which rifle would you choose?

[Black Plague]

my little Brother wants a 300 but cant decide on the 300 Win. mag or 300 ultra mag.
what does everyone think ?...I told him not to get the ultra mag...just cuz it costs more, and costs a lot more to shoot it...factory loads are up near 50 bucks a box...and I dont know what the options are like for reloading...but I know a lot of people with .300's and they love'm...

[huntnphool]

M-Ray shoots the .300 win mag and seems to like it, you might send him a PM

[Intruder]

Unless he really wants to get into reloading and develop a gun to shoot 600+ yards the Win mag probably makes more sense.  Under 500 yards there's some difference but not a ton.  The WSM is also an option.  Hard to argue w/ the success of the ol' venerable 300 Win Mag though.

[jjhunter]

Here is a $4000 300 Win mag for long range hunting.  I could have chambered it in any .30 cal cartridge made.  Go with the Win Mag and learn how to shoot it.

[Gobble]

I'd go with the win mag. (cheaper ammo) you could always go with the .30-06 and shoot the Federal Premium High Energy rounds, they have identical balistics as the win mag and you can shoot 10.00 a box cheap 30-06 ammo for plinking, just a thought

[Gutpile]

300 win

[SagebrushStalker]

Go with the win mag.   I love mine, probably my favorite all around hunting caliber.

[270Shooter]

I'd say win mag. Most people will need a brake for a .300 RUM

[M_ray]

Hell I have a brake on my 300 win mag and it shoots like a 22! well ok more like a 30 o6 but you get the point

[M_ray]

There you go!

[jeff100]

+ Win mag.

[Sagedawg]

 300 win mag. The wsm are great for what they are, but I have a hard time beliving they will be around for a long time. I like alot of the 30 cal mags, but for ease of purchase, abit lower cost, and some really good loads available to the reloader. So my vote goes to the 300 win mag or a Lazz warbird.........



Sage

[Tony 270WSM]

Why is he set on a 300mag? What is he hunting and at what distances?

But I'd go with a 300WSM first, 300 Win second, 300 Ultra third.

[300UltraMagShooter]

300 ultra mag is superior to the guns mentioned.  As long as you reload, I would go with the ultra mag.

[Intruder]

300 ultra mag is superior to the guns mentioned.  As long as you reload, I would go with the ultra mag.

It may be semantics but I'm not sure you can say the RUM is "superior" to the other 2 cartridges.  Is it capable of shooting the same bullet faster.... you bet.  However, under 500 yards the difference between the 3 isn't that significant.  If you want to shoot out to 600+ then the RUM offers a guy who reloads an advantage.

[300UltraMagShooter]

Thanks for agreeing with me...    Whenever there is a new bullet that is bigger than anything else in the same caliber, you end up with a superior bullet (for the most part).  This gun can do anything the other guns can do and more.  The only reason being that it is bigger and can be loaded to the 300 wm levels just as the 300 wm can be loaded to smaller power levels.  It is the same old arguement with the same old answers.   


***********************
300 ultra mag is superior to the guns mentioned.  As long as you reload, I would go with the ultra mag.


It may be semantics but I'm not sure you can say the RUM is "superior" to the other 2 cartridges.  Is it capable of shooting the same bullet faster.... you bet.  However, under 500 yards the difference between the 3 isn't that significant.  If you want to shoot out to 600+ then the RUM offers a guy who reloads an advantage.

[M_ray]

If you want to shoot out to 600+ then the RUM offers a guy who reloads an advantage.

I don't reload nor do i take 600 yard shots either all of my kills are under 200 yards so far with my 300 and I know what you guys are going to say "then why do you have a 300?" well cause it's the only modern rifle I own! I won it at a RMEF banquet for 10 bucks! But regardless I'm not here to say one is superior to another I'll leave that to you experts as I don't have enough experience with modern equipment to even begin to know the differences but I'm just going to say I like mine and if you set it up with a brake it does make it a little loud but shoots like an o6. I have known some people in the past that got rid of 300 because of the kick. Especially the ones like mine with a synthetic stock because my gun only weighs 6 pounds!

[300UltraMagShooter]

I don't even understand what people are talking about with the kick.  Mine has an SPS stock and a sims recoil pad.  I was shooting mine along with my cousines 30-06 and I could barely tell a difference.  If anyone is worried about kick, then they should probably stick with a 243.  Whether it is a big kick or a slightly bigger kick, a kick is still just a kick.  It is not like it hurts or anything.   

[M_ray]

I never said it hurt I said I know of people who got rid of theirs because of the kick, recoil or what ever you want to call it. You are obviously much tougher than most and your gun is dialed. I have shot several 300's and they all had different vairances in the amout of recoil and now if you shoot mine without the pad, sims barrel resinator and the brake and I'll tell you at 6 pounds of overall wieght even you will notice a difference! And so some just don't like it and choose another weapon, Now tmikes without the muzzlebrake didn't seem as bad as mine cause his overall wieght of his gun is closer to 9 pounds and that helps ... it also helps if you reload (which I don't) cause you may have your bullets measured properly to your action & seated much closer to the end of your brass than factory loads and that also reduces recoil. So every 300 is not created equal nor is each man I'm sure there is a 300 out there that even you wouldn't like.

