Why 300 WinMag over 30-06

What edge does 300 Win Mag have over 30-06 for deer hunting. I can't see much difference in the two to warrant the cost of ammo, reloading components and overall performance of the 300 Win Mag.

300 win has more case capacity which gives more velocity on the heavy bullets (190+). The 06 gives more variety and flexibility in ammo

If you are looking for a generally hunting gun I would say 06. If you are doing a dedicated big game at 500+ I would go win mag

You pick up the ability to handle heavier bullets better and greater range. You need to define your needs, if your ranges are 300-350 yards and deer are your target, your observations are correct. Want to stretch the range to 450 or shoot a Nilgai then the calculus changes.
Cleric's answer was while I was thinking and typing

You can load the 300 at 30-06 speeds but not vice versa. Versatility goes to the 300 but it is definitely allot of gun for just whitetail

You can get more of a variety in over the counter ammo with 06 than 300. Both in terms of bullet type and manufacturer. If you reload you can replicate a 06 load in 300. But if you want 06 performance get an 06

^^What they said^^

^^What they said

SOMEBODY WRITE THIS DOWN EVERYBODY IS AGREEING FOR 6 WHOLE POSTS

It'll go to chit. Just wait...

An 06 cant push a 200+ gr bullet 2800+ fps like a win mag can.

got my 300 pushing 190 3000fps without even really pushing the load

Hot load or long barrel?

You getting the itch for another .30-cal, Geezer?

27" Lilja barrel w/ suppressor, 76.8 gr H1000 and the 208 Amax with a little jump, running 2938 fps avg.

How are you getting 76.8 gr of H-1000 in an 06' case that has a water capacity of 68.0 gr?

I just finished load development for a friend's .300 Win Mag with H-1000 and a 210 Berger 3.360" O.A.L. and it was a compressed load at 77.0 gr.

I thought Mac had a 300...

Not trying to be contrary here, but one of my interests these days is the flexibility that magnums offer when reduced or 'starting' loads are used.

I find that they deliver good accuracy, in fact I have seen reduced loads offer superior accuracy to the high-density loads that, according to theory, are really supposed to be best.

So, from my perspective if I had to choose between a 30-06 or a .300 Win mag, I'd take the magnum - and 90% or more of the time I would shoot starting loads, which for the 300 WM work out to be about like a slightly too-hot 30-06 load in whatever bullet weight. - But note that the magnum would not be stressed out at all while delivering this performance. It would just be loafing along!

If the need for speed arose, I'd be ready for it... Because I would have tried a few premium factory loads out and found one that the gun likes. A quick trip to the range to adjust the scope, and I'd be ready to stop a teed-off grizzly at close range, or drop a moose, etc.. Things that I do not anticipte, but would like to be ready to handle well if that need does arise with a rifle that I know, and know well.

The barrel would last practically forever (for a magnum) and incidentally there is nothing that says 'safety' like a starting load that does not generate the highest pressure, and is not so likely to act up with temperature extremes. For this, I would use more powder than an '06 would use to do the same thing, as there is no such thing as a free lunch.

I have put in many years pushing various cartridges for the last bit of velocity - and for a variety of reasons I have come to the conclusion that if I want upper-limit 30-06 velocity, I'd ten times rather just use 300 magnum starting loads and do the exactly the same thing while just loafing along.

- But that's just me.

Here is that exact scenario from re-zeroing a 300 Win Mag just yesterday with the 165 Barnes TTSX running just over 3050. It actually has about the same felt recoil as a 30-06 to me, but steps up the velocity by 200 fps without any effort or strain.

Like Cleric said, I have a 300WM so the 76.8 gr of H1000 is no problem. As soon as I get the chassis opened up for the new magazine I'll post pics here. It's one of those projects that has taken forever to finish.

^^Those posts^^ made me think you were saying you were doing that with a .30-06.

Wow that looks like mine. 300 win mag IMR 4831 180 grain Accubonds 70.7 grains. .375 moa.

An 06 CANT

No chit.

Sorry I misread that.

I've been thinking about getting a Weatherby 6.5-300 when they come out. I don't have the need to push a 140 Grain Berger at 3400-3600 fps but want to push one about 3100 fps. Your post makes sense to me and makes me want the Weatherby even more. I can download to the velocity I want, reduce recoil and increase barrel life.

Not getting the itch just wondering about 300 Win Mag. I hear so much about it that I just wanted to see if it is what it is cracked up to be.

Yep how about that! Former .300 win owner current "ought six" shooter! Nothing wrong with the .300 win at all,but man ....if used on WT Deer,expect them to be half processed when you get to them! After 3 shots and 3 deer , I switched!,Yes the .300 win carries the day past 300yds for sure but if it hasn't been asked already, why a belted magnum...have you looked at the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum or better known as .300 RUM! Its .30 necked down form a .404 Jefferies case if I recall! Non-Belted!!!!

Top 5 long action cartridges ever made, and I don't even own one.

As stated, it can be loaded down to .308 speeds for whitetail, and also run full house for elk and moose.

I've used .300 WM full loads on whitetail (at normal deer-hunting ranges) and didn't notice any difference in the way they went down compared to the .25-06, .270, .30-06. If you are expecting something different you will be disappointed. For very long range shooting there might be a difference.

