Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles I could use opinions, 30-06 vs 350 Rem Mag

I like both calibers, but the 350 Remington Mag is a great caliber, to work with. I have owned a Remington 700 Classic for several years. I have always handloaded for it. I think it makes a fine rifle in the Classic model with the 22 inch barrel. And IMHO, is the full equal to the 35 Whelan in a shorter action, and I personally consider it eaiser to handload for. I like it better because it's more positive to headspace for, and even if it was short, I have that belt to headspace on, although I always headspace on the shoulder.

You can load everthing from 357 pistol bullets for it, up 250gr stompers. I like the economical Speer 180gr psp. and I like the 200gr sierra roundnose. Both bullets hit deer hard, I have always loved the way it smacks game when it hits.

Why not? Seriously, not trying to start any wars here but I would like to here why it doesn't? If a 35 Whelen does or a 30-06 does then why doesn't a 350 Rem Mag?

The .350 Rem Mag was designed to give .35 Whelen performance in a light weight compact carbine. If you're going to carry the weight of a full sized rifle (Model 700 or M77)there are many better cartridges to choose from. Just my 2 cents.

Even the .30-06 (with heavy bullets) is just as good if not better.

So the 06 is better in a full size rifle than the 350? Ok? So if you take that '06 case and neck it up to 35 caliber you have a Whelen which has about the same case capacity as a 350. So the '06 with heavy bullets is better out of rifle than a 35 Whelen is?

For all most all hunting situations, yes the .30-06 is a better cartridge than the .35 Whelen.

In the field (and on paper)there is little if any detectable difference. Both will harvest anything in North America.

The point being is that if you are going to carry the extra weight of a full size rifle, buy a long action rifle. Then you're not so limited in the real big game cartridges you can choose from. The .350 Rem Mag. is a great niche cartridge for short, light weight, compact carbines that ride in float planes in places like Alaska.

Swampman:

I don't understand your position relitive to the potential of the two cartriges. The 350rm will load the 180grn to +/- 3000fps; the 200grn +/- 3000fps; the 225grn to +/- 2700fps. This isn't to say that the 06 is in any way an inferior cartrige. Far from it. But to say the 06 with heavier bullets is its equal,is IMHO, not correct.

The .30-06 can push a 220 grain bullet 2700 fps. That's close enough that no animal will know the difference.

The .30-06 can get 2938 fps from a 24-inch barrel rifle with the 180.

According to my Hornady reloading manual your .350 Rem. Mag. numbers are very optimistic.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/350_Rem_Mag.htm

Those loads sound too hot to me. But OK. We don't agree and that is a good thing. Life would be boring if we all did.

Sorry boys, your right I should have given attribution with my comment. All the MAX loads listed in my prior comments are listed in either Lee Reloading, 2nd Edition, Speer Reloading #13 or in the One Caliber One book for 35 Remington and 350 Remington Magnum. I'm certain only because that is my reloading library and I have been looking up possible loads for my 350 when it arrives.

Also plese understand that I used the word "potential" I did not nor do I now recommend that anyone use the maximum load for any caliber for any rifle, but the loads exist and the loads available for the 06 do not cover bullets of this weight at the velocities listed. I didn't make this up.

If you want a real eye opener compare the 200grn and 250grn Max loads with the same weight bullets for the 300 win mag against the 350 rem mag. I was surprised.

I'm sure the guys that have been shooting the 350 are just smiiling because they know the potential of their guns and have seen the results.

Enjoy your guns today, tomorrow is promised to no one.

The main advantage of the 30-06 is that ammo can be found almost anywhere that ammo is sold, espacally that outback country store. They won't have 35 Whelen or 350 Rem. Mag, usually. But those big medium 35's have a big frontal area, and In my experience I believe that game (at least at medium and short ranges) gets hit harder, and goes down quicker. I will throw the .348 Winchester in there too.

At anyrate, this debate will never get settled, I own and hunt with .308wins, 30-06's, 350Rem mag, and the 348 win, as well as the 45/70 and even the 450 Alaskan in an original model 71.

Which gun gets used the Most by me? For me it's the little .308 Win, mostly because it's chambered in an older steel framed BLR. I like the rifle better for general use, so I accept the caliber it's chambered in. And In reality, I can't recall a single time that I though it handicapped me, as opposed to using one of the other rounds.

If you have the money and time to play with several guns, and you have opportunity to hunt some of the bigger game, then by all means, have at it. If you're just hunting deer, and you only what to buy one rifle or two, then get a .30-06, .308, .270, etc in a rifle you really like and you're good to go.

Lastmohecken,

I couldn't agree more if you include a 35 Cal in the mix. LOL.


Enjoy your guns today,Tomorrow is promised to no one.

All these 350 RM threads lately are making me want one...

Are there any others besides the M7 and Ruger Mark 2 being chambered in the 350?

Those short fat bastids loaded with a RN just look like they'd put a hurtin on something. At any rate, my next rifle is going to be something new to me... The other one I was considereing was a T3 Lite stainless in 25-06

This is the only one that makes sense.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_673.asp

That 673 might, might have had a chance, were it not for the ribbed barrel. Even still, I wish I'd have bought the .243 model that I found, if only for collector purposes.

Hawkeye02,
I was referring to the 30-06 loads Swampman recited.

A great example that Remington pumps out some ugly models...

I shot the 350 Rem a little, but it didn't impress me much..The 30-06 is by far my favorite choice of the two...

If I wanted a 35 caliber, which I don't, I would opt for the 35/338 or the 350 Norma magnum. Now that is a hammer...

LoneEagle,

Not a problem. I was responding to Swampmans comment that the loads I mentioned were "Optomistic". He is a Rem/06 guy that likes to stir the pot just for entertainment but it's important for folks to know where stipulated performance comes from. Thats why I responded.
I didn't want to get into a P***ing match about which caliber can kill the most dead. It's all personal preference. 35 guys are odd ducks at best when viewed by 270 and 30 cal guys. I plead guilty.
Still it's interesting and fun to see the pot getting stirred.

Enjoy your guns now, tomorrow is promised to no one.

Remington 673 is a French word that translates to "Butt Ugly Brown Star Award"

I did some digging last night after I got off the 'Fire. Seems that the stainless All Weather Rugers have been discontinued. And I didn't see a stainless Mod 7 offered?

The M77 MK II's have been discontinued.... Thats why I made sure I got one in June:) Still unfired but I did pickup some brass and a 1x4x20 VX II for it. I just have not made up my mind if I will keep it or find a M77 in 35 whelen like I wanted to begin with.

Jake