Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Need Help deciding...30-06 or 300 wsm for Elk

I've found some good deals on both. Pluses and minuses of both.
Looking at either a Kimber Montana or Sako 85.

Thanks,
Kyle

I have never hunted elk, but the 300WSM is a great cartridge. Mine shoots 180 and 150 gr Accubonds superbly! I think that either rifle maker will suffice.

Which ever rifle you like best either is fine....welcome to the Campfire!

I like the 3006, but then I like the traditional cartriges.

If you like recoil, it's the magnum. If not, it's the '06. Nobody has ever needed a magnum to kill an elk. Not years ago, not now.

Between two rifles in those calibers, other considerations would weigh much more heavily for me, rather than a choice between those two calibers.

Bottom line: Hit 'em right with either, and you have a dead elk. Hit 'em wrong with either, and you'll have a rodeo on your hands.

If you have both take both one day 30-06 the next the 300 WSM .My self I would take The 300 WSM

Since the 30/06 is gay I would choose the WSM

Pick the rifle you like first, then worry about the cartridge. Either round will do the job well.

If you don't hand- load, then put more emphasis on the '06. .300 wsm ammo is not cheap.

I dont feel much difference in recoil between the two, in fact their both fun to shoot.

I'm not a real fan of recoil...just want to makesure I have enough "gun". I have always enjoyed shooting 30-06's. From the research I've done, it looks like I would lose 250-300 fps with factory loads between the two.

Thanks everyone for the replies and the welcome.
Kyle

I've never shot a .300 WSM, but I've killed 8 elk with a .30-06, including my best bull that netted 366+ inches of antlers.

Just about every backwoods place that sells ammo carries .30-06 ammo, and at about 2/3 of the cost of .300 WSM ammo...IF they even have .300 WSM ammo.

However, my favorite elk rifle now is my .300 Weatherby.

i've owned and killed elk with both 30-06 and 300 wsm, both were win m70 classic stainless rifles, both shooting either 180gr partitions or 180gr failsafes. i couldn't determine that the wsm killed any better or differently than the 06, so i stayed with the 06. truth be told, either will easily kill elk. pick the one that feels best in your hands (my choice would be the sako 85). good luck.

There you have it! If you like the 06, it's plenty of "gun" to kill an elk. Good points on the ammo cost and availibility. Now, which maker?

Again, In my humble opinion, the most important criteria is which rifle do you like most, the recoil difference is a non-factor, and the ballistic differences are also a non-factor...

Flip a coin is all I can say. Either will work fine if you are wanting a good 30 cal for elk. If it were just elk though I'd opt for the 338 win mag.

The rifle so chambered is, to me, the only salient difference between the 30-06 and 300 WSM.

Very true. How's that blue stocked thing doing by the way

Doing alright, sighted in 2" high with 180gr Partitions. It'll stay that way until after October when I can go back to experimenting.

No, you're gay.

My vote is for the Sako 85 30-06 as well, but I am a bit partial.....