Why do I "need" a 300WM

[ID-shooting]

I currently do not own a bolt gun. My deer hunting is covered by my mini-30. I have an itch for a bolt gun though. I have a sweet spot for old tang-safety Ruger M77's. I found one in my LGS yesterday. Irons, red pad, pristine, and in 300wm for a price I can live with. I have the rifle on hold and I can't stop thinking about it.

I am trying to talk my self out of it. Aside from the very rare elk/moose hunt, why do I "need" a 300wm?

 

[rcmodel]

You don't.

A .300 Magelem will do nothing to a deer your Mini-30 won't, except destroy more meat.

And make you flinch like a little girl and miss more deer worse.

rc

 

[Geno]

I would suggest perhaps a .30-06 Sprg. I have a .300 WM, and the sole reason I keep it is I don't want to lose the money by selling it. Do I need that rifle? Nope.

Geno

 

[Flatbush Harry]

As usual, rc is right! If you're not an experienced shooter, shooting at distances over 500 yards (and few hunters, if any, should try to take game farther) or competing at 1,000 yards+, you surely don't. I find the .300 WM unpleasant to shoot compared to .270s, .308 Wins and .30-06s...all excellent "big" guns for deer and totally appropriate for elk with the right bullet.

I have never needed or wanted a "fast thirty"...my .308 Win does just fine at long distances with 175gr Match bullets and, if I feel the need to get a big bang, I can use my .375 H&H. Curiously, I find it less unpleasant to shoot than my friends' .300 WIn Mag and .300 Weatherby Mag. Craig Boddington assures us all regularly that a .375 H&H is on the right side of the margin for anything on this planet and, until a life form appears that requires faster and lighter than my 260gr AccuBonds from the .375, I'll stay with my non-magnum muskets.

FH

 

[harvester]

You do know you can shoot a reduced load in the 300 WM, just acts like a 30.
06 when that is all you need.....

 

[rcmodel]

But why?

Managed recoil loads for the .300 are not cheap, or easy to find.

If you are a reloader, no problem.

But I doubt the OP is.

Most ordenary people will find the .308 or 30-06 all the recoil they can handle accurately in a sporter weight hunting rifle.

rc

 

[phonesysphonesys]

A .300 Winmag does not destroy more meat. I use mine for Pronghorn, deer and elk. You can use different bullet weights. You can hand load to the power level you want. And they are accurate. Get it and enjoy. I shoot 180 grain bullet for everything. Never lost an animal.

 

[threefortyduster]

You do know you can shoot a reduced load in the 300 WM, just acts like a 30.
06 when that is all you need.....

If you're going to shoot .30-06 power out of a .300 WM, shouldn't you just buy a .30-06? Plus, as was said, it's not cheap to buy factory ammo for the win mag.

 

[-Xero-]

why do I "need" a 300wm?

It's NOT the "Bill of Needs." It's the Bill of Rights.

I didn't need one of these, but it's in my garage, and I'm a happier camper because. I'd rather have this in my garage then the $$$ I spent on it in the bank.

:banghead:

I'm not any help, never aspired to be any help. I bought a .458 Win. Mag. on the same sort of whim. No elephants in the area, I just liked it.

 

[Texan Scott]

Polar bears. Global warming may eventually result in polar bears coming south to Idaho. Don't know why or if that even makes sense, but if it does, you'll be ready.

Otherwise, you probably won't actually need one.

 

[Bio-Chem]

I've always thought a fun rifle to shoot, and something I don't already have covered = NEED.

Then again that's how i found myself coming home with a .444, .325, 30-06, .308, 25-06,........

 

[Coltdriver]

The full power capability of a 300WM will kick the crap out of you. I used to have an FN bolt rifle in 300WM and it was so unpleasant to shoot I sold it within a month of getting it.

I could have downloaded it to 30 06 or less. So I thought why deal with this?

I do have a 270WSM that is spectacular and at full house loads is absolutely easy for me to shoot. And I am one of those people who hates excessive recoil.

So if you reload and really like the Ruger I'd say go for it and load as you like. But if you are stuck with factory ammo I'd say go shoot one first because if its like mine it was so unpleasant to shoot that a dozen rounds was all I could put up with in a range session.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Why do you need one?

Besides polar bears, as was already mentioned, I'd also note that in the event of a zombie apocalypse, there's no conclusive data that says you won't also have to contend with zombie bears, zombie elk, zombie moose, zombie rhinos escaped from the zoo, etc.

If you want one, get one.

 

[JRWhit]

It's really going to depend on your tolerance for recoil. I have a 300mby mag, comparable to the win mag, and it is a thumper. I usually get through about 40 rds before deciding my shoulders had enough. It brought back some bad habits that I had to reconquer. I still find it enjoyable and get that giggle when I shoot it, but it's all going to depend on your own tolerance. It will ultimately be an elk or moose gun and won't see near the use as my 30-06 or 35 rem but it doesn't eat much and takes up little real estate. I wouldn't get rid of it and am not sorry I got it.
If you like thumpers get it. It's all the reason you need.

 

[MCMXI]

A .300 Magelem will do nothing to a deer your Mini-30 won't, except destroy more meat.

Unless it's 350 yards away!!

I have three rifles chambered in .300 Win Mag and I think it's a great cartridge. Personally, I don't agree with all of this "too much recoil" stuff. I have a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather that weighs about 9lb with the scope and it's easy to shoot off a bench let alone offhand. My coworkers .33 G&A Ultralight ... now that's a beast no matter how you shoot it.

