BlaydAZ

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with deciding on my next rifle. I am looking into purchasing a new rifle I am looking at a .308, 300 win mag, or 30-06. I hunt in Arizona, I want something that can reach a pretty good distance,I want it to reach 500 yards comfortably, anything above that will be for the range. Which of these would be best for that, are any of these overkill? I mainly hunt whitetail and mule deer. The rifles are all Remington 700s and the same price, if that makes a difference.

Bocajnala

With that goal I would go with the .300mag. All three are capable of what you want to do. but the .300mag gives you a little bit of edge.
-Jake

alleyyooper

I love to shoot long distance across cranberry bogs with my Remington 700 chambered in 300 Winchester Mag. it does have the extra edge.

Al

Wingbone

I'd vote for a 30-06. It doesn't kick as much, and the ammo is cheaper. Hitting game at distance takes lots of practice. Getting kicked around by the rifle and high ammo costs are not conducive to lots of practice. The '06 will drop any game you're likely to hunt at ranges you're likely to shoot. If you can't hit at 300 yd. with a 30-06, you won't hit them with a 300WM. You can't miss 'em fast enough to kill 'em.

Sheridan

+1

Excellent advise !

With that being said; I believe either the .30-06 or the .308 would apply to that advise.

redgreen

The 30 06 and the 308 will do all that you need. The 300 will also do it with a lot more authority. On a close shot, the 300 will tear up a lot of meat if you are using lighter bullets. Whichever you choose, practice at the range every chance that you get, because you DO NOT want to be taking a hail Mary and wounding a living creature that will do everything in its power to escape and suffer.

super_hunt54

Out to 500 yards, the .30-06 and the 300WM are pretty much equals. They will both kill a deer just as dead. Where the 300WM is best is being able to punch the bigger bullets out further. A .30-6 loaded with 165-180 grain bullets is a fantastic 400-600 yard rifle. My personal limit on live game is 300-400 yards (dependent on which rifle I have in my hands) even if I have my 300WM but that's a personal choice derived from seeing just too many injured animals from people that had no business attempting shots longer than 200 yards. There are many that believe that just because you have a cartridge with the word "magnum" in it that they will just magically be able to shoot long range. 400-600 yard shots require diligent practice and knowledge of many variables including wind, humidity, temperature, external ballistics of the bullet loaded, powder load, and several other things as well as high knowledge of the animals behavioral patterns that you are hunting so you know when it is okay to take a longer range shot.

Ridge Runner

get a rifle you can shoot, a lot!!, study ballistics, learn what a bullet does from the muzzle to the target, what affects it, how you compensate for it. having taken many beyond 500 and a handful beyond 1K, its easy once you understand ballistics, and you have a shooting system accurate enough to get it done, any of the cartridges you mentioned are up to the task if you are, the only difference between the 308 and the 300 winny for killing a deer at 500 yards is a couple clicks on the up knob. the bullet does the job not the cartridge case, choose wisely. my favorite rifle for deer hunting to 1100 yards is a 264 based on the 270 win case.
RR

jeepkid

I'd go with a .308 of the choices listed and practice practice practice. Personally I would go with a .243 Win or .243 Ack for under 500 yards on deer.