Do I really need a 300 Win mag?

[Redneck with a 40]

30-06 will do everything you want to do out to 300 yards. Beyond that, its an unethical shot for most hunters, as they don't practice nearly as much as most shooter's do. Plus, the ammo is much cheaper and it won't beat the crap out of you.

 

[elorenzo]

Well I have to agree with the first reply you got the 30-06 will do anything t big 300 will do and with a broader bullet selection yes I did say the 06 will do what the big 300 will do tje latter shoots flatter has more recoil and the ammo is more xpensive the 200 fps that you get from the big 300 is not worth tje price of ammo and before I stary a huge debate I own 2. 30-6. And two. 300 win mags just remember that most of us do not posses the ability to make 500 yard shots so make sure to place the bulleyt in the vitals. And remember that both guns are capable of taking game beyond 500 yds whuch ever you decide to buy will work well. Good luck and happy hunting

 

[redneckdan]

My thoughts are that to see any worth while gain over the .270 you'd have to step up to a medium bore, something like the .338 win mag. Ya, a .300 win mag does put out more than a .270 but is it enough for you to justify the cost of another rifle, optics, reloading tooling...etc....? Another benefit of the medium bores is that they can use 'non-premium' bullets just fine for just about anything in north america. that is just my .02

 

[elorenzo]

Very well said redneck dan totally agree

 

[jon86]

I also agree with redneck dan. 338 and up. Maybe consider a 45-70?

 

[Aaron2091]

Easy answer.....just use your .270 for everything less than bears/bison and use the .338 you are planning on building for the big stuff.

 

[PT1911]

I also agree with redneck dan. 338 and up. Maybe consider a 45-70?

No worries, that is definitely in the works too.. I just have to decide which gun I want to get... I am tempted by the Marlin Guide Gun, but I am leaning towards the Buffalo Classic. Lucky me, just one more thing to eventually decide!!!

I suppose there are worse problems to have.

 

[LoonWulf]

Much worse, atleast these problems can be fun

My heavy rifle right now is a .300wm, It used to be a 7rem mag, but i wore out its barrel and have a huge pile of .30 cal bullets sitting one my bench from a friend. Ive never been keen on the .270 (tho it IS a good round id youll never here me bash it) so im in the process of restoring a sporterized 1903 in 06 for my girlfriend, she isnt keen on the recoil of 300. I think its a fine cartridge, and in know people say there aint no such thing a deader then dead, but there is such a thing as deader quicker, and having used both on axis deer (150-300lbs) i can say the .300 hits hard and makes bigger holes. This might not be a good thing mind you LOL. Also, reloading gives a bunch of options. i use 125gr BST on a minimum charger of 4895 for goats and a full charge for 4350 and a 180gr sst for deer. Overkill im sure but i neither like, nor am i good at tracking wounded game.

 

[redneckdan]

I have a buffalo classic. Shoots good, kicks like a mule especially when you wind them up. I may be interested in selling it. I had a guide gun then a cowboy, traded them both off. I've had a CZ-550 in .375 H&H for just over a year now. Definitely my favorite rifle. I've used it on everything from a squirrel to a sick cow.

 

[PT1911]

I appreciate the input Loonwulf and reneckdan...

Not sure what it is about the Buffalo classic I am so interested in... just a lingering interest i guess....

I can pretty much tell y'all what will happen, i will build the 338 fed, buy the 300 win mag (just to have my long and short range big gun basis covered,) buy a 25-06 and 45-70 somewhere in there as well, and then rebarrel my 270 into a 280 just for the hell of it...

can i get any more complicated!?

Redneckdan, you shot a squirrel with a 375 H&H? Was it at least a fat squirrel? LOL

 

[Uncle Mike]

If you load the 165 grain projectile in a .30-06 to 3,100 FPS, in effect, you have a .300 Win Mag (in terms of end performance).

Hornady Superformance.....

Point is, if your shooting the 30-06, and just have to have 'magnum' performance(300 Win.Mag.) you can use the Hornady Superformance 30-06 165gr.SST, p/n 81153, this stuff is a whisker less than a 'standard' loaded 300 Winchester Mag.

Seems though a lot of rifles do not favor the Hornady Superformance as well as the older, and now discontinued, 'Light Magnum' Hornady ammo.

