30-06 vs. 300 Win Mag

[backfromthefuture]

What would be a better caliber to get?
The 30-06 or the 300 Win Mag? If you
could, tell me why one is better than
the other?

I really appreciate ya'll help with all of my questions.

[BIGJACK]

Hey man! In my own personal opinion, being the owner of several 30-06's I would reccomend the 30-06 if for no other reason the avialability and wide range of ammunition available. If a store sales ammo they will have 30-06 ammo.
Went out west with a fellow form Mobile Ala one time, many years ago and he had 11 rounds of 300weatherby magnum ammo. this was in big game country, Grey Bull, WY and we traveled every little settlement with in 35miles of the place and were not able to get a single bullet. He shot out of ammo on the first morning. This is just an example and now the high powered stuff is a lot easier to come by, but just the same, 30-06, It will do anything the 300mag will do, just not quite (smitget) as well.

[backfromthefuture]

I heard that the recoil on the 300 win mag has a recoil like a nothing else?
What are y'alls views on this along with my question above?

Thanks

[OJ]

Jeff Cooper offers the opinion that a 30-06 (or .308) will do anything anyone could want in the lower 48 states. I am inclined to believe that. As has been mentioned, lots of less expensive ammo is an added plus. If nothing elsse, it tends to encourage one - me, at least, to practice more. That and reasonable recoil are a hard combo to beat.

[hIPSHOT33]

I have both a 300 win and a 30.06 .Its a tough call as to which I like best . the 300 shoots a little flater and retains a little more energy out at the longer ranges 400 and beyond .but has a stiffer recoil . when i'm elk hunting I carry the 300 but for any thing eles I use the 06 . not that the 06 would not handle an elk , a friend of mine has taken 5 nice bulls with his 06 . I just like the little extra power . I guess if I had only one gun I would take the 3006 and not be under powerd anywhere in the lower 48.

[cochise]

backfromthefuture,

When you hunt, you NEVER feel the recoil!

The comparison can be made......................all the same bullit diameter

30/30 approx 2000 fps
308 approx 2600fps
30/06 2800 fps
300 win 3000 fps

Don't beat me up, that's from memory 30 yrs ago.

Recoil increases, but energy increases. Trajectory is flatter but human error , shaking- eyes? It really isn't much of a difference.

I killed my first deer with a 30/30. I then bought a 300 win. good gun.
40 yrs later a 308 or 30/06 is all I use.

[backfromthefuture]

See i will do more elk hunting then anything.
So i was thinking the 300. But say i wanted to
hunt a white tail or something, would it be to
much overkill with a 300? I don't know anyone
with a 300 who hunts deers, except my uncle,
and he only hunts in africa once a year for a few
months.

Thanks for all of your replys!

p.s. the forums are very well maintained.
thanks to all the adminastrators and moniters.

[Pointer]

.300

It pushes the same bullet 200 fps faster...

would it be too much overkill with a 300?

No... just use a heavier bullet so it doesn't make a mess of your venison...

[YamikidR1]

i own a 06 and its a great gun. i would take the 300 just to get some extra power, the 300 has also proven itself.

[backfromthefuture]

I know the preferred cartridge of the Marine Scot/Snipers is 300 Win Mag.
I'm shooting for Scout/Sniper when I graduate. Is there any Scout/Snipers
and the forums?

BFF

[backfromthefuture]

Well, maybe going for Army Green Berets, I just haven't decided yet.

BFF

[stevelyn]

.300
It pushes your bullet 200 fps faster....

Federal Premium Vital-Shok High Energy and Hornady Light Magnum......

They push your bullet 200 fps faster essentially turning your .30-06 into a .300 H&H and they use premium bullets. When you're done hunting elk you can drop back down to your standard loads for deer and prairie goats.

[r.w. schrack]

I owned both and the recoil of the 300 Win Mag is not as bad as you think, If you do your own loading one can taylor loads to needs. Both are super weapons. If you are after big stuff the Mag might be what you should get. If you hunt average stuff 3006 is fine. If in competition the 300 Mag with a nice bull barrel and bench stock works very well at 1000 yds. Good Luck Reggie ( The 300 Mag when fired everyone knows its you)

[backfromthefuture]

Thats awsome when fired, everyone will know its you.HAHAHA.
thats what i'm talkin about, and yes i will be hunting everything.
Mostly Elk though!

