300 ultra mag or alse...?

[sarduy]

Hello everyone!

well i'm trying to buy a rifle, Remington 700 SPS but...i'm not sure what caliber use.

is there a big difference between the 300 Ultra Mag and the 30-06?

any input is welcome.

Thanks in advance!

 

[EZ CZ75]

HUGE!!!

My step-dad has shot the 'o6 for years and has killed everything up to and including elk. Now that I live in Alaska I have spoken with a few "old timers" and they tell similar stories. There aren't many animals on this grand old continent that have stood up to the 30-06.

That being said, my wife just happened to buy me a Sako 75 Hunter in 300 RUM for my graduation present!!! (I love that woman!!!) I wouldn't trade it for anything. Plus, coyotes don't stand much of a chance with a 110 grain bullet doing over 4000 fps !!!

If you want to look at it in energy, the 300 RUM can produce over 4500 foot-pounds at the muzzle while the 30-06 max power stays around the 3000 foot-pound range. Don't let this fool you, though. The very popular 300 Win Mag sticks around the 3500 foot-pound range and is very well regarded in any hunting/shooting circle.

As far as I know, the 300 RUM is the most powerful 30 cal out there except for the 30-378 Weatherby. That may not be 100% accurate, but it is based off of all the load data, reloading manuals and charts that I can find.

If you like to shoot a lot then the 300 RUM might not be for you. The '06 is cheaper to shoot, reload, buy ammo for and more pleasant on the body. I forgot my sissy pad the other day and only took 7 shots before I put it away! I does shoot flat and fast, though.

Hope this helps a little. Hopefully more chime in with some opinions.

 

[Waywatcher]

I don't regret having a 30-06 as my only 'hunting' rifle.

 

[GW]

A muzzle brake tames that 300 RUM beast nicely
Makes it even louder, of course but damps the recoil to manageable, almost 30-06 levels. I have a Rintech on my BDL and It reall has made the 300 fun to shoot

 

[TIMC]

Unless you reload the price difference in .300 rum and 30.06 ammo is huge as well. I also have the Sako 75 in .300 rum. Very nice rifle.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Ditto what the others have said.

I killed my first deer in 1976 with the .30/06.
I killed my first deer with the .300RUM in 2006.
(lotsa 6's.......)

However, the only REAL difference is the RECOIL................

I have a Savage M110 in .300RUM. It is actually "CHEAPER" to reload for than the .30/06.

What you say???????? Yes!

I bought 16lbs of WC-860 from Widners Shooter Supply for $25/8lbs, or about $4 a pound (surplus pulled down from .50BMG) I'm using 107.0gr for 3,350fps with a 180gr bullet. The most accurate bullet from my rifle is the Remington 180gr CorLokt Soft Point. I bought 500 for $48.00 back last September. So, do the math !!!
Realize that RL-15 (my favorite '06 powder) is about $24.00 a pound now, and I use 53.0gr under a 150gr Remington CorLokt with it.

Realistically, get the .30/06.

The .300RUM will only extend your effective range about 100yds over the '06, but if you don't reload, cost about 3X as much. Ammo will be much harder to find. You really won't very often need to shoot over 300yds anyhow.

And, you'll probably flinch every time you pull the trigger unless you shoot a LOT of reduced power ammo.
Recoil from the .300 is about like a Remington 870 (8lb gun) firing 3-1/2" turkey or waterfowl loads. Brutal, but surviveable. Just not much fun after 7 or 8rds during sight-in or load development. And, look out for that scope eyepiece............ Especially when shooting from some awkward positions in the field. (HINT, don't use a Leupold scope as they don't have rubber cushioned eyepieces. Even my Simmons WITH a rubber eyepiece still wacked me!)

I lost interest in my .300RUM this November after I took the hide off my nose shooting a 110lb doe at about 50yds. My .22Hornet kills them just about as well............... Never had to explain the bloody/brusied nose with the .22Hornet!..... (but I did get a bloody eye-brow once from "shooting down" a Hornets nest with the '06. A 165gr Sierra BTHP over 57.5gr of IMR4350 for 2,800fps -EXTREAMLY ACCURATE, and does kick a little, too......)

If I go elk hunting again, I'll take my 7lb Rem. M7 in 7mm-08 anyhow...........
You will carry the rifle far, far, far, more than you will ever shoot it.

Get a "mountain rifle" in .30/06 and "be done" with it.............

 

[slzy]

you will happy with the '06.

 

[DogBonz]

300 RUM...

As far as I know, the 300 RUM is the most powerful 30 cal out there except for the 30-378 Weatherby. That may not be 100% accurate, but it is based off of all the load data, reloading manuals and charts that I can find.

Actually, I think that one of the Lazzaroni calibers holds that title, but hey, those things are insane.

DL Sprots makes a long range rifle in 300 RUM that they were using with great success at 1 mile hitting a steel target the size of a mans torso. So, yea... they have the legs for long distance.

If you are hunting with it, outside of BIG bears or moose the size of draft horses, or shooting from mountain top to mountain top, I don't think that all of that extra energy and velocity is worth the extra recoil, muzzle blast, or ammo cost (even if you reload). Also remember that the barrel life of a 300 RUM will be shorter than that of the old '06. Although, in a hunting rifle that may never come into play.