300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag or .308

[mrrev]

What are the major differences in these calibers. I'm looking for a .308 bolt action rifle priced at about 650. I found that Model 700 SPS. I like the black and stainless look, but no .308 is available. What major difference would I expect if I would go with either other calibers. What do you guys think?
and the reason .308, been reading about how versitile it is. Haven't paid much attention to the other calibers mentioned above. thx again

 

[shotgunner]

My plans for a rifle like that would be an assault rifle that's made to take either 7.62 NATO/.308. Now remember this, the 7.62 NATO is NOT the same cartridge that's fired in AK's, SKS's, etc... That is a 7.62x39 Soviet.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 7mm Rem Mag is the best compromise between power and recoil, IMO. Recoil is negligibly more than a .308 or .30-06, but the 7mm provides a bit more energy and a whole lot better trajectory. .300 Win Mag is a notch above the 7mm, but recoil goes up dramatically. For many shooters, 25 ft lbs of recoil at 20 MPH is about the most they can handle without flinching. The 7mm Rem Mag is right there, .300 WM is over. I have simply known too many people who bought a .300 and developed a nasty flinch due to recoil anticipation.

7mm Rem Mag is more than adequate for any game in North America, save perhaps the largest bears. It will kill an elk farther out than most hunters could hit the animal. It is also one of the easiest cartridges to find on the shelf, just about as common as .30-06 and .270.

These are the 300 yard energy figures for the most popular hunting rifle cartridges in the Western states:

.30-06 180 gr. spitzer= 1660 FPE
.270 Win, 140 gr. sptizer= 1590 FPE
.308 Win, 165 gr. spitzer= 1411 FPE
7mm Rem Mag, 165 gr. spitzer= 1978 FPE
.300 Win Mag, 180 gr. spitzer= 2196 FPE

 

[Strongbad]

MachIV really put a point it. For me, it's how much recoil you can handle. I don't have a big problem with recoil so if it were me I'd go with the 300. Plus, you can always do things to reduce the recoil with the 300 if it's a little more than you'd like to live with. Get a good recoil pad like an SVL Limbsaver, you can also add a mercury recoil reducer in the stock and so on. You could also add a <gasp> muzzle brake, but I absolutely despise them and if the gun is too much for you to handle without the muzzle brake, you're better off going with a smaller gun and saving your ears.

 

[fisherman66]

308 is cheaper to shoot.

If you go with a mag I would stay away from lightweight versions and get a laminated stock. There is a heavy barreled 700 with a lam stock. It is available in a 308 and I think 300WM.

I had a bad run in with a 300WM.

 

[beerslurpy]

I have a tikka in 7mm rem and I love it. It has been a sub moa gun since the day I took it out the box.

That being said, I would probably practice with it a ton more if it had cheap milsurp plinking ammo available.

 

[Lonestar.45]

What are you going to use it for? Paper? Deer? Elk? All of the above?

It's hard to say without knowing what you'll mostly want to do with it, but, I'm partial to the .308 myself of the calibers mentioned. Less recoil, plenty of cheap ammo available, and yes very versatile.

 

[killzone]

300s

I m going to agree with Strongbad about this. There have been so many unnessesary spaculations between 7 mm and 300 wins - 300 mag has a lot of recoil but is much more stable than anything below. its an all use type a cartrage that allows you to be more flexable for longer shots thus it keeps its energy alot farther than anything below that,,,,

 

[mrrev]

thx for the replys. I'm using it mostly for paper. That's why the 308 was up in the list probably due to the amount of shooting I'll be doing. I was at the Savage website and they carry a nice looking Savage 10 in .308. I'm reconsidering on the Rem 700, what do you guys think? thx again....

 

[MachIVshooter]

I was at the Savage website and they carry a nice looking Savage 10 in .308. I'm reconsidering on the Rem 700, what do you guys think? thx again....


Both are accurate, but accessories for the Remington are much easier to find (stocks, scope bases, etc.) That, and Remingtons are much prettier .

I have 4 M700's and they are all great. Only one I can't shoot sub MOA is the .375 Ultra Mag, but that is not the rifles fault (actually, it is, because the thing kicks like a friggin' draft horse). Point is, the gun can shoot MOA, I'm sure. I can't relax my body enough with it. But oh, the power

 

[Legionnaire]

Savage will probably give you the best bang for the buck. My long range rig is a Remington 700 VSSF, which they don't make in .308 anymore, more's the pity.

Punching paper, I'd definitely go with the .308 ... unless you plan to shoot out past 900 yards. The .308 with a 175 grain BTHP is fine out to that distance. The other two will give a flatter trajectory, but also more recoil and shorter barrel life. Personally, I'd go with the .300WM if shooting past 900 yards.

