Why do I "need" a 300WM

[MCMXI]

I've taken impala, kudu, leopard, bushbuck, zebra, gemsbok, and other game in Africa with my .30/06 with one shot apiece and don't believe a .300 Mag would have worked any better. None of my PH's ever expressed a desire for me to use a .300 mag instead . . .

Then why not argue that a .270 Win is enough for plains game since many on safari use that cartridge in that role? Cartridge selection is all about insurance and you never know when you're going to need it. I always prefer to have a bigger hammer rather than a smaller one if I can swing both. A coworker is planning on taking a .300 Weatherby Mag to Africa as his light gun based on the recommendation of his buddy who has been numerous times.

 

[MCgunner]

My longest shot was about 350 yards but all the rest have been under 200 yards. That 7mm was heavy. I eventually sold it and went with a 30-06. It weighs less and is cheaper to feed. I haven't missed the magnum at all, love my 06.

And I have a Remington stainless M7 in .308 that can do anything that .30-06 does for you and i bet it's even lighter. It shoots 3/4 MOA and if I didn't handload, .308 is easy to find and cheap to feed.

I hear ya on the heavy gun, but let's just put this into perspective. My 7 mag is no heavier than a .30-06 in THAT rifle, a Savage 110. Well, it's got 2" more barrel, so it weighs that much more, I guess. If you want a light rifle, there's lots of 'em out there, though, but the little M7 is my fave. But, there are magnum caliber guns that are under 6 lbs available, if you really want one.

 

[Geno]

Regarding previous posts about .300WM's accuracy, I have to agree. Everything I have read about the .300WM's accuracy being a surprise given the short neck, is true. My Weatherby Mark V is amazingly accurate, especially with Hornady's SuperFormance 165 grain GMXs. Again, it isn't that I really need the big of a rifle cartridge, but selling anything costs (loses) money. I think the key is to get what one really wants, not merely needs, and to keep it. If you want a .300WM, and can afford it, buy it.

Geno

 

[WYcoyote]

The 300 WM is a great cartridge for longer range hunting for deer, elk, and moose.
Do you need it? I don't know.
Do I need mine? Maybe not.
But I really like it.
You might too.

 

[Savage99]

Guns can come or go at our whim.

So you try out the Ruger 300 mag and either you like it or sell it. No big deal.

A mini-30 is just a 7.62X39. Kind of short ranged for big country that I remember Idaho to be.

Consider a reloading outfit as well if you don't already.........

 

[WALKERs210]

I picked up a Winchester Mod 70 SMBOSS Classic last month in 300WM. I was expecting it to kick my 112lb but all over the place, but to be honest I have a .410 single shot that kicks harder than the Winchester. In fact today after last Dr appointment I went to back of property and fire a few rounds off, the only thing is it is extremely loud, but using ear plugs was able to handle it fine.

 

[MCgunner]

Heck, I shoot .22 mag and up with ear plugs and with a short barrel .22LR I'll use ear plugs. HUNTING, now that's where I don't use ear plugs. I only have one gun that I use ear plugs with while hunting...well, ear muffs. That's a .30-30 12 " Contender, and ESPECIALLY out of a box blind. That thing can put a hurt on ya.

 

[sleepyone]

ID-Shooting,

I went through the same thing you did a few years back. I live in North Texas where my Black Lab weighs more than some of the does. I have a .243, 270, and .30-30 but thought I would get a 300WM for that rare elk or moose hunt just like you said. I came close to pulling the trigger several times on one but ended up getting a .30-06, which I did not need either. I sold the .30-06 two years later for cash flow but have just put another one on lay away. I figure if I can ever afford to go on that rare elk or moose hunt, I will be ready with the .270 and .30-06. I know one of those will kill anything in the lower 48.

Having said all that, I think there is something mystical about the word "Magnum." And "need" is a word that does not fit well into a shooter or hunter's vocabulary. How many of the toys we have ever acquired were based on need? Not many in my case.

 

[MCgunner]

I wanted a bigger gun about 1990. My only deer rifle was my grandpa's .257 Roberts with which I'd killed every deer I'd ever killed from the age of 11 save one. I was thinking .280. I really like 7mm bullets and at the time, there was greater variety in 7mm bullets than .270 bullets. 7mm bullets have better BCs, too. BUT, I figured, heck, why not the 7 mag? If I decide I shoulda got the .280, I can always download the mag, can't upload the .280 to match the 7mm magnum.

I never downloaded it and it seemed to work just fine on deer in west Texas and New Mexico mulies that will outweigh even a large black lab by multiples. I took a large mulie at 350 yards with it across a canyon.

I now have more rifles in my collection and, heck, in the woods around here I've mostly been using my CVA Wolf .50 caliber 209 primed inline. That thing is neat and it gives hogs and deer NO quarter AND you can eat right up to the hole. But, I do think, if I had one gun, having it in a large magnum caliber would give me a lot more versatility than going with a smaller round like the .30-06 or .308. You can always load it down, but .308 or .30-06 will NEVER BE a .300 magnum.

 

[FrankB1948]

I've had 2 300 Win Mags, a Ruger #1 and a Browning stainless stalker. Never considered the recoil of either of them to be excessive. I sold the Ruger #1 to a buddy for $375 years ago. Sure wish I still had it now, but he isn't about to part with it. Anyway the best reason for buying any rifle is because you want it..

