have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

I'm sure this question has been asked a few times over the years. I've been reading a lot of posts in the gun forum. People are saying with some of the new factory loads you can come comparably close to the 300 win mag with a 30.06. I was thinking of buying a new 300 win mag but I already have a 30.06, should I opt for another caliber like the 338 win mag? One problem being is I don't reload myself, but I have 2 friends I shoot with that do reload for themselves and me. They have been shooting the 300 win mag for years and have worked up some great loads for it. Combined they have killed every big game animal in North Ameria with the 300 win mag. But, I'm not sure if it couldn't have been done with the .06. I live in Massachusetts and it's shotgun only here, the only time I use the .06 is one week a year in Maine, and any other one week hunts I may go on throughout the course of the year. This year I have two other hunts coming up, a black bear hunt in the spring, which I feel fine using the .06 as it's over bait and in a treestand. And a moose hunt in Newfoundland, which I'm not sure about the .06. I know moose have been killed with far less firepower than the .06 but I'm going to have a good amount of money invested in this hunt and don't want to get out there and find the .06 not enough. I'd like to shoot a 200gr bullet but it looks like they drop off the table pretty fast in the .06. Any suggestions on any other calibers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks..............John

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

A premium 180gr bullet out of your 30-06 will easily kill any moose that you encounter.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

The .30-06 is available in several lightweight rifles including the M-70 featherweight and the difference is weight verses a couple hundred feet/second.

The same arguement is had over the .338-06 and the .338 win mag and again over the .375 Taylor and the .375 H&H however in those cases the weight factor isn't that great. Featherweight barrels seem to end at 30 caliber.

When you can push a 200 grain Swift A-frame out of a 22" barrel at 2,800'/sec you have serious power and for those that want more I'd say pay the weight penalty and get a .300 magnum.

I own both a .30-06 M-70 FWT and a couple .300 mags and when I return to Africa hunting, the .30-06 is going with me.......the .300 mags will be left home.

The .30-06 is a truly powerful cartridge and IMO if you need more I suggest you get a .375 Magnum.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

IMO, the 30.06 is more than enough gun for bear or moose.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

Buying a 300Win mag worth it? Absolutely. If your on this page, then you probabley interested in guns. And you can't have too many.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

I wouldn't be afraid to face any animial in north America with my 30-06 "includeing" the big bears. And YES i've hunted and shot big bears.

Like the others have said, is all hangs on what bullet you use. For big bears and moose, i use 200 grain nosler partitions. For elk sized game, use 180's, and for deer use 150's or 165's..

You quite often here read about guys saying "they" shoot "at" game animials at 500 and 600 yards away. (or more) In my opinion, these guys should measure out, and see just how far away 600 yards REALLY is. "If" they REALLY are shooting that far away at game animials, then i have less respect for that action, than i do for useing a "properly loaded" center fire 22 on deer at reasonable ranges!!

My point is, a 30-06 is MORE than enough gun for game animials "if" you keep the ranges down to where they should be!!! A MEASURED 300 yards is a LONG ways to be shooting at game animials!!

The 30-06 is easily the best all around cartridge ever invented, and i prefer it over any of the 30 cal magnums!!

Drilling Man

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

If you're just looking to expand your battery, there's no real reason not to buy a .300win mag, however, there's no reason you'll need one either, since you already have a .30-06...as far as hunting goes, the practical range of the fast/big 30 cals are all about the same (.308, .30-06, .300win mag, .300WSM, .300SAUM, .30-378, etc), going for more power than a .308 or a .30-06 and stopping at another 30 cal usually only ends you up with a heavier recoiling rifle that's not any better. You can hunt deer to any range you shoot accurately enough to hit them with a .30-06 or a .300win mag, neither of them kills them any more dead...the same balance applies to moose, the ranges are shorter, but the difference between the two's (or all of them really) performance is so insignificant, neither you nor the bull will ever know the difference in killing performance-recoil wise, yes, you'd notice that, but they're evenly matched as far as practical performance.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

Sound cartridge/caliber spacing is a good thing. IMHO, for most practical purposes the 30-06 and the 300WinMag are too "close" to each other to justify having both. If you have one, then don't get the other, unless you just wanna. If you are going to make a step up, then make a "worthwhile/significant" step up, e.g. 338 or 375 that way your rack of rifles will have some width and breadth to it and you will be well set to hunt a wider range of game.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

I'm like several here and feel that the 30-06 will do the trick for most anything and buying a 300 Win Mag won't gain you anything but another rifle.

