300 wsm or a 30-06?

C

colson

Member
I am looking at buying a new rifle to add to my line of hunting rifle's. I am wondering if I should go with the 30-06 or go with the 300 wsm. I reload so ammo will not be a problem, and I have shot both rounds quit a bit. I will be using it mainly for mule deer, but if an elk walks in front of me I will not pass by not having an elk gun. I have owned a 30-06 before and taken several elk with that cartridge, and the 300 wsm that I have shot my dad, and brother both own. I guess that I am just looking for opinions on which round to use. I would like to shoot the 165 bullets.

Thanks, Chris
 
Chevy or Ford. Either one will get the job done. There is always an excuse to buy a new gun. You don't have to look far my wife says. LOL..
 
I hunted with a 30.06 for years and then switched to a 300 Ultra Mag. I didn't like the long chamber and the 26 inch barrel. It made it cumbersome to carry through the mountains. That's when I switched to the 300 WSM. I love my 300WSM. It is my go to big game rifle. It is such a flat shooter it let's me shoot longer distances without a lot of worry. The short chamber with the short barrel makes it a breeze to carry. Mine is a Browning X-bolt and likes the 180 grain the best. My buddies is a Tika and his likes the 165 grain the best. I can't recall the the twist on each of ours but I know they are different and each one likes a different grain. I don't think you can go wrong with the 300WSM.
 
I have had both for decades and killed plenty of deer and elk with both.
I can't say anything bad about the 06 and have many stronger points on the .300.
The .300 is first to go on a hunt and is not overkill as some will say. It's where you put the bullet.
My latest 06 has not fired a round, sitting in the safe for over a decade. It does something for my mind just being there ready to be broken in.
 
Originally Posted By: sandy hicksI would go 300win. Instead of wsm.

same here.
not a huge fan of 30-06 and really just because it seems like everyone and their brother has one.
just personal preference but I would also go with 300 Win Mag. will take any game on North America you can or want to hunt as well as some across the ponds
 
Thank you guys for answering. This is more of a want than a need. I already have a 300 weatherby, 338 winchester, 7mm, and a lot more in the 7mm caliber that would do just fine just itching for a new rifle.
 
I know when I got this itch, I scratched it with a Winchester M70, FN built, Extreme Weather(SS fluted, B&C stock) because they brought back the CRF and that big ol'claw extractor, with a few modern upgrades. And I got it in 300 WSM. I love this rifle! Light enough to handle well, heavy enough to not kick the crap out of the shooter, and nicely accurate with a range of bullets for antelope to elk. I do have one 30-06 Sprg rifle, and two 300 WMs, but they are so far back in the safe, it would take me 20 minutes to dig to them. This 300 WSM, is the rifle I reach for first. My 130 gr. Barnes load is just plain nasty on antelope and northern whitetails. It will get a chance at elk someday.

I know the 300 WM has a loyal following, but after owning my 1st 300 WSM(on #2 now), I would sell my 300 WMs before I would part with my M70 in 300 WSM.

Squeeze
 
Either one will get the job done especially with all of the good bullets available. But if you decide on the WSM I would encourage you to look at the 300 RSAUM. It is a little slower than the WSM but it has a longer neck which is ideal for handloaders.
 
Well now you throw out the real reason. I too have a bit of magnum bug. 300 wea. Is my go to choice for most things. Happy hunting. I love trying to pick a new one. Another 300 wea would be on my list. 3 is a charm.
 
Originally Posted By: colsonThank you guys for answering. This is more of a want than a need. I already have a 300 weatherby, 338 winchester, 7mm, and a lot more in the 7mm caliber that would do just fine just itching for a new rifle.

Get ya a flat shooting small bore, maybe a .25-06? You have the medium bore area saturated. Something like a .243 - .25-06 is easy shooting, economical and very useful for long range varmints through antelope and deer size game.
 
Everyone has a personal preference in cartridges. The 30-06 is the cats [beeep] for 30's in my book. I have a 300 WM built on a 700, a model 700 30-06 with a 24" barrel and a model 700 SA 300 WSM with a 24" barrel. My 300 WSM with its factory 24" barrel and my handloads chronographs slightly faster than my 24" 06 with my handloads. Very very close in velocities. I prefer the 06.
 
Thank you for all your replies. I do have most calibers mentioned 25-06, 243,6mm, 6.5, and a good ole 270. Guess I will have to go to the gun shop and buy somthing
 
30-06. If for no other reason than WSM brass is much rarer and more expensive. I have a WSM wildcat and it's easy to keep my 3 batches of brass sorted, because whenever I wanted brass I could never find the same brand as the last time and had to go with another. So I have 3 headstamps.

My last trip to a gun store was the first time I had seen Winchester 300WSM brass - including online - in 3 years.
 
Originally Posted By: SqueezeI know the 300 WM has a loyal following, but after owning my 1st 300 WSM(on #2 now), I would sell my 300 WMs before I would part with my M70 in 300 WSM.

Squeeze

I'm on my second one too. I have several buddies that have tried them and never looked back. It's the only big game rifle I shoot now. I even use it for antelope. It's the best all around chambering for big game hunting, in my opinion.
 
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So the last 2 rifles I bought were a wssm and a .17 fireball. Both great guns.I never had an interest in the 06 because everyone has one. Well, after experiencing not being able to find brass or on the shelf ammo for each I had a transformation and bought a BAR in 06. It feeds smoother than the short fat cartridges and does anything I will ever need.
 
Overkill is an interesting word in hunting, at least to me. And i usually think it's misused. Dead is dead. If i'm meat hunting, 1 caliber that puts the animal on the ground is exactly the same as a bigger caliber that puts the animal on the ground. I think overkill actually happens on the other side of the scope.

I used to use a 30-06 for deer and antelope, hand loaded as hot and hard as i could push the bullet. 30-06 recoil and muzzle blast even with handloads is pretty tolerable. Then i picked up a 25-06 to use for deer and antelope. Pretty much no recoil in comparison,does the exact same job at least to the 1/4+ mile I've used it. Same results, much more pleasant to shoot, weighs less so it's easier to hike with. So the 30 cal for that purpose, overkill.

I've carried as heavy as 308 norma mag for elk. Ballistics are a touch over the 300 winny. Ever price factory ammo for that caliber? Its relatively rare so I'm going to guess no. But you'll end up selling your hunting truck to afford a day practicing to go hunting. It doesnt do anything the 300 won't do at a fraction of the cost. So norma is overkill even though i load my own.

On elk the 300 won't do anything any better than the 06 will do and still be more pleasant on the shoulder and cheaper. And side by side my 06 with 150gr ttsx outperforms my buddy's 300 with factory ammo. So the 300 to me is overkill for elk.

Most of my collection was bought as wants, not needs so i always say get what you want. But you really don't need a 500 duperduper ultra mag with gps and a compass in the stock to take a deer. Its probably overkill, at least on you.
 
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