.30-06 VS .300 Win Mag

[Midas]

I find the .300 Mags to be a comfortable step above the 30-06, because they can handle the heavier weight bullets (200+ grains) better, which in turn, results in better performance on larger game.

[turner]

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

I wasn't aware that adding a couple hundred fps on what the 30-06 delivers was going to be more effective than going to a larger diameter bullet. I don't think anybody else knows that either.You should write to a gun magazine and set everyone straight.

+1.....LOL

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

I wasn't aware that adding a couple hundred fps on what the 30-06 delivers was going to be more effective than going to a larger diameter bullet. I don't think anybody else knows that either.You should write to a gun magazine and set everyone straight.

Velocity will always make a big difference.Increasing the diammeter of a bullet creates more drag meaning the larger diammeter bullet,while having an advantage at shorter ranges because of weight/energy,quickly loses velocity and drops behind the smaller diammeter bullet at longer ranges.If the velocity is already 200fps to 400fps then the higher velocity bullet is going to do more damage.Mainly because upset and penetration will be greater.At short ranges the larger diammeter has the advantage. sam.

[LiveToShoot]

My 30-06, loaded heavy with a 220 gr. RN bullet, will put a large animal to sleep just as well as a 300 magnum...and both calibers will deliver heavy recoil at that bullet weight.

I like shooting both calibers, and they both have a wide range of bullet weight options for reloading, but the 30-06 is my favored choice.

As mentioned above, 06 ammo is much easier to find, wherever and whenever you need it.

Good luck with the buffalo hunt.

Also, I'd like to take a buffalo with my 45-70, which I think would do a great job...

[turner]

Originally Posted by samuel

Velocity will always make a big difference.Increasing the diammeter of a bullet creates more drag meaning the larger diammeter bullet,while having an advantage at shorter ranges because of weight/energy,quickly loses velocity and drops behind the smaller diammeter bullet at longer ranges.If the velocity is already 200fps to 400fps then the higher velocity bullet is going to do more damage.Mainly because upset and penetration will be greater.At short ranges the larger diammeter has the advantage. sam.

One thing you might consider here is that most ALL game is shot within 200yds and most closer than that. Shooting a similar or identical weight bigger caliber bullet from a like sized case will result in a HIGHER velocity than the smaller caliber round, again same or similar weight. There is more surface area for the gas to push against the base of the bullet. That being said, the great 30/06 and it's excellent 220gr bullet will be launched at a slower velocity than a .35Whelen 220 or 225gr bullet. The frontal area of a .35W is much larger than an '06 and .300. Heck it's significantly larger than a .338. With the recent (comparatively speaking) advent of premium bullets, penetration is no longer simply a matter of S.D. There are many articles and tests that reference the fact that this time proven way of ensuring deep penetration has now been eclipsed at least in many cases, by using a premium bullet.
Some numbers to consider:

30/06 180gr MV:2700FPS ME:2913 @200yds vel:2250 En:2023
30/06 220gr MV:2410FPS ME:2837 @200yds vel:1870 En: 1708

.35W 225gr MV:2600FPS ME:3375 @200yds vel:2200 En:2520

.338/06 210gr MV:2750 ME:3527 @200yds vel:2312 En:2403
.338/06 250grBT MV:2500 ME:3890 @ 200yds vel:2252 En:2528

.300WM 200gr MV: 2930 ME:3810 @200yds vel:2550 En:2885


These are factory loaded rounds and I do own all four. There is no doubt as to which two (35W & 338/06) I'd choose over the others, when power is important.

The MPBR for these calibers in popular weights: 30/06 180PSP 263yds // 30/06 220gr 230yds // .35W in 200gr 254yds //
.338/06 in 210gr 267yds.
.300WM in 200gr 277yds

[Taurus Fan]

Originally Posted by turner

+1.....LOL

Elmer Keith would agree, I thimk.

Originally Posted by turner

One thing you might consider here is that most ALL game is shot within 200yds and most closer than that.
30/06 180gr MV:2700FPS ME:2913 @200yds vel:2250 En:2023
30/06 220gr MV:2410FPS ME:2837 @200yds vel:1870 En: 1708

.35W 225gr MV:2600FPS ME:3375 @200yds vel:2200 En:2520

.338/06 210gr MV:2750 ME:3527 @200yds vel:2312 En:2403
.338/06 250grBT MV:2500 ME:3890 @ 200yds vel:2252 En:2528

.300WM 200gr MV: 2930 ME:3810 @200yds vel:2550 En:2885


These are factory loaded rounds and I do own all four. There is no doubt as to which two (35W & 338/06) I'd choose over the others, when power is important.

The MPBR for these calibers in popular weights: 30/06 180PSP 263yds // 30/06 220gr 230yds // .35W in 200gr 254yds //
.338/06 in 210gr 267yds.
.300WM in 200gr 277yds

Yeah, the 400 yard figures are nice to look at but mean nothing. Taking a shot at anything that far away is storybook stuff. Please don't someone come back and tell me they've done it, I'm sure they have. But most people who take shots at that distance against game animals are jerks. If I ever did I'd feel pretty stupid about taking the shot at that distance. I've talked to some that have, and I lost all respect for them as hunters.

[vikingpreacher]

Originally Posted by GRUNTER HUNTER

I want to get a new rifle for hunting lots of pigs but also shoot the odd buffalo. A lot of people tell me that the .300 will do exactly the same job as the .30-06 but just at a much longer range. So is this true? If i shoot a buffalo at 100 meters will it do the same job as the .300 would? The reason i am not getting a .375 H&H or bigger is because i will only shoot buffalo on the ODD occasion, i will shoot pigs with it a lot, and i dont reload. I am aware that the .300 uses similar weight bullets as the .06. Which would you take.

