Looking for a bit of advice on the 300 Win Mag. I am very familiar with the 30-06 and know the basics of the 300 Win Mag. I am looking for a combo gun to do moose hunting and deer (field and bush deer hunting). Moose hunting will be done in the open like marshs and opens fields. 100+ yards.

So I am looking at the Browning A Bolt or the Browning X-Bolt Stainless Synthetic 30-06 or 300 Win Mag.

- Who uses the 300 Win Mag what are your thoughts???

- For deer I would like a dummied down shell for deer in the brush, so can you reload a smaller load for easier deer shots??

Also what are your favorite scopes for around $300 to $400 max. I am looking at the Leupold brand.

Thanks

 

For that range of critters I would stick to the 30-06 or even a .308. The .300 Win Mag really is overkill unless you are stretching things out to 400+ yards or want to hit a big elk. The mag will cost you a lot more to shoot and pound you more on every shot which could make you jumpy and less accurate. For me any of the .300s are a little small for a brown bear so neither choice would help you if you want to make a nice rug one day.

 

Ya, I hear ya. I have a sweet spot for the 30-06. I currently have a browning BPR 30-06. I just thought about switching it up.

I was shooting my buddys 300 win mag for a couple of days during the moose hunt and really liked it.


Any input on scopes????

 

I put a Bushnell Trophy XLT with the DOA reticle on my 7mm and really like it. I also looked at the Nikons with their BDC reticle and like the Bushnell better. It was also $75 or so cheaper. I did when I was getting ready for an antelope hunt in Wyoming where you can see for miles and a close shot is 250yds. I picked it up for $175 or so which is about what I usually end up spending on a scope. I just have a hard time dropping a ton of cash on scopes. My eyes can't tell the difference between a $200 scope and a $600 scope. I can tell a difference between a $50 scope and a $200 one.

 

300 win-mag is a sweet gun. My bro-in law just got one this year, traded his 300 ultramag off, the round was cheaper thats why he traded. I have a 30-06. as soon as get motivated/extra fundage its gone and ill be packin a 300. Of course a 308 is an awesome round. i think it holds the longest range military kill for just a regular rifle...excluding the 50 cal.?

 

I have a Browning A bolt, 300 Win Mag. If you are looking to do moose hunting as well as deer hunting I would highly recommend going with this caliber vice the 30-06. I am sure there are people that will say 30-06 is plenty for moose, and it will do the trick, but I feel it would be better to be a bit heavy for deer than a bit light for moose. I've hunted deer with the 300 and even shot a few does with it. If you have the proper projectile selected in both weight and expansion characteristics you won't have any problems. Either way, you shouldn't be using the same ammo for deer as you are for moose.

In all actuality, most of the serious moose hunters I know in Alaska consider the 300 win mag on the light side, its often the woman or child round. All the men were shooting 338 win mag.

I have nothing against the 30-06, it is one of the most versatile weapons you can find. It may very well be the better weapon for you if you are only planning on one or two moose hunts and many years of deer hunts.

My personal recommendation is to buy 2 weapons, one for moose and one for deer.


As far as scopes go, look in to the Bushnell Elite 3200 and 4200 series. I was pretty skeptical on Bushnell being as nice as my leopolds and zeiss scopes but the 3200's and 4200's have been amazing. Research the testing they put them through and if that doesn't convince you, go to the store and look through one and then look through a Leopold that costs 100-200 more and see if you can tell a difference.

Good luck and happy hunting.

 

I have both the cartridges in various rifles and there's not an extreme difference although the 300Mag does push a heavier bullet harder. Assuming you're going to buy factory ammo and for elk you'd probably select the 180gr bullet, here's some ballistic data that might be helpful in your decision.
3006 with a 100 yd sight in, factory normal velocity 2750'ps
@200yds 10.9" bullet drop
@300 yds 25.7" bullet drop
1734 ftlbs of energy at 300 yds.

300 Mag with a 100 yd sight in, factory normal velocity 2900'ps
@200 yds 9.8" bullet drop
@300 yds 23.14" bullet drop
1956 ftlbs energy at 300 yds.

Ackley many years ago stated that for large American game that energy at the animal for reliable kills needed to be a minimum 1200ftlbs. Both of these cartridges are above that. So just how dead do you need the animal to be? Since the 3006 ammo is considerably cheaper and more available, I'd stick with it. But the 300 Win Mag is also something you don't have in yer arsenal. While you can handload the 300 mag a little faster, you're getting into the 60,000psi range limits of the brass and brass life is short. Either way, I don't see where you can go wrong. Both are more than capable of doing the job with room to spare. This is ultimately up to your particular wants and desires.

In regards to scopes, I wouldn't have a new Leupold. They've been going on their past reputation for years now with grossly over priced junk. Comparing a Nikon Buckmaster and a Burris FullField II in 4.5-14, the Burris is the better scope by a lot. It's a clearer scope, much easier to maintain a focus, and will hunt in far lower light than the Nikon. I would suggest not buying a scope via the internet but from a local store. Buy one you can put in yer hand and test yerself, pay for it and take it home. The last cheap scope I bought was a Millett. I didn't pay much for it, less than 100 bucks, in a 6-20x 44. The higher power has issues like most cheap scopes in that eye relief is critical. Other than that, it's far clearer than some of the $1000.+ Leupolds target scopes I have. So far, it's been the equal of anything I've bought with the exception of the eye relief. But rarely do I hunt with any scope dialed up past 6 power so it doesn't matter.

 

Somehow I overlooked this part last night. If you already have the .30-06 there really isn't too much advantage in switching to a .300 Win-Mag. You already have a platform you are confident in why mess with it? If you want a new gun get something quite a bit different not something only a little bit better. Think about something like a .45-70 to make a nasty brush gun with or step up to a .375 H&H and smash through anything except a really mad, charging elephant.

That was my concept on hunting rifles. I wanted a couple of guns that can be pulled out of the safe and kill anything I want to. I think I have it covered with just three a .17HMR for the small stuff, a 7mm Rem Mag for the in between and .375 H&H for the big bears, rhinos, stray elephants or rogue trucks. All are a fairly common round where they would be used so if my hand loads disappear. I would hate to be on a hunting trip and not be able to get ammo. I want to walk into the average sporting goods store and restock. I tend to stay away from exotic rounds for my go to hunting rifles for this reason.

 

Thank you for your input!!! This was a good read something to think about.

 

I am still considering sticking with the 30-06 caliber. I really like your view on sticking with fairly common calibers because you do have a good chance on finding 30-06 shells in just about in in small town store.