Am I gaining anything??
 

I have owned the same Ruger M77 in 30.06 for 20 years. It has served me very well on hunting Whitetails here in Wisconsin. I am planning on doing some western hunting in the next few years for Mule Deer and Elk and am feeling the itch for a new gun. I am thinking of getting a 300 Winn Mag or 300 WSM. Am I gaining that much with these over my good ol .06?

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

What you will be gaining is a few hundred fps and another rifle. This extra speed will result in more recoil. Your '06 is fine for mulies and elk out to 300 yds and beyond. If you want to go bigger you might as well jump up to the .338 Win Mag.
I recall an old adage: "Beware of the man who only owns one rifle - he probably knows how to use it."

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

The 30-06 is more than enough gun to kill anything on this continent. I personaly own a 300 WM and really like the 180gr Nosler partition. You might save some weight going with a fastercartridge but dead is dead. You won't gain a whole lot of advantage inside of 250-300 yards with either of the faster rounds. The faster rounds shine at longer distances.

My $.02

ws

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

keep that 06.i got a MKII lefty and go on killing sprees.....original trigger works dandy....o6 is the baddest on the plaNET

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Not gaining a whole lot....a couple hundred fps, some more recoil, a bit flatter trajectory, and some more foot pounds of energy.
Personally I don't think I will ever own anything larger than the '06 just because I have not found anything it would not take down quickly and cleanly. I have taken everything from brown bear to groundhogs with it with no problems.
Having said that though......if you want it get it. I'm not sure you can have too manyfirearms.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I have two 06's. One ruger and one remington and love both of them. Also I have a 300 win mag and 7mm rem mag and love both of them. Any of them will do the job, better than a 06, hmmmmmm I doubt it. But heck if you want a new gun go buy one. Im not about to try and talk a person out of buying a new rifle.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

+1

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

+2, especially since you have a Ruger that was made when they knew how to do it....

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I'd use 180 NP's in the 30-06 and go hunting! If your dieing to spend money, upgrade your scope if needed, and buy some really good bino's!

Practise, practise, practise, is a hundred times better than a new gun!!

DM

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I will put it this way Dead is dead that Mule Deer or Elk don’t care what you shoot him with.
With that said the 300 WSM or the 300Win Mag will work great for the west I like the 300 WSM the most.
I live in Montana and do a lot of hunting here in Montana and Wyoming and Idaho And I can say this from experience the 30-06 will do the job, but the 300 WSM or the 300Win Mag will do the job a little better when it comes to some of the long range shots you will have to take here in the west in order to get your prize.
But first and for most if you have the itch for a new rifle go get one, and have fun.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Rut if you feel a little undergunned with the 06 you may want to try the Light Magnum Loads. I have chronyd the 165 grain interbond at 2950 from a 22" barrel and our last Colorado trip our group have taken3 elk with that load. There were 5 hits with 3 pass throughs. Very impressive exits and the two recovered bullets fully penetrated the elk broke the shoulder and only the far side skin kept them from exiting. 165 grains may seem a bit light for elk but the recovered bullets weighted 156 and 137 grains and were fully expanded. This retained weight is higher than most premium 180s would provide.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I am a big MAG fan so to me go with a MAG. You will be happier with a 300Win Mag or 300WSMfor hunting in the west more than you will ever be with your 30-06, but I am not saying the 30-06 will not do the job it will but take it from someone that lives in the west and hunt all over the west a MAG will do the job a lot better,. When it come to 250 yard + shots, and trust me if you do a lot of hunting here in the west there will be times you will need that extra yardage and hitting power.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Yes your gaining. Is it worth it? Is to me.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I agree with the suggestion about stepping on up to the 338 win mag. If you have any doubt about the ability of the 30/06, then I don't think a 300 mag would be enough power gain to justify another rifle.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I did not know we where recommending a caliber that rut was not looking at but where fornra did here I go. why not go for some real power a 340 wby mag. much better than a 338 win mag.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

You are gaining some velocity & knock down energy. I do not think you are gaining enough to justfy the added cost ofthe 300-WSM or 300-win mag.
I live out west & hunt ek every year. I elk hunt with a 340-Weatherby. I think if you want to step up you should really step up & look at the 338-caliber rifles.
I also own a 300-win mag that does a good job of killing elk. I just prefer the 338-caliber for elk hunting.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Not much, especially with the WSM. But hey! Any excuse to buy a new gun, eh what??

