Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Step up in performance from 30-06

I finished my Kimber 8400 30-06 this week and it is sweet - Kimber 8400 action, barrel cut to 23", bedded, weighs 7lb 6 oz with Talleys and Leup VX3 2.8-8x36. I'll start serious load development this weekend and shoot it Monday.

Which got me to looking at my next rifle build. I have all my purpose-built rifles covered in smaller cartridges. The subject of Africa and a moose hunt keeps coming up with my Dad. He's headed to Africa in May and wants to plan a follow up.

I'm chewing on the next step up in on-game performance from the 30-06 shooting 180 NPT at 2800. I have a M70 EW 300 WSM that shoots fine and has killed an elk or two. It likes 180 NPT and moves them along at 2950. Ballistic gacking indicates there really isn't much difference between my loads in 30-06 and 300 WSM. I could likely get 3000 with a 180 NPT but the gains are marginal.

So, I've owned a couple 35 whelens and 338 WM. More ballistic gacking indicates the 300 WSM (or 30-06 for that matter) shoots flatter than a 35 wh/338-06 using Partitions and doesn't leave anything on the table if you look at kinetic energy. I'm not a big believer in KE as a measure of on-game performance; think there's more to it than simple energy numbers. I do think bullet diameter and bullet weight matters from the standpoint of internal damage - larger diameter = bigger hole/more damage; larger bullet = more penetration plus shrapnel affect when considering Partitions/cup-core bullets.

Enter recoil tolerance. I've had a number of 338s and they all recoil if you load them to full potential and/or have a sub-8lb rifle. The 35 wh isn't a picnic in 7.5 lb rifle with +P 250 grain bullets.

So - what is the next logical step up from the 300 WSM shooting 200 gr Partitions that can be had in a 7.5-7.75 lb rifle with 'tolerable' recoil? I'm leaning to the 300 WSM/30-06 200 gr NPT as the 'big rifle' in my safe but am always curious how you guys would crack that nut.

I'd submit you don't have any nuts that need cracking...

Kinda arriving at the same conclusion.......

You may want to investigate revamping your 300 WSM EW to a lighter platform...

I have the same M70 EW in 300 WSM. Mine has a 3.5-10x40 Leupold in X-Low Talley Lwt's. I swapped-out the steel follower with an aluminum one, and the factory bottom metal with a PT&G aluminum one. Those two items shaved 2.5 oz's. I'll be selling the B&C stock and putting it in a Bansner or Brown. All-up weight with sling and rounds will be around 7.75 lbs. RL17 sends the 180's at 3,030. It's the most accurate rifle I own, and I really like its weight-forward feel over the lighter Kimber's. It doesn't offer that much more than a 30-06, but for me it's more about the rifle it's chambered in. It's a better LR rig than the Kimber. A bit heavier and more barrel weight.

Only other thing I'd suggest is a 375 H&H.

Like me, you sound bored

sounds like it is time you found out the greatness of a 30 whelen! great round to play with . happy hunting.

Crack a different nut. You are the perfect candidate for a 7 Mashburn Super Magnum.

I swear sometimes we are related. I literally priced a Bansner last night at a gunsmith I've used in the past to lighten the M70. $740 finished - painted, bedded, finished, Decelerator. Should weigh 24-25 oz when finished.

I agree with Brad here.

My initial thought for you would be a light 375 H&H

I've had two that were in the 7.75-8.25lb scoped weight range and they were great. But, I built them mostly due to boredom and they went down the road. But... I'd do it again if the "need" ever arose.

I've used the 28 whelen alot through the years and the 30 whelen sporadically. I've always had a 300/338 WM in the safe for years so with the 280 and various 300/338, it didn't see much use - at least until I found out elk aren't bulletproof and smaller cartridges did the same things at the ranges I hunt.

Bob and I discussed this about the time he did his. I didn't pull the trigger because at the time I had both a 7WSM and 7RM. The 7 RM had a 26" barrel so never saw the benefit. Now I have a 270 that likes Re 26 so am pretty content with it for reaching out.

TDN - I've had a couple 375s and they weren't bad to shoot but both mine weighed 9 lbs with scope. I'd think a sub 8 lb 375 would be more recoil than I want to deal with.

Sucks when reality sets in, doesn't it?

When I read the OP, my mind immediately jumped right to "get the current 300wsm exactly how you want it" and you're done.

Of course, that's the pragmatic thing to do. I'm probably not one that should be doling out advice on pragmatism. *grins*

The next step is the 338 Win Mag, but since you have one already and nice 375 H&H would be a step in the right direction.

Really unless going after Brown Bear the 30.06 will do all just fine.

375. Do it in sub 8lb if you like but it won't be any fun to shoot. About 8.5lb bare with a good fitting stock and recoil pad and you can shoot all day once you get used to it. You won't need a brake.
With the variety of bullets available in 375 you are good to go from blacktail to DG and listen to your dad and go to Africa while you both still can. You will never regret it.

9.3x62

I've got a bunch of experience with the .30-06, .375, and 9.3. My 9.3x62 is 7.25 lbs, kills just like a .375 but seems to kick like an '06.

Twin sons of different mothers

Obviously that's the route I think you should go, but I'm biased.

BACO still has the pre-2008 Aluminum WSM followers on hand for something like $15.

Or, if you want to go a little further afield, the 9.3x64 Brenneke.

For American hunter from mountains of TN .338WinMag with 250gr bullets.

This kind of thread gives a guy sore nuts. For sure...