Is the .300 Win Mag too big for whitetails?

It will work. It is totally unnessicary, but it'll work.
Contrary to what some people think, the deer wont drop any faster than it will with a 243.
In fact I would much rather have the 243.

On the other hand, I want a 338 Ultri mag. I dont have a need for it, not even for elk, but I dont know anybody thats got one, so I want one. Ive seen what the 338 Win mag can do on deer, and that was definatly too much gun on that one. The bullet ripped all the hide loose on the opposite side and bloodshot most of the meat. Pretty pathetic. I dont know his load.

If you want a new gun, just go buy it before somebody else does. Ask questions about it later.
 
Last edited:
It's certainly a lot "bigger" than anything I would use but there's really no reasonable such thing as "too big". A 50BMG would make a fine deer gun, if you don't mind all the negatives. Personally, I hate recoil. After 20 years of deer hunting with shoulder pounding, heavy, bulky, inaccurate 12ga slug guns, I've chosen to go to something that is a little more usable. A 300WinMag meets MOST of the criteria, it would certainly be lighter, less bulky, more maneuverable but it still has the nasty recoil which I hate more than all the rest combined.

Bottom line, if you've got a thing for a 300 WIn Mag, get it and use it. I wouldn't, but choice is what makes the world go 'round.
 
It's certainly bigger than necessary, even by my standards. ;)

I will be something of a challenge to get a bullet that works properly on deer. The standard Power Points, Corelokts, etc that work so well at a MV of 2800 fps or so will be hard pressed at 3300, especially if your shots are short. I'd try a Nosler Partition or X bullet.

Or a 308. :)
 
Yes the 300WM will work fine,a 308 winny,is all you need,dont aim for the shoulder,aim for the lungs,no meat will be wasted,and ammo is much cheaper.
 
I know several people who have used them for a lot of years with great results. It's not too big but also isn't needed.
 
It is bigger than needed, but if I didn't have any other rifles I'd use what I had and not worry. If you handload you can easily load down to 308 levels. Remington makes some reduced recoil loads that would probably be perfect if you don't handload. Use the full power stuff when needed.
 
I have a hunting partner that used a 300 win mag when he went out west alot. Now that he hunts MN/WI and doesn't shoot long range. 25 yards average for 20 or so deer in the woods . He has finally given the 300 up at close range the bullets open so violently that he often ruins at minimum 1/4 of the front, if he hits shoulder blade we have lost the whole front half. He now has acquired a 7mm-08 which seems to drop the deer quickly with out the mutilation to the deer and your shoulder. IMHO 300 win mag overkill except at the long range. The .243 is a fine deer killer. Unless you just want a 300. IF that is the case get one. A man can never have to many guns

Mwal
 
Shooting a 7mm RM and loading for friends on the same size deer, standard bullets made a mess on any chest shot. For example, a 145gr Speer @ 3130 on a front quartering shot, destroyed the lungs, heart, liver, and blew half the vicera out the far side. Distance was 100 yards. The 300 has the same velocity profile, so I would suggest 165-180 in standard bullets.
 
Is it too big, no, not in my opinion, but its not necessary either. A 243 Win, 260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, 7mm RM, 30-30, 30-06, 308 Win, 300 WM, 35 Rem, 45-70, or any other of 100 other cartrdiges that have sufficient power to use and have been used on whitetails. Its all about your personal prefrence and what your comfortable with.

Myself I do use a 300 WM for whitetails and several other game as well. I decided on the 300 WM over 10 years ago with the intention I could use it to sufficently take any game in North America if and when I get the chance to travel around and hunt them. Plus I was also well aware of its accuracy potential at extended distances for target shooting, which I do quite a bit of. Over the last 10 years I have taken about 20 whitetails, a coyote, and several woodchucks as well with it. Can it be considered overkill for all of them, yup, but I'm comfortable with it and its my choice. I practice with my hunting rifle out to 400yds regurarly, and that practice has allowed me to take 3 whitetails at over 300yds. With some lesser caibers I don't know if I would have taken those shots, maybe but I dont know. I was confident with the 300 WM though.

I hear this talk of meat wasted quite a bit in conversations but I think the meat waste is more on the bullet design you select and shot placement. I have seen lesser calibers but with premium expanding bullets ruin just as much meat as my 300 WM. Poor shot placement though has ruined much more meat than any particular bullet type or caliber in my opinion though. If I lose a little bit of meat in the front shoulder region though, its no big deal to me, I'm content with the fact it was a humane and quick kill and feel I owe that to the animal. I use as much of every animal I shoot as possible but the day I have to nit pick about throwing a half pound of meat(+/-) out because the rifle caused too much damage and I really NEEDED that meat then I have much more to worry about than meat being wasted from my bullet.
 
much rifle

Its certainly more cartridge/horsepower than you need, but isn't that the American way?

Depending on how you hunt, it may be more rifle than you need too. Most mag bolt rifles have long 24-26" bbls, big scopes and recoil pads, and as a result, weigh plenty and are a bit clumsy.

