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"?

Good post. I'm a long time 30-06 user/fan (since I was 12), so I can relate. However, I'm finding myself using the 300 wsm more and more. It has made a huge impression on me as well..

Shooting equal bullets in the 30-06 and the 300 win even on elk I have never been able to detect a difference in killing ability. I have owned and used both for nearly 30 years and the older I get the more I like the 30-06 over the various 300's for normal hunting.

My 30-06 is lighter than my 300's and holds more rounds in the magazine.

I have not hunted with either round, but I have reloaded for them. Both produced good groups with very little testing.

I was really impressed with the wsm, however. I helped my friend with a load for his Savage. I took Nolser's data and dropped to one grain under max with 7828 ssc and a 200-grain Partition using their COAL. The rifle shot them into 3/4 inch the first time out and shot great to 800 yards. Doesn't get any easier than that.

I do not own a 30-06 anymore.Anyone who thinks the 300WSM cannot push them with the BigBoys has not tried Reloader 17.I use a 308 as my intermediate range cartridge and 30/30 here in Wi.

The 300 is a good hunting round, but if given the choice i will take the 06 any day over the 300 WSM for my hunting

30-06 on top.

I always have at least a couple of .300 magnums around, and always have a .30-06 or two as well. Right now have a .300 WSM and a .300 Winchester Magnum. But anymore I mostly use the .300's to break scopes during tests, and hunt with the .30-06.

Anybody who thinks a .300 WSM gets .300 Winchester velocities while kicking like a .30-06 hasn't fired many .30-06's, and evidently swallowed the advertising BS about the .300 WSM when it came out.

"Anybody who thinks a .300 WSM gets .300 Winchester velocities while kicking like a .30-06 hasn't fired many .30-06's, and evidently swallowed the advertising BS about the .300 WSM when it came out."

Amen!

The 300 WSM is a short, fat 300 H&H and gives about the same velocities with any bullet I have tried.With at least one powder and bullet,the charges were identical in both and velocities were within 25 fps of one another.

Either one will give more velocity than the 30/06 with the same bullet.For example it takes a solid load to give 2900 fps with a 165 in the 30/06(some will do a bit better),and either the WSM or the H&H will do over 3100 fps pretty easily. I notice some guys heat up the WSM more than that, but I have found the WSM very accurate at those velocities.

If the extra velocity means a lot to anyone they should get the WSM. I worked up a mild, moderate recoiling load in the WSM using RL15 and the 165 gr bullet that easily hit 30/06 velocities without breaking a sweat,and accuracy was excellent.

I have owned and shot both a Montana in 300 WSM as well as the wood stocked version.Either one gins up a lot of recoil,and I found the slightly heavier Winchester EW a nicer shooting rifle.If I wanted a 300 WSM that's the rifle I would buy again.

I don't have any 300 magnums any more but I do have a 30/06.

That's sorta sums it up...

DF

I like the luxury of stepping into a big box store, picking up 40rds for under 40 bucks and heading to the range. 30-06 for me. If I did more reloading, that might change but probably not.

Are you familiar with the experiment Charlie Sisk performed with those two cartridges using the same barrel?

mathman: Vaguely(?) but I do not remember much. I do know others have seen about the same things.

The results I posted above were with a M70 FW 300 WSM,and a pre 64 M70 300 H&H. The load with the 165 Nolser partition was 72 gr RL22 in both cases for 3125 in the WSM and 3150 in the 300 H&H.

He chambered the very same barrel to both rounds, and did the H&H first so on the rechamber to WSM the barrel ahead of the case mouth would remain unchanged. The cartridges performed extremely close to one another.

Side benefit: H&H shooters now have a source of data for newer powders.

And I love it. I revived a Sako FN barreled action in 300 H&H. New Mcwoody , jkob did the side swing safety and timney trigger. Charlie Santoni did the cerakote and I mounted a 3x18 Swaro Z5 in S&K rings and mounts. Shot it for the first time yesterday and the 190 Accubond LR's show some promise.

Photos?

DF

Having trouble posting because of photo size I guess. Downsized a few and images went to hell. Can send to someone to post.

Not that I've been able to tell, both kill quickly. The WSM is prone to accuracy like a 308 Win. but shoots flat like a .270 or 7RM.

In recoil it feels like equal stair steps from 300 Savage, 308 Win., 30-06, 300 WSM and the slightly over my threshold of fun the 300 Win mag.

My 300 WSM has a cushy LimbSaver brand recoil pad and it works real good!

Most people probably don't need a WSM unless they catch themselves trying to push their lesser calibers for a little more velocity, if that is you I would make the move up, they are nice.

Sidepass' rifle.

The 300 wsm is more powerfull and more accurate than the 06, that makes it the hands down winner, period.

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.