300 win mag, thoughts?

[casjoker]

Debating between getting another 308 or 7mm-08 (I have one of each currently) or saying the heck with it and going biggy and getting a 300 win mag. Whichever caliber I go with I am leaning towards the Mossberg Patriot, with the walnut stock. Wood stocks are calling my name lately. It would be used mostly for dear and possibly a couple of trips out west in the next few years if I can get my stuff together for an elk hunt, maybe North East Moose hunt.

I know both the 308 and 7mm-08 are capable of handling elk or moose. The 300 would be more of a want than a need. I know it's overkill for deer and a little worried about overkill on my shoulder but one of those calibers that have been rolling around in my want list for a few years.

 

[dgolden]

In my opinion there is no such thing as overkill. Lol
I love my tikka 300 win mag. It's been the go to gun for deer ever since I got it. I was fortunate enough to take an elk with it in 2018 at 420 yards. My buddy shot an elk with his 308 and never recovered it. He ended up shooting another one a few days later, but he was wishing he would have brought something bigger after wounding one. Just my 2 cents!!

 

[Rakkin6]

I have a .300 Win Mag and has long has you make a good shot not a lot of meat damage. I don't eat the lungs or heart, sometimes I give the high shoulder shot also. I say get a .300 and you will never need another gun for North America unless you go for some Kodiak in Alaska. Also for deer go with a heavier bullet minimum 180 grains. Lighter bullets tend to blow up at the speeds the .300 shoots.

 

[JeepKuntry]

Why not go the middle route and get a 28 nosler? Of course you have fewer manufacturer options but it's a quality round.

 

[MUP]

Of those choices, and with the chance to go "out West" potentially, I'd go with the WinMag as well.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Of the choices you have listed....and being you have moose & elk on your bucket list....I'd go with 300 win mag.

 

[younggun308]

I've had the chance to shoot that exact gun at the range one time. It's sweet. For me .300 Win Mag is probably the most recoil I can shoot comfortably.

I echo the point about shooting heavier bullets. It's not the same, but I remember my dad's 7mm Mag with 140 grain soft points was just leaving ridiculous entry and exit wounds on little Southern deer. Felt more appropriate on muleys out West, since bucks weigh in over 200lbs regularly.

But if you can't get 180gr or 200+ grain bullets (and with the long range shooting trends, there ought to be plenty of heavy-for-caliber factory offerings now), another option is to go with a bonded bullet. Federal Fusions aren't *that* much more expensive than the Federal Powershoks/Non-Typicals.

 

[Rackseeker]

Get the .300 Win Mag and load up some 168 Berger VLDs

 

[Chief44]

I love the 7mm-08 but I would probably go with the 300 if I were in your shoes since you already have the other two.

 

[redblood]

Never have too many 7mm08a

 

[casjoker]

Redblood, agree and but mine doesn't hold the tightest group so consideration of another. My 308 is a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade and the stock is too nice to really do much than sit in a blind on a sunny day. So good excuse to get another 308. I think I am going with the 300 win mag this spring. Then add the 308 and 7mm-08 later this year. Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[1 good shot]

Have you ever shot a 300?
My suggestion is try before you buy.
If you're in the west Tennessee area come on by and I'll let you shoot mine. It a browning but it will let you know how you like that caliber

 

[Lost Lake]

If I knew I'd regularly be needing the reach that magnums provide, I'd get the 300WM.

Other than that, I'd go with something that burns less powder.

But, if you just want to scratch an itch, heck go for it.

I hunt deer sometimes with Big Bore rounds and I like em.

 

[casjoker]

Good shoot I appreciate the offer but I am in East, TN. I have shot a 7mag a bunch. In my dad's Ruger all weather it was punishing. No recoil pad and lightweight. In my Remington 700, it was pretty manageable. I know the 300 has a bit more kick than a 7 mag but I am thinking in an 8lbs+ rifle it should be tolerable.

 

[MUP]

Good shoot I appreciate the offer but I am in East, TN. I have shot a 7mag a bunch. In my dad's Ruger all weather it was punishing. No recoil pad and lightweight. In my Remington 700, it was pretty manageable. I know the 300 has a bit more kick than a 7 mag but I am thinking in an 8lbs+ rifle it should be tolerable.

Where bouts on the East side? I could let you shoot one of mine even.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

300 Win Mag all the way.

 

[Claims Rep.]

I owned a 300 WIN MAG just long enough to realize I wanted no part of it. I literally shot it 5 times at the range, and sold it the next week. Massive overkill for deer hunting. I mainly hunt with a 7mm-08, but occasionally will tote one of two 30-06's that I have. To each his own, but there ain't no way I need a cannon like that to deer hunt.

 

[Rakkin6]

The recoil is pretty good but I installed an aftermarket recoil pad on my model 700 and that helped. When I go to the range to zero I wear a shooters pad on my shoulder. But I do the same with my slug guns. I hunt 80% of the time on Fort Campbell which is shotgun only. I think shooting a 3" slug is worse than my .300. After you are zeroed you will only take a few shots a year so it's not that bad with either.

 

[gobblegrunt]

I own both the 300 win mag with the skeleton stock and the 7mm-08. I love both of them. I rarely ever hunt with my 300 in middle Tn.

 

[Gameking]

Another vote for the 300 Win Mag. I own a 300 Wby and a 300 Win Mag. Both were wants for me as well And I love them both for whitetail.

I also own Mossberg Patriots with wood stock in 30-06 and 270 Win. Both are great shooters. Solid built rifles for the price. No complaints with either.

You'll lose a few feet per second from most published 300 Win mag ballistic data because the patriot will have a 24" barrel instead of 26" but you'll still have PLENTY of horsepower for what you want to do.

 

[Deer444]

Debating between getting another 308 or 7mm-08 (I have one of each currently) or saying the heck with it and going biggy and getting a 300 win mag. Whichever caliber I go with I am leaning towards the Mossberg Patriot, with the walnut stock. Wood stocks are calling my name lately. It would be used mostly for dear and possibly a couple of trips out west in the next few years if I can get my stuff together for an elk hunt, maybe North East Moose hunt.

I know both the 308 and 7mm-08 are capable of handling elk or moose. The 300 would be more of a want than a need. I know