If you walk, climb and cover ground and get in some thick stuff to hunt, it may be more than you want to carry. Personally, my whitetail rifles (and who am I kidding, that's ALL I hunt) are getting shorter and lighter all the time.

But......if you ride the 4x4 or ATV to within 100 yds of the stand/shooting house, spend a few hours there and come out, the big mag likely won't be to much trouble.
 
boltgun71 said:
I hear this talk of meat wasted quite a bit in conversations but I think the meat waste is more on the bullet design you select and shot placement. I have seen lesser calibers but with premium expanding bullets ruin just as much meat as my 300 WM. Poor shot placement though has ruined much more meat than any particular bullet type or caliber in my opinion though.
Click to expand...

This is truth.
 
Is the 300win. mag. too big for whitetails?????

NOPE!

Been there and done that a goodly number of times.

Do you need a rifle that large? NOPE!!!, but if that is what you have, use it.

The problem if there is one, is the use of bullets which lack integrity!

Bullets such as typical cup and core numbers which tend to cause excessive meat damage.

Use a preminum bullet, of which we currently have a good number of examples.

Bullets of the quality level of the Nosler Partition.

My son has used a Speer 150gr Boat Tail in his 270win for years, because it shoots very well.

However, he KNOWS if he has a poor hit, one involving shoulders or hind quarters he will pay the price in great amounts of meat loss. Fact of life with that bullet and other of like design..

On the other hand, over the years since I began to use the Nosler Partition, back in the 60s, the year after a cup and core bullet came apart on me, I have seen the results of a number of pour hits.

Sorry to say a couple were even mine, but the meat loss with a premimum bullet such as the partition is clearly less.

The worse meat loss I can recall was from a cousins 30/30 into the hind quarters of a mule deer buck back in the 50s.

So go ahead and use that 300, they are great rifles, but do yourself and the game you hunt the favor of using the best bullets available.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
I'm not gonna sit here and blow smoke up your......

Is it too big? No. Neither is a 50bmg. But then again a person would have to be a moron to deer hunt with a .50bmg.

I can't help but to wonder why someone would want a .330 mag unless they are shooting long range or hunting large, dangerous critters. You want one...fine, get one. But don't expect me to sit here and tell you it's a fine idea. Me? I keep a howitzer next to my bed for HD.

LK
 
Just check'in back in for a moment.

It is a very well know fact that "big" kills very well.

And it can do so with less meat damage, PROVIDING!!!!!! the choice of bullet is suitable for the size and velocity.

However, a great deal of weight should be factored into the choice as per shootability.

Not trying to put anyone down as to their "manlyness" or ability to absorb the beating rendered by "big."

But for many of us, shootability is enhanced by light recoil.

So, #1, how does recoil effect you over the amount of shooting which should be done before heading into the woods?

#2, Just how much shooting are you willing to do to insure your ability to hit with your choice of weapon?

#3, Do you reload and are thereby able to provide yourself with lots of ammo and if shooting a "thumper" willing to shoot reduced loads for practice - many of them - for lots of trigger time, before hunting?

For my wife, daughter and a young female friend, I have loaded reduced loads for their 270s which gave them the oppertunity for lots of trigger time, while at the same time NEVER being hurt or abused by their firearm.

Prior to hunting, for wife and daughter, I assured the scope/rifle was properly sighted in and the few shots taken at game were never felt by the shooter.

There was no flinch or fear of the rifle as there had never been a cause too develop such problems.

So again, no the 300win mag is not to large for whitetail. Surely NOT needed if that is what your buying the rifle for, PROVIDING proper bullet selection is made, even with the smaller calibers.

But it is a fine caliber for the one rifle hunter if some of his/her hunting includes long and/or big. If it does not include those factors, there are a lot more pleasent and cheaper to shoot rifles available in the 6mm, 7mm, 6.5mm, 270 and smaller 30 calibers

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
HERE'S a little different idea go to the near by cooler & hang around & look you'll see whats what pretty quick most guys will tell you what they use look at the damage for yourself.Most of the best deer rifle rounds will make a mess with a bad hit. Get alittle bone or bad angle whoop there it is. 300 mag is great I love mine.have i lost meat YEP.But I've lost meat with my 223 also.ITS just one of those thangs.:D:D
 
Yep, but you can load it down. Use a lighter bullet for deer. Can't imagine using a 110 grain bullet in a .300 mag, but Hodgdon gives data for 'em. A 130, 140 or 150 would be more practical. Uses a bucket full of powder though.
 
With lighter bullets, normally comes lighter construction and less integraty.

In other words, the high likelyhood of much increased meat loss.

Great for varmits but not eat'in critters!

On the other hand, larger and or heavier bullets (you still need to pick an choose), may offer a much higher degree of integraty and less meat loss.

A bad hit is a bad hit is a bad hit, period. But, I have over the years seen situations where the damage was less because of a premium bullet then would have been the case with the typical lower quality/price offerings.

Look at it this way, if you have a lessor bullet which encounters heavy going, it keeps expanding until it runs out of bullet or energy, while the explosive forces of "expansion" stop much sooner with a premimum/controled expansion bullet allowing the bullet to continue on but with lessor damage.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top