Para Bellum
New member
We have a lot of European Wild Boar (sus scrofa) to deal with....
One for all hunting caliber: .308 or .300 Win Mag?
- Thread starter Para Bellum
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UniversalFrost
New member
i picked 300 win mag, just because 308 is too light for some of the bigger creatures up north (think grizzlies) and moose.
personally i own both calibers, but my choice for a do all .30cal gun is 30/06.. much cheaper to shoot and easier to find ammo for, even in a gas station in the middle of nowhere, alaska (don't ask me how I know this) than .308 or 300 win mag.
30/06 can and has taken every shootable animal on this (and many other continents) .
oh and I do have 300 win mag loads with 110gr v-max for yotes, but they are little too much for yotes.
personally i own both calibers, but my choice for a do all .30cal gun is 30/06.. much cheaper to shoot and easier to find ammo for, even in a gas station in the middle of nowhere, alaska (don't ask me how I know this) than .308 or 300 win mag.
30/06 can and has taken every shootable animal on this (and many other continents) .
oh and I do have 300 win mag loads with 110gr v-max for yotes, but they are little too much for yotes.
I voted .308.
Cartridge cases don't kill game.A 30 cal bullet delivered at a velocity the bullet was designed to perform with will do the job a 30 cal bullet will do.
Because we have better bullets,both BC and bonded,a 165 is now(according to me) adequate for elk.I'm more of a 180 to 200 gr guy,but I concede a 165 works,and works well.A 308 will deliver a 165 with enough power for elk at 300 yds,assuming a well placed heart lung shot.
Dead is dead.
Myself,I think inside 300 yds is a good idea,and it covers maybe 90+% of the shots one is likely to have.
Maybe 5% or 10 % of the time,a .300 mag will provide a useful advantage.
So,do we gear up for the 5% shot?
I prefer 7 lb rifles to 9 lb rifles.I shoot better with rifles with moderate recoil.
I shoot better if I shoot more often.Ammo prices and barrel wear are factors.
Then there is the mess the extra velocity of a magnum makes at 100 yds.You will have more edible meat with a 308.
I realize,for this poll,our choices are limited.These are both good cartridges,but,if I could only have one rifle,there are others I would think about.I would not choose the 300 win mag,but the 308 would be on the list,with the 30-06,the .280 Rem,7-08,etc.
Cartridge cases don't kill game.A 30 cal bullet delivered at a velocity the bullet was designed to perform with will do the job a 30 cal bullet will do.
Because we have better bullets,both BC and bonded,a 165 is now(according to me) adequate for elk.I'm more of a 180 to 200 gr guy,but I concede a 165 works,and works well.A 308 will deliver a 165 with enough power for elk at 300 yds,assuming a well placed heart lung shot.
Dead is dead.
Myself,I think inside 300 yds is a good idea,and it covers maybe 90+% of the shots one is likely to have.
Maybe 5% or 10 % of the time,a .300 mag will provide a useful advantage.
So,do we gear up for the 5% shot?
I prefer 7 lb rifles to 9 lb rifles.I shoot better with rifles with moderate recoil.
I shoot better if I shoot more often.Ammo prices and barrel wear are factors.
Then there is the mess the extra velocity of a magnum makes at 100 yds.You will have more edible meat with a 308.
I realize,for this poll,our choices are limited.These are both good cartridges,but,if I could only have one rifle,there are others I would think about.I would not choose the 300 win mag,but the 308 would be on the list,with the 30-06,the .280 Rem,7-08,etc.
Pathfinder45
New member
Neither.
Even a .270 fool like myself can tell you that .30-'06 Springfield is the most versatile hunting cartridge of all. To think otherwise is to ignore the facts.
Even a .270 fool like myself can tell you that .30-'06 Springfield is the most versatile hunting cartridge of all. To think otherwise is to ignore the facts.
Definately the 308. Both Basically the same bullets. Therefor the question is which one will allow you to consistantly place the bullet where it counts. With the 308. it is cheaper and with less recoil is easier to shoot well. The magnums are higher recoil and MUCH more expensive to feed. What the cost means, is the ability to practice and practice often. You should be farmiliar enough with your rifle that when you shoulder it, it is on target. Eveything is second nature. Being able to shoot the 300 well, requires a lot of practice and still, not everyone can shoot it well because of the recoil. I shoot 100s of ammo a month and still do not like the recoil or cost of the magnums.
You must become proficient with your rifle and get the muscle memory imprinted so that everything is natural for you. With the 300's, if you are like most people and develop a flinch because of the recoil, that can become part of your muscle memory. What good is it is flatter at long range to allow for range estimate mistakes and saves you 4 inches of drop when your flinch costs 8 inches. Get yourself a good range finder and spend the extra money you will still save on practice. Practice, practice and practice some more. If you have the time, money and desire to work up to the magnums and the inclination--good. If you are a normal person who is on a budget and wants to become a proficient as possible, get the 308--I am ignoring other caliber choices. One of my sons who is and exsniper, chose the 308 for his rifle. Why? Because it is accurate, reliable, effective and allows for regular practice. Remember it is not the arrow that kills the deer but the Indian. Just my 2 cents.
You must become proficient with your rifle and get the muscle memory imprinted so that everything is natural for you. With the 300's, if you are like most people and develop a flinch because of the recoil, that can become part of your muscle memory. What good is it is flatter at long range to allow for range estimate mistakes and saves you 4 inches of drop when your flinch costs 8 inches. Get yourself a good range finder and spend the extra money you will still save on practice. Practice, practice and practice some more. If you have the time, money and desire to work up to the magnums and the inclination--good. If you are a normal person who is on a budget and wants to become a proficient as possible, get the 308--I am ignoring other caliber choices. One of my sons who is and exsniper, chose the 308 for his rifle. Why? Because it is accurate, reliable, effective and allows for regular practice. Remember it is not the arrow that kills the deer but the Indian. Just my 2 cents.
ojibweindian
New member
I chose the 300 because it's easier to turn down a 300 than it is to dial up a 308.
James R. Burke
New member
Your leaving to many choices out. But from what you asked the mag. Recoil has never been a issue with me. I had a .416 rem mag, that was just fun to shoot. But if you just gave me a choice of any caliber it would no doubt be the .30-06 for many reasons. There are a few others also. The .308 is a great rifle, and I had a few of them. They will get the job done on about anything. I dont think you could go wrong with either of them.
rantingredneck
New member
.308 for this ^ reason. And I'll add another..........Less weight. If you like to walk and stalk you'll appreciate a lighter rifle with a shorter action.
I have exactly two bolt guns. A Remington 700 in .30-06, which I'm confident will kill anything in the lower 48 I may have to shoot at, and a Remington 700 in .243 Winchester. When I'm going to be on foot and moving that .243 is just right......
blaackhand
Inactive
I gota go with the 300 WM. better at long range and on larger game.
Neither one! A .25-06 is the perfect all around caliber for hunting anything in the continental USA. But, of the two choices I said .308. Only because it's cheaper to shoot and more available that the .300 Win Mag. It's a lousy round for hunting fur bearing animals.
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Christchild
New member
Of the 2 Cartridges in question, the .308 Winchester gets the nod.
Was it last year, or the year before??? The .308 Win. broke the record for Moose.........???
.308!!!
Was it last year, or the year before??? The .308 Win. broke the record for Moose.........???
.308!!!