[Curly]

my little Brother wants a 300 but cant decide on the 300 Win. mag or 300 ultra mag.
what does everyone think ?...I told him not to get the ultra mag...just cuz it costs more, and costs a lot more to shoot it...factory loads are up near 50 bucks a box...and I dont know what the options are like for reloading...but I know a lot of people with .300's and they love'm...

I think you gave your brother very good advice.  300WM can take any game in N America w/ the right bullets.  IMO the Ultra Mag is not necessary..............of course the 300WM is not really necessary over the 30-06 either .

[bucklucky]

Holy Cow! Here we go again  Mines better than yours , no mines better than yours. Mines bigger so it better, mine burns more powder so it more superior than yours, my gun can  shoot 600 yards better than yours cause its bigger.

   Just remember, the gun is only as good as the shooter. 

   Just get what is comfortable to you. My wife just bought a 300 WSM, she likes the short action, plus the gun fit her really well. As far as balistics, most guns are so close does it really matter anymore. I shoot a 300 mag, and hand load. I wont say its the best gubn ever made. Its accurate, and shoots well. I dont like the 26 inch barrel on my 300, I think I will buy a 300 wsm with a 22 inch barrel for packing around the brush. I like my 300 mag for canyons and such, of course all the bucks I kill seem to be 30 yards or less, might as well be hunting with the ol' pre 64 model 94 30-30. 

Just get what feels good to you and not what the popular thing is.

[tlbradford]

If you shoot any magnum cartridge from a bench, it starts to hurt.  When I first shot my .338 winmag I was fine checking my first (3) 5-shot groups when testing what factory ammo it preferred.  By round 17 I was starting to flinch and had to take a break.  I have never noticed recoil in a hunting situation. 

M-Ray I'll give you $100 for your gun.  Just think that is a 10x what you paid for it.  What a great return on your investment.  Can't make that in the stock market these days. 

[Intruder]

Holy Cow! Here we go again  Mines better than yours , no mines better than yours. Mines bigger so it better, mine burns more powder so it more superior than yours, my gun can  shoot 600 yards better than yours cause its bigger.

   Just remember, the gun is only as good as the shooter. 

   Just get what is comfortable to you. My wife just bought a 300 WSM, she likes the short action, plus the gun fit her really well. As far as balistics, most guns are so close does it really matter anymore. I shoot a 300 mag, and hand load. I wont say its the best gubn ever made. Its accurate, and shoots well. I dont like the 26 inch barrel on my 300, I think I will buy a 300 wsm with a 22 inch barrel for packing around the brush. I like my 300 mag for canyons and such, of course all the bucks I kill seem to be 30 yards or less, might as well be hunting with the ol' pre 64 model 94 30-30. 

Just get what feels good to you and not what the popular thing is.

Well said.  You can't look at 1 factor and judge a cal superior/inferior.  You have to look at the whole as well as how you plan to use it.  For the vast majority of folks out there Curly's advice regarding the 30-06 is spot on.  Hard to beat that baby. 

One note caution... on 1 of the prior posts there was mention of loading a magnum down.  You need to be very careful doing this... it can cause extreme pressures in mags if you don't load up near their min capacities. 

[M_ray]

M-Ray I'll give you $100 for your gun.  Just think that is a 10x what you paid for it.  What a great return on your investment.  Can't make that in the stock market these days. 

I'll pass!  but I'll add that the week after I won the gun I went to the muckleshoot casino (yeah I know??? but my old man loved to gamble when he was alive and I loved to spend time with him  )
anyway I spent 20 bucks on keno and won 350 so I equipt my new 300 with a leupold scope for 20 bucks! the whole set up in one week for 30 bucks! cant beat that hell
I spent more on the brake ($70) and the strap ($24) than the gun and the scope!

[bucklucky]

M-Ray I'll give you $100 for your gun.  Just think that is a 10x what you paid for it.  What a great return on your investment.  Can't make that in the stock market these days. 

I'll pass!  but I'll add that the week after I won the gun I went to the muckleshoot casino (yeah I know??? but my old man loved to gamble when he was alive and I loved to spend time with him  )
anyway I spent 20 bucks on keno and won 350 so I equipt my new 300 with a leupold scope for 20 bucks! the whole set up in one week for 30 bucks! cant beat that hell
I spent more on the brake ($70) and the strap ($24) than the gun and the scope!

You lucky SOB! 

[M_ray]

 

I know  it was a good week! I won't tell you about how 1 month later I won another $1499 from them on an off track bet from Yakima medows!!!  I think I am getting the mucks back a little bit at least! 

Sorry I know we got off the topic a bit!!!! 