My advice, if you like the rifle and can afford it then buy it. You don't need anyone's approval.

 

[browningguy]

Nothing wrong with a .300 Winny, but it's about as fast as a would go in a .30 cal rifle. With the right bullet their is nothing you can't hunt with it, and you never know when you will get a chance to hunt Africa where the .300 is appreciated for the little boost it gives to a 30-06.

Having said that I have multiple .308's and 30-06's, and only one .300 Winny.

 

[HankB]

There's nothing wrong with a .300 Win Mag.

Just think of it as a .30/06 with a bit more (not a lot more) velocity with the same bullets.

In a well-proportioned stock that fits, recoil shouldn't be a problem. Seriously, I think folks who lament the recoil of a .300 Win Mag must be shooting them in poorly proportioned rifles without recoil pads.

But I really don't see much advantage over .30/06 on game. Though I didn't agree with everything the late Jeff Cooper wrote, I think he was correct when he opined than if one was undergunned with a .30/06, the solution was more bullet, not more velocity.

. . . you never know when you will get a chance to hunt Africa where the .300 is appreciated for the little boost it gives to a 30-06.

I've taken impala, kudu, leopard, bushbuck, zebra, gemsbok, and other game in Africa with my .30/06 with one shot apiece and don't believe a .300 Mag would have worked any better. None of my PH's ever expressed a desire for me to use a .300 mag instead . . .

 

[jmr40]

It is about range. Your mini 30 is a borderline choice. Well below a 30-30. Recoil concerns are overstated. A 300 mag is more than needed. A 308 is really more than adequate. But if you want one it will do the job with slightly more recoil than a 30/06. The biggest disadvantages are rifle bulk and ammo costs. If you reload it is same cost for any and downloading to lower powers is an option. Yor can use full power loads only when needed. Makes for a very versatile gun

Look at it this way. A 300 mag does about the same job at 600 yards as a 30/06 at 500, a 308 at 450 yards and the 7.62 X 39 at about 75 yards. I'm not advocating one for everyone. I have a 300 WSM. Very similar round. More than I need but not the monster some will try to claim

 

[adelbridge]

The throat in .300 win mag may be washed out in as little as 1000 rounds. I wouldn't expect it to last 3000 rounds. The owner sold it for one of three reasons, money shot out or hated recoil. 7 mag has similar target ballistics and easier to shoot.

 

[Resist Evil]

My hunting buddy uses a 300 WM for everything--pronghorns, mulies, and elk. He believes in his magnum. He reloads and dials his ammo in for the animal type.

If you want a 300, for gosh sake, buy one. You don't have to need it in order to get it. The government buggers haven't banned them yet, so far as I know.

I use a smaller magnum for the same game as my friend. I only bought it for the flat trajectory.

Regardless of your caliber choice though, it really is about shot placement more than caliber, IMO.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

You don't.

A .300 Magelem will do nothing to a deer your Mini-30 won't, except destroy more meat.

And make you flinch like a little girl and miss more deer worse.

a mini 30 is a 100 yard deer gun period. A 300 win mag is a 500 yard deer gun. Id say there some differnce there. Yes it will make you flinch like a little girl IF YOUR a little girl. Most who can handle a gun like an 06 have no problem with a 300 mag. Most 300mags are about a lb heavier then most 06 and that alone takes away alot of the recoil differnce. Not shooting and practicing with your gun makes you miss not recoil. Ive yet to be actually hurt by shooting ANY gun. Shoot your new 300 mag a while and youll forget all about the recoil. Most guys who badmouth magnum rifles are guys that consider shooting a rifle alot going through a WHOLE box of ammo before deer season. If shooting something like a 300 mag inspires fear in you its time to find another hobby. As to barrel life ive have a 300 mag that has probably 2k through it that still shots like new. That said id dont load them with 5 grains more powder then the loading manuals recomend and i dont sit and shoot 10 shots as fast as i can. Let the barrel cool completely between 3 shot groups and keep the pressures sane, keep the barrel clean and clean it properly and a 300 win mag will last a good long time. Every time theres a post on magnum rifles you get guys who claim they do nothing there 243 doesnt do. bottom line is they do! Bottom line is in most cases youll find that the guys badmouthing them are better at running a keyboard then a trigger.

 

[Kayaker 1960]

Magnum madness

As others have said, if you are a reloader then you can always download the .300 that being said, I remember when most everyone I know had to have a rifle with "Magnum" in the name, it seemed that non magnums were only for women and children. I had a 7mm Rem mag that I killed several deer with. My longest shot was about 350 yards but all the rest have been under 200 yards. That 7mm was heavy. I eventually sold it and went with a 30-06. It weighs less and is cheaper to feed. I haven't missed the magnum at all, love my 06.

 

[harvester]

Its all about versatility. The power can be selected over a wider range, for instance, long distance shooting as stated above. One gun, many tasks.

 

[MCgunner]

BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS A BELTED MAGNUM IN THEIR COLLECTION! CASE CLOSED! Beside, it's a whole heck of a lot more accurate than any mini 30 and has a bunch more range if you trek west in the future, can take larger game, and you can always down load it to .308/.30-06 levels and still walk all over that mini 30, but with less recoil...that is if you're a serious rifleman and handload. If not, never mind.

Oh, wait, you ARE west. You are in Idaho and only hunt with a mini 30? Weird. Yup, you need a 300.

 

[LeonCarr]

Just get the .300WM, it sounds like you want it.

Shoot it at 300 yards for group, and then shoot the Mini-30 at 300 yards for group.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr