I have been catching flack for alittle over a year saying the 300wm is too much gun for Whitetail. Come to find out the 3 guys giving me the most crap have never shot a deer with the 300wm. So please tell me where these guys get there info they defend so hard. Last year 2007 I shot 2 deer with my 300(150gr. power points) one in the lungs the other in the butt. On both deer they dropped right there. The rear shot did mess up some meat, but not very much. Instead of getting 3 roast's out of the hip I only got 2. So not that much meat wad destroyed. The point being I did'nt have to chase them. I know you might have to chase deer shot with any caliber, and even the smaller caliber's will kill deer. My 11yr. old son brought his first deer down with a 243, and it weighed 260lbs only ran 50 yards. I just want to know why everyone thinks a 300wm or 300wsm is too much gun for whitetails, and if they have never killed a deer with one why they defend it so passionately. Before I get nailed on shot placement, the butt shot deer would not give me a better shot and was going into the woods. I shot her right at the tree line at 115 yards.
300 Winn Mag.....TOO MUCH?
- Thread starter surjimmy
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skinewmexico
Member
Any caliber is OK for deer, if that's what you have. But for me, the 300WM is what I would call unnecessary. I've got a lot of calibers that are smaller, more fun to shoot, cheaper to shoot, and just as deadly. And if the deer runs 50 yards (which it never has), BFD. My 11 year old twins shot about 30 does the last few years with a 223, and they were all DRT. Seems more efficient to me. And I've never wanted a deer bad enough to take the butt/gut/Texas heart shot, so I don't pick my caliber based on that ability.
I was not being Neg. about the 50yd run I thought it was a great shot and everything was perfect. The butt shot is a legit kill shot, it breaks the spine did'nt even touch the guts. I will agree it's not my shot of choice but it was the last day, and I was sure of the shot.
I shoot use one rifle for big game hunting, My bullet selection is slightly different for each but I use a 300wm for antelope, white tail, mule deer,elk, black bear, and if I ever get the chance for moose or caribou it will still be the same rifle caliber combination.
stownsend
Member
I hunt with a 300 win mag. I will say that it kills deer just as effectively as my 243. The reason I prefer the 300 is simply that I am more comfortable with that gun, and it has nicer optics. Caliber is not very significant, as long as you are comfortable and confident with whatever to are shooting. Overkill for one person might be just enough for someone else. Shoot what you enjoy, and what you have. I wouldn't go buy another gun just because some thinks what I have is too big...I would rather have too much gun than not enough. Shoot it, enjoy it, and who cares what anyone else thinks.
I think something gets lost in these sorts of discussions.
If you already have a .300 Win Mag, there's no reason not to use it.
If, however, you already have a .308, there's no reason to shell out additional cash for a heavier, longer, harder-kicking, expensive-to-shoot .300 Win Mag, because the .308 will work fine.
If you already have a .300 Win Mag, there's no reason not to use it.
If, however, you already have a .308, there's no reason to shell out additional cash for a heavier, longer, harder-kicking, expensive-to-shoot .300 Win Mag, because the .308 will work fine.
ColeK
Member
Surjimmy, I’ve owned and used both a .300WM and .300WSM and they are not necessary to kill deer. What they do is give you a little flatter trajectory for the shots past 350 yards, but truthfully as a percentage of deer killed how many have you killed past 350 yards? The .300’s, with the right bullets, will make that Texas heart easier because of more penetration.
And as Water-Man said, " You could have accomplished the same with a .308 or .30-06 for less money."
And as Water-Man said, " You could have accomplished the same with a .308 or .30-06 for less money."
ojibweindian
Member
300 WM is just fine, as long as you're fine with it. Besides, "too much" is a rather subjective term as it can be defined in many ways by many people.
i have never killed anything too dead. If you like the 300 WM then shoot it. I shoot anything from a 25-06 to 7mm STW. but where we hunt I have possible shoots as far as I would like to shoot. For anyone's point about too much gun the answer is yes it is too much gun. Because you really don't even need a gun. if you are worried about too much gun then get into bow hunting. There are so many really great rounds that it is hard to go wrong.
My vote is keep on using the .300WM.
My vote is keep on using the .300WM.
Shawnee
member
If you like the .300 Win Mag, have a ball with it. Hunt squirrels with it if that turns you on. But please don't be one of the dishonest dirtbags who goes around advising unsuspecting newbies that they need a .300 Win. Mag. for deer.
BayouBocephus
Member
I bought a .300 Weatherby I plan on using on deer....that way they are gutted and cleaned before I ever get out of the stand.
qajaq59
Member
I can't imagine why you'd even care what rifle someone else thinks you should use. You like the .300? Then use it.
