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

Very, very nice!

That from a qualified source!!

YEP, is my point, not to be misinterpreted.

BS not so. Plenty of 06's out there that are as accurate as all get out. Sample of one? Maybe more velocity but not more accurate.

Sweet rifle Sidepass!



Like guys have already said, the whole point of the WSM/SAUM cartridges is about the rifle.


I have a 300 WSM that weighs 7lbs scoped/empty but is still easy to shoot and feeds the chunky cartridge slicker than your H&H(maybe....grin).

Thanks Sam. Classic rifle modern execution .

I agree, Sam.

It's the specific rifle that makes the cut between those rounds.

DF

Now if there ever was bs, that's it right there ^^^ . The H&H feeds slicker than a wet willie in a fn competition...

300 H&H feeds slicker than snot. Yet is what I like regardless. A good rifle is a good rifle , caliber is secondary.

I doubt anything feeds slicker than an H&H, either .300 or .375.

My M-70 will cycle EMPTY .375 H&H brass from the mag without a blip as fast as I can cycle the action. Not many guns or rounds can do that.

DF

Mine can...

I have a model 70 in 300 ultra mag that will do the same thing.

I only have experience with one 300 WSM, a Win. M70 Super Grade. It definitely kicks more than my 30-06 which is a Sako M85 Finnlite. For what it's worth, the 30-06 has been my most unlucky caliber when hunting. Have only once had a shooting opportunity when carrying an 06.

Mostly my annual fall hunting trips are for moose. For years a .270 Win. worked just fine. For variety a number of other calibers were tried. Eventually settled on a .338 Win. Mag with a muzzle brake. It is now my flat out favourite.

For anyone primarily hunting deer I would say the 30-06 would be the preferred choice of the two alternatives mentioned. For me it would probably be the .270 Win.

I've taken game with every thing from .243 to .338 and have found the handling and portability of the gun being used to be more of a factor, depending on the game being hunted and the hunting conditions, than the cartridge being fired in the gun.

My .02, Jim

Its my impression that the cases last a long time when reloading the 300WSM, especially when loaded to moderate 30-06 type velocities.

I will be using the grand ole 30/06 this year. As far as the argument between the 2 cartridges I really have no dog in this fight. I never did warm up to the 300 magnums or anything in between the 06 and 375 H&H. I just don't see the point, for me, if I'm going to deal with more recoil why jack around with anything less than a 338 WM or 375 H&H. FWIW I don't practice at what most consider long range but if I did I would go with a big 7mm.

Both the wsm and rsaum cases do seem to last a long time, from my somewhat limited experience. And not just with milder loads. I've seen some of each with 20+ firings. Heavy brass.

Of course, I've only loosened primer pockets on 3-4 '06 cases. I anneal after every 5th or so loading, and have only tossed just those few, which were likely my fault, trying to ramp things up too far. I do have a policy to keep shooting brass as long as it is fit. Any flaws and it goes into the moderate load, plinker circulation.

..................Yep! +2

..................Within about 300 yards or so (some may say more yardage and some may say less yardage) and given the same shot placements using the same bullets, imo there won't be a lot of killing power difference between the two on most game.

Vs the '06, flatter trajectories along with more down range impact energies are the two main advantages going for the 300 WSM.

Beyond that, it is then a matter of personal choice in rifles etc and recoil tolerance levels.

Having owned and reloaded extensively for both- the WSM gives a few more fps, and MUCH less case trimming, particularly at loads near the top of the book. Perhaps better case life as well.

The 30'06 gives one or more extra rounds in the magazine, generally better feeding, and better ammo availability if you loose yours on a trip.

The extra velocity with the WSM is nice but does not give any real advantage until ranges get out past 400 yards- the same reason the 300 H&H was an advantage over the '06 long ago

If I had only one custom rifle it would be a 30'06.