[EastWaViking]

in choosing a riffle, I look for most any that will hold good numbers of fish.   

[Intruder]

in choosing a riffle, I look for most any that will hold good numbers of fish.   

   awesome.... it only took 3 pages before someone caught it.  we hunters are a perceptive lot.

[270Shooter]

I think now with the good bullets that we have avalible almost any cartridge is as good as the other. I'd say get a .270 or a 30-06 any spend the mony on good bullets.

On the other hand the only reason I can see to get a .300RUM is if you hand load you could load some reduced loads, or if you like to take some very long shots like 600+ yards . But anything over 350 is pretty long to me

[Craig]

I have a .300 ultra mag and it's great. I don't reload so it is expensive to shoot.

[tlbradford]

Geez Mark.  I am writing you a hundred dollar check right now.  Please go gambling for me.  I need an AR, or a .17hmr.  I can't decide.  Just win enough for me so I can afford both and you can keep the rest. 

[BlackTail]

My first response was going to be a .300 win mag, but in thinking about it the .300 RUM now has the three power levels of ammunition.  Level 1 is supposed to be the equivalent of a .30-06, level 2 a .300 win mag and level 3 the .300 RUM.  I have no experience with the power level ammo, but those are three pretty sweet calibers to have in one gun!

[Curly]

I won't say that it is impossible to find accurate loads in three "power levels" of ammunition, but I think it would be very unlikely that a certain rifle would shoot accurately in 3 different levels.  My rifles generally seem to shoot the best groups just under max load.

If a guy "needs" an ultra mag why not just get a 338 Ultra instead of the little 300UM ?

[BlackTail]

I won't say that it is impossible to find accurate loads in three "power levels" of ammunition, but I think it would be very unlikely that a certain rifle would shoot accurately in 3 different levels.  My rifles generally seem to shoot the best groups just under max load.

If a guy "needs" an ultra mag why not just get a 338 Ultra instead of the little 300UM ?

I have a 7mm RUM and I've shot the 150 scirrocos (at 3325 fps) up to the 175 grain A frames (at 3025fps) and the 160 gr partitions ( at about 3150 fps) and my gun shoots all of them fantastic.  In looking at Remingtons site the difference between power level 1 and power level 3 is only about 300 fps so I doubt your going to go from a tack driver to not being able to hit the page. 

[300UltraMagShooter]

I am getting sub MOA groups with power level I ammo.

I am using the 300 um instead of the 338 because I wanted a 30 caliber bullet; however, I believe the question was requarding 30 calibers.    

338 ultra is awesome though...

I won't say that it is impossible to find accurate loads in three "power levels" of ammunition, but I think it would be very unlikely that a certain rifle would shoot accurately in 3 different levels.  My rifles generally seem to shoot the best groups just under max load.

If a guy "needs" an ultra mag why not just get a 338 Ultra instead of the little 300UM ?

[Curly]

300UltraMagShooter, yeah the question was about 30 cals.......I just had to add my 2 cents.  I have two 300WM rifles so I am partial to the 300Win; also, I have always thought that if I ever decided that I need more rifle than the 300WM, then I would likely get a 338Ultra.

[hunterofelk]

Try the Vanguard in 300 Weatherby.  I won one and a scope at a RMEF banquet for ten dollars, like M Ray, shoots great!  Worked up a load to take a Muley at 300 yards and ended up shooting one under a hundred.  Kicks like a mule!  Like the gun a lot. 

[M_ray]

Geez Mark.  I am writing you a hundred dollar check right now.  Please go gambling for me.  I need an AR, or a .17hmr.  I can't decide.  Just win enough for me so I can afford both and you can keep the rest. 

  Looks like you'll have to make two checks ... one for me and one for hunterofelk! 

[MountainWalk]

Of the two, I'd take the old Win Mag. But I'd personally take the old 30-06.  The Win mag is only a couple fps faster than the old Springfield. Which means very little to any critter out there. If you ask me, out to 300 yards, there is little difference between the 308,30-06, and any 300 mags. As for the 338 ultra, it may look impressive on paper, but it offers little over the old 338 Win mag. But a couple hundred fps is enough to dazzle most people. Something  like all thats gold doesnt always glitter comes to mind.

[7mag.]

Try and remember, Jack O'conner took more trophy North American big game than most of us will ever dream about, and he did it all with a .270. Bullet placement and hunting skills, not bullet diameter and feet per second, puts meat on the table. Just a thought.

[MountainWalk]

Actually, Jack o Conner, who made the 270 so famous, did more hunting with the 30-06 then most people realize.

[7mag.]

My bad, everything I've heard about him, mentions his favorite .270. Thanks for the correction.

[MountainWalk]

Yeah, he loved his beloved 270, but after reading some of his old letters and ancient mag articles, I found that he also used the 30-06 tons, and also the 7x57 mauser..... As fine as a writer he was, I do not concur with him on lots of gun related things.