30.06 vs 300 win mag

[Justfishin73]

Looking at what will probably be my last big bore hunting rifle. 30.06 has killed a ton of animals and cheap ammo, then there is the 300 win mag. Just weighing out the pros and cons of these and I welcome your opinions. Definitely leaning towards the 30.06, but keeping an open mind.

[Dom4]

I think that you are on the right track with the decision and i feel like the only benefit that you would get out of the 300 rather than the 30-06 would be a little bit of longer range. I am sure others will chime in but i would stick with the 30-06 due to availability of ammunition and the quality of the round.

[elkhunter11]

How many rounds do you fire every year? How far do you practise at? If you only shoot a box or two per year, ammunition cost is insignificant. If you only practise at 100 or 200 yards, the magnum won't be any advantage to you.

[dave99]

I think it comes down to effective cartridge range. If you are looking to lob bullets past 450yds for hunting purposes, I would go with the .300 magnum.

If you are content with that 450yd or so maximum, then I would stick with the 30.06. It really is an excellent and versatile cartridge. Cheap, effective. What’s not to love about it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ronji]

I purchased my 300 in the mid 1980's. Winchester Model 70 Super Grade with the Mauser action
The caliber is awesome.
Cannot count how many animals I have taken with it.
I shoot, they fall down and go to my freezer.

[Justfishin73]

Originally Posted by dave99

I think it comes down to effective cartridge range. If you are looking to lob bullets past 450yds for hunting purposes, I would go with the .300 magnum.

If you are content with that 450yd or so maximum, then I would stick with the 30.06. It really is an excellent and versatile cartridge. Cheap, effective. What’s not to love about it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't take many shots past 300 yards

[NewGuard84]

Is this going to be your only rifle?
What are you planning to hunt?
What distances do you plan to shoot from?
How experienced/tolerant are you with recoil?

My #1 rifle for most of my hunting is a .308. It is very comfortable to shoot and I reach for it most often.

I also have a 300WM and 375 Ruger and I reach for each of those less often, when the factors above suggest that extra reach or energy may be useful.

If I could have only one and wanted all bases covered, I would go 300WM or 7MM if I were more sensitive to recoil.

Read Chuck Hawks articles on "All Around Hunting Rifles" for further help. Any of the all around rounds he settled on would work for most hunters.

[Cory]

There is nothing to think about. If you have only those two cartridges in your selection criteria, the .30-06 is the choice. That is if you are fully committed to this being your last rifle purchase, and assuming you will still be shooting it as you age. Recoil and weight WILL become a factor as time passes! With that being said, my choice would be the .308.
Cory

[NicoyaHunt]

3006 all the way

[GrandSlam]

Owned both, 30-06 gets my vote.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

[graybeard]

X 3006

Over the years I have been successful with both the 300 WM and the venerable 30-06.
There is nothing wrong with the 300 WM but personally I now prefer the 308 and the 30-06 and they both love the 165 grain Nosler ammo that I use for everything in either rifle, I never change it around.

A 30-06 will do everything you want that the 300 WM to do.

If you want a 350-400 yard gun, the 30-06 will do that all day.....Know your distances as a 400 yard shot to some hunters will look like 1/2 a kilometer to others....lol.

You will not be disappointed in the 30-06 and don't get caught up in the magnum kool-aid. Remember the 30-06 was once a sniper caliber.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/optimum_3..._cartridge.htm

https://www.chuckhawks.com/300Win_Mag.htm

Good luck,

[birdseye]

If it was me I’d go 300 wm and never look back,can do all the things a 30-06 can and lots more JMO good luck with the one you choose and have fun,stay safe

[Mountainaccent]

I was a die hard 06 fan till I bought a 300 wsm less recoil and man does she shoot good. I don’t even have a scope on the old 06 anymore! 300 gets my vote

[Justfishin73]

Originally Posted by Mountainaccent

I was a die hard 06 fan till I bought a 300 wsm less recoil and man does she shoot good. I don’t even have a scope on the old 06 anymore! 300 gets my vote

300 has less recoil??

[Steelhorse Cowboy]

I shoot a 308 Norma Mag, ballistically the same as a 300 so Id go with the 300 mag.
The 300 does every and more than the 3006. Now the 3006 doesn't need the longer barrel but still has a standard action.What do you hunt mostly?
Leading to would you like a lighter rifle,etc. Magnums have recoil alot of shooters just don't ever learn to tolerate with a lighter rifle.
Too bad Jack O'Conner cann't pipe into this thread from the grave...LOL

[Justfishin73]

Originally Posted by NewGuard84

Is this going to be your only rifle?
What are you planning to hunt?
What distances do you plan to shoot from?
How experienced/tolerant are you with recoil?