Of course.... If they want to buy you a nice new .308 to use? Then I'd give changing over some thought.
Of course.... If they want to buy you a nice new .308 to use? Then I'd give changing over some thought.
When it get's down to it, I don't care what they think.You can tell me what to shoot if you buy me the gun or are my wife. I sold the 300wm and bought a 300WSM for less recoil. It was just a surprise to find out these guys jumping up & down like monkeys and have never shot the round.
skinewmexico
Member
You let your wife tell you what to shoot? We're revoking your "Man Card"............
Carlos Cabeza
Member
No such thing as "too much gun" ! I've always heard "not enough gun"!Heck, DRT beats looking all over for 'em every time !
I hate having to track the little buggers !
skinewmexico,,,,, Sure she tells me what to do, I did'nt say I listen. Can I have my card back? PLEASE.....Shawnee when someone ask's me what caliber to buy for deer, I always say what ever you feel comfortable with. If they try to nail me down I tell them 243 is a popular round But if I had to pick for first time rifle I would get a 270. Myself I just like the larger round.
qajaq59
Member
I vote he gets his card back. What say all?
TCB in TN
Member
My advice to all newbies is to learn to shoot. Pick up a .22lr learn to shoot. Then find a good deal on a deer rifle in a common cal and learn to shoot it. Spend as much money on ammo as you do on the gun and LEARN TO SHOOT. .243, .270, .308, 30-06 etc, but before you go into the woods learn to shoot.
22-rimfire
Member
I just want to know why everyone thinks a 300wm or 300wsm is too much gun for whiteta
Not too much. It is just more gun than you need. If I owned a 375 H&H and had not killed anything with it, I might take it deer hunting just to see how it does if I have the opportunity for a shot. I hunt mostly with a revolver these days.
I would have skipped the butt shot and let the deer go.
Not too much. It is just more gun than you need. If I owned a 375 H&H and had not killed anything with it, I might take it deer hunting just to see how it does if I have the opportunity for a shot. I hunt mostly with a revolver these days.
I would have skipped the butt shot and let the deer go.
.38 Special
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It's not that it's too much gun. It's that some people argue -- and some people believe -- that a .300 magnum is either necessary for deer, or that it makes up for bad shot placement. And of course, the extra recoil tends to encourage bad shot placement, for many shooters.
So as far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as too much gun -- unless it's too much gun for you.
So as far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as too much gun -- unless it's too much gun for you.
K3
Member
As long as you can shoot it well, at game, nothing at all wrong with a .300 Win. Tis what I've used for 14 years for most of the deer I've taken. I've gotten a few bobcats with it too, and the pelt damage was pretty minimal.
If you're comfortable shooting a .375H&H on whitetail, use that.
Some of these 'caliber critics' really chap my hide. Same as those who poo-poo using semi-autos or anything that's not walnut and blued.
A rifle is a tool for sending a projectile towards a chosen spot at high velocity. That's it. Doesn't matter if it's .243 in Walnut and blue or an AR-10 sending loaded with 165gr softpoints. The only thing that DOES matter is using enough for the animal in question. No such thing as too much IMO, as I've seen smaller calibers blow up in deer just as much as larger ones, but there can definitely be not enough, like 17HMR for elk. That's a matter of physics rather than bias and entrenched opinion.
For me, I'm going to jump out of a tree with a spear and get my deer this year.
Well, if we had any real trees that could hold me where I hunt I might consider that.
If you're comfortable shooting a .375H&H on whitetail, use that.
Some of these 'caliber critics' really chap my hide. Same as those who poo-poo using semi-autos or anything that's not walnut and blued.
A rifle is a tool for sending a projectile towards a chosen spot at high velocity. That's it. Doesn't matter if it's .243 in Walnut and blue or an AR-10 sending loaded with 165gr softpoints. The only thing that DOES matter is using enough for the animal in question. No such thing as too much IMO, as I've seen smaller calibers blow up in deer just as much as larger ones, but there can definitely be not enough, like 17HMR for elk. That's a matter of physics rather than bias and entrenched opinion.
For me, I'm going to jump out of a tree with a spear and get my deer this year.
Well, if we had any real trees that could hold me where I hunt I might consider that.
B.D. Turner
Member
I have a Browning BAR II Safari in
.300 win mag. I don't see any problem with the .300 for whitetail deer and or black bear. If I lived in an area with moose/elk/deer and large bear it would be as ideal as anything and would likely see much more use. Yes I have taken deer with a .300 win mag and it does a fine job with good ammunition.
