.30-06 or .300 Win Mag?

[kennygarza]

I have a sporterized Mauser 98 in .30-06. Mighty fine rifle. I am playing with the idea of trading up for a Ruger M77 in either '06 or possibly 300 Win Mag. This rifle will be used on whitetail, hogs and the occassional mulies. I like the idea of the .30-06 being good for everything, but I've heard that the .300 Win Mag can do everything the '06 can, but better.

So, should I be looking to get another .30-06...
get a .300 mag...
or just keep what I've got?

I appreciate any info.

 

[LeonCarr]

Get a Ruger M77 in .30-06. Cheaper to shoot, less recoil, and in all honesty the same range of game that can be hunted with a .300 Winchester can be hunted with a .30-06. I think that most .30 caliber magnums are bought more for bragging rights than for actual performance.

Check the ballistics and trajectories of the .30-06 and the .300 Winchester, and compare. The numbers aren't that much different. For deer and hogs, the .30-06 would be my pick.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Dave R]

The only differences between the two cartridges are:

-300winmag has more recoil
-300winmag has slightly flatter trajectory.
-300winmag has some more downrange energy (but not really enough to take significantly larger game).

.30-60 has:
-more ammo choices
-less recoil
-plenty of energy
-flat enough trajectory to shoot well out to 300 yards.

So unless you want to attempt shots beyond 300 yards, I would stick with the classic aught-six.

 

[DigMe]

I had a friend who had a .300 mag for one hunting season. He decided the recoil just wasn't worth it. He sold it and got a .257 Weatherby mag and from what I've heard he's much happier with that. '06 is good stuff.

brad cook

 

[priv8ter]

Easy Choice

Well, if you're looking for me to start a controversy, you're going to be disappointed.

I see no need for someone with a .30-06 to get a .300 Win Mag. UNLESS as Dave said, you want to shoot at mulies and elk across canyons and sage brush at 350+ yards.

If you were looking for a dedicated elk gun, which is on my list, I'm not sure .300 Win Mag would be my choice anyway. When I get mine, I'm torn between .35 Whelen and .338. Depends on how abused I want to get.

A guy I work with recently upgraded his .300 Win Mag to a .300 Weatherby Magnum, no he's scared to shoot more than nine rounds getting ready for hunting season.

Now, what guy who shoots nine rounds a year is actually going to be able to hit something at 300 yards or more anyway, which was his excuse for upgrading.

Stick with the .30-06, learn your loads ballistics, and if you want to spend money on something, get a range finder!

No of course, if you were looking for me to say .300 Win Mag so you have an excuse to get a new gun, then by all means, disregard my well-reasoned argument.

greg

 

[kennygarza]

Guys, I want to thank you for the responses. I love the .30-06, and in all honesty it would have been hard for me to plunk down the money for not that much more power. I've always liked the wide range of loads available for the '06. So I'll go with my gut feeling (and everyone else's) and stick with the .30-06.

Now, having said that... would it be worth while to trade up the Mauser for a Ruger M77? I think the Rugers are going for $429 around here. I paid about $250-275 for the sporterized Mauser. I have a .243 M77 that I love, so I'm considering a trade.

My rifle was made by Golden Gate Firearms from Pasadena, Ca. Dated 1946. I think it says Santa Fe somewhere on it, but I'm not sure. Anyone have any info on it?

Much thanks-Kenny

 

[000Buck]

"having said that"....does anyone use that in everyday speech, or is that an internet anomoly?

Forget the 30-06, get a BAR in 338 Win Mag! We shot the 450 Marlin, laughed at its "mighty" recoil, go for the good stuff, a 338. We can load some up after you get your BAR tomorrow.

 

[kennygarza]

Ah yes, hoping they have some goodies at the gun show tomorrow! Mosins, Enfields, Mausers and some good old $500 1903s.

 

[000Buck]

Ive got a 1903 that I converted to 14 Flea that I'll sell you. Send me a PM if your interested.

