300 win mag

It takes about double the skill to shoot a 300WM @ 500 yards as it does to shoot a 30/06 @ 350. I've shot both on targets and that's just the way it is. 50% more recoil + 50% longer range = 200% more difficulty.
 
I think you got at least a fair deal and depending on the model of the scope and if the rifle is bedded, it could be a very good deal. I shot a 300 Win Mag for years on elk and it is a very capable cartridge. I eventually got tired of my lightweight A-Bolt and the punishing recoil that came with every shot and moved on though. I'll be very interested to hear how your new rifle shoots.
 
Your .300 should be just fine for the elk. Spend some time shooting from FIELD positions at a basketball sized target from 400 to 600 yards. Only first shot hits count. Then you can judge how far you should be shooting at anything that breathes. The magnum won't make up for bad shot placement. Don't get me wrong, I use a .340 WBY. for elk but I stop at 450 because that is where my first hit probability ends. Not one out of three but three out of three.
 
I will shoot out to 700 with a .300 Win mag on whitetail. IF, I am in a box where I can use mechanical rest, the wind is dead calm or has true lulls in it, and its a heck of a trophy. Unless you have an extremely good rest, 350 is a pretty long shot.
 
Don't worry about the stock being light it isn't, it's just light for a laminated stock. It weighs about what a standard walnut rifle stock would weigh but is more stable. It really isn't a light stock in the grand scheme of things.
Click to expand...

Actually, it is a light stock if we're talking laminated hardwood (and not plastic tupperware) at less than 2-1/2 pounds. Mine run a full pound heavier on average. That's why Boyd's calls them "Featherweight" ;)

A pound doesn't sound like much, but when you combine the light weight, along with the thin pad that comes standard on them, it's not a shoulder-friendly combination.

To the OP-
I'd shoot it. My bet is, you won't want to do it often, especially in that stock.
I see a lot of the guys that own them at the 1000 yard bench cry "uncle" after a couple of dozen rounds with heavier stocks and Limbsaver pads. With about 1/3 more felt recoil than your '06 you'll definitely know you're driving a different rifle.

You already bought it, so it's water under the bridge already...
But did/do you have any idea of the round count before you bought it?

The .300 WM has a barrel life (throat life) of about 1000-1500 rounds.
Any idea of how far along that path it is?

Gotta be careful buying throat-burners like that used- unless they're borescoped, or you can verify accuracy and a low round count, you need to buy them cheap figuring on needing a re-barrel.

I hope you got a fair deal, but if the barrel's toast or near it, you didn't...

Good luck.
 
reynolds357 said:
I will shoot out to 700 with a .300 Win mag on whitetail. IF, I am in a box where I can use mechanical rest, the wind is dead calm or has true lulls in it, and its a heck of a trophy. Unless you have an extremely good rest, 350 is a pretty long shot.
Click to expand...


We'll this hunting season on the last day a mule deer presented it's self at 480 yards. I had my 30.06 with 3-9 glass. I didn't feel confident so my dad handed me his 300 ultra mag with vortex viper-pst 6-24 and I dropped it with a lung shot. I know the win mag is not the ultra. And I do intend to but better glass on the rifle as we'll
 
Do you need the Mag. over the 06, nope. You got a deal that was too good to pass up on that rifle though, no matter the chambering. You will enjoy the gun, very nice set-up.
 
^ What he said. I did the same thing a couple years ago. I have gobs of rifles, but while cruising my LGS, found a used Sako AV left hand in 300WM, so I bought it. It is a good shooter, and the recoil is not much more than the '06, so shoot and enjoy.
 
tobnpr said:
Actually, it is a light stock if we're talking laminated hardwood (and not plastic tupperware) at less than 2-1/2 pounds. Mine run a full pound heavier on average. That's why Boyd's calls them "Featherweight"
Click to expand...

I think if you would read my post you'd see I said the same thing. I said it was light weight for a laminate stock, but I'd never consider a 2.3-2.5lbs stock light weight. The average weight of Boyd's hunting style stocks is 2.8lbs. I've looked at your stocks, and there is a ton of room to trim the fat on them if you truly wanted to build a light weight laminate for a Mosin.

Light weight is anything that comes in a few ounces under 2lbs IMO. Synthetic stocks aren't the only stocks that can come in under 2lbs, a good straight grained piece of Walnut can be quite light as well and still provide a great stock. Most of my light weight stocks run an average of 22-24 ounces. If the OP will step on the bathroom scales with that rifle I'd be willing to bet it comes in over 8lbs, which isn't exactly light weight .300 WM.
 
Nice rifle. If you don't like it, put it up for sale at a high-ish price and just wait until you get the price you want.

The other day in the used rack there was a Mark V Ultra Lightweight in .300 Wby mag and Nikon Monarch 4-16 scope for $950, in decent shape. Since these rifles are about $1K to $1,200 used typically, the scope would just be a bonus. But I hate the chambering. I thought about getting it and turning down the barrel an inch and rechambering to .30-'06 AI - then the magnum action could feed ultra-long bullets and it would be in a chambering I like. Ended up not, but I was tempted. Not directly relevant, but you could do something similar if you wanted. Turn down and re-chamber to .30-'-06 or '06 AI.
 
"Turn down and re-chamber to .30-'-06 or '06 AI."

Not hardly. Different size head on the bolt. It would be simpler to reload using the proper powder to duplicate 30-06 or .308 power levels. IMR or H4895 is a good one for that purpose.
Paul B.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top