I'd jump up in caliber for elk & moose. Maybe the .338 Federal or the .338/'06.......

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Im with elde here... just move up a caliber. The 06 and the 30 mags are just too simillar unless you just want a new gun.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

The only reason I can see for buying anything bigger would be for stopping dangerous game.For that I think either a Weby .340 or .338 Win would be my choice but I wouldn't rule out the .375 H&H or even the .458 Win.None will kill'em any deader than an 06 but a dose of freight train energy might get'em to reconsider their position on the matter:) .

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

rut n strut

I always love a new gun so I can not blame you for wanting one either. I just wanted to make one more off topic suggestion.:) You could take the money you would spend on a new rifle, rings, bases, scope &ammo and buy a great pair of binos???
You will use the binos everyday you hunt, but the gun will only get used one time.
Just something else to kick around.

Good luck hunting,

WK

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Elde I am not one to disagree with people too much but I have to here. Where do you get not much especially with the WSM?
If you check this chart off of Federal web site you will see between the 30-06 and 300 win mag and the 300 wsm using the same bullet 180 grain Barnes MRX the 300 WSM is the clear winner. And if you hand load the 300wsm like I do you can make that gap even farther.
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/print/compare/rifle_compare.aspx?compare=634%2c636%2c637

And then if you compare the 300wsm and the 338 fed like you recommended. The 338 fed will not even come close .
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/print/compare/rifle_compare.aspx?compare=637%2c632

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Looksright to me cooper +1. But I still say go with a 340 wby mag, if you would like true power.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Well, if you consider the '06 "lite magnum" or High Energy loads, (180-grain bullets at 2880 FPS) they are within 80 FPS of those magnums. But of course, the magnums are hotter. I feel that the '06 is all that's needed for elk and mulies. I admit I cheat, and use a 7mm Rem. Mag. for elk shooting. With 175-grain Nosler Partition bullet handloads, IV @ 10', 3050 FPS.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Ok you can believe what you like, I am not asking you to believe what federal says I don’t believe them myself all the time and that post was just for reference, like I said in my post my loads can do better.
BULLET-180gr.Speer Spitzer BTSP POWDER- Hodgdon H4350
VELOCITY- 3005 fps and this was tested at 4000 feet.
And I will not ask you to believe me. But if you evercome up toMontanaI will show you proof.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Cooper I do not necessarily believe Federal or Hornady but I do believe my chrony and I have tested both and also compared them to both Remington and Winchester ammo on the same day and found the 30-06180 grain Federal High energy rounds matched the velocity of the 150 grain Remington/ Winchesterloads. Both loads averaged 2870 from a factory 22 inch barrel. The 165 grain Hornady light mags were 75 FPS faster than the standard 150s at 2950 fps. So as far as the Light Mag, High energy loads go they are for real in the 06. Believe it, or not.

Handloading may or may not be an option for the original poster. If it is then the Win mags 90 grain case would certainly give it some separation from the WSMs 80 grain case,and the WSM would gain some separationfrom the 06s 70 grain case. I saw no indication that he was a handloader however.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

NO

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

Thanks for the imput guys. I have decided to stick with the .06 and upgrade it's scope to a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

I have no experience on elk but do on mule deer. If you, as a shooter, can manage 300-350 yard shots well, then the 30.06 Spr. is plenty. I killed one of my mule deer at a "ranged' 327 yards with a Browning BBR in 30.06 Spr. and 180 gr. Nosler Partitions in my hand loads. It dropped within 30 yards. If you have an itch to spend the $$$ for a new rifle and scope set up, like another has advised, if I did not already have these ... I'd spend the $$$ on a great set of binos and/or upgrade in your 30.06's scope.

RE: Am I gaining anything??
 

if you cant kill it with a 30-06 on the north american continent, you dont need to be shooting at it. you made the good choice and are upgrading goodies. just remember. its not how hard you hit'em, its where you hit'em. a well placed shot from and 06 is alot better than a marginal hit with a 700 super wizzbang monster mag. at least thats what a lot of the ol' timers tell me. and i learned along time ago. listen to them, they know.