.300 winchester and 30/06 springfield

[sprice]

So if I had only the choice of one of these two calibers for a "do-all" bolt action; What would you choose? A lot of the people I know (that reload) only have 06 so I could share with them, and some of my other hunting buddies have .300 winchester magnums. Also; is it worth having 2 more 30/06 rounds in the gun?

 

[Maverick223]

I like the .300WM for a nice thumper, it will do all in NA pretty well (the .338WM is a bit better though), and it does great at longer ranges.

 

[ArmedBear]

Depends what "all" is.

I already have a .30-06, so I'm not looking to get a .300 WinMag. But we have a few relatively large game animals in Idaho, too. .338 WinMag is worth buying another rifle, and so is having a lightweight short action like a 7mm-08. But if I didn't already have a .30-06, I might get a .300WM. Then again, if you can use friends' .30-06 reloading equipment, you can load 'em hot if you want, and you can also do a lot more shooting than if you have to buy .300 WinMag at the store.

 

[Maverick223]

Never thought the old 06 would fall behind like this...it's great 300WM still @ 100%.

 

[UnTainted]

With proper bullet construction, and given that both are .30 cal, I think the 300wm gives you more range, but apart from that I find few advantages, so for an all around, I voted '06.

Course if you don't plan on getting a bigger caliber like a 338 or a 375 or something, maybe the 300wm is good for ya in that it can handle big animals at closer range.

I might expect an '06 rifle to be able to be shot more times in its lifetime, though.

 

[benzy2]

I don't have anything bigger than deer to hunt around here and even then I have to travel to get to a state where it is legal. As such I don't have a need for anything bigger. I can see the advantage of the .300WM to long range shooting but that wouldn't be my do all rifle so I picked '06.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

.30-06. No question in my book. If I cant do it with a .30-06, I'll step up to something larger than .30 caliber.

 

[Maverick223]

I can see the advantage of the .300WM to long range shooting but that wouldn't be my do all rifle so I picked '06.

Understandably, as far as "normal range" hunting in the South I don't believe the 300WM is needed. For long range and long teeth the 300WM is great. Remember the energy difference between the 300WM & .30-06 is about double that of the .30-06 when compared to the .308; and therefore the .308 can do nearly everything the 06 can.

Darn... .30-06 is making a comeback...

 

[BENELLIMONTE]

The never ending debate I am always torn when it comes to what caliber is the best in the .30 cal. I own (5) 30-06 vs (2) 300 Win mags. However I rarely use my '06 anymore. In Idaho in the past seasons I have used my Beretta Mato in 300 Win Mag (loaded w Federal High Energy 200grain Nosler Partitions) for combo Bull Elk/Buck Mule deer hunts. I know that the 300 Win Mag at extended ranges carries more kockdown power.

 

[Uncle Mike]

What made the 30-06 so popular?
It has been used to take every N.American game species.
The old timers used it without disrepute!
I don't know... I have and use them both.. I think I'm inclined to grab the 30-06 more than not nowdays.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Do you reload?

 

[Maverick223]

You, sprice, really should change the "other" to "other .30 caliber"...if not you open the debate up to a whole host of other options; like the .338WM, which IMO is the best kill-all for ANY NA game (it may tear it apart, but it won't get any deader ). That said I don't own one (.338WM) and have no real desire for one.

 

[scythefwd]

sprice,
I can't shoot accurately over 5-600 y. The -06 can still take any game on the continent at that range so I chose the -06. The 300wm will reach out and touch ya, but if you can't shoot that distance... what is the point? The -06 has made hits out to 1200y (not on large game that I am aware of) and it's results were pretty conclusive to the target.

 

[Max C.]

The nice thing about the 30-06 is that there is also Greek Mil-surp available for a reasonable price through the CMP.

 

[cbrgator]

The nice thing about the 30-06 is that there is also Greek Mil-surp available for a reasonable price through the CMP.

Eh. Their best deal recently sold out.

 

[deALPHAmale]

I'm partial to .308, but that's just me...

>_>

 

[deacon8]

Not a big fan of .308...I think it's overrated. However, I do like the 30-06. Go with that! The .300 Win mag isn't going to get you something the 30-06 can't...even range. A 150 fps doesn't mean squat!

 

[Maverick223]

The .300 Win mag isn't going to get you something the 30-06 can't

Which is why the .30-06 is the favored long range cartridge...right The .300WM has better loads available for additional range (bucks wind better and has a flatter trajectory) and it enters the transonic range at much greater distance.

 

[benzy2]

There is no question the .300WM is ballistically superior. It shoots flatter and is better in the wind. The issue I have is that if I pick up a rifle to go do anything but punch paper farther than I can see, the benefits of the .300WM don't shine through and the extra recoil and price of ammo does. I don't have the opportunity to shoot the larger stuff on this continent and I don't have the situation of needing to shoot something that may bite back. For everything else the '06 does just fine and I can blast that Greek ammo all day for a fraction of what .300WM ammo costs. But that just fits my personal shooting habits. I can 100% see why someone could pick the .300WM for other shooting situations or desires.

 

[mossberg]

Never thought the old 06 would fall behind like this...it's great 300WM still @ 100%.

LOL

 

[UnTainted]

true benzy2, i forgot about the wind. faster to target means less time for the wind to push the bullet.

 

[jpwilly]

At practical hunting ranges the 30-06 will do everything you need a 30 cal to do.

 

[ArmedBear]

it enters the transonic range at much greater distance

Isn't that distance farther out than you'd ever shoot in the field?

Factory ammo is still going mach 2 at close to 400 yards, with a long way to go to pass mach 1.

A 165 grain bullet at subsonic velocity is .38 Special for all practical purposes, not a hunting round at that range.

 

[jbkebert]

I have gone this long and have never owned a 30/06. I do own a .300 win mag and would not trade it for the world. I have taken just about everything a 30/06 could take with a .270. If the .270 won't kill it the .300 win will.

 

[Uncle Mike]

A so called Magnum allows you to shoot the same sized animal a bit further away... or a bit larger animal at the same distance.

If your going to be doing any of that, a magnum is your best bet... if your hunting deer or elk or moose or pretty much any N. American game, at resonable ranges... say out to 400y... for the smaller of the species, then the ol' 30-06 will be all the punch you'll need!