akbound

The various .300 Magnums are very good and useful cartridges. Contrary to "popular" usage the truly big ones are at their best with bullets over 180 grains. And for each step up in both velocity and power there is a price. That price comes in several forms. First and literally they are more expensive to shoot on the whole then the "lesser" .300 Magnums. Second the increase in velocity and energy is not proportional to the increase in recoil. Third is the reduction of usable barrel life. Fourth is the "required" increase in barrel length if the "big .30's" are to be of any use. And in the end probably the best reason to question if the "ultra 30" is what you need is this......What are you using it for and in what application? Followed by what is your "real" skill level?

I know that many Americans "believe" they are truly descended from Daniel Boone, (said with a wink and a smile), but the sad truth is......that for every ten "big 30's" in the field.....at best probably two of thier owners are truly capable of utilizing them. I would venture a guess that most people that have "talked" about making 500 and 600 yard shots....have NOT. Either in the hunting fields, on a range, or even "plinking" hill top to hill top. I would be willing to bet money that no more than half of those owners have ever even sat down and actually zeroed/shot at 300 yards on a range. And of those probably half....actually kept a target!

Now, I didn't say there is not a place and a use for the big .30's. There most certainly is. If you have a need for them, (or heck...even if you "just want one"), that's good enough. What I did say is this.....that a large percentage of the people that buy them aren't capable of using their capability. And even that isn't a real problem....as long as they don't then go "blasting" hill top to hill top at live game, (in the hope of killing something).

Frequently when someone is inexperienced enough that they need to ask if they need an ultra .300......they are inexperienced enough to not be able to make good use of it. And furthermore would be better served with a smaller standard cartridge until they can both shoot.....and know they can put the big .30 to use! And I remember someone telling me that they got a friend started at "long range" shooting. And that they had done a good job of doing it right. But that brother....is the exception! Frequently new shooters leave the shop with their new .300 and aren't even certain which .300 to buy the ammo for. Think I'm kidding? I've seen it for myself. And once they get out the door......it goes down hill from there.

Personally I kind of believe like the old adage goes....."if you need to ask the price....you can't afford it"! Well, if you don't know if you need the ultra .300....you can't effectively employ it! Buy a .308 Winchester....or a .270 Winchester.....or a .30-06 and learn to shoot. If you can't cleanly kill a deer at 300 yards with one of those cartridges....You certainly don't need any .300 let alone one of the "new, bigger, ones"!

Once again, I'm not saying the big .300's aren't useful and worthwhile. I'm just saying that there aren't as many people capable of using them...as own them!

If that doesn't apply to anyone reading this post. And you have shot at 300 yards and further at a range. And you know your load and rifle. And are capable of utilizing it under field conditions......don't get upset at me and verbally beat me up. I'm not talking about or to you. But if you haven't done those things I just enumerated......don't go around fooling yourself. And better yet....don't misapply your lack of skill on a fine game animal which deserves a humane death.

Nuff said!