Most of the deer I shot with the WM, I used the Remington "Managed Recoil" loads which replicate the old .300 Savage. The deer went down just as readily with those loads too.

For the one rifle hunter, the .300 WM would be a good choice, if they are going to be hunting elk and deer.

I understand that 300 WM can be loaded down for deer and up for moose and elk but what about commercial ammo availability. From what I see on the shelves the ammo is all in the full power load with nothing available for lighter loads. And to add insult to injury the price is twice the cost of 30-06. Have you seen 300 WM on the shelves of a podunk general store in the boondocks. I haven't.

My fault. I often ignore a cartridge's off the shelf ammo availability.

I load my own and believe everyone that shoots a rifle very often should as well. Decent shooting rifles can become great shootig rifles with a handload tuned to them. And you can control every aspect of the ammo achieving far more consistency than any mass produced ammo could ever achieve, no matter how costly the brand is.

Yes, you'll see .300 WM in Podunk general stores. And, as I said, Remington "Managed Loads" are there so you don't have to reload. If you can't find them on the shelf, they're available from Midway, shipped to your door. I don't think those points are an issue.

The 300 WM is a very common round and can be found on most shelves. I order my ammo on line so local availability is of no concern. As for performance the 300 wins in all divisions, I don't even have a 30-06 anymore nor would I have a use for one.

There's no wrong answer, it's just a personal preference thing all together. For me, there's not enough difference between the two to make one really outshine the other...but that takes into account all the other calibers I have for various purposes. For me, the .30-06 is the one and for various reasons: it doesn't pound the crap out of you, it doesn't ask for a whole lot of powder, and I just like everything based on the '06 case.

OTOH, I've been known to say "bigger IS better" when it comes to handgun cartridges for self defense and I can't make a strong argument that the .300 Mag is not a better cartridge than the old .30-06 for similar reasons. I still like the non-belted .30 better though.

I prefer vanilla ice cream to chocolate, too.

Boom.

If I could only own one rifle, it would be chambered in .300 Win Mag.

No advantage. Both will waste a lot of energy by having the bullet exit the deer.

Honestly, both are too much gun for Texas deer.

90% of all Texas deer are taken less than 100 yards. You dont need a 30-06 or magnum rifle. Most of the time a 243 will work.

I don't agree. I personally have taken deer with 243, 25-06, 270, .308, 30-06, 300wm and 44mag. I have not noticed the difference in damage to the animal with any caliber.

I did see a .308 remove a rib from a white tail doe and push it thru her outside shoulder. The shot was at about 100yds and two other members witnessed it.

My feeders are typically at either 30 or 200yds so 100yds is not my typical shot. Last season one shot was 236 and one was about 35.

There you go I disagree LOL.

That is a pretty interesting experience to have. I've killed quite a few with a .243 and the damage from my 300WM pushing a 208 AMAX nearly 3000 fps is SIGNIFICANTLY different than a 95-110 gr bullet out of a .243, at least in my experiences.

That is strictly your opinion. An exit promotes faster bleed out and can facilitate tracking if necessary.

All this preoccupation with energy is really silly anyway. There have been numerous theories on how to quantify bullet performance predictions and none is really superior to the other. The energy figure puts extra emphasis on velocity that could be and IS misleading in some instances, at least in terms of what one might choose to take down a large animal. Momentum is just as good, and so is the Taylor Knock Out factor. If momentum was the buzzword, would we be talking about "wasted momentum?" I doubt it. But when "energy" is the popular term everyone thinks in the same terms applicable to fuel economy in vehicles and electronic efficiency and it just does not make real sense.

I run off the shelf 180gr ammo in my 300wm.

The largest exit wound I have ever seen was by a 30-06 with factory nozzles ballistic tips, also witnessed by two different forum members (than the 308).

Nosler (sorry did not proof read and spell check got me)

Lol you can't make conclusions based on anecdotal experiences.

Obviously a .300 will have more power than a .243 and, all else being equal, will do more damage. All else is never equal though. Use a TSX in a .300, don't encounter bone, and you will have a pretty clean hole on both ends. Use a varmint bullet in a .243 and in the same scenario and you may have a mess.

I get a smaller caliber will work fine much (if not most) of the time. Since I don't pull the trigger on a buck unless he's a goodun, I don't want 90% - I want the other 10% too. Does that mean I use a .300? No, usually a .270 will get me to 99% where I hunt. But I sure understand those that like 'em....

I have quite a few different caliber Rifles
6mm. rem
.270 win
7mm Rem mag
30/30
.308 Win
30/06
300 win mag
300 Weatherby.
I also handload for all of these.
I have also taken deer with all of them.
What I have noted (my own observation) is that of all of them the .270 is the round that seems to be the deadliest.
While I have no scientific data to back up my assumptions. I will say that every shot I have made with the .270 the intended target is lights out before it hits the ground.
If you want to talk accuracy my 30/06 will stack 4 shots into the same hole at 100 yds. I will add that I do the majority of my loading in 30/06 also and have developed the most accurate loads for my rifle.
The Weatherby is the beast and is the long range go to gun, but I also find it and the 300 win mag to be un-pleasant to shoot (just me )