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RangerR70 Rookie Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2005 Posts: 1
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:43 pm Post subject: 300 magnums |
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Hello, first, I would like to say Hello to you all since I just signed up to this site and this is my first posting. I am in the market of a new rifle that is in the 300 magnum series. It has been a while since i bought a new rifle and I have noticed the 300 wsm and the 300 rem ultra mag. I am a traveling medical professional and plan to hunt accross the U.S. for a variety of game and in a variety of terrain. I know nothing about out west hunting. I would like to choose the best caliber that is the flattest, accurate and hardest hitting of the two. I also plan on reloading. It will be a while since I cna purchase anouther rifle so I need to make the most of my purchase this time around. Thank you all and have a Merry Christmas
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SwampFox Super Member
Joined: Jul 15, 2005 Posts: 1040 Location: Destin, Florida
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Ranger,
Welcome to the boards. If you are in the market for a 300 Mag, and have never owned a Mag rifle, I would suggest looking at the 300 Winchester Mag rather than a short mag or an Ultra mag. The 300 Win Mag is the cartridge that all others are compared to and is also the long range cartridge used by many snipers wirking for many countries. It has a well deserved reputation for power and accuracy.
_________________ The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill |
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Dennis Rookie Member
Joined: May 31, 2005 Posts: 14
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Howdy,
300 win mag is hard to beat. Most of the hunters that show up to our sheep camps use it. The ones that can shoot well are the ones that shoot a lot. The others seem to be scared of the gun. Most all of the 300 Mags will get the job done. 300 Win is the most common, the 300 RUM and 30-378 have a lot of room for powder if you are wanting to use the heavier bullets. For something unique try the 300WSM. But for the road really less traveled use remingtons short mag.
Shoot a lot
Dennis
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shrpshtrjoe Super Red Neck Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 2965 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Howdy welcome to the HuntingNut Ranger. Dennis make's a good point about some guys being scared of the gun. I don't know how recoil sensitive you are but having it ported or having muzzle brake installed on it will calm it down quite abit. Sometimes the worry of recoil effects the shooters ability to shoot the rifle accurately calming down the recoil can make a world of difference. Oh i would go with the 300 win mag as well it's proven it's self over and over and with good bullet placement should do everything you ask of it .
Joe
_________________ "MOLON LABE"
P E T A
People Eating Tasty Animals |
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Welcome RangerR70!
Not alot more to add than whats been posted. I agree as well a .300WinMag is great elk on up medicine. I personally went with a 7STW, recoil is milder and I like the SD on those 7mm bullets.
For larger than deer critters 7Mag on up is fine as long as you dont get something you cant shoot well due to recoil. For Deer you dont need much at all, 270/280/25-06 are all great choices where range might extend a bit.
My advice, spend some money and get two rifles
-DallanC
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LittleMagnum Member
Joined: Jul 05, 2005 Posts: 105 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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I am a big 300win mag fan, I own 4 of them, why ? Couple are favorites, and the the other two were deals too good to pass up on known good guns. That said, you can't go wrong with the 300win mag. The ultra mag is big round and faster. The 300WSM beats a 300win by 50fps, basically a 300winmag in compact round. If your looking for a traveling rifle, Either the 300WSM or a 300win mag. My take is buy the the lighter weight rifle (300WSM). Look at Winchester featherweight M70, Kimber 8400 or a Browning a-bolt. All three are good accurate guns.
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UltraMag1981 Rookie Member
Joined: Dec 03, 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Canada
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:11 am Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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I just did a balistics comparison on the 300 win mag and 300 ultra mag on the remington website and if you want the flattest and hardest hitting, then I would get the 300rum (actually I did) as for ft-lbs...at 100 yrds the win mag has 3075 and the rum has 3714 (quite a difference) and as for which one is the flatter shooter out of the 2 its the rum, at 300 yards it has 2" less drop than the win mag does. But the 300rum does have alot of recoil and is expensive to shoot so take those into consideration. You cant really go wrong with either one.
Steve
_________________ In my Cabinet:
Remington mdl700 sps .300 rum
Lee Enfield .303 w/syn stock
Winchester mdl94 30-30
Remington Sportsman 58 12ga
Mossberg .410 pump
Rubi extra .22 |
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Handloader Super Member
Joined: Aug 22, 2005 Posts: 1032 Location: Phoenix, Arizona
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:16 am Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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And an added welcome to the site, RangerR70.
The availability and price of 300 Win Mag ammo may be a factor in your choice. It is far more widely available and in far more loadings than comparable 300 mags. Its a great choice.
That said, allow a contrarian viewpoint. In about two weeks the gun industry and shooting sports will begin their 100th year celebration of the 30-06. Among the hype will be opinions that suggest today's '06 is a far better round than ever due to technological advances in powder, primers and rifle tolerances. It is an opinion I would echo.
Realistic hunting ranges seldom exceed a few hundred yards, even out here in the west. If they do exceed a few hundred yards there are few riflemen that can accurately shoot within the kill zone of a mule deer or antelope beyond that range.
