Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles King of the 30 Caliber Magnum's

As we all know, the 300 H&H is the real "king".

Of course, everyone has a favorite, but why? Rather than go back to cavemen throwing rocks, you only need to start at a 30-06. Not a magnum, but certainly a contender. Next comes the first real magnum called the H&H. More punch than the ‘06 but not quite the king. The H&H gave birth to the king the 300 Weatherby magnum.

In a search to find something bigger, plenty tried with warbirds and stuff not realizing that the 300 Winchester came after the Weatherby and didn’t really become “King.” The 30-378 ones along and pushed the 30 caliber bullets to 5% higher velocity with the assistance of 20% more powder.

Remington decides to get into the game with the UltraMag and has a little less performance than the 30-378 but does it witbout a belt. This is still too much powder for the slight increase in velocity.

Add some heat and render all the fat from frying pan and add a bit of Creedmoor philosophy, and you have to recognize the true King is the Weatherby. It can still get a 180 grain bullet to 3200 FPS, more than adequate for the best performance with the least amount of powder to accomplish the desired effect in the 30 caliber.

The 300 Win and H&H are not enough of too much, the Ultra Mag and 30-378 are too much of not enough, leaving the Weatherby seated perfectly in the middle...

Great post , thanks for sharing … what Bullet did you use?

I prefer to be in the Driver's seat with my 300 RUM and some would rather ride shotgun with a 300 Win Mag. but if you want to be seated in the middle with your Weatherby thats ok, to each his own.

We all have our own preference and this Topic is all about 30 Caliber Magnum's that have the performance that stands above the others. So Load em up and let the games begin …

' Hornady ', a major player in this game … made the statement that the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum is
" Besting the Case Capacity of the 300 Weatherby by 13% and that of the 300 Win. Mag. by 20%

300WM, 300PRC 225gr. ELD-M, 30 Nosler 210 VLD Hunting

........................In terms of ballistics only, meaning MVs, forgetting about efficiencies aka 20% more powder gaining 5% more bullet speed or the other way around or whatever, the 30-378 is the king of the 30 cal magnums.

So when it comes right down to it, between a 300 Win, a 300 Wby, a 300 RUM, or the 30-378, more emphasis should be put on the rifle choice. Given average hunting ranges, if ya cannot kill em with the 300 Win, then you might not do too well with the 30-378 or with the others........

3000 fps with a 150 grain bullet is hardly the "driver's seat."

300 Weatherby has always been the king. Long live the King.

.300 Wby with a 180 grain Nosler Partition at 3200 fps.

Or if you want to be different a .30 Gibbs.

My old corkscrew barreled 300 Win Mag chunking 230gr Bergers at 2878 is a pretty serious steel wacking stick too Elk.

Sorry, but you are not making your point well, I am talking real world. You are shooting targets, I am talking hunting. If we look at external ballistics and what is the best cartridge to get that, "Best" could be vague. Shooting a 300 RUM and 30-378 is brutal no matter how you cut it. A 180 grain bullet from a 300 Weatherby has made a serious hunting bullet travelling at varmint velocities. Making it go faster doesn't make it better.

The 300 WBY will still completely penetrate and elk at over 400 yards, all a 300 RUM or 30-378 will do, is hit the dirt harder on the other side...

None of that matters if you aren't utilizing it. Your "driving" a 300 UM downloaded below 300 Weatherby performance. But if it makes you happy carry on.

Hell, you could beat that 150 load with an '06. Nothing like yankin' a few spark plug wires......which is fine, as long as you don't go to the drag strip and proclaim yourself king.

A lot of bullets perform very well at the level.

Yep.

Definitions matter. Define "Best".

If I were to have only one .30 cal, to cover the vast majority of my NA hunting, it would probably be a 300 WSM.

The 300 RUM also has it's place, but it's far from optimum in many situations.

Especially a FMJ with a BC of .358.

For 20 some years my .30 Gibbs was my 30 caliber King. It kept my freezers full of elk and moose meet all of those years. However the best it would do is push the 180 grain Nosler Partitions out at 2990 fps.

But now it's status has been reduced to "Prince" in the shadow of the new King, my .300 Weatherby with it's 180 grain Barnes TTSX bullets at 3248 fps.

That is .300 H&H territory. What barrel length and powder did you use?

I have a Enfield 1917 chambered for the .30 Gibbs,also have the brass and dies.


Just have to get the stock bedded correctly.


The rifle.

Thats a really nice rifle , Thanks for posting the picture of it