Another advantage of the .308 (besides being somewhat cheaper) is that it is a short cartridge, so you can buy a gun with a short action. At least I consider that an advantage.

 

[killzone]

Howa 1500

Get the howa 1500 japan made and it offers 308 too, (rem 700 based action it looks like and very accuret_$550

 

[willeo6709]

The biggest reason to go with the 300 win mag is to have more firepower available for uncertain situations. If you are going hunting where there are bear.... you will be on the ground with the bear. Bring enough gun, even if all you are hunting is woodchuck. That being said, I would not feel undergunned if I was carrying a FN Fal 308 with a 30 rd. bren mag instead of a 5 shot shotgun for bear defense around a campsite for nighttime bear defense. The 308 is a proven reliable round...but if you are working a bolt I wantmore energy for bear.

 

[ajkurp]

The .308 is in a different class than the 7mm Mag and the .300Win. A less powerful class.

If you want to punch paper out to 600 meters or so, the .308 will do nicely with less recoil and ammo cost -even if you reload. And surplus ammo is available at reasonable cost.

7mm vs. 300:
The two are pretty much in the same class.
300 starts with more muzzle energy.
7mm has better exterior ballistics because of superior bullet ballistic coeffecient.
300 has a much wider bullet selection if you hand load.
7mm shoots flatter. (is flatter a word?)

But the bottom line is... Whatever (whoever) is on the receiving end of either of these, simply won't care about the difference.

 

[BusMaster007]

This might work:
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6916339

 

[rwc]

I debated this question myself a few years back and settled on .308 since my focus are deer and maybe an elk if I get lucky. I probably won't take a shot at a distance where the .300 or 7mm would make much of a difference.

If you don't have a friend with a .300 Win Mag to try you could go to any popular shooting range in your area over the next month or so on a weekend morning. You will almost certainly see one, hear it, and feel it. Express polite interest and the owner will probably let you have a go.

I "double plug" and remember last year at the range when the fellow next to me was sighting in a new .300 I could not only hear it quite well but also feel the concussion in my chest cavity. I think the term "boom stick" applies.

That said, if you plan to shoot very large game from far away it may well suit your needs.

 

[redneck2]

thx for the replys. I'm using it mostly for paper. That's why the 308 was up in the list probably due to the amount of shooting I'll be doing. I was at the Savage website and they carry a nice looking Savage 10 in .308. I'm reconsidering on the Rem 700, what do you guys think? thx again....

Dude...a .308 kills paper as dead as a .300 WM. You do NOT want to be doing a lot of paper punching with a .300 WM...trust me on that. Everything sounds good on paper (or the internet). This will change REAL quick when you touch one off. You WILL get your attitude adjusted quickly. Imagine someone hitting your shoulder with a billy club. That's a .300 WM. I've got a 7mm mag and a .300 WM. This is the voice of experience.

As for brand, there are a dozen replies and all are right and any could be wrong. I'd suggest the Benchrest Central site. There's a "factory" forum there. You'll find most guys (actually nearly all) shoot Remmie 700's. Same reason most racers use small block Chevy's. Popular, easy to find parts for, lots of knowledge out there.
HTH

 

[Dale Taylor]

You can kill anything in North America easily with 308. Much cheaper to shoot. However if you are going after elk, get a 7mm mag. recoil doesn't bother me but I shoot 7mm mag or 6.5x55. I'm old so I like a lightweight rifle. [email protected]

 

[gbran]

mrrev

I won't comment on your caliber choice, as others have given great advice/info already, but take a good look at the Savage Accutriger, which is adjustable. I bought the model 10 in 30'06 with this trigger. It's the best trigger of any rifles I own. Most of my guns I've spent untold dollars on trigger jobs. With the Savage you won't have to.

 

[rwc]

I can't speak to the Savage accutrigger, but the Tikka T3 also comes with an adjustable trigger and a very smooth action.

Try as many as you can and buy what feels right.

 

[BusMaster007]

Well, the original poster hasn't posted again yet, but my link shows a Howa .308 / Bell&Carlson stock with a NIKON 3-9 scope already on it for a starting bid of under $500.
That's pretty good and in the ballpark.
Otherwise, I'd recommend a Remington 700 Police, new OR used in .308 and add the optics/mounts to it.
Either one would be accurate, and one comes with a scope already on it.
Keep in mind, I'm only trying to help...

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6916339

 

[Cueball]

I would go along with what gbran said. I have a Savage Model 12 and I love it so far. The Model 12 FV in the .308 is what I would be looking at. I got mine for under $500.

 

[AH-1]

this one going hunting this year and very accurate.if your a handloader the 7 mm mag is a good choice.
CZ550