You mention the probability of reloading which allows use of bullets such as the Barnes TSX (they are available in loaded ammo OTC as well). Due to the construction of this bullet it is feasible to load a lighter bullet than typical for any given game. The '06 with 22" barrel has no problem sending a 165gr TSX over 3,000 fps with the benefit of a slightly flatter trajectory.
If you carry your rifle a lot in the field, the lighter weight and compactness of an '06 compared to a magnum will be appreciated at day's end. It will have less recoil, ammo and/or components will cost less and you won't need any added items like muzzle brakes or LimbSaver recoil pads to tame it.
Importantly, it will do everything a 300 Magnum will do at normal hunting ranges on any game for which a 300 Magnum is suited. IMO.
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POP!! Member
Joined: Dec 02, 2005 Posts: 269 Location: Cheyenne, Wy
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Dimitri Super Member
Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5947
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:34 am Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Look at a round of 300RUM sometime and compare it to a "normal" round such as the 8mm Mauser.
The 300RUM case can (probrobly) hold a 8mm mauser case if you cut it so you can put it in.
Dimitri
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mikekuzara Member
Joined: Sep 13, 2005 Posts: 147 Location: Farson, Wyoming
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:37 am Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Welcome to the site.
Why not go for the best of both worlds and get a Thompson Encore with 30-06 and 300 Win Mag barrels? On smaller deer (whitetail) the magnums are a little much. The 30-06 has the advantage of bullet offerings that can be handloaded for everything from prairie dogs to moose.
Pick something you can shoot a lot and not get "hammered" by. The only way to be proficient at long range shots is to practise at long ranges. If you can't hit a vital sized target at long ranges, then don't try shooting at those ranges. If you have not hunted in the west before, a range finder is a must. Without objects to use as reference, ranges can be very decieving.
_________________ Build a fire for a man and he is warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he is warm the rest of his life. |
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Shomebigbores Member
Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 77 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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I guess I'll put a penny's worth in, as you guys are all 30 cal men. I have hunted with a wonderful range of 30 cal weapons. Each and everyone of them took game well. It usually isn't the rifle's fault if game is wounded.
I just went through your delima, and since noone else has given you much of a choice except the venerable 30-06 (beautiful round and ageless), 300 Winchester Mag. (another beautiful round, and the 300 Rum, which is a copycat round to keep in competition. :poke:, I'll throw in the 338 Winchester Mag or you might as well consider the 325 Winchester Mag. You will find the ammunition as easy to find for the 325 mag as for the RUM.
My personal choice considering the following. 1. I am 60 years old and have hunted a fair amount. 2. 90% of my kills were within 200 yards. 3. The other 10% were shots I would not take today after my experiences. 4. I don't mind recoil, we are old friends, so I made my choice based upon my abilities, preferences in hunting areas, and the fact that I want to hunt anything on the planet I want to with one rifle.
My choice was a Marlin leveraction in 45/70 with a 24inch barrel. The ballard rifling at r/h 1in20 in. will very accurately place a 430 grain or a 540 grain bullet within 2 inches of where you are aiming when you squeeze it off. (at 200 yards and sighted in at 175 yards zero.
That said, I should have sufficiently given my friends enough food for debate.
Whatever you buy, do me one favor. Please become proficient with the weapon before going into the "kill zone". Any bullet can kill, "if" it hits the target.
Have fun, and come back here often. These guys will give you good advice, and a good razzin too.
_________________ One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.
Sir Winston Churchill |
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JO422 Member
Joined: Sep 16, 2005 Posts: 33
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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Ranger,
Welcome to the forum. I don't know how sensitive you are to recoil but one thing that you might want to think about is to "try before you buy". See if the .300 is really what you want and see if you are recoil sensitive. I own a .300 RUM and the recoil doensn't bother me, but there are some people who hate recoil. If I was going to do it again I would really consider the .300 Win. it's a great round and it has been proven over time. The brass is much more affordable and there are many more loadings available for it. When it comes to magnums it all comes down to how much is enough. I'm not a huge magnum fan, I would have gotten my .300 RUM in another caliber if I had my druthers, but is was a good deal on used rifle.
One of the most important things that I think you can do is to decise what you think your needs and possible future needs are and then pick the round that fills this need. Don't rule out other calibers either, unless you are definately married to the .308 caliber. Or you can do what I did and buy a good used gun in a caliber that isn't really what you want but it's a big boomer and lots of fun to shoot.
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7mmREMMAG Member
Joined: Oct 08, 2005 Posts: 37 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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_________________ Hunting is a state of mind. If I could hunt every state i wouldnt mind |
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popgun Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 735 Location: Mitchell, GA, U.S.A. (2007 pop. 191)
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: 300 magnums |
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You only feel recoil when your thinking about it. When you are squeezing off a round at an animal you won't feel the recoil. The choice of which cartridge is a personal one. We all make up our own mind about what to buy in the end. Any of those 300 mags will do the job. I love my Browning A-Bolt Stanless Stalker in 300 WM. The composit stock reduces a bunch of the felt recoil and in fact it kicks less than my M70 Featherweight in 30-06 with the same 180 gr bullet.
_________________ Safe shooting,
Chris Young, aka: popgun, Moderator
I don't know everything but I have made most of the mistakes already and lived through many of them. |
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