.300 win "MAG" thoughts

I owned and deer hunted with a Rem 700 7Mag for many years and killed more than a couple deer with them, they shot great, long or short range, killed a few antelope with them too no problems. I guess I am just lazy and prefer not to get hit with quite as much recoil any more as I have a .280 Rem and a 7-08 (can't escape the 7mms), more and more I find the little 7-08 in my hands during deer season. I have absolutely nothing against any belted magnum from the smallest up to the largest as long as the shooter can handle it safely and well. Were I going Elk hunting or had the opportunity to hunt long range the 300 Win Mag would certainly be a viable option. If you showed up in my deer camp to hunt with a .340 Wthby of course we would razz you some, but before it was over I would be the first in line to shoot it just because. There was a time when the .300 Mags (mostly the older H&H's?) ruled the 1000 yard target range. Beware the man who can cradle his .300 Win Mag or .340 Wthby Mag and place bullets at long range, he is a force to be reckoned with.
 
Love my Browning BAR II Safari .300 WM with the BOSS. Also Have the same gun in the .30-06 and the .270 but without the BOSS on them. I shoot more accurately with the .300 than the other two regardless of distance or ammo. The .300 with the BOSS is quite a bit louder and wreaks havock on the persons shooting next to me when at the range. The loudness and the pressure from the muzzle blast is pretty tough on the persons next to you ( experienced it for my self ).I also have a Savage .300 WM and it is not quite as loud or as heavy on the muzzle blast as the Browning, but I am not as accurate with it as I am with the Browning . I bought the .300 WM Browning because I shot a freinds and liked it and it also complimented my .30-06 and .270 in the same gun as I like the BAR rifles a lot. Had nothing to do with more power. I do like the .300 Short Mag as well and hope to eventually get a BAR in that caliber as well.
 
A couple of my friends have showed up with 300 WM and side by side with my /06 I just don't like the 300WM. I know the 300 stretches a bit further but it's not worth it to me to beat myself up. I'll hold higher or stalk closer and be loads more comfortable and keep a little extra change in my pocket after loading for it too.

If I ever need a bigger gun than a 308 or an /06, I'll use my 45/70. Well said.

But don't you guys stop buying the Bubba Magnums. I love finding the brass and trading it off. Don't get riled up of my term I used, it's all tongue in cheek.
 
I have a 300 wtby mag and it's a hand full...that's my go to gun for any time I want to go out for an elk, bear or moose, if I ever want to go on a bison hunt then I know that it'll do the job. there is nothing wrong with a magnum but I think unless you are after the african big 5 then there's no reason at all to need anything with a 4 in front of it(45lc and 44 mag exempt) I know guys that swear up and down that the 300 win mag is the greatest deer round ever invented but I ruin enough meat hunting with a 243, I couldn't imagine what that thing does to anything smaller than 400lbs. I find it harder to shoot my 300 than my 243, 7.62x39, 223 and 12 gauge. I cant imagine why anyone would say that a magnum is only for shooters that dont have any marksman skills, I'm a full grown man who's been hunting since childhood and I flinch like a beverly hills blonde when you put me behind my 300.
 
Every deer I have ever shot with my .300 WM with the exception of one was shot just behind the front shoulder with Hornady 180 GR SST. Since all of them were shot from a shooting house or tree stand, they were shot at a downward angle , some less of an angle depending on distance away. So most of the time the bullet went in behind the shoulder, and exited usually through the lower chest area to the upper shoulder area on the other side after doing some major damage to the heart and lungs. Some of the time the opposing shoulder sustained some damage and sometimes not. But most of the time I just grind the shoulders for sausage so no big deal to me. The one instance that was not behind the shoulder was the result of the animal running ( dog hunting ) and being shot at distance. It was struck in the side of the rib cage and exited just behind the upper front shoulder on the otherside. Did pretty good damage to the ribs on that side and of course the guts as well. Front shoulder sustained some damage as well. But the Hornady SST round in a .270 or .30-06 rnd would have inflicted pretty close to as much damage if shot in the same place. I think as long as you are accurate and shoot them in the right place, that argument is not applicable unless you eat the heart and lungs. But sure if you hit it in the hind quarter , the damage would be quite more substantial. I shot a six point facing me with the same rnd in the .30-06 except 150 GR. instead of 180. Round went in at about the base of the neck, and exited on the same side in the font part of the the hind quarter. Not to much damage to the chest area but ruined all the ribs on that side, guts were pretty messed up and front part of the hind quarter was destroyed. I know the .300 WM would have caused a great deal more damage but just saying, depends on where you shoot them and what kind of load you use.
 
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i like the 300wm for a few reasons. the primary reason is that i can use one gun in ny co and alaska and be confident that it can do anything i ask it to do and am capable of doing myself. for most shots on game hunters dont need as much power as they often use even in non mag calibers or the sub moa rifles we are all so hung up on for that matter but having the utmost confidence in equipment is a nice thing. the other reason that i like a 300mag is that i can kill a brown bear with it if need be. for most people in the 48 this will most likely never be a concern but if you have ever slept next to a dead moose in sw alaska or had a bear come running towards your deer after a shot on kodiak you get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you have a 300 not a 243(which would be a more appropriate blacktail gun). i love my 300 and will never give it up.
 
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