308 vs 300 WM
- Thread starter michaelsabre
- Start date
You can certainly get higher weight and ballisically superior bullets traveling faster in one of the .30 magnums than the .308. A lot less bullet drop and increase ability to resist wind forces. Of course there's a cost for this, well several actually. Ammo is more expensive, recoil is greater and barrel life can be drastically reduced. For mid-range target shooting, the .308 is still an excellent option (so is a .223 with heavier bullets IMHO), especially for someone starting out.
- Location
- Virden, MB
It will make the 300WM hurt your shoulder.
You aren't that much of a n00b if you got 1166 posts.
For 600 yards the 308 is optimal. Its easier to shoot, cheaper to shoot, and easier on barrels. If you wanted to shoot 1200 plus meters and you wanted to knock it over, then yea 300WM may be better, if that was all there was to choose from.
You aren't that much of a n00b if you got 1166 posts.
For 600 yards the 308 is optimal. Its easier to shoot, cheaper to shoot, and easier on barrels. If you wanted to shoot 1200 plus meters and you wanted to knock it over, then yea 300WM may be better, if that was all there was to choose from.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
The 308 would be a better choice if you're just shooting paper. If you think you want to hunt at extended ranges you will want somethign with more oomph.
That being said, you describe yourself as a noob (though Mag-Nut seems to equate the ability to type with shooting experience). If this is really the case and you're new to shooting I would suggest that you start with the 308 and do lots of shooting at paper at all kinds of distance. No one should wander out into the hills and whang away at game at long distances until they get a lot of shooting under their belt. And even then, start with gophers and things that you will either hit and kill or miss clean.
That being said, you describe yourself as a noob (though Mag-Nut seems to equate the ability to type with shooting experience). If this is really the case and you're new to shooting I would suggest that you start with the 308 and do lots of shooting at paper at all kinds of distance. No one should wander out into the hills and whang away at game at long distances until they get a lot of shooting under their belt. And even then, start with gophers and things that you will either hit and kill or miss clean.
Last edited:
If it is your first LR rifle attempt you are most likely better off with a 223, 6mbr, 260, 6.5-284....The 308Win is superbly accurate, but (in my opinion) the other calibers mentioned do the same job cheaper and with less recoil.
The 300 win is a great hunting and long range cartridge, but I think the reduced recoil and the significant cost savings of the smaller bores will help you shooter better as well as shoot more.
Out of the choices you offered the 308win gets my nod.
The 300 win is a great hunting and long range cartridge, but I think the reduced recoil and the significant cost savings of the smaller bores will help you shooter better as well as shoot more.
Out of the choices you offered the 308win gets my nod.
unless you reload most of the above mentioned calibers are not good choices for you. if you are getting into long range shooting the 308 is far cheaper to shoot that the 300wm and when your fisrt starting out you need to shoot as much as you can. match 308 ammo is around $30 to $35 dollars a box where match 300wm ammo will cost double. im not sure exact price.
I have two 308's and one 300 win mag. All three are set up for 600-1000 yard shooting and similar events. Everyone who posted previously before is accurate. The 308 has more wind drift and drop at longer ranges, but you have to know how much drop and windage to apply with either rifle. Learning the drop, and wind dope will help greatly with either rifle. Buying a 300 won't relieve you from having to learn how to dope wind, or learn trajectory. The 300 is a bit more forgiving if you guess the wind wrong, but it kicks MUCH harder (I shoot a 190 Sierra match at 2960fps) and wears out barrels in about 850 rounds before they need to be set back or replaced. My best scores at 600 have been posted with a 308 wearing a lower powered scope than the 300, for whatever that is worth.
My advice echos the advice above. Get a 308 and practice alot. 308 will work dandy at 1000 yards if you do your part. However, the 300 has about as much energy at 400 yards as my 308 does at the end of the barrel. Something to consider for a hunting rifle. Remember, I have two 308's and only one 300....gotta tell you something.
My advice echos the advice above. Get a 308 and practice alot. 308 will work dandy at 1000 yards if you do your part. However, the 300 has about as much energy at 400 yards as my 308 does at the end of the barrel. Something to consider for a hunting rifle. Remember, I have two 308's and only one 300....gotta tell you something.
I think the 300 WM is a little more versatile caliber as has been said so you would have a do-everything caliber (target or hunting at any practical distance), and if money is no option it's probably a better choice if you want to go with one rifle.
308 is a great caliber though, and people win shooting competitions all the time with it. People also bring down all kinds of game with it.
Guess you can't lose either way, eh?
308 is a great caliber though, and people win shooting competitions all the time with it. People also bring down all kinds of game with it.
Guess you can't lose either way, eh?
- Location
- Virden, MB
308vs300WM
FiGhT!11
FiGhT!11
Velocity has nothing to do with accuracy. The 300WM is the "winningest" 1000M cartridge, but at great cost: punishing Recoil, poor Barrel Life, burning lots of powder, and the fact that it creates flinch. It is not a comfortable round to shoot lots.
