308 or 300 win mag, cant decide.

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Kryogen

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(I reload, so cost per round is only 15 cents more with the 300 win mag vs 308).

Can't decide if I should get a 308 or 300 win mag.

Factors for 308:
Powerful enough, effective quite far, lower recoil, longer barrel life, lower cost per boom

Against 308:
Still costly per round

For 300 win mag:
I drool over the 300 win mag power.
More power, more range.

Cons:
More recoil, more money to shoot, lower barrel life.

I plan to do target shooting, and hunting with the rifle.

Planning to get a rem 700 police.

My point is that since either 308 or 300 win mag costs alot to shoot (bullet), and 300 win is only 15 cents more, I will probably be shooting more 223 anyway.
So maybe I should get a 223 target bolt to do most of my shooting, since I will be shooting mostly 223 anyway?

And then get another bolt in 300 win mag?
But shooting 223 is just less exciting.

I feel like I just don't know what to get.

I don't want to build a nice rifle and feel underpowered for longer range hunts.
At the same time, it's a bit dumb to shoot paper at 200 yards with a 300 win mag....

If I could I would have a 223, a 308 and a 300 win mag target bolts, but right now I can't really afford that, so I would prefer one rifle to do it all. I already have a few rifles I am not using...
Maybe I could use my su16F with a scope to shoot most 223, and then just keep the 308 or 300 for the occasional longer range target shooting or hunt?.
 
I own a 300 WM not for need but because it's a great caliber, a 308 will take care of all in N.A. (almost) and is much more pleasant to shot and always extremely accurate, if i could only have one... 308... JP.
 
If you get a nice recoil reducing muzzle brake on a 300 win mag it sure makes it more tolerable. That would be my choice for Moose. Everything else a. 308 can do. Though if you like 30 cal I wouldn't rule out the 30-06.
 
308 its just a great round !
easy to sit and shoot alot ... and can be quite accurate
variety of bullets that work well
its my fav

300 mag is great ... but make sure you don't get one of those ultra lite rifles... i did and my goodness that 6lb rifle can kick
- real powerhouse on game

umm, i'd get them both... their great cartridges
 
I would prefer to keep it a 308 vs 300 win debate.
I indend to get a heavy rifle with a brake (308 or 300 win anyway)
 
makes alot of sense, but I have just sold my light 300wm savage with a decent scope and a custom brake for half price to a friend last year (grrr....) thats the dumbest idea ever.
I don't feel like buying the same thing again. That's why, at least, paying for a batter target rifle would not hurt me too much.
Or, maybe I'll just get a target 308, and a damn savage axis with cheap scope 300 win mag to lug around in the woods.... no brake, it's one hit anyway.

How far is 308 good for moose or bear?

and I just cant decide on the 308 rifle also....tika tac, rem 700 police or savage 10fcp mcmillan
 
Will you be hunting grizzly with it??

How far is 308 good for moose or bear?

Further than you should be shooting. ;)

.308 if you have an average or above average endowment.

.300WM if you have bellow average.
 
sorry what do you mean by endowment, make it clear, english is not my first language.

my issue with 300 win mag is excessive recoil for no reason and I shoot mostly under 300 yards anyway....
might shoot further some time, but not most.
 
seeing as you reload, why not get the 300wm, and load it to 308 levels for practice, and full loads for hunting? saves money, barrel life, and your shoulder.
 
Seems like you're leaning toward a .308 anyway. Here is a different thought. If you reload, you may even consider an 8mm Mauser. You can reform 30-06 brass into 8x57mm. Pick up a used sporter in 8mm from Anthony at Trade Ex for less than half the price of a .308 ie, 300$.

I reload and one of my favourites is a 170gr. RN soft point. This rifle is more than capable in dropping large mammals in excess of 500m away. It is a lower pressure cartridge and the recoil would be similar to the .308...just a thought.
 
I had a 300 WM, even at 16 lbs it became a chore to keep shooting after 30 or so rounds. 308 Win was nice but high BC bullets are really too heavy for the cartridge. Was going to go for a 7-08 or .284 but I got a deal on a 6.5mm barrel so it's going to be 260 Rem.

Soooo, how about a 6.5mm/7mm of moderate power instead?
 
I like the .300 Win Mag over the .308 or 30-06, I reload and the extra power is there if you need it, load down to .308 is easy, try and shoot both and you pick
 
I went with a .300WM in my first heavy rifle. At 14 lbs with a brake it recoils lighter than my 8lb 6.5x55. I wanted something I could play with out past 1km and shoot game with further than my Swede can reach.
I'd vote .300 any day over a .308.
 
I ended up buying a Sendero SFII in 300 win mag (plus Timney trigger and Versa-pod) as my first starter long range/bigger game dual purpose rifle. Prior to buying this rifle the largest calibre I had shot was a 30-06. At first, shooting the 300 was intimidating, but I kept shooting it religiously to get accustomed to the bigger bang. After a year of shooting I couldn't be more happy with the choice I made, for it's purpose. That being said, I know for a fact that I have not yet even come close to pushing the limits of this gun in terms of the distances I've shot it at (up to 600m), and I know a 308 will make it to any target I've shot at without any issues. Since I've become so used to shooting this gun, the recoil doesn't bother me, even after 40-50 shots, and I'm not a big guy. I'd say if you want the big power to get you as far as you ever want to shoot, and have a cartridge more than capable of taking big game as far as you feel comfortable shooting, pick up the 300. If you get bored or don't like it, there's always 308s on the EE to take a look at. Either way I'm sure you'll have a great time shoting and developing loads for your new gun!
 
"...Still costly per round..." Not so much if you reload.
"...lower barrel life..." Highly unlikely you'll ever shoot out any barrel. However, barrel life doesn't apply to a hunting rifle the way it might to a target rifle. Target rifles get fired whole lot more than any hunting rifle. Hunting rifles get carried a lot, so you really don't want a target rifle for hunting. Too heavy.
"...How far is 308 good for...feel underpowered for..." As far away as you can consistently hit the 9" pie plate every time, standing. If you can't make the shot with a .308, a .300 mag isn't going to help.
 
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