Nothing wrong with the 300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, my position on this is that... you buy it! It's not going to cause you any heartache if you do, but it may if you don't! hehehehe

And you could use Remington 'Managed Recoil' ammo....p/n 27648.

 

[CB900F]

PT1911;

Several years ago, I put my money where my mouth is. I had a .30-06 I'd used for hunting for years & it was and is fine. But, I could afford it so I started looking for something more. After all the crunching & perusing, arguing with buddies, and catalog reading I decided on the .338 Winchester magnum.

Take a look at the B/C's & Sectional densities of the bullets available, it'll "do" anything long range you ask it to, if you put in the range time. Having shot both, I feel comfortable stating it doesn't recoil much different than a .300 Winchester magnum either. My rifle, though a hunting gun, shows me outstanding accuracy at distances I don't want to take game at. And it'll drop anything in this half of the world & most of the rest.

Or, as other people have sorta mentioned, you can go to a good 6.5mm. But go to the original 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser. True, the .260 is almost as good, but then you get tied to Remington. It's no fun being green.

900F

 

[Wood Man]

I have a Browning BAR in 300 WIN MAG. Nice gun, does have a thump to it. Especially when you bump fire it, LOL.......

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

No you dont need it, but if you got the money spend it.

 

[Bearhands]

I say buy it..... and maybe 10 more off the used rifle shelves in most any gunshop I've been in. That'll give more room for other fun things!

 

[Txhillbilly]

You may not need the 300WM,but I love shooting mine.
I also like my 25/06,270,308,and 30/06.

You just can't have too many calibers to choose from,especially if you reload.

 

[jbkebert]

Another you are certainly not out gunned with a .270. Hey I own both a .270 and a .300 win mag. I have not use for a 30/06 since it does not gain really anything over a .270 and the .300 win is a great rifle. As a whole my .270 win has taken 20-25 deer, 2 black bears, 3 elk, 1 caribou, 3 pronghorn. Shots were taken from 50 yards to around 350 yards. All of them fell with a single well placed shot. I have not hunted brown bears or moose but I don't think I would hesitate in the least to carry my .270 with the proper load.

 

[Big Bill]

If you reload, buy the 300 WSM. The belted 300 WM is more difficult to reload. I have one for big game. My regular deer rifle is a 25-06.

 

[redbullitt]

That would be a fine rifle to add IMHO.
I have cut my magazine down to .22 LR, .223, .308, .338 Lapua.
I feel like I have all my bases covered.

BUT I really like the 260... Great ballistics and a lot less recoil....

decisions decisions lol. Just comes down to what you want! They will all work haha.

 

[Rokman]

You probably don't need one, but I would look at the Savage 16FHSAK which is a weather warrior with the brake if you decide that you have to have one. I sold a Browning A-bolt that had a brake and it was a real screamer. I have a Winchester Model 70 without the brake, but I rarely shoot it because I don't feel the need for magnum power for what I hunt.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

There is a fine line between need and want.....

 

[Mr. T]

I personally think that a 30.06 would be more than enough gun to do what you would want to do for longer ranges with adequate knock down for larger game. The .270 you already have though is a very good long range weapon in it's own right and can take anything in North America as well. But like someone else said if you really want the .300 WM then go ahead and get it; life is too short...you should get what you want.

 

[Girodin]

I noticed that I am missing a large game rifle... largest I have is a 270 win...

What are you planning to hunt in terms of large game? and at what distances? I have the antlers of a large bull elk that fell where he stood courtesy of a .270. It was not a one of incident either and that gun is responsible for some of his elk friends joining him in elk heaven.

The .270 is plenty at the ranges that the vast vast majority of people can ethically hunt at. Those that can do so at longer ranges know their equipment well and have no question about what they need to get the job done.

The only game in N.A. I'd question using a .270 for is Big Bears and Bison. If you can afford a big bear hunt then buying a gun in advance just for the occasion is probably not an issue.

If Africa in on your agenda then again you might have need of more rifle.

That said I'm with the if you want to get it then get it crowd. I want a .375 H&H I have no real need, but then if need dictated all my gun purchases I would likely have a fewer guns. Sometimes want is plenty good enough.