If I liked a particular caliber like the -06, and just wanted another rifle, I'd be more inclined to buy a Browning BLR or BAR, or a Remington semi-auto or pump action, in that same caliber and leave it with open sights and use it for when hunting in brushy terrain where close fast shots are likely saving the scoped rifle for longer, open range type shots.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

As others have said, if you really want another gun then I would go up to the 338 or 375H&H. I have had the 300 Win Mag and 300 Weatherby Mag. as well as several 30-06 and 270and 280's. The 30-06 is all the gun you really need for North America. However if its not the only gun you WANT then let your wallet be your guide. Were I starting over, I would stay with my 30-06 and invest the extra money in optics and a range finder and some of the other stuff. I would put aside a lot of the money that I spent on guns for a few more fun hunting trips. Thats 20-20 hindsight speaking. Not that I have not enjoyed owning half of the calibers ever invented but A guy can get tied up in the equipment race and loose sight of the oppertunities to use it. Just my Opinion.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

Your .30-06 is plenty for your upcoming hunts, and much more on the side. In your situation, I wouldn't be able to justify the expense of a new rifle.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

Pace

I would never discourage someone from buying another gun. As others have said "you can't have too many" and I have a safe full to prove it.

HOWEVER, I think what has not yet been articulated yet on this thread is what IMHO is the most important component to your successful moose hunt in Newfoundland. The rifle you use is the one you should be fully accustomed to. I don't mean accustomed to shooting a few hundred rounds off the bench but one you've hunted with, carried, shot from standing, kneeling, prone, rested on stumps or rocks; the one you know inside out and you are comfortable and confident with. You may only get one good opportunity at that big bull and that's not the time to be still getting accustomed to that new rifle. gg.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

I appreciate all the replies so far. I have a remington 30.06 ADL and just put the new leupold VXIII on it. The new scope is awesome and in my opinion worth every penny. I actually have more money in the scope than I do the gun. I figured the remington ADL could outshoot my personal capabilities so I couldn't see going crazy on the gun and for my budget, went a little more on the scope. I own a Remington 7400 semi-automatic outfitted with a Leupold M8 fixed 4power scope. This gun is my favorite Maine hunting gun and it's extremely accurate for an automatic. With a handload a friend of mine worked up for the auto's, the first day down the range the gun was able to shoot 3-3 shot groups at 50yards all touching an inch high of the bull. I know a lot of people don't like the semi-auto guns but for a close range gun I don't think that one can be beat. My shotgun which gets used every day of the 2 week deer season here in Massachusetts is a Remington 12ga 11-87 Special purpose Deer gun with a cantilevered scope mount equipped with a leupold M8 fixed 2.5 power heavy duplex scope. This gun is very impressive shooting 1oz barnes expander slugs 5 shot touching groups at 50yds and
2 1/2" groups at 100. My problem has always been shooting open sites, I'm not that good at it. And therefore every gun I own has a leupold scope on it including my muzzleloaders.
Quite possibly after reading this post I may go with the .338 Thanks again for all the replies and good shooting and hunting to all.............John

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

Pace, If you can't afford the 300, don't worry about it. As much as you say you would use it, I wold say pass on it. Your '06 will handle moose and bear no problem.
I have a 300 WM and I like it. But then again, I don't have a '06 (I must be un-American). My most used rifle is my .270, followed by my 7mm-08 then the 45-70. The only time the 300 WM comes out is when I think I may get a shot in the 250 - 300 yard range. Like DM says 300 yds is my max. I would ever consider shooting at any critter except maybe a varmint.
Your 06 is fine. Use your own judgement.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

