- Location
- Saskatchewan
I always find myself going to the 30-06 over the 300 Win Mag.....From Deer to moose I always pick up the Winchester Model 70 Sportier. anyone else feel this way? or am I a lone wolf
Anyone else not using there 300WM
- Thread starter Wiseguym70
- Start date
Nope, you're a lone wolf. 
But you're not exactly alone.
I do the opposite. I've got almost as many 30-06s as .300s whether WSM, Win Mag, Weatherby or RUM. One belonged to my late father-in-law and I keep it as a momento. The other three were all bought for high volume culling, and 2 have been modified for 10 shot magazines. The only reasons for them existing in my collection at all is that I can shoot a lot more before they are too hot to hold, ammunition is a little lighter so I can fly more of it, its cheaper if I'm forced to buy a case or two over-seas, and it is just enough quieter that the odd shots (that add up) that inevitably get taken without hearing protection are not such a big deal. Most top feeds will hold one or two more rounds than the magnums which doesn't matter to many people. This use has lead to the slightly weird situation where I've killed more game with a 30-06 than any other caliber and still don't like it very much.
For every other 30 cal use I can think of I'll take one of the .300s. For normal use where a guy is lucky to get a shot a day, or maybe one a week or one a season there is flat out nothing that a 30-06 can do that .300 can't do better. In my case the .300 is most likely to be Win Mag but I'll take any of them before a 30-06.
But you're not exactly alone.I do the opposite. I've got almost as many 30-06s as .300s whether WSM, Win Mag, Weatherby or RUM. One belonged to my late father-in-law and I keep it as a momento. The other three were all bought for high volume culling, and 2 have been modified for 10 shot magazines. The only reasons for them existing in my collection at all is that I can shoot a lot more before they are too hot to hold, ammunition is a little lighter so I can fly more of it, its cheaper if I'm forced to buy a case or two over-seas, and it is just enough quieter that the odd shots (that add up) that inevitably get taken without hearing protection are not such a big deal. Most top feeds will hold one or two more rounds than the magnums which doesn't matter to many people. This use has lead to the slightly weird situation where I've killed more game with a 30-06 than any other caliber and still don't like it very much.
For every other 30 cal use I can think of I'll take one of the .300s. For normal use where a guy is lucky to get a shot a day, or maybe one a week or one a season there is flat out nothing that a 30-06 can do that .300 can't do better. In my case the .300 is most likely to be Win Mag but I'll take any of them before a 30-06.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Nope, you're a lone wolf.
I do the opposite. I've got almost as many 30-06s as .300s whether WSM, Win Mag, Weatherby or RUM. One belonged to my late father-in-law and I keep it as a momento. The other three were all bought for high volume culling, and 2 have been modified for 10 shot magazines. The only reasons for them existing in my collection at all is that I can shoot a lot more before they are too hot to hold, ammunition is a little lighter so I can fly more of it, its cheaper if I'm forced to buy a case or two over-seas, and it is just enough quieter that the odd shots (that add up) that inevitably get taken without hearing protection are not such a big deal. Most top feeds will hold one or two more rounds than the magnums which doesn't matter to many people. This use has lead to the slightly weird situation where I've killed more game with a 30-06 than any other caliber and still don't like it very much.
For every other 30 cal use I can think of I'll take one of the .300s. For normal use where a guy is lucky to get a shot a day, or maybe one a week or one a season there is flat out nothing that a 30-06 can do that .300 can't do better. In my case the .300 is most likely to be Win Mag but I'll take any of them before a 30-06.
Interesting! thats a cool point of view. i think the opposite though! i have killed 4 Deer 1 moose and 2 elk with my 30-06 all under 200 yards but maybe its just the confidence factor i have with the rifle!
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've considered buying a .300 magnum many times, but when I look at my hunting habits and preferences, there is little or no advantage to me using faster/better trajectory than a 30-06 or .308 for that matter. An I prefer the milder cartridges for comfort and ease of use. My average range from about 150 animals taken is not a lot more than 100 yards. I prefer to stalk closer, not shoot farther.
Glock4ever
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I use the 300 WSM because it has the advantages of the Win Mag (up to 180 grains) with powder consumption being very comparable to the .30-06. The muzzle blast is a bit more but I don't cull hunt like Dogleg so for big game it works just fine. I have found that I like to have more gun than less because it kills with more authority and gives me more range but that is just my preference. I also have like short beltless case vice the long belted case of the 300 Win Mag likely because of my precision rifle background.
