Author Topic: 7mm-08, 7mm mag, .308, .300 win mag, .300 WSM? Help please (Read 473 times)

BlackWolf · « **on:** January 30, 2006, 02:22:27 PM »

Ok let me start by saying that I think I've done my share of research before posting. I'd just like some additional opinions.

As a background, I live and hunt in Pennslyvania. So far my hunting with rifles has consisted only of deer and black bear. I would really like to add elk and moose to this list someday also. I own a .270 currently and recently got the itch to buy a new gun..... I've looked at the 7mm-08, .308, 7mm rem mag, and on my last trip to the gun shop I held 2 beautiful Weatherby Vanguards - one chambered in .300 win mag and the other in .300 WSM. I'm seriously interested in the 300's all of the sudden and the WSM appeals to me for some reason. Recoil is a consideration but from what I've read the combination of a Limbsaver recoil pad and a PAST recoil shield will make the sessions at the range bearable. Can anyone tell me a little bit more from personal experiences with these 2 .300's, and also how much of a letoff in the listed recoil (I usually refer to the recoil postings on chuckhawks site) I can expect with the above mentioned items. Can anyone make a reccomendation in any of these calibers and also a rifle maker and model to match it. Thanks - oh and my fiance would like me to keep the cost at or around 1k with a nice scope included in that. Thanks in advance for your help!

Buckfever · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2006, 02:31:26 PM »

300wsm for bigger stuff. 7mm Mag all alround choice. A lot of canadians shoot a 7 mm Mag. 7mm mags currently seem to be able to be bought for reasonable amounts especially used. Just one opinion.

Buckfever

killdeer · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2006, 05:50:18 PM »

Blackwolf,
If you are serious about elk and moose someday, you might take a look at the 2004 Remington Classic.
It is chambered in 8mm Mauser. You can find them new in the box for under $450 online. This would give you a larger diameter bullet and keep recoil very pleasant.
I happen to own and shoot a 300 mag and can't believe that a faster 30 cal is any deadlier than a slower one. A larger diameter hole just makes more sense to me on bigger game.

KD

Slamfire · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2006, 06:49:34 PM »

Forget the magnums, and concentrate on the x08s, plenty of rifle there for the game you've mentioned. :wink:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2006, 01:42:38 AM »

Moose and Elk, jump up to the 300 Win Mag. Always carry enough gun. It will have the energy if a long shot is required.

Zachary · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2006, 04:19:44 AM »

There is indeed a huge jump from deer to elk/moose. For deer, a 7mm-08 is about perfect. For black bear, a .308 is great. For Elk/moose, a .300 Win Mag/.300WSM is great.

You have to balance out what game you will be hunting most with regards to the gun you will in turn hunt most. If you hunt deer 90% of the time, then it doesn't make much sense to use a .300WSM. If you hunt elk 90% of the time, then it doesn't make sense to use a 7mm-08.

There is really no such thing as being overgunned (with the exception of extremes such as a .375H&H etc on deer

). Rather, it becomes a question of being OVER-RECOILED. If you can't handle the recoil of a .300WSM, then, elk, moose, or whatever - don't use it.

Zachary

Squeeze · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2006, 05:07:38 AM »

I use .308 Win, and .25-06 Rem, for northern Whitetails, in Wisconsin,
and have a 300 WSM, for Elk, and Moose. Given Barnes TSX bullets,
I chose the 300 WSM, over the 300 Win Mag, just because I don't
like the fact that the 300 WM headspaced off the belt, rather than
the shoulder, of the case. But that is just me. My 300 WSM let's
me know it has just launched a 165 gr. Barnes bullet, but it is not
unmanageable recoil. If it becomes an issue, I can put on a Limbsaver,
but as of now, I only notice the recoil, on the bench, and usually
about the second or third group, I am thinking it might be time
to shoot the small bores. I personally would buy the 300 WSM,
over the 300 WM, but if one wanted to shoot bullets over 180 gr.
then the 300 WM, would probably be a better choice. Since I
shoot Barnes TSX bullets, for deep penetration, the most I
would ever shoot for elk, and moose, would be the Barnes 180 gr.
TSXs, and I get excellent accuracy, and velocity, with these
bullets.

With all of this said, I will say that I have been lusting for a
338 RUM, for moose, and maybe brown bear. My friend has
a 300 WM, and I really want to one up him, on a future elk
hunt :-D And I keep telling myself that it is for Moose, and big
bears :roll: Now that will be a test for my recoil tolerance :eek:

But for your question of the 300 WM, versus the 300 WSM,
I find the 300 WSM, a little softer on recoil, a bit easier
to find accurate loads for, and easy to load down for deer
hunting, if I just want more hunting time with that rifle.
The 300 WM, does have a better factory ammo selection,
will have more velocity with heavy bullets, due to it's
larger powder capacity, and given it's "old standard"
status, will have better ammo availability, off the beaten
path.

Squeeze