As long as you can shoot the 30-06 well and you really like it I'd stick with it. The 300 win is my personal choice and the one I use the most. If I was to buy another rifle in the power class as in your case I would buy one like the .375 h&h. Then you would have a well rounded selection of guns from deer hunting to alaskan brown bear. It's all about your intentions for the caliber. It doesn't take power to kill only precision. And its alot cheaper to get in practice with a 30-06 vs. a 300 winmag. And if your looking to buy more guns by all means have fun and shoot em all.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

If you are wishing your 06 had a little more, you could look at reaming out the chamber, have an 06 Ackley Improved. Of course you will then get the satisfaction of having your friends with the 300 WM work up a reload for you, and they will wonder how that measly 06 can shoot flatter than their magnums...

The 06 improved shines the most with the heavier bullet weights. Reaming and die set should be around $200.

Then you will still have the benefit of holding a rifle you are familiar with, mostly. If you ever find yourself without your handloads, you can still buy and shoot factory 06 ammo.

But, as has been said, there is nothing wrong with another rifle in the stable either.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

If you really want to use 200 grainers, I would go with the 300win, of course I am partial to it... If you can limit yourself to a certain range the 30-06 with 200 grainers would be fine... But as someone else said the 300 can do anything the 30-06 can and with more range

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

At the end of the day its what ya feel happy with , hell go get another rifle if thats what ya want, but what the rest of the guys said the 0-6 will do the job, ive been using one since i was 15 good luck.:)

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

I'd keep the 06, but if you feel you need more gun get a .338 win.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

They are so close IMO, i think the 30.06 is all you would need.

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

If you want .300 Mag. preformance, buy a .300 Mag. Good luck on your hunt!

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

i would say you don't need the 300win mag but if you get the urges like i do go buy it. but most of my friends in maine (if the get pulled for the moose tag ) use the 30-06sprg some use the 270win. if you are a good shot and can shoot the 30-06sprg real well i would go with that. i good 165gr. or 180gr. would do the trick. i would probally go with the 165gr. TBBC's or maybe the 220gr. rem core-lokt's all the moose i have seen in maine wher i hunt are real close in the swamps.uner 75yds and seen some out to 250yds. i know a guy who i watched his home video of him taking a bull moose up in boonie land in maine with his craig and jorgenson chambered in the 30-40 krag factory win power points ( 180gr. ) he took 3 shots at the bull moose and dropped him at 250yds. both lung shots. the moose ran maybe 50yds after being hit. but i guess you would get shots over 200yds.

i am not sure but you might want to ask others since i have not had the luxury to get pulled yet. stubblejummper is a very knowledgeable person when it comes his 7mmSTW and 300win mags.

if your shots are under 250yds i would stay with the 30-06sprg than the 300win mag. but if you want a new gun. look a little longer and try to find a " 35WHELEN " . i fine caliber that i think will be a great round for game that size. ( factory ammo rem: 200gr. 250gr. rem core-lokt's and the 225gr. TBBC's )

if you have never shot a 35whelen it is supposed to feel like a stout 200gr. bullet out of the 300win mag. try the site that talks about moose hunting.
i will send you a e-mail about some other things about moose hunting that will help you.that might give you more info on how they did with the 30-06sprg in las years hunt

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

PM, have you tried any of the high-energy loadings for your '06? With one of these throwing a premium 180 grain bullet you should be fine on any moose out to 250 yards or more if you practice enough. Putting the bullet where it needs to go is the most important factor of all. I would save the money and use it for something else, especially since you don't use your rifle all that often anyway. Not that I am trying to talk you out of a new gun if you have the extra cash though! Best of luck!

RE: have 30.06 buying 300 win mag worth it?
 

I dont have a win mag, but do have a 300 wby. Before I bought the gun, I looked over all the ballistics and noticed that the only difference in a 06 and 300 is that the 300 will push a bigger bullet further and faster. As a question of weather you need one, depends on the reason. If you think you need one because a 30-06 is too small. That would not be true. A good old 06 will take anything you want to shoot. Now if you think you need on because it would be cool to have another gun, Id say, go for it. I didnt need a 300 wby, I have a 06, 270, 308, but just wanted one. :D