There are far more economical choices 1000M shooting.
The 308 is available in factory match ammo plus relaoding components abound. It is the #1 choice for 1000-1200M TR and Plama shooting
There are far more economical choices 1000M shooting.
The 308 is available in factory match ammo plus relaoding components abound. It is the #1 choice for 1000-1200M TR and Plama shooting
Frozen Snake
Regular
- Location
- 49°29'28" N 119°35'19" W
DId you ever consider the 7mm-08 or the 260 Rem?
Thanks for the suggestions!
I shoot 223 at 100 and 200. And I do reloading.
After seeing what wind did to 55gr bullet, I decide to upgrade to bigger calibers. A nice gentleman let me shoot his 300WM with lambsaver pad. So I know I can deal with the recoil.
A interesting learning is the barrel life. Let's say 168gr bullet at 3000FPS, how long the barrel will last?
I shoot 223 at 100 and 200. And I do reloading.
After seeing what wind did to 55gr bullet, I decide to upgrade to bigger calibers. A nice gentleman let me shoot his 300WM with lambsaver pad. So I know I can deal with the recoil.
A interesting learning is the barrel life. Let's say 168gr bullet at 3000FPS, how long the barrel will last?
- Location
- Virden, MB
The barrel will last longer if you take care of it. Proper break in and allowing time for your barrel to cool between shots (longer for sporter weights, a little less for varmint contours) will help increase your barrel life. 3000 fps wouldn't be pushing that load hard at all so it would increase the barrel life as well.
I can't give you a number personally but from what I read, if you take care of your barrel you could get up to 2000 rounds before its toast. Thats pretty optimistic sounding to me.
Look at it this way. If thats what you want to shoot, do it. If you get something else and don't like it you'll regret it. And in reality by the time you have fired 1500 rounds you've already spent about $1500 on ammo, so whats $500 for another match barrel, or $200 for a factory barrel.
My concern with a 300 is it is easy to develop a flinch with that kind of recoil. Build it heavy and maybe even muzzle break it. Shooting it once is fine, its just once you start shooting matches or just an all day fun shoot, the recoil will get tiresome.
My 2cents. If you really want a magnum, loo at the 7mmRM. The ballistics are better, its faster, slightly less recoil and you can still shoot 168g bullets and even 180g if you have a fast enough twist. Don't let me talk you out of the 300WM if your heart is set on it, because it is a good cal.
I can't give you a number personally but from what I read, if you take care of your barrel you could get up to 2000 rounds before its toast. Thats pretty optimistic sounding to me.
Look at it this way. If thats what you want to shoot, do it. If you get something else and don't like it you'll regret it. And in reality by the time you have fired 1500 rounds you've already spent about $1500 on ammo, so whats $500 for another match barrel, or $200 for a factory barrel.
My concern with a 300 is it is easy to develop a flinch with that kind of recoil. Build it heavy and maybe even muzzle break it. Shooting it once is fine, its just once you start shooting matches or just an all day fun shoot, the recoil will get tiresome.
My 2cents. If you really want a magnum, loo at the 7mmRM. The ballistics are better, its faster, slightly less recoil and you can still shoot 168g bullets and even 180g if you have a fast enough twist. Don't let me talk you out of the 300WM if your heart is set on it, because it is a good cal.
- Location
- Virden, MB
Are you going to buy a factory rifle or build one?
- Location
- Virden, MB
SAVAGE FTW!
The 110fcp should retail at under $900 and it has a muzzle break and detach mag. Only 24" barrel tho, 26" would be nicer. 2009 models have the accustock too.
Or you could do like I just did. Buy a stevens 200 in 300WM for $300. Tune the trigger or spend $100 for a SSS trigger. Find a stock you like as the factory stock is pretty tumperwareish. Say a Boyds laminate for under $200. Bed and pillar the action. If you like the stock sporter barrel fire a thousand rounds through it while your order for a match barrel is being made. Spin on your match barrel (no smith required, unless you are uncompfortable with it). And then you have a match quality gun.
Cheap and fun.
The 110fcp should retail at under $900 and it has a muzzle break and detach mag. Only 24" barrel tho, 26" would be nicer. 2009 models have the accustock too.
Or you could do like I just did. Buy a stevens 200 in 300WM for $300. Tune the trigger or spend $100 for a SSS trigger. Find a stock you like as the factory stock is pretty tumperwareish. Say a Boyds laminate for under $200. Bed and pillar the action. If you like the stock sporter barrel fire a thousand rounds through it while your order for a match barrel is being made. Spin on your match barrel (no smith required, unless you are uncompfortable with it). And then you have a match quality gun.
Cheap and fun.
Last edited:
- Location
- Virden, MB
Talk to Mysticplayer. He gets Shielen pre-threaded for savage actions in quite often. He is the Stevens action guru. If you want to build on a Stevens action, he knows it all.