 

[sleepyone]

Some of you have mentioned loading down the 300 WM to a .30-06. Can you buy factory 300 Win Mag ammo that has meets that criteria?

 

[Swampman]

The last time I checked this was still America...sort of.

The whole "need" thing chaps my butt almost as much as "No legitimate sporting purpose" does!

Do you want it?
Can you afford it?
Will you still respect yourself in the morning after you buy it?

If you answered yes to all of the above, GET IT!
It's not about what anyone else thinks you NEED, it's about what YOU WANT!

Does anyone really NEED a Mercedes-Benz, a chocolate cake, a 5000 square foot house or an Irish Wolfhound?

If you want it and can afford it, get it, you only live once and the expiration date on life isn't guaranteed.

Besides, Texan Scott really got me thinking about the whole global warming/polar bear thing. What if global warming causes another ice age? Imagine all those polar bears headed south to take over the world, then imagine each of them coated with six inches of rock-hard ice armor over all of their vital areas!

Are you still feeling all warm and fuzzy about that 7.62x39?

Get that .300 Win. Mag, NOW!
YOU might not need it, but the defenseless children of your neighborhood DO!

DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN!

On a more serious note, if you really want to use and shoot that rifle much, it's almost mandatory that you reload unless you're independently wealthy.

 

[slabuda]

Get up in the Danskins and you may want the extra oooomf at longer ranges. I have a 270 wsm and it will do everything I ask of it and is not bad on recoil about same as any 30-06 or 7mm I have shot. A 300 WM is quite a bit harder from what I understand. At the ranges I feel ok at shooting (400 yds max) the 270 wsm is ore than enough. Would the mini 30 have enough to hit that far? Not sure how well you shoot but 400 is not uncommon out here, especially for areas 39 and 43 which is where lots of 1A hunters go.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I've got a 300 Win Mag. Ruger Mk II that I've had for years. Probably haven't shot it for a decade. However, when I was developing loads for it, I was amazed at its accuracy. The thing stayed right up with my -06s and my 308s.

The 300 WM's recoil never bothered me any more than the .30-06...and the -06 just isn't a problem. The 300's a heavier gun and I think that mitigates the recoil a lot.

The neighbor has the 300 on loan right now. He wants to use it for a moose hunt later this year and needed to get familiar with it. He, too, was surprised that recoil is not an issue. I was invited on the hunt, but other commitments....

You never know when an opportunity to use a long-range/heavy-hitter will arise. You might be glad you have it years from now.

 

[Chief 101]

You need one because you are in Idaho...you need one because its a tang safety M77..you need one because you want one...you just need it or tell me where it is...

 

[ID-shooting]

So much good stuff here. Let me answer a few. Almost all my deer hunting is done under 200yds. Mostly Lowman or Island Park areas. Have passed up a few due to range? yup, sure did. That makes it fun though. Grew up hunting deer with a Win 94 so 7.62x39 doesn't bother me in the least.

I am not really about the long shots, I do hand load but don't do it that often, only when I "need" to turn out a bulk lot. I did do some .308 target loads for a Savage 10fp a few years back but no "accuracy" work-ups since.

Not that recoil shy but I did shoot a .338wm I really didn't care for that much.

I do want this rifle, mostly cuz I dig the style of the "safari" flip sights and I do prefer old Rugers over others for some odd reason even if they do have tendency to turn purple, hahaha.

The LGS is sitting on it for a month while I mull it over (perk of being on a first name basis with the owner).

I was hoping for some great epiphany one direction or the other for getting safe queen that would likely see ~50 rounds a year ond only come out for a "biggun"

Great stuff to consider here guys.

 

[thump_rrr]

If I don't have a gun in a certain caliber then it means I need one.
If I already have one in that caliber then it probably does something the other one I have doesn't.
If it does everything the other one already does then it means I just want it for the hell of it.

If you like it and spending the money for it does not create any hardship for you then why not buy it.

I'm a single guy and make a decent living. Once my fixed expenses are taken care of I can really save up a bunch of money that I spend foolishly if I have a certain rifle or other toy expense running around in my head.

 

[murf]

if you don't like the recoil of the 338wm, you better shoot that 300 before you make your decision.

murf

 

[4sixteen]

What a great round, I've had 3 rifles in this caliber and currently own 2. Sako makes a real nice .300 Win. mag., their model 85 Grey Wolf. This one is mine (and it don't kick hard - compared to my .458 Lott ) -

 

[Sav .250]

Go with you gut.......................

 

[joneb]

How about one of the short magnums, I am a belted case phobic.

 

[xfyrfiter]

I really liked my No 1 in 300wm except for one little thing, with a good firm cheek weld and 10 rounds I looked like ten rounds with Ali, Black eye every time, so finally traded for 270 in the same rifle and never looked back. Very accurate, and a fine rifle, but just didn't fit me. If it fits, and you can work around the recoil , go for it!

 

[frankenstein406]

because you want it? you already said the price is fine so buy it and if anything sell it later on or let it collect dust

 

[Slamfire]

The recoil from this 300 H&H Magnum was not objectionable off the bench, probably due to the thick aftermarket recoil pad.



And it shot well. But, I think most people would be better off deer hunting with a 6.5 Swede, 270 Win, or the plain old 30-06.

6.5 Swede



One thing about these magnum rifles, cartridges can be hard to find, though a 300 Win Mag is going to be a lot more common than a 300 WSM or WSSM.

 

[nathan]

Heck , even the Swiss K 31 is hard to beat even with open sights .