light, poorly stocked, ineffective recoil pad equipped rifle.
If you're going to shoot the magnums practice, practice, practice with them. If not most would be better suited with a .308.
Glad I didn't have to be the one to say this
No idea what people are experiencing in the field to make such statements seem viable.
