30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

Alright, I have a Savage rifle in 270 Win that I am planning on converting to a 25/06 and want to get something in the 30 caliber range. I really like the ballistics of the 300 Win Mag, but ammo is more readily available for the 30/06. I usually only hunt deer out to about 350 yards, but hopefully this rifle will get a chance to see an Elk Hunt in 2009 or 2010.

Also, as of this moment I do not have the ability to hand load so that creates the reason for the more readily available for the 30/06 and somewhat cheaper.

Tell me what you think of each cartridge and why.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

Every time you see the word mag or short mag listed behind the caliber size, you better figure on paying alot more for off-the-shelf ammo. I'd go with the .30-06 just for ease and economy of ammo, and if you ever go elk hunting, you can always get some Federal 'High Energy, or Hornady 'Light Mags' which both closely match the ballistics of the 300 mags.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I am a big fan of the 06. It is the most powerful non magnum 30 caliber. The ammo for the 06 is the same cost as much smaller rounds like the 243 etc making it the best bang for the buck. (Pun intended)

The only reason I would consider the 300 WM is that you could have a dedicated elk rifle in the 300 and a dedicated deer rifle in the 25-06. That being said the Light Magnum rounds are within 100 FPS of 300 Win Mag ammo and still cost less than Win Mag ammo.

PS: I would not worry about ammo availability with the win mag.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

For all the way out to 350 yards I would go with a 7mm Rem Mag, JMHO... :D

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I love the 30-06 and love the 300win mag. But for moose hunting, I always grab the 300win mag first.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

First off, there is no comparison between the '06 and the 300WM. There are, ballistically, in different classes. The only time you will see similar ballistics is if you have a light load in the 300WM and a '06 packed to the gills -- ie apples to oranges.

If you do not handload, the 300WM is going to be significantly more expensive although I can't say I've ever seen a store, even in the middle of nowhere, that stocked 30-06 but not 300WM. It's probably the most popular magnum.

You state that most use will be for deer with possible occasional use for elk. IMHO you do not "need" the 300WM for your purposes unless you plan to take shots at elk past 400 yards. Shoot 150-165gr bullets in the 30-06 for deer, switch to 180gr bullets for elk.

My 300WM killed a muley, a whitetail, and an elk this year. It was perfect medicine for the elk and decidedly overkill on the deer. I once saw an outdoor show saying the 300WM was the "minimum" (!!!!) for deer. Turned it off...idiots.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I shoot a ruger m77 in 270, I have taken moose, bear and sheep with it when I lived in Alaska and have taken white tail, hogs, mulies, cyote, prairie dog,and elk while liveing in the lower 48. I have always shot Hornaday customs out of this gun and have had great success. It's not the size of the gun it where the bullet is placed that will ethicly take down an animal!

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

the 300 win mag is not needed for hunting. yea it might be nice to be able to shoot elk at 500+ yards or so, but come on who actually will take a shot at 500+ yards at an elk while still hunting fair chase? Most hunters wont shoot anything past 200 yards, or that is the preferable range, or closer. Any elk at 300 yards will go down to an '06 just fine, provided good shot placement. the 30-06 has been doing it for... oh almost 109 years now, i think it will be just fine.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

First off, I don't mean for this answer to be offensive. If it is, I apologize in advance, as it is not my intention.

Here goes:
If affordability is an issue, why are you converting a 270 to a 25-06, and then buying a new rifle for an elk hunt in several years that may never happen?

Options:
1. Keep the 270, as it will do anything a 25-06 will do, but better, and then buy a 30-06 if you want a 30 cal. This way, you get a new rifle.

2. Trade the 270 for a Thompson Encore in 25-06, and then buy a 30-06 or 300Mag barrel

3. (Best option) Keep the 270. If you ever hunt elk, buy some elk ammo for the 270. Take the $1200 that you'll save (re-barreling, new rifle, new scope, new rings, new bases, new ammo) and spend $100 on a really nice dinner with your lady, set $300 aside for your kid(s) education, donate $100 to wildlife conservation, donate $100 to an animal shelter, donate $100 to the non-profit of your choice, and invest $500 in a good, 5-star mutual fund. This will make your lady happy, your kids happy, animals happy, other people happy, and your wallet happy.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

And no your answer was not offensive because you do bring up many good points that most people need to think about before spending $1200 on a new gun when they already have one that will do the job.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

One could argue that nothing more than a 30-30 is "needed" for any game in North America but that's not the point -- some will do things better than others so it's all relative.

If you are going to hunt elk within 400 yards, a 270 or 30-06 will do the job fine. So will dozens of other rounds. If you have the equipment, skills, and need to shoot further, the equation changes and a 300WM becomes extremely attractive. For people who may only get to hunt an animal like elk once every few years, one may be prudent to be prepared to take what shots are offered, even if the desire is to see the whites of their eyes.

