Do I Really Need A .300 Win Mag?

Jordan Smith said:
It's all about the bullet. I'd feel much more comfortable shooting a moose with a 140gr TTSX in a 7mm-08 than I would with a 150gr Sierra PH out of a .30-06.

That being said, why not just get another XS7 that you are so fond of, but this time get it chambered in 7-08 or .308? Run some good bullets, and no moose or bear will shrug off a hit. Another plus- recoil and ammo cost are both significantly less than the .300...
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How did the steel chicken gun get into this discussion.:rolleyes:


What will an energy drink give a .30-06? It will spew out the same bullets 300FPS faster and become a .300WM.

Whos needs a .300? What will my practical range increase by?

I always said, and you can crunch the numbers till the cows are all in the barn, that a .300 will increase your range by around 150yds.

Do I need this range? I usually never shoot over 300yds and in the case of moose here or in the OP's area probaly under 200yds.

Lets do a little simple comparison, with similar bullets, to show this range increase will usually always hold true.

I'm a handloader, so I'll pick a bullet I'm famaliar with the Sierra GameKing 180SBT @ .506BC. I know theres much better ones today, but the end range results will be the same, choose your poison the BC will tell you were it's going to fly.

We will take bolt guns with 24" barrels each. Anyone loading for an '06 in a 24" tube will know 2750fps is an attainable velocity for it.
Anyone loading for the 300, will know 3050fps is attainable for it.

If I check out my long range ballistics, I see the 06 down to 1985Ft-lbs at 300yds. @ 2000ftlbs at impact on this type bullet will deliver adequate penetration on a Moose to vitals and therefore a good kill.

I see the .300WM down to 2001ft-lbs at 450yds. This means the same ability to render said game down with an '06, is now being done at 450yds.


At exactly the same range of the '06 at 300yds, the 300 will deliver nearly 2500ftlbs.

The .300WM is, and always will be, a 150 yd extension on the barrel of your .30-06,.... or a bigger hammer at the same range,cut it,... chew it....., however you like.

Do you or me need this 150yd long barrel?

How far do you shoot, how hard is the game to kill and what is the minimum you consider energy delivered at the target for the bullet to do a complete job? This will determine if the the usually heavier rifle, with one or two less in the mag, and a little more on ammo cost is worth it.:canadaFlag:
 
I prefer it for the higher ft/lbs of energy it dumps at the same range. I am either superstitious or just the victim of circumstance, but every animal I have shot with a .30-06 had to be tracked, I've never had to track an animal shot with a .300wm. They always fell right there. (and YES, shot placement was the same).
 
Your 30 30 will kill a moose/ bear no problem. What ever you shoot better with is the cartridge you need. The 300 win will make you flinch shots if your not used to the recoil.
Using a magnum centre fire at point blank is pointless as well.
 
jamiejaf said:
Your 30 30 will kill a moose/ bear no problem. What ever you shoot better with is the cartridge you need. The 300 win will make you flinch shots if your not used to the recoil.
Using a magnum centre fire at point blank is pointless as well.
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Christ, a .22mag can make someone flinch if they aren't used to noise. Its not like its a ballpeen hammer to the head, its a bit of recoil..........nut up.
And its not useless at "point blank" range any more than a .30-06 is. And with a monolithic bullet like I use, its not useless at all. Startin' to sound all convent like in here.
 
The .300 is a great cartridge, with 30-06 bullets at .270 speed, a decades old tradition of kicking lesser .30 ass at the target range and is easily the most commonly encountered cartridge where international sport hunters gather. The difference in cost amounts to a whole 2 bucks per box for the extra powder.

Too bad most shooters aren't good enough for it. That's their problem.:p

The fact is, a Ferrari is more car than a Fiero and a 10 pound hammer is more hammer than an 8 pound. Whether I can afford it, "need" it, have the opportunity and area to swing it , or the driveing skill to take advantage of it is another thing.
 
since i am reading that your main use will be for bear over bait (correct me if i am wrong) why not one of the 9.3mm's that tradeex is selling? those older husqvarnas are beautiful rifles. for $500 you could have a nice classic rifle and buy some reloading gear.

or use what you have and buy a nice pair of binoculars? a good pair of binoculars are a revelation and contribute more to my enjoyment and success than a rifle.
 
