.300 Winny
Well after standing at the counter for an hour trying to decide between calibers I took the plunge and bought a New Browning A-bolt Medallion in .300 Winchester Mag. I plan on hunting elk and mule deer here in Oregon. Do you guys think that this is overkill? My thoughts were I could use a lighter round in the 150-165gr range for deer and then move up from there. I wanted a rifle the I can go after just about anything with including black bear down the road, Should I have went with a 7mm Mag?. Just doing a little second guessing, let me know what you think. Thanks
Left is Right
Left is Right
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I bought a .300 win mag back in '95 and I've been using it for whitetails ever since. I had the same delemna as you did (although I was going to get a 7mm STW). However, I finally opted for the .300 because I figured it was big enough for everything on the North American continent.
I think you'll find any grain projectile just fine for deer. If over expansion is a problem use Winchester Fail-safes. I used them for several years and while I never lost any deer while using the, I just wasn't satisfied with thier expansion (I suppose since they were made for larger game). On the opposite end I've seen deer hit with ballistic tip bullets that were missing entire quarters. Out of my Remington 700 BDL SS DM, I've found that Hornady customs make the best (most accurate) hunting round, and the expansion is just right for what I desire.
If you look at the downrange trajectory between the 7mm and the .300 it is minimal, something like 3" lower at 500 yards than the 7mm. If they are legal, I think either would work for all game here on this continent, but I think the .300 is better suited. If I thought I could handle the recoil all the time, I'd have bought a .338 mag. But then again I've never shot at anything bigger than a deer with mine, and I've only shot two shots more than 100 yards (~165 yards free-hand - head shot no less, and ~275 yard shot prone using a bipod).
It matters not how many times you've been knocked down. What matters is how many times you've gotten back up.0 -
The 300 Win Mag is well suited for both Mule Deer and Elk (or any other large game you want to hunt in the lower 48).
I personally use a Remingtom Model 700 BDL in 7mm Mag for hunting Elk and Deer, but the only advantage it has over the 300 Win Mag, is that it shoots a bit flatter.
The 300 Win Mag has the advantage of being able to shoot a considerably heavier bullet (220 gr.) than the 7mm Mag, but you give up velocity. If it were me using the 300 Win Mag, I would work up one really good load using the 168 gr. bullet, and then use it for both the Mule deer and Elk (or anything else you want to shoot). With the 165/168 gr bullet, the 7mm Mag and 300 Win Mag are ballistically identical from the muzzle out to about 200 yards... then the superior ballistics of the 7mm bullet (high BC) starts to shine. In reality though, there is not enough difference in the two cartridges out to any distance you would ordinarily shoot a game animal.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I suggest you try the factory offerings in the barnes xlc. THE perfect bullet for every type of game. Have never had expansion problems. Have never needed a second shot. Have never had to track a single animal. I am a die hard believer in the x bullet and will always be till someone comes out with something better. Which I doubt will happen.
Everyone has a photographic memory. Only some have film.0 -
300Win is fine for your purposes. I'd look at 180gr and up even for deer. The purpose of a magnum is to launch heavier bullets at standard velocities (2700-3000fps), not launching lighter bullets at hyper speed.
Bullet note, Balistic Tips (and there clones) are designed for IMPACT velocities in the 2000-2700fps range, above that over expansion can be a problem (BT's are not recogmended on game over 350lb).
Barnes bullets have been known to NOT expand, a lot of rifles don't shoot them well, and copper fouling has been excessive with some batches (not saying don't try them however).
Hotcore, Interlock and even the plain old standard (cup&core) bullets will be all you ever need for deer (just find the weight/style that shoots best out of your rifle) and are still a good choice on elk, for bigger stuff (elk) moving up to the Partition style might be a better choice.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
I agree with the previous post. Stick with the 180 gr. bullet. The lighter ones make a mess on deer and don't really kill any better. In addition, the extra practice with the same load will improve your success in the long run.
Mobuck0 -
The .300 Win Mag will never let you down if you do your part.
Ammo selection is much larger for the 300 than the 7mm.
The 300 is a flatter shooting cartridge than the 7mm (using identical weight bullets) if you have a solid 200yd zero.
According to Bob Forker's Ammo and Ballistics;
7mm Rem Mag 300 Win Mag
Win 150gr pwr point (X7MMR1) Win 150gr pwr point (X300WM1)
yards 200 300 400 500 yards 200 300 400 500
vel 2551 2304 2071 1852 vel 2636 2342 2068 1813
NRG 2167 1768 1429 1143 NRG 2314 1827 1424 1095
TKO 15.5 14.0 12.6 11.3 Taylor K/O value 17.4 15.5 13.6 12.0
inches 0.0 -6.8 -20.2 -41.6 drop in inches 0.0 -6.3 -12.0 -39.8
The difference really gets going when heavier bullets are used. The 7mm's upper limit is close to 180 grs; whereas the 300 has commercially available loaded ammunition in excess of 220grs., in case you wanna hunt Greyhounds.
Handloads are another matter, entirely. I have loaded custom cast 250gr lead bullets that dance out the barrel at close to 2500fps! (Don't try this at home, kids!).
I have also "powdered" some 125gr hpTNT's by pushing them in excess of their design velocity (Again, don't try this at home!).
165's are almost universally available, and are all you really need for deer, antelope, javelina, cougar, brown bear, and most armored vehicles. I'd switch to a nice 200 grainer for elk, moose, prairie dogs (don't knock it till you try it!), and the occasional steel target (you wanna hear it hit when you're 500yds away!).
Hope this comes out OK; I pasted from my notepad.
If you know it all; you must have been listening.WEAR EAR PROTECTION!0
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