My #1 rifle for most of my hunting is a .308. It is very comfortable to shoot and I reach for it most often.

I also have a 300WM and 375 Ruger and I reach for each of those less often, when the factors above suggest that extra reach or energy may be useful.

If I could have only one and wanted all bases covered, I would go 300WM or 7MM if I were more sensitive to recoil.

Read Chuck Hawks articles on "All Around Hunting Rifles" for further help. Any of the all around rounds he settled on would work for most hunters.

Is this going to be your only rifle?----no, use .270 for deer

What are you planning to hunt?----moose/elk/bear

What distances do you plan to shoot from?---300 yards or so

How experienced/tolerant are you with recoil?---recoil not an issue, but of course, less is better

[Mountainaccent]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

300 has less recoil??

My sako finnlight 300 wsm has way less felt recoil then my old 3006

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

I don't take many shots past 300 yards

Me neither, and the .30-06 leaves nothing to be desired within that range, on a practical level.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

Is this going to be your only rifle?----no, use .270 for deer

What are you planning to hunt?----moose/elk/bear

What distances do you plan to shoot from?---300 yards or so

How experienced/tolerant are you with recoil?---recoil not an issue, but of course, less is better

Just read this, I own both the .270 and 30-06... and IMO there is so little difference between the two that the .300 mag probably makes more sense as a second rifle for most people. That said, I love both of those rifles and have no plans of ever owning a .300 mag.

My particular pair are identical rifles, but set up differently. They excel at different types of hunting, with enough overlap that either rifle makes a good spare for the other. For me its a good system, but if both rifles were chambered in either of those calibers it would scarcely matter.

[mrcrossbow]

30-06. Just so many options with it. Really heavy rounds or really light and can buy it almost anywhere,

[freeride]

If you own a 270 already then get the 300 win mag, it's a bigger difference then just a 30-06

Besides it eliminates grabbing the wrong reloads... 270 and 30-06 look pretty close when your packing to go hunting.

If you didn't have the 270 I would have said go 30-06 with everything you wanted to do and ranges.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by birdseye

If it was me I’d go 300 wm and never look back,can do all the things a 30-06 can and lots more JMO good luck with the one you choose and have fun,stay safe

Besides a bit more distance, what are the “lots more” you speak of?

[Tronneroi]

I've had a couple rifles in both calibers. I prefer the 30-06 mainly because of the versatility with the loads and the overall cost of factory ammo. Also I'm a little prejudiced because I have a 30-06 for sale right now!

[freeride]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Besides a bit more distance, what are the “lots more” you speak of?

The "lots more" is referring to Money when buying ammo

[Ariu]

I had them both and ended up selling the 300wm mainly because of the recoil and because 3006 was more than enough for my needs.
In your case however I would suggest 300wm as the 270 will do (almost) anything the 3006 can do.

[Justfishin73]

Had pretty much settled on the 30.06, but seeing as how it is very close to the .270---the 300 win mag is starting to make more sense now. Doesn't seem to make much sense to buy something so similar.

[NewGuard84]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

Had pretty much settled on the 30.06, but seeing as how it is very close to the .270---the 300 win mag is starting to make more sense now. Doesn't seem to make much sense to buy something so similar.

If you already have the .270 and plan to hunt some CXP3 class animals, it makes more practical sense to add the 300WM to your collection than the .30-06.

A lot of what has been talked about above considered simply one or the other as a single rifle, with many valid points (and personal opinions) leaning in either direction. Are you keeping the .270?

With the .270 available, more versatility in the collection is perhaps better than overlap/redundancy.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

I don't take many shots past 300 yards

'06.

[Justfishin73]

Originally Posted by NewGuard84

If you already have the .270 and plan to hunt some CXP3 class animals, it makes more practical sense to add the 300WM to your collection than the .30-06.

A lot of what has been talked about above considered simply one or the other as a single rifle, with many valid points (and personal opinions) leaning in either direction. Are you keeping the .270?

With the .270 available, more versatility in the collection is perhaps better than overlap/redundancy.

The .270 will always stay---one of my favorite guns

[stob]

hmmmmm! 25-30% more recoil in the 300wm fora 5-10% increase in horsepower = '06