 

[kennygarza]

At work LMAO!!! .14 Flea baby! I hear Remington is making that caliber in their 7600 pumps.

 

[hps1]

As DaveR said and others alluded to:

So unless you want to attempt shots beyond 300 yards, I would stick with the classic aught-six.

And Priv8ter said:

If you were looking for a dedicated elk gun, which is on my list, I'm not sure .300 Win Mag would be my choice anyway. When I get mine, I'm torn between .35 Whelen and .338.

I have one 300 WM and seven 30-06's (That should say something. ). As Dave mentioned, there is only a slight trajectory advantage with the 300 WM, may add 30 to 50 yards more point blank range over the '06, depending on the bullet used and the .338 WM definately has the edge over the 300 WM for larger game. Look at the .338 as a 30-06 which shoots a 225-250 gr. bullet w/very similar trajectory to the '06 and with the additional punch required for larger game.

A side-bar on Priv8ter's comment:

Depends on how abused I want to get.

Recently planned to use my .338 WM on an eland hunt but this was vetoed by my guide. He insisted on at least a .375 H&H, so borrowed my son's rifle, developed a healthy load using 300 gr. A-frames and shot a lot
to get used to the rifle. The .375 did a great job, but I still think the 250 gr. .338 would have handled the perfect broadside shot the guide skillfully arranged and I was lucky enough to get.

The unforseen benefit of all the practice with the .375, the .338 recoil goes completely unnoticed.

I know you were only asking about the 300 WM vs 30-06, but might I suggest another possibility? Why not keep your dependable '06 and add a
.338 WM, then you have a 2 rifle battery that will cover all bases in NA.

Regards,
hps

 

[Art Eatman]

I've had two Ruger 77s; great rifles. But, there are no flies on a sporterized Mauser. The action is probably "slicker" than the Ruger. If you haven't already done so, install something like a Canjar trigger or equivalent.

If you don't reload, spend the "upgrade" money on some good used stuff: Press, scales and dies. I load a 150-grain for deer, and I've played around enought that were I to go elk hunting I'd use a 180-grain. I note that Sierra bullets give me one MOA at 500 yards.

While the vast majority of my whitetails were killed within 150 yards, I have made one-shot kills at 350 and at 450 yards...

The only .300 WinMag I've shot was a sight-in with a Ruger #1. It definitely was Not Fun.

Art

 

[stevelyn]

I can't add much to what everyone else said about the '06 other than about ammo selection. I don't know if you reload or not, but for those who don't, factory ammo/bullet choices rival those of reloaders. Loads from the major manufacturers are available with premium bullets in a variety of weights and construction making the .30-06 even more versatile and pressing its performance on game farther. Additionally if you want or need more power Federal's Premium High Energy line and Hornady's Light Magnums push '06 into .300 H&H territory. High Energys and Light Magnums use nothing but premium bullets.

 

[RW MTP]

300 or 3006

Hi Just wanted to point out another couple options. If you really like your mauser, you could have the chamber reamed to 8mm06 or rebarrel to 3006. Either would be cheaper than buying another weapon. JMHO Tim

 

[Wildalaska]

The unforseen benefit of all the practice with the .375, the .338 recoil goes completely unnoticed.

Ya aint shot my 338 then........oooowwwwwwww


WildbruiseAlaska

 

[hps1]

Ya aint shot my 338 then........oooowwwwwwww

WBA:
I haven't had that experience w/my 338 WM. It is probably 8- 8.5# or so w/decellerator pad and stock a bit long (about 3/8-1/2" longer than I normally shoot).

Are you shooting an Ultra Mag or a light rifle?

Regards,
hps

 

[twoblink]

If you have gopher problems, get a .416Rigby. And go ahead and skip the "3's" and go straight to the "4's"

 

[spacemanspiff]

wildsoreshoulderalaska needs recoil pads on his .22lr.


spacemanyoubetterbeupforsomeshootingnextweekendWAspiff

 

[kennygarza]

Yes, I think I said my Mauser is chambered for .30-06 already.

