+1. My .300 Win Mag BAR with Boss also has recoil that feels like a .30-30 shooting 180 gr 2950 FPS loads. During load formulation I shot ~35 180gr rounds at the range and my shoulder didn't get sore.
Taming .300 Win Mag recoil???
- Thread starter Cypress
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Yes the recoil will go down. Its good 'ol physics.
Look in the manuals and you will find that some of the starting loads for the 300 are at the upper middle to upper end of the 30-06. I have a light weight 300 win. mag. and intend to do the same sort of thing you are. My plan is to have 2 main loads, one in the 30-06 range for the southeast and the full 300 range for out west. I have shot some 165 gr. loads that have shot very well but have not checked the speed yet. The recoil was not as bad as expected and this is in a 6 ¾ pound rifle from the bench. With a good shooting rifle you should be able to find an accurate low end load. I have a Marlin 1895 Cowboy and if you can handle the recoil from a 350 gr. 45/70 load going just over 2000 fps. the 300 will not be a problem!
Look in the manuals and you will find that some of the starting loads for the 300 are at the upper middle to upper end of the 30-06. I have a light weight 300 win. mag. and intend to do the same sort of thing you are. My plan is to have 2 main loads, one in the 30-06 range for the southeast and the full 300 range for out west. I have shot some 165 gr. loads that have shot very well but have not checked the speed yet. The recoil was not as bad as expected and this is in a 6 ¾ pound rifle from the bench. With a good shooting rifle you should be able to find an accurate low end load. I have a Marlin 1895 Cowboy and if you can handle the recoil from a 350 gr. 45/70 load going just over 2000 fps. the 300 will not be a problem!
.300 Win Mag Recoil
Afternoon Gents...,
I have spent a lot of time behind a Remington .308. None of it hunting... Nuff said.
Recently purchased a beautiful .300 WM for various hunting applications, and yes there is a BOAT LOAD of reloading information out there. And much of it credible... not to mention accurate.
However, keep in mind if you sight in your rifle with a particular load, make certain you sight that bad boy in WITH that load prior to taking game.
The loading characteristics of various weights, powders, primers and cases will vary greatly.
So to ask what and how requires precision.
What you're shooting (make), distance you're ABLE to take game, size of game, elevation, time of year, blah blah blah.
What I'm trying to say is quite simply, if you're set on a .300 Win Mag... Buy it!!! Love it!!! Learn to admire it's abrassive characteristics. Most of all RESPECT it's abilities related to your INabilities. All this takes time.
If you choose to reload, that's wonderful!!! It's challenging, kinda like playing chess. But most importantly be careful what you do. If you make a mistake because you think you're awesome, (ie mall ninja) be ware... God will get ya! It must be your motivation to NEVER... injure game. It's not a desire... it's an absolute must! Take the time to do the research it's out there. Take time on the range, become accurate. Respect the calibre and more importantly the game.
Dutch
Afternoon Gents...,I have spent a lot of time behind a Remington .308. None of it hunting... Nuff said.
Recently purchased a beautiful .300 WM for various hunting applications, and yes there is a BOAT LOAD of reloading information out there. And much of it credible... not to mention accurate.
However, keep in mind if you sight in your rifle with a particular load, make certain you sight that bad boy in WITH that load prior to taking game.
The loading characteristics of various weights, powders, primers and cases will vary greatly.
So to ask what and how requires precision.
What you're shooting (make), distance you're ABLE to take game, size of game, elevation, time of year, blah blah blah.
What I'm trying to say is quite simply, if you're set on a .300 Win Mag... Buy it!!! Love it!!! Learn to admire it's abrassive characteristics. Most of all RESPECT it's abilities related to your INabilities. All this takes time.
If you choose to reload, that's wonderful!!! It's challenging, kinda like playing chess. But most importantly be careful what you do. If you make a mistake because you think you're awesome, (ie mall ninja) be ware... God will get ya! It must be your motivation to NEVER... injure game. It's not a desire... it's an absolute must! Take the time to do the research it's out there. Take time on the range, become accurate. Respect the calibre and more importantly the game.
Dutch
You can't have one without the other, Mate. I don't shoot 300 Win Mag but I do shoot 300 WBY MAG and 300 RUM and there is a price for their performance by way of recoil. Try my 338 RUM or 375 for that matter.
Take your man-pill, Mate or shoot a 308 or 30-06 - No pun intended, I have those calibers too and love the hell out of them.
Cheers...
loneviking
Member
Ahh, just load 'er up and let it rip. After about 10 rounds you'll be so numb you won't feel anything! 
Seriously, a 30-06 will kill anything that 300 mag. will unless you're up for a safari to Africa!
Seriously, a 30-06 will kill anything that 300 mag. will unless you're up for a safari to Africa!