I stalked hard for an hour to get within 80 yards of my bull this year....but couldn't get a clear shot. Found him again the next day at 600+ yards in a situation where we could not get in closer on him, fortunately I had a 300WM and not a 270 and the equipment/practice for the job. The local that was with me helping me get in on the bull told me if that had been him with his 270, he would have just turned and gone home and drank to the one that got away because it would have been beyond his gun and ability and it was not stalkable. Difference is he could have gone back out the next weekend, I may not draw again for 3-4 years. IMHO that's the primary reason many destination hunters opt for more firepower than the locals think necessary (though I'd argue many of them don't put the practice time and effort necessary into mastering the use of said firepower).

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

your real problem is that you're a Klampsun fan, when you should be a NCSU fan for football and Duke fan for basketball.

probably a good move with terry bowden, although I don't know off hand who could replace him, that is available, to do a better job. he'd keep you ranked in the top 25, but never be a serious contender.

I really like oliver purnell. you had bad luck against the tar holes last year, and since i detest them, i hope you beat them twice this year

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I think you could get a New Savage for under $400. my .02...

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I'd have toside with those who wonder why you'd want to rebarrel your .270 into a .25-06, but to each his own.

Considering that you'll already have either a .25-06, or in the event you want to keep the .270, and as much a fan of the .30-06 thatI am, I'd probably suggest you go with the .300 Win Mag. Like someone else has already posted, any time I see .30-06 ammo on the dealer's shelf, I generally see .300 Win Mag there as well. I can't say the same for the "other .300s" though(Ultras, ShortMags, Weatherbys, etc.). But, I can't say that I see all that much .25-06 ammo anymore, unlike .270 which is everywhere.

Your .25-06 (or .270)will easily cover deer-sized game, and you're not gaining much but bullet weight by going to the .30-06. Truth be known, if all I had were a .25-06 or a .270, I'd still go elk hunting with it. I don't think you NEED a .300 to down an elk, but seems you don't have as much in between as you would if your deer rifle were a .243 and you were looking for a .30 for your elk rifle. In that case, I'd lean more toward the .30-06.

If you were to have only ONE rifle, I'd recommend the .30-06.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

Here I will make this simple go with the 300 mag. you’re not gaining that much with the 30-06 over your 270win.
Even if you do go with a 25-06 I would still go with a 300 mag.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I would go with the 30-06. More than adequate for elk farther than most people shoot (more than 1500 ft lbs at 500 yards with a 180gr bullet), and can easily be loaded down for deer or even varmints if that is what you want. You wont really gain all that much going from 30-06 to a 300 Win. Basically you gain around 250fps, a little flatter trajectory (about 4" @ 400yds, and 8" @ 500), and some more recoil if both are shooting 180gr bullets.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I would buy the 300-win mag. You will not shoot it enough in one year to notice a huge dent in your wallet over the 30-06.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

My hunting partner (really, my coach) has her baby. A Springfield that was heavily modified, which she bought and converted to .300 Win Mag. To hunt in New Mexico, and set up for a 1,000 yard range shot (longest animal taken at about 310 yards).

She shot a deer here in Idaho at 40 yards, and from the story it was spectacular (both in effect and meat damage). After that she switched to a very cold load...to ".30-06 levels."

I don't think it's a bad idea to have a deer/general rifle and an elk rifle, but I don't see why you'd want to spend money to go to .25-06. The only reason to go for it is for coyotes or something like that. And ammo can be so expensive for the less common rounds you'd probably be better off just using .270 for coyotes anyway. Or hell, even a good bolt action .22 and practice.

I'd say keep the rifle as is, a general purpose rifle. Talk to your friends to see about borrowing bigger guns and buy a couple boxes of ammo...see if anything fits (in both caliber and model). If you find something you like to shoot, go for it.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

The only difference between the 2 are you gain 100yards with the 300 Win.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

300 is not needed for hunting ? Actually, neither is a 30-06, if you want to go to that extreme.if you are hunting deer and Elk, just get into bow range and all you need is a 22 Mag. , or if you prefer 200 yards or under, why use anymore than a 243?

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

Personally, I would sell the 270 and buy the 300. Then you have most every animal, and every rangein North America covered.

RE: 30/06 vs 300 Win Mag
 

I wouldnt think twice at shooting an elk or any animal for that matterat 200yrdswith my 270 with 150gr np bullets...And it lays deer right down with 130gr hornady sp. Great round..not alot of variety in loads, but very little adjustment is needed.

270 in the boiler room really packs a punch....

300 win mag is a good sized cannon...not something I really look forward to shooting at the range in my opinion, but it will kill anything...I would get a 7mm Rem Mag over a 300 just to be different...lol

30-06 isalmost thestandard by which all hunting rifles are judged by....lots of different loads to use in 30caliber...shoot anything from groundhogs to bear...06 will get the job done with easeon anything in North America