 

[critter]

I have to vote with the crowd. I have both the '06 and a 300 win mag (Win mod 70). I love my .300, but it is not significantly better in any way than the '06 for any normal North American game.

I also have a Ruger 77 in '06 and some rifles built on M98 Mauser actions. I love the Ruger, but it is only a M98 produced on modern machinery. I would not trade for the difference personally.

See, you are WELL FIXED in the centerfire rifle department. We are just keeping you from buying a new gun and spending more money. Get a new one only if you want a new one. Far too many folks (ME ESPECIALLY) have spent a lot of hard earned money looking for the 'holy grail' with very little improvement. Not to say we haven't had a lot of fun, but I doubt we got any 'better'.

 

[kennygarza]

I'm taking the Mauser .30-06 out to the range tomorrow. If I can get good groups out of it using Winchester 150s, I'll keep it. If not......

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've been shooting true heavy rifles so long that I truley do not notice the recoil of my .375H&H. It feels like a .22 to me. Recoil shouldn't be s factor given enough practice.

With that beeing said I believe that if you want more kill get a bigger bullet. If you want seriously specialized rifle for specific types of hunting such a sheep or goats then go and get yourself a thunderzappineargaslpitin magnium rifle.

If you want more smack go get a .375 or a .338. But by all means whatever you get put a decelerator on it and shoot it often. Accuracy beats power every time. But accuracy combined with power are really nice..

Hey Hps1

Nice eland where'd you snag him at?

 

[hps1]

Thanks, H&Hhunter.

I have a deer lease on one of three ranches owned by same company in deep south Texas (south of Kingsville). The home ranch is 11,000 acres and has quite a few exotics, one being the eland. From the first time I saw an eland I wanted to hunt them and this year took the plunge. Arranged a hunt and really had a blast!

Amazing animals; unbelievable how much punishment they can absorb and stay on their feet. This one had the top of his heart and all major arteries taken out on the first shot. The spot on shoulder is exit hole from 300 gr. A-frame and the animal showed no reaction other than to turn and run. The large hole near rear rib is entrance of second shot which caught him running away, 45* angle at 175-180 yards. Only reaction was that he turned sharply to the right and maybe sped up a bit before entering thick mesquite brush. He managed to run about 90 yards from where he stood at first shot before he died.

Regards,
hps

 

[schromf]

I will chime in that a 300 Win Mag is a very fussy cartridge to reload. Change anything, primer types, lots of powder, bullet types and the groups open up nasty. I worked with several friends rifles and honestly taking these rifles out to the range a couple of times a year to tweak in loads because we switch lots of powder got to be a real pain. This is one cartridge I would rather buy factory ammo on.

That said I have a couple of 30-338's and they are like the hammer of Thor when loaded right. I do my job they do what they are supposed to do. They are little overpowered for most lower 48 applications though, and it is long shots 400-600 yds, and elk that they hold the clear edge on. I only use big heavy bullets and never shoot any bullets lighter than 180 gr. I handload and a 200 gr. bullet with a BC of .560 @ 2900 fps cannot be agrueed with it is just awesome.

Really though bang for your buck if you are only going to shoot in the lower 48, with an occasional hunting trip west, get a 30-06 or a 308. These will give all the performance you need on animals up to elk, be a lot easier on your pocketbook and shoulder. I own both 30-06's and 308 and I shoot these much more than the big 30 mags.

 

[kennygarza]

Just a quick follow up range report. I took the M98 .30-06 out to the range today and I'm pretty happy with the results. Using Winchester 150 gr., my best 3-shot groups were 1.5" from a rest @ 100yds. Pretty dang good for me! The majority of the groups were around 2". For a rifle that was manufactured in 1946 and cost me all of $250, I'm pretty happy with that. I've got it sighted in at 2"high @ 100yds. I think it's a keeper!

H&H, I read your hunting trip report. Congratulations on your success. That Riley guy is an idiot.

Thanks for the input, guys.
-Kenny