It depends on how far you think you are going to be shooting. If you are like me in Mid North Ontario, most of my shooting is done under 100 yards.

I hunt bear but not moose yet. I trust my Marlin GG in 45/70 to end any bear I meet. 405 grs of lead at 1450 fps will stop them cold.

You might also want to consider a shotgun with slugs. Very effective. Large slow projectiles cause less meat loss.

But as the others have said a 30-06 is a great choice for longer ranges.

BTW when you get into the 300 win mag and 338 range of calibers, be prepared for the recoil. There is a huge difference in recoil between 30-06, which I consider stout, and the win mag and 338. I won't fire one if it does not have a muzzle break. I don't like pain when I am shooting, it develops into a flinch. I have a 338 Edge but it won't be used for hunting. Not unless I am stationary and can use the quad to get to my spot. It is a heavy gun.
 
It all depends on where you hunt, how large the moose is, what range, and what kind of bear are we discussing.

everyone I hunt with in northern BC shoots either a 270 or a 30-06, but when there is a large nasty hanging around they always want me as back up with my 300Win. The recoil isn't all that bad, with the right gun. You can go with lighter loads and get great flat land performance, but also load UP and take on anything in North America with confidence. It also depends on where you get your ammo. Reloads? Gunshop? Gas station because you forgot yours at home? 30-06 is the cheaper option, but do you want to go cheap?
 
hunting rifle

mlehtovaara said:
just looking at a gun for moose and bear, and wondering if i really need a .300 win mag?

I am looking for a budget rifle, as i already have a .243, and a 30-30 for deer, and it won't be used all that much. Prolly a few days in a tree stand at bear season, and if i ever get a chance for a moose trip.

Anyways most of the budget rifles, i am looking at are only available up to 30-06, and i am leaning that way, as i really love my marlin xs7.

The one option i have found is the stevens 200, but i have owned a couple, and prefer the marlin, as it has the better trigger stock, and especially recoil pad.

Anyways most reading i have done leads me to believe i really don't need the magnum cartridge, and cost of ammo and recoil, might make me a little less likely to practice with it.

Thanks for the opinions.
M.
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308,30-06 :]
 
I'll add my twobits worth here.

270, 3006, 308, 300wm, 338wm, etc will all do the job. Sorry Jordan, the 7 08 will not. ;)

With what you have been shooting the 3006 is the next logical step up in recoil. You have been shooting light recoilers in a 30 30 and a 243, the 3006 is the next level. Shoot it lots and get good with it. I've killed most everything in BC with 3006 180grn Federal bluebox ammo.

300wm, 338wm are another step up in recoil - but nothing to be afraid of. Everyone handles recoil differently so be aware that what one guy finds "bone crushing" another finds as no big deal. Both folks are right as this is how they individually experience it.

Get the 3006 in whatever rifle fits you well. Shoot it a lot. Maybe in 3 to 5 years you will be posting about a 338wm next...
 
Sorry but there is no right answer

I don't need a .300 win mag but I bought a winchester extreme weather model 70 earlier this year just because i wanted one. I have a 7mm rem mag and i don't think the felt recoil of the .300 is any worse. It might just be the straight stock design and soft decelerator recoil pad but my 15 year old son doesn't have a problem shooting it, he actually likes it. I didn't tell him a .300 mag is a thumper so he just shoots it (quite well i might add) and doesn't know any better. That said I don't think its really any better than a 30-06 in the field (within about 300 yards which is about my limit reguardless of caliber). You'll find lots of happy hunters using a 7mm-08, 270, 280, 7mm mag, 30-06 and even 300 mags. Whatever you decide shoot it a lot and enjoy.
 
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