I got a DVD from the NAHC and it had a little photo show of member trophies and 1 of them was a Bison, taken with a 300 Win. Mag..
I would get the '06 but its something to think about.

[samuel]

If I hunted in Australia,I would have both.With no seasons they would both be used a lot. sam.

[GRUNTER HUNTER]

Trust me guys, if i could afford the ammo for a .338 or .375 i WOULD buy one, but with the amount of shooting i do it will just run my wallet dry.

[Midas]

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

Elmer Keith would agree, I thimk.



Yeah, the 400 yard figures are nice to look at but mean nothing. Taking a shot at anything that far away is storybook stuff. Please don't someone come back and tell me they've done it, I'm sure they have. But most people who take shots at that distance against game animals are jerks. If I ever did I'd feel pretty stupid about taking the shot at that distance. I've talked to some that have, and I lost all respect for them as hunters.

Most ballistics are used for the "my guns better than yours" rant

[turner]

Originally Posted by Midas

Most ballistics are used for the "my guns better than yours" rant

+1.... And, I'd add... at least try something different than what "numbers" tell you at 300-500yds where .05% of game is actually shot!! Of course, that's simply my opinion.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by turner

+1.... And, I'd add... at least try something different than what "numbers" tell you at 300-500yds where .05% of game is actually shot!! Of course, that's simply my opinion.

I have no doubt I have the knowledge,skill,and equipment to make 400yd+ clean kill shots.I often do so on varmints which are much smaller targets. I do not choose to do so on deer or bear type game strictly because I want to look at the game and determine if they are what I wanted to get.On the range I am a marksman,in the field I am a hunter. sam.

[turner]

Originally Posted by samuel

I have no doubt I have the knowledge,skill,and equipment to make 400yd+ clean kill shots.I often do so on varmints which are much smaller targets. I do not choose to do so on deer or bear type game strictly because I want to look at the game and determine if they are what I wanted to get.On the range I am a marksman,in the field I am a hunter. sam.

An excellent way to put it "in the field I am a hunter". Not to belabor the point, I would hope that most who pursue at least big game animals, feel likewise and prefer to get as close as possible rather then (hoping) to brag on how long a shot they made on an animal (again, big game). Simply my opinion.

[ACfixer]

Taking a shot at a large animal anywhere but in the wide open at 400 yards is a very irresponsible shot 99% of the time. Sure, there are guys that can do it but 99-1 says you're not one of them. The chances of wounding something in the thicket and losing sight of it forever is just too great.

I'm not a pro, the last thing I would ever want to do is wound something and let it suffer. I don't car if it's a mole. My only point is that I think the .30-06 is a fine fine round for anything you're likely to hunt in NA. I am considering a 300 Mag myself, but mostly for the fun of it... not to shoot living creatures at a half a mile. I doubt there is an instance where I would fire the 300 at game where I wouldn't shoot with the .30-06.

Just my two pennies.

[samuel]

It seems we drifted off on shooting game at rediculas ranges with the .300win mag.I am here to state the .300win mag works excelently at 25yds too. sam.

[Brother Bob]

Originally Posted by samuel

I have no doubt I have the knowledge,skill,and equipment to make 400yd+ clean kill shots.I often do so on varmints which are much smaller targets. I do not choose to do so on deer or bear type game strictly because I want to look at the game and determine if they are what I wanted to get.On the range I am a marksman,in the field I am a hunter. sam.

Now Samuel, you know that there is a big difference in varmint set-ups and large caliber game killers. For starters, you ain't gonna get 4,000 fps. out of the .30+ caliber mags. If you can, I don't want to be around when you touch one off! LOL!

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Brother Bob

Now Samuel, you know that there is a big difference in varmint set-ups and large caliber game killers. For starters, you ain't gonna get 4,000 fps. out of the .30+ caliber mags. If you can, I don't want to be around when you touch one off! LOL!

This to me has always been a misnomer too.In the days of BP the rifles had a teriffic arch in trajectory and yet the hunters made 'long for firearm' shots.It is my belief that if a shooter really has shooting skills and knows their gun/cartridge,they can make an extended range shot just as easily with a firearm with a considerable drop as they can a flat shooting firearm. I have often made shots at long range(on paper)with guns with terrible trajectory.I am sure Wingwiper and many others have more comments and personal knowledge and experience on this topic. sam.

[rdale501]

Originally Posted by samuel

This to me has always been a misnomer too.In the days of BP the rifles had a teriffic arch in trajectory and yet the hunters made 'long for firearm' shots.It is my belief that if a shooter really has shooting skills and knows their gun/cartridge,they can make an extended range shot just as easily with a firearm with a considerable drop as they can a flat shooting firearm. I have often made shots at long range(on paper)with guns with terrible trajectory.I am sure Wingwiper and many others have more comments and personal knowledge and experience on this topic. sam.

Sam, at our range there is a "gong" set up at 265 yards. I can ring it with my S&W 41 mag. pistol by aiming high and arching them in. Just to take your statement to the extreme...

[Aaronb2245]

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

Mate, Just how big do these Pigs Run ???
I Hunted wild Hogs in Florida that ranged from 200 to 1000 Lbs. and they were tough buggers...especially the shoulder pads that would stop 30/06 bullets from penetrating to the vitals....
Good luck Mate !
Rich

I've killed many many hogs with a 243.....your delusional if you think a 30-06 won't penetrate to vitals.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Aaronb2245

I've killed many many hogs with a 243.....your delusional if you think a 30-06 won't penetrate to vitals.

Mooseman is a lot of things(generous,smart,helpful, a hunter,sharing)but never dillusional.There are several .30-06 bullets that might not go through heavy bone.In fact I doubt that a 110gr varmint bullet would even get to the vitals,especially at short range. sam.