What would you do with 300 saum and 30-06?

[Redneck 7]

My question is pretty strait forward, but just looking for more opinions on the topic. I’m reloading soon for my 7600 30-06 and my 700 BDL .300 SAUM but not sure what bullet weights. Main uses, .300 an everything rifle from mountain tops to the bottom of ravines but also a secondary back up if I have problems with my other rifles in the field. 30-06 is basically my big game, elk and moose, I do shoot deer with it if I’m hunting with someone else with an 06.

I know both rifles can handle everything but I’m thinking 150 gr accubonds or 165 gr partitions for the .300 SAUM and loading 180 gr and 200 gr partitions for the 06.

What I’m stuck on, you could say, is the saum will a 200 gr bullet about 4-500 FPS faster then the 06. So am I thinking about this backwards or just stick to my game plan?

Thanks everyone,

Redneck.

[Nyksta]

are you going with lighter bullets in the 300 for recoil reasons? higher velocity = more fragmenting of bullets. lighter weight bullet for caliber = higher fragmenting of bullets. You've got both going on with the 300. The construction of your bullet for the 300 is going to have to be able to withstand high energy hits.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Nyksta

are you going with lighter bullets in the 300 for recoil reasons? higher velocity = more fragmenting of bullets. lighter weight bullet for caliber = higher fragmenting of bullets. You've got both going on with the 300. The construction of your bullet for the 300 is going to have to be able to withstand high energy hits.

I’m not worried about recoil plus I don’t load my rounds hot anyways, usually get good groups at the beginning to middle of my reloads. I’m just thinking main backup/ everything gun so load a bullet that can still stop an elk but won’t destroy a deer or mountain goat. Hence why the 06 will be used for elk and moose mainly that I’ll load 180 and 200’s.

Also I don’t shoot at game farther then 300 yards, I know where I shoot at 300 but longest shot I’ve killed with is 256 yards.

Ps I already have these bullets I mentioned but not a big deal because a have a few 30 cal rifles, they’ll get used up or I can buy different weights.

[Kurt505]

What bullets does your guns like? As a rule of thumb when I reload I would start at 165gr bullets on my 30cal rifles because of the poor ballistic coefficient of the 150gr and less bullets. Since you mentioned not shooting past 300yds that won’t matter though.

As Nyksta mentioned, bullet construction will be important for both cartridges. A 200gr bullet out of a 30-06 will be slow, you want a bullet that will perform as intended at slow speed, an ELDX or ABLR are designed to perform at lower speeds and would be something I’d be looking into.

A 150gr bullet will be sizzling out of a 300saum so a bonded bullet or a mono metal would be all I would consider. A ttsx would be my pick for a 150gr bullet in the 300saum.

If it were me, I would be using a 165gr bullet in the 30-06 and a minimum of a 180gr bullet in the 300saum. This will open up your options in projectiles and extend the optimum range of both rifles.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

What bullets does your guns like? As a rule of thumb when I reload I would start at 165gr bullets on my 30cal rifles because of the poor ballistic coefficient of the 150gr and less bullets. Since you mentioned not shooting past 300yds that won’t matter though.

As Nyksta mentioned, bullet construction will be important for both cartridges. A 200gr bullet out of a 30-06 will be slow, you want a bullet that will perform as intended at slow speed, an ELDX or ABLR are designed to perform at lower speeds and would be something I’d be looking into.

A 150gr bullet will be sizzling out of a 300saum so a bonded bullet or a mono metal would be all I would consider. A ttsx would be my pick for a 150gr bullet in the 300saum.

If it were me, I would be using a 165gr bullet in the 30-06 and a minimum of a 180gr bullet in the 300saum. This will open up your options in projectiles and extend the optimum range of both rifles.

Currently I’m shooting 150 gr out of my 30-06, shoots under an inch, I can’t remember now. But that was just for a couple deer hunts I had planned in Saskatchewan and here in Alberta since my friend shoots 30-06. I haven’t shot the saum yet but I did buy some very cheap factory ammo for it yesterday in 165’s for some extra brass.

150’s out of the Saum will be 2970-3210 FPS and 180 gr 2786-2955 FPS, 200gr are 2622-2810 according to my Nosler book.

It’s my first magnum I’m loading for so I’m happy I asked this question. I was thinking a 180 grain will be overkill for some of the smaller big game animals. I could keep the 150’s for my .308 and then go 165’s in the saum.

