Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.8 western vs 300 win mag

Which one and why? Whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn and elk within 450-500 yards. Don’t currently have a 6.8, have other 300s. Going to buy a new rifle in one or the other. Also not giving any concern to factory ammo availability. Thanks!

Which ever floats your boat.

Neither. But how did you arrive in such a choice between only those two?

I’m going to buy a model 70, I already have a 300 but wouldn’t be the same model, and I’ve been interested in the 6.8 for a while, owned a 6.8 XPR for a while and got offered a good profit before I ever hunted with it.

Yes, this is a great question. How did you end up here? 300 Win Mag seems like an oddball with pronghorn in the list.

7mm PRC perhaps would be the better choice. Or even 7mm Remington Magnum. Or 280AI. Or just regular old 280 REM.

I’m willing to bet that a 300 will kill a prairie goat or anything else you might want to shoot with it. Edk

I own 2 of both. I would go 6.8W given the excellent ballistics with significantly less recoil. Both of my 6.8W
(One a rebarrelled / restocked 70 7mm wsm, the other a browing Xbolt SR) are superbly accurate.

Lou

Thank you, I’ve also been thinking about one of those X bolt SR’s.

Between those two, I would pick the 6.8, partly for the novelty, also for the lighter recoil. I’d also secure a good supply of brass because I expect it to fail in the market eventually and having brass keeps that from becoming an issue.

Actually, I would have a lightish fast-twist .270 WCF built so I could use the new pointy bullets if I wanted. 150gr ABs can be driven at least 3000fps with RL26, plenty for the OP’s intended use, but the heavies might come in handy sometime. I have a good .270 now, but it’s pretty heavy for an old fat man to tote very far.

Skip both and go with the 7PRC, that's what I did. High BC bullets beat the WM all day long when distance counts. Don't think the 6.8 W will be available long term once the 7 PRC takes hold. Or, you could simplify life and just get a 7mm RM and forget about it. Good luck!

No problem with pronghorn on the list we have shot dozens with the .300. It kills them dead.

#savethe6.8western!

What is 7PRC recoil compared to 300wm?

Less. If you compare 180 grain bullets it's about 150 fps slower than the 300 and burns less powder to boot.

Get 7mm RM

Buy the model 70 like you are wanting and get the 6.8, if they chamber one in a model 70. If going 300 magnum, I'd go WSM or WBY over win mag any day of the week and twice on sunday. YMMV.

Split it? And go with 7 PRC
I have a 270 win and 300 win.(ruger #1 safe queen)
But If I wanted a dedicated long range hunting rifle, that the route I’d go.
Honestly under 500, I can do it with my 270 or 06. Shot placement is the key

Thanks for all the reply’s so far!

I should say this, I have at least 1 or more rifles in 223, 243, 257 Roberts, 257 weatherby, 6.5 creedmoor, 264 win mag, 270 win, 280 rem, 280ai, 7mm rem mag, 30-30, 308, 30-06 and 300 win mag. All around favorite cartridge for the type of hunting I do most is 257 Roberts. I have no need for another rifle in either cartridge, but who cares about need when you get in the mood for a new rifle? I was just wondering how some of y’all might lean between the 2.

6.8 was dead before it was introduced..

Nothing wrong with 6.8 but a 300 wm is a lot more flexible and you can get ammo in bumfook ND.