JCBailey
Member
The main problem with what was asked in the original question pertaining to changing the loads is a matter of rezeroing the rifle when changing from one load to the other. I have shot a 300 Win Mag at every medium/big game species in the lower 48 and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I shoot the Hornady Custom factory load in the 150 grain btsp exclusively and have been for many years.I have found the recoil to be very manageable with solid performance. Just stay with the lighter bullets and see if that will work. I personally would use it as an excuse to buy another gun.
Thanks for the renewed interest in the thread guys. Since this post I have managed to get the recoil down to .270 levels with a 150 grain bullet. I tried some things that didn't work and found a few that did. The load I settled on are still running along at 3175 FPS and shoot into .5" groups. I ended up getting a Remington Sendero mainly for the added weight. Thanks again for all the replies.
JustAnotherPlinker
Member
Why not load the .300 WM with something like H380? The max load of that powder appears to be comparable to that of a mid range 30-06 for 150 gr bullets. As long as you can get a decently accurate load it shouldn't be too bad. It's also one of the more economic powders too (65 gr max load vs. 85 gr for H1000 etc.)
You can load a 300WinMag down to 30-06 levels, but recoil will still be higher. With rifles weighing the same, and bullets weighing the same, both cartridges would have the same recoil if they both used the same amount of powder.
But they don't!
The 300 WinMag uses more of the same powder to achieve the same velocity as the '06 with the same bullet.
Frankly, it really won't matter. Sure, the 300 kicks more at the bench, but you can use a sissy bag at the range to tame recoil (http://www.protektormodel.com/). You can work up some low energy loads with lightweight bullets for plinking to acclimate yourself to the rifle. Even with full power loads, in the field, you won't notice the difference. Recoil is far less noticeable when standing, especially if you are also pumped full of adrenalin at the climax of a hunt.
But they don't!
The 300 WinMag uses more of the same powder to achieve the same velocity as the '06 with the same bullet.
Frankly, it really won't matter. Sure, the 300 kicks more at the bench, but you can use a sissy bag at the range to tame recoil (http://www.protektormodel.com/). You can work up some low energy loads with lightweight bullets for plinking to acclimate yourself to the rifle. Even with full power loads, in the field, you won't notice the difference. Recoil is far less noticeable when standing, especially if you are also pumped full of adrenalin at the climax of a hunt.
Clark
Member
I would rather bruise my shoulder than wreck my ears with a recoil compensator.
I have 300 Win Mags that do not kick hard at all with Limbsaver recoil pads.
The 130 gr Barnes TSX bullet also help, and had flat trajectory from a 300 win mag for ~370 yards, when zeroed at 200y.
I have 300 Win Mags that do not kick hard at all with Limbsaver recoil pads.
The 130 gr Barnes TSX bullet also help, and had flat trajectory from a 300 win mag for ~370 yards, when zeroed at 200y.
Minimum loads will get you to 30-06 levels of recoil. It seems a bit less accurate at this level, but still fine for practicing positions.
For a real light load for practice, try SR 4759. The speer manual has a load for a 150 grain bullet that shoots a bit less than 2000 FPS. The recoil is practically equivalent to my AR!!
For a real light load for practice, try SR 4759. The speer manual has a load for a 150 grain bullet that shoots a bit less than 2000 FPS. The recoil is practically equivalent to my AR!!
Der Verge
Member
If you want to tame the recoil of your .300 WM, sell it and get an -06.
If you want reduced loads for your -06, sell it, and buy a .30-30.
If this is still too much, sell and then get a .223.
If .223 is still too much, give up.
I am sorry for this little rant, but I am tired of people taking the plunge and buying a magnum, then complaining that it makes a lousy plinker as the recoil and muzzle blast are too high. Unless you pack .300 WM in a 14lb gun with a 30" heavy tube, aiming for the target 1000 yards away, it was not meant for the bench.
If you want reduced loads for your -06, sell it, and buy a .30-30.
If this is still too much, sell and then get a .223.
If .223 is still too much, give up.
I am sorry for this little rant, but I am tired of people taking the plunge and buying a magnum, then complaining that it makes a lousy plinker as the recoil and muzzle blast are too high. Unless you pack .300 WM in a 14lb gun with a 30" heavy tube, aiming for the target 1000 yards away, it was not meant for the bench.
Hmmm..... I already I have a .270(30-06), 6.5x50(30-30), and .223. What I didn't have was a 300 Win Mag that I loaded down to .270 (30-06) levels. Recoil is not a problem for me but it I don't need that kind of power for hogs and deer. I might some day. I do like to experiment and tinker though. I think next I will load my 223 up to 300 win mag levels. Anybody have any tips???
Sorry for this little rant
Sorry for this little rant
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