.300 win mag. I don't see any problem with the .300 for whitetail deer and or black bear. If I lived in an area with moose/elk/deer and large bear it would be as ideal as anything and would likely see much more use. Yes I have taken deer with a .300 win mag and it does a fine job with good ammunition.
GooseGestapo
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- Jan 6, 2003
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- 6,154
I've got a .300RemUltMag.
I've shot deer with it. Don't ususally hunt with it, but I really,really like the cartridge. Yeah, I shot a doe behind the last rib, and the bullet exited the lower chest. NO meat lost. I normally don't field dress my deer; I just hang them and "fillet" them. But, for "fun", I opened up the deer for necropsy. (only a deer can "autopsy" another deer). The liver, lungs, and heart were "mush". I opened the abdomen and sectioned the diaphgram and they "ran out".
It's all about bullet selection and shot placement. I think of it as my "Big Bertha" as a "Callaway Driver" as related to golf. I don't carry it when hunting areas that dictate something different. But, for a "bean field deer shooter", it's the best of the best. When I didn't have one, I too "dissed" those that did. Now that I DO have one, I enjoy it. But, I still don't shoot it a lot. (don't want to wash-out that barrel do I?)
Regarding cost, it costs less to shoot than my '08, or '06-somethings. I bought 16lbs of WC860 (identical to H870 before it was discontinued) for $50.00. and 500 Remington 180gr CorLokts for $48/500. They were in fact the most accurate load I had, until I stumbled across some Nosler 165gr BallisticTips that I'd decided to "shoot-up" along with some IMR7828 with a published minimum load at about 3,100fps (about like your .300winmag, w/full power loads, it pushes them 3,450fps). Dang if they don't shoot little 3-shot clusters. I've also got a "squib" load w/150gr that runs about 2,700fps, or about like a .308. But why? I've got a darling 7mm08 for "those" purposes. In order to "shoot up" all the powder before it deteriorates, I even "adopted" a Weatherby Vanguard in .257wbymag. It too is a superlative "bean field" rifle. It doesn't do as much "liqufying" as the .300, but it does hit "hard" and shoots very,very flat, and with less winddrift than you'd imagine. And, I don't own any factory .257wby brass. I've formed all by brass from 7mmMag brass. Talk about cheap to shoot, since I've still got some .257 bullets I bought 25yrs ago !!!
Next time they start "hasseling you", tell them that you can "down" load your .300, but, can they load "UP" to your level ???
HMMMMMMMMM........?????
Power's nice. Unless you don't have it !
I've shot deer with it. Don't ususally hunt with it, but I really,really like the cartridge. Yeah, I shot a doe behind the last rib, and the bullet exited the lower chest. NO meat lost. I normally don't field dress my deer; I just hang them and "fillet" them. But, for "fun", I opened up the deer for necropsy. (only a deer can "autopsy" another deer). The liver, lungs, and heart were "mush". I opened the abdomen and sectioned the diaphgram and they "ran out".
It's all about bullet selection and shot placement. I think of it as my "Big Bertha" as a "Callaway Driver" as related to golf. I don't carry it when hunting areas that dictate something different. But, for a "bean field deer shooter", it's the best of the best. When I didn't have one, I too "dissed" those that did. Now that I DO have one, I enjoy it. But, I still don't shoot it a lot. (don't want to wash-out that barrel do I?)
Regarding cost, it costs less to shoot than my '08, or '06-somethings. I bought 16lbs of WC860 (identical to H870 before it was discontinued) for $50.00. and 500 Remington 180gr CorLokts for $48/500. They were in fact the most accurate load I had, until I stumbled across some Nosler 165gr BallisticTips that I'd decided to "shoot-up" along with some IMR7828 with a published minimum load at about 3,100fps (about like your .300winmag, w/full power loads, it pushes them 3,450fps). Dang if they don't shoot little 3-shot clusters. I've also got a "squib" load w/150gr that runs about 2,700fps, or about like a .308. But why? I've got a darling 7mm08 for "those" purposes. In order to "shoot up" all the powder before it deteriorates, I even "adopted" a Weatherby Vanguard in .257wbymag. It too is a superlative "bean field" rifle. It doesn't do as much "liqufying" as the .300, but it does hit "hard" and shoots very,very flat, and with less winddrift than you'd imagine. And, I don't own any factory .257wby brass. I've formed all by brass from 7mmMag brass. Talk about cheap to shoot, since I've still got some .257 bullets I bought 25yrs ago !!!
Next time they start "hasseling you", tell them that you can "down" load your .300, but, can they load "UP" to your level ???
HMMMMMMMMM........?????
Power's nice. Unless you don't have it !
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