Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 30-06 vs 300 WSM

What are your thoughts on 300 WSM vs. 30-06? Want to hear opinions.

my Kimber 300WSM has been more easily accurate than any 30-06 I have ever owned.

You must have had chitluck with '06s then.

Oh yes, to the OP...I'm no gunwriter but given almost any task I'll tackle, I'll take the '06 and it will do the job.

The 300 WSM may offer an advantage which I personally won't be able to discern over a .30-06, and if it does, it will be at ranges that I personally do not shoot.

My $.02:

If you need to go bigger than a '06, go BIGGER: .338WM, .35 Whelen, .375 H&H.

If you need to go faster/flatter than a '06, go FASTER: .300 RUM, .30-338 WBY, etc.

FC

You are comparing an old classic to a new classic. Either is a great foundational cartridge to anchor your hunting arsenal.

In short, the WSM uses a little more powder and gives you a little more velocity. the 06 typically give you room for an extra round in the magazine.

Either one with a 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tip would make a good all around North American slayer.

No new round has impressed me more than 300 WSM. In a nutshell you get 300 WM performance in a 308 size package with 30-06 recoil.

Big 30-06 fan, used it for 40 years and killed most all of my game with it. But today I'd not recommend a new shooter buy one. I've been using 308 a lot more lately and fell into 300 WSM really by accident. It does everything the 30-06 does, and does it better.

My best 308 loads are only 3-4% slower than my best 30-06 loads, but with 25% less recoil in same weight rifles. The recoil in my 6 lb Kimber 308 is about the same as my 7.5 lb 30-06.

My best 300WSM loads beat my best 30-06 loads by 200-300 fps, coming within 50-75 fps of 300 WM. Because of slighty less speed, and the fact the 300 WSM does it with 15-20 gr less powder recoil is closer to 30-06 than 300 WM levels. Anyone who can tolerate 30-06 recoil will never notice the difference with a 300 WSM.

The 30-06 does have a couple of advantages. If you don't reload ammo is cheaper. But 300 WSM is everywhere now, albeit more expensive than 30-06. I can't recall the last time I saw 300 WM on the shelves and not 300 WSM. A 30-06 rifle will also allow you 1 or 2 more rounds in the magazine if that is important.

I have a question for those who have hunted with both. Is there a difference in killing an animal between the two cartridges?

The 300 WSM recoils like one would expect a light 300 mag to recoil. Physics being what they are, there is no free lunch.

I just picked up a model 70 .300 WSM.. Accuracy is very impressive.. Have or have had most of the popular .300's. Also shot the .30-06 for 10 years.. Still have two .30-06's and seldom shoot either.. I would pick the .300 WSM, because I like shooting and different rifles.. IF you are just a casual hunter I would go with the .30-06. For myself, I DO see a difference in the between the .300's and 06.. Especially as ranges lengthen..
If you are shooting whitetails from a tree stand or over bait.. Either would be fine.. Probably the 06 would be more practical there..

Depends. What do you want to do with it or what do you want it to do for you? A 30-06 with 200 grain Partitions can a lot of killing.

.30-06

You don't need a pretender to that throne.

It's the package. My 06 is a Ruger that shoots great but is heavy and has killed 1 elk. My 300WSM is a Kimber Montana and has taken 15 elk because its light and that what my family wants to carry. It shoots little groups with 165 Barnes and punches two holes in elk out to 400 yards.My son in law is always stealing it from me and that forces me to carry my 280 Mountain rifle. The 06 still gets left in the safe.

good for you. Nosler uses or used the 300WSM case for accuracy testing of their bullets, .308 replaced the 30-06 in the service matches at one time. So there are good reasons that the 300WSM is easily more accurate than a 30-06.

If you plan to reload then get the 300WSM, if your a factory cartridge guy get the 30-06. In general its pretty safe to bet the average 300WSM will be easier to get good groups with than the average 30-06.

I agree!

The .300 WSM and .375 would make an excellent pair for all big game hunting..

I will find out hopefully this year if the Deer show up!
WBY MK V ULW 30-06
Sako A-7 Tecomate 300 WSM

Sound wisdom.

With no parameters given by the OP, I would suggest skipping both and enjoy the efficiency of the 308.

Antelope_sniper,

I do not agree that the 300 WSM has made it into the ranks of a "classic". Shall we wait another 40 years before making that assertion?

Do you mean, "Is the animal more dead"?