Thanks again.
BFF

[r.w. schrack]

Good choice, We have alot of Elk here thay hang out in some lodge. All joking aside , my uncle who lives in north central Pa. observes the stocked heard, Think thay are near Emporium which is near Renovo. Not sure but he sent me some awsome pictures. Reggie

[Jack O'Conner]

300 H&H MAG was marketed under the slogan that more speed and power killed game better. Yet 30-06 as presently loaded by Hornady meets or exceeds the 300 H&H. Powders and bullets have come a long way in the past 15 years.

Other 30 caliber magnums make the same promise, that is, more speed and power kills game better. Takes about 30% more powder to acheive 18% increase in velocity.

So a guy has to enjoy heavy recoil and spending a lot more for ammo. But we can't ignore the bragging rights. Nothing more impressive to experienced western guides than a guy over 50 years old and 50 lbs overweight bragging about his new magnum rifle. Very impressive indeed, WOW!

30-06 is yesterday's news and old hat. But it still slays game wherever game is hunted. Ammo can be purchased anywhere and for a fair price.
Jack

[22-rimfire]

If I were choosing a rifle for primarily elk hunting and ocasional deer hunting, I'd go with the 300 win mag. More recoil, but tolerable. The ammo availability issue is important, but I honestly keep enough on hand for most hunting or target shooting outings. The 300 WSM is an interesting cartridge. If I were buying a new rifle today, I would give it a look. Ammunition availablikty would be a potential issue.

[Edward429451]

I'd go with the /06 for all the reasons already stated. The ammo availability is enough reason alone but meat damage on game should be a consideration also.

The elk my son blasted with a .308/180 NP at 75 yds was DRT but had a 2" hole through his shoulder and wasted quite a bit of meat. That was overkill. One can only wonder how much more meat damage there would have been if it had been a 300 WM.

Maybe you can reach out to 5 or 6 hundred yds with an /06 or WM, but how often are those shots presented rather than at 100 yds or so? All these considerations add up to less is more. Yeah maybe you wont feel the recoil when shooting at game...but you sure will when at the range.

Have you ever shot a 300WM? Better go shoot one before plunking down your cash. Interestingly enough, /06-300WM is the limit for me. I can shoot a /06 and have loads of fun, while the 300WM is definitly not as much fun to shoot, which means I'd never get as good with it as with the /06.

The 300WM is practically special purpose cartridge. I'm sure it serves its purpose very well for those special purpose applications but a general use hunting cartridge it is not. These guys that get on here spouting energy & velocity figures...take that info with a grain of salt. Rather listen to the older gunhands who will talk hunting experiance and terminal performance on game they have shot. Are they using 300WM's? Uh huh.

Keep your goals practical and not based on over anaylization of paper energy figures.

[High Planes Drifter]

Keep your goals practical and not based on over anaylization of paper energy figures.

Well Said. Id also go with the .06 .Practical , ammo as common as .22 long rifle, accurate and versatile.

[backfromthefuture]

I made a choice. I think i'm going to go with the win mag because I'm going to hunt more elk and game of that size, rather than white-tails and such, and the ammo for the win mag is right down the road at Murfs Guns in Duncan, OK, about 20 minutes from me. I probably could have them sent to my house if I needed.

BFF

[Pointer]

If I were choosing a rifle for primarily elk hunting and ocasional deer hunting, I'd go with the 300 win mag.

Well said... but...

If you can have two rifles...

Deer, 30-06

Deer and Elk, 300WM

Elk, .338 WinMag... or .340WM

[Jack O'Conner]

The marketing has worked! Look how many hunters think a magnum is best for elk! HAH!
Jack

[yorec]

We're talking a .300 mag here, not .22 lr vs .22 mg...

Yes, the .300 WM is better for elk than the .30-06 which is wholey acceptable for it!

[Picher]

With the new "managed recoil" ammo from Remington, you can have your cake and eat it too. They have reduced recoil ammo in .300 Win. Mag and 7mm Mag. The recoil is about half of what the full-power loads are.

http://www.remington.com/products/am...ged-recoil.asp

That ammo is a great product. It allowed my grandson to use my .270 for deer hunting last month, (though he didn't shoot a deer). With the wide variety of good ammo available at reasonable prices, there's not as much need to reload any more. But, when I retire, I'll need something to keep me busy.

Picher

[Art Eatman]

OJ, I'm always pleased when I hear that Unca Jeff agrees with my own opinions from 50 years back.

Art