Is a 300 win mag too big for deer?

[Triple S]

This is a great recap:

Actually, I do have experience with the Nosler Ballistic Tip in 165 grain weight. In 1988 I decided to build a custom 30-06 rifle and start to handload. My first load was a 165 grain Nolster balistic tip in Winchester Cases with Winchester primers and utilizing IMR 4350 powder. The load was very accurate and I took 6 deer (Central Texas - rather smallish deer) that year. Performance wise the first deer was textbook - through and through with great expansion. The next five deer I killed did not have an exit wound with 165 gr 30-06 loads (Should be similar velocities to the load you mentioned with higher sectional densities). I have not used Nosler Balistic Tips since.

+1.....I have had very similar experiences with a .300 WBY and 165 grain BT's. Some shots have been OK, but more times than not, the BT's reactions were too unpredictable. Yes, you can make the point about using them only at long ranges, but this is more for the dedicated hunter waiting only for the right shot, not for general all around use. While I am not much of a fan of BT's, I think they are better suited for standard cartridges.

There is no need to load the 300 Winchester down for White Tails, there are a number of factory loads that will work just fine. I had some handloads get wet (poor packing on my part) on a trip to South Carolina last year and used the 300 Winchester 180 grain Fusion loads just fine. No problems.

My personal handload is 165 grain Triple Shock Barnes over a generous amount of Reloader 22 in whatever cases are available with Winchester LRM primers.

+2...My favorite load for deer hunting with a .300 WBY & .300 WSM have been the 165 or 168 grain Triple Shocks. They hold together on close shots, yet still expand properly on the longer shots.

Do I hunt deer with .300's because I feel as though I need the power? No, it just so happens that one of my most accurate rifles is a .300. I like shooting them so when I switch over to something bigger, like Elk, I am use to the rifle and know what I can do with it. Also, i do take longer shots (I practice) than the average person, so I like the flatter trajectory than the standard cartridges. It's all about confidence.....Yes, a .300 is fine for Deer.

 

[achildofthesky]

I don't think the 300 WM is too big...

But it IS plenty. I have used 338 WM before because I was a 1 gun hunter for years. As well my 30-06 when I first started shooting. For a person wanting 1 gun, go for it. If you can afford more than 1 gun then perhaps you may consider a 7mm-08, 260, 270, 280 or what ever intermediate caliber and also a 300 WM or heavier.

Be safe and enjoy what ever you do choose


Patty

 

[MeekandMild]

OK. let me clarify my thoughts. the 300 Winchester magnum is too much for me to use on whitetails unless the rules of engagement allow me loading it down to a reasonable facsimile of a non-magnum caliber. I really don't care what others use as long as their bullets don't travel over the mountain and hit my house.

 

[SoCalShooter]

No, I use a 300 weatherby magnum.

 

[Steel Talon]

Hello kingcreek..

Overkill is when the deer is dead AND REINCARNATED before it hits the ground.

Thanks brother! I, have been enlightened...

Peace
Steel Talon

 

[MeekandMild]

The next five deer I killed did not have an exit wound with 165 gr 30-06 loads (Should be similar velocities to the load you mentioned with higher sectional densities). I have not used Nosler Balistic Tips since.

Coming back to this a moment, so how is the lack of exit wound necessarily bad? No exit wound would seem to mean full expansion inside the deer and full expenditure of energy. If a bullet goes right through a deer without releasing it's energy how is that a good thing?

 

[Charles S]

Coming back to this a moment, so how is the lack of exit wound necessarily bad? No exit wound would seem to mean full expansion inside the deer and full expenditure of energy. If a bullet goes right through a deer without releasing it's energy how is that a good thing?

Having hunted for almost 30 years an exit wound is a pre-requisite for a hunting load for me. I agree that theoretically dumping all of a cartridges energy in an animal is a good thing. Practical experience has taught me that two holes...one small (entry) and one large (exit) makes tracking an animal easier. I realize that there are other schools of thought, but I want an exit. I have attempted to track deer (and I am very good at it) shot by others with bullets that did not provide exit wounds (e.g. 243 with varmint loads or the 30-06 with Nolser Ballistic Tips) and have had a less than 100% sucess rate. However with loads that make a large exit wound I have alway recovered the animal.

The esteemed Mr. Carmichael used to write (in Outdoor Life) at what point in the recovery of your animal did you deem your bullet performance inadequate?....that truly applies here. I never lost an animal to the ballistic tip (my brother has), but I personally prefer an exit wound (faster bleeding out and easier tracking).

OK. let me clarify my thoughts. the 300 Winchester magnum is too much for me to use on whitetails unless the rules of engagement allow me loading it down to a reasonable facsimile of a non-magnum caliber.

BTW...your statement makes you smarter than the majority of hunters I have been associated with! I applaud your intelligence and your understanding.

Every hunter and shooter has limits! IMHO...only the truly smart ones recognize them!

 

[H&Hhunter]

All I'll say about this is a premium controlled expansion bullet will tend to minimize meat damage when using a fast round on light critters like a deer.

 

[mustanger98]

The more of these threads I read, the better I like my old .30-30 used within its design parameters. I recall a post further back up the thread about the farthest you can shoot is... how far can you see and hit your target? Limits are the shooter's accuracy and tolerance to felt recoil. If you can't see your target well enough to hit it, don't take the shot. If you can't squeeze the trigger without flinching, you're using too much gun. So use enough rifle that you can hit with without flinching.

 

[Cub]

I beleive the 300 Mag has way too much punch for deer, but that's my opinion. To me a 30-30, 270, or 308 should do the job perfectly.

 

[unreal45]

Either will work (30-30 or 300) but if you use the 300 mag you need a controlled expansion bullet i recommend a nosler partition or accubond.