[elkhunter11]

I generally start with 165gr bullets in my .308 calibers, a bonded bullet like the Accubond will work fine. If the 165s don't shoot well in a rifle, I try 180 grains. My 300RUM rifles didn't shoot the 165s as well as the 180s, so I went with the 180gr TSX. I personally have no use for 200gr bullets in any .308" cartridge.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I generally start with 165gr bullets in my .308 calibers, a bonded bullet like the Accubond will work fine. If the 165s don't shoot well in a rifle, I try 180 grains. My 300RUM rifles didn't shoot the 165s as well as the 180s, so I went with the 180gr TSX. I personally have no use for 200gr bullets in any .308" cartridge.

I agree with the 200 gr statement, I just got them because I bought the 165’s, 180’s and 200’s used as a lot so I’ll just use them up. For what, still debating.

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

I’m not worried about recoil plus I don’t load my rounds hot anyways, usually get good groups at the beginning to middle of my reloads. I’m just thinking main backup/ everything gun so load a bullet that can still stop an elk but won’t destroy a deer or mountain goat. Hence why the 06 will be used for elk and moose mainly that I’ll load 180 and 200’s.

Also I don’t shoot at game farther then 300 yards, I know where I shoot at 300 but longest shot I’ve killed with is 256 yards.

Ps I already have these bullets I mentioned but not a big deal because a have a few 30 cal rifles, they’ll get used up or I can buy different weights.

Fragmenting bullets destroy the most meat. A solid neatly mushrooming bullet that penetrates in a single wound channel destroys less meat. The slower heavier bullet will save more meat than a hyper velocity light bullet. A 150 gr bullet at 3000+ fps id be going monometal to keep from tiny peices of metal bursting in every direction.

[gunluvr]

IMO 165 gr. bullets are optimum for a 24" 30-06. Can't think of another reason (ballistically) to own a 300 RUM than to shoot heavier bullets. Unless of course you're a 800+ yd. super sniper.

[Coiloil37]

You must be using some antique load data for the ‘06. The 300 saum has a 100-150 fps advantage on the ‘06 with most bullet weights, not 4-500.

If they were mine I would probably shoot a 165/168 in both. If I wanted more penetration I would use a Barnes before I went heavier.

[obsessed1]

I run 165 gr in my slow .308s ( 308,30-06) and 180-208 gr in my fast 30s ( 300wm) I like accubonds in general but am loading eldx and eldm s in my long range 300. My experience is the lighter/ faster magnum rounds wreck more meat on smaller game ( deer) than a slower heavier bullet. Ymmv

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

You must be using some antique load data for the ‘06. The 300 saum has a 100-150 fps advantage on the ‘06 with most bullet weights, not 4-500.

If they were mine I would probably shoot a 165/168 in both. If I wanted more penetration I would use a Barnes before I went heavier.

Yeah I’m not to sure how I got those numbers, maybe looked at saums 150 gr chart and 06 200 gr chart. Hahaha classic, I have a nosler and Hornady ballistic books, nosler one I bought a couple months ago.

Thanks for everyone’s input, I think I’ll load 180’s and 200’s for the saum and keep the 150’s and 165’s for the 308 and 30-06. That way when I’m hunting goats and sheep I don’t have to worry about grizzly encounters with 150 grain bullets.

[Diesel_wiesel]

I load my 300 saum with 165 grn nosler partions
and 65,5 grns reloader 17
I get unreal speed (3098 fps) average and low recoil , and 5 shot clover leaf design at 1oo yrds
that with a rem model seven 22 inch barrel

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Diesel_wiesel

I load my 300 saum with 165 grn nosler partions
and 65,5 grns reloader 17
I get unreal speed (3098 fps) average and low recoil , and 5 shot clover leaf design at 1oo yrds
that with a rem model seven 22 inch barrel

Thanks for the info, I use Varget first and see what happens with that

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

Thanks for the info, I use Varget first and see what happens with that

Varget in a 300 SAUM? I wouldn't.

You should be looking at 4350 and RL19 burn rates.

Varget is too fast burning to be very effective.

[303carbine]

Sell the saum and buy lots of ammo for the 06, end of story.

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by 303carbine

Sell the saum and buy lots of ammo for the 06, end of story.

+1, or buy a second 3006 if you desire a backup rifle to your first.

[rembo]

Originally Posted by 303carbine

Sell the saum and buy lots of ammo for the 06, end of story.

Current internet wisdom suggests you should sell both and buy a 300 PRC and a 6.5 Creedmoor.......