To get to your original post, I think that you are not uncommon in your view/approach. Many of the hunters I know are trending away from large Magnums, mainly because of experience. I think a lot of new hunters are "up-sold" on mags and as they hunt more they realize that there is way more recoil, muzzle blast and of course cost to shooting a magnum which is really not required for hunting deer. Most of the places I have hunted, folks have to wait years for a moose or elk tag so shooting a mag at whitetail or muley for most years is pretty much a waste unless your shots are 300 yds plus and you need the flat trajectory of the 300 Win Mag.
To get to your original post, I think that you are not uncommon in your view/approach. Many of the hunters I know are trending away from large Magnums, mainly because of experience. I think a lot of new hunters are "up-sold" on mags and as they hunt more they realize that there is way more recoil, muzzle blast and of course cost to shooting a magnum which is really not required for hunting deer. Most of the places I have hunted, folks have to wait years for a moose or elk tag so shooting a mag at whitetail or muley for most years is pretty much a waste unless your shots are 300 yds plus and you need the flat trajectory of the 300 Win Mag.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
As just a youngster myself at 18 i grew up hunting with dads 30-06 so i grew very comfortable with it. on my 16 birthday we went to the gun store and he said i could pick one out i wanted to use for hunting......so i took a liking to the winchester model 70 Sport (Wood Stock) in 30-06 and the salesmen was really trying to get us to buy a 300 WM saying the 30-06 is out dated and becoming hard to find..................i guess he thought i had no idea about hunting or firearms. but i am happy with this rifle and it has been old faithful for almost 4 seasons now
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Good Motto!
It's not so much the calibre but the rifle.
I have a 300 that I like a lot and it has slain deer, bear, moose and elk, but it is heavy and in the last couple years I have acquired a couple lightweight rifles in 7x57 and 270 and they suit my purposes fine and are nice to carry around all day.
I have a 300 that I like a lot and it has slain deer, bear, moose and elk, but it is heavy and in the last couple years I have acquired a couple lightweight rifles in 7x57 and 270 and they suit my purposes fine and are nice to carry around all day.
If I hunted only elk or if I was confident of being able to hit my target's kill zone every time at 500+ m, then I might look at a Magnum. For deer or moose at the ranges 95% of hunters can actually hit anything, then why go with the heavier rifle, higher cost, bigger recoil and blast, etc? Nothing whatever wrong with the rounds, but they're overkill for me. Bambi can only die, not die-die-die, and the 'lesser' 30s serve very well for that
I'm going to take a stab seeing how far I can get a .375 to trample on .300 turf this year. In the past I would tend to park it when ranges much over 300 yards were anticipated or a 10 pound rifle wasn't welcome, but with a 3000 +fps 8 pound combination those misgiving are lessened.
It probably stems from the stock fit more than anything, but the .300 win mags I've shot have been very uncomfortable and I quickly parted with them. I haven't tried a WSM or Weatherby yet but don't feel the need, the various '06, x57 and .308 based cartridges provide all the performance I need to kill big game as far away as I am comfortable (400 meters) with less recoil. I am not saying I won't try another .300 or similar magnum but stock fit will get careful consideration and I would have to weigh the pro's and con's between a .300, a fast 7 or some of the larger medium bore magnums.
- Location
- Rockland, ON
I started using a 300WM in 1996, it replaced my pre 64 M70 Featherweight in 30-06. I used the 300WM for 16 years for moose and it saw the occassional deer hunt and a caribou hunt once as well. Three years ago I decided to leave the 300 at home. The last 3 years I took either my 30-06, my 270 Win or my 270WSM. Earlier this year I sold my 300WM and 270 Win. My main moose rifle is now the 270WSM backed up by my 30-06.
Why? The 270WSM is a pleasure to hunt with. Performance wise, the 270WSM has a bit more velocity but gives up a bit of energy to the 300WM (150g vs 180g). It surpasses the 270win (150g) and the 30-06 (150g vs 150&180g) in both velocity and energy. It has less felt recoil than my 300WM and weighs less, under 8 pounds loaded with scope and sling. My 270WSM can do more than I ask of it, as would my 300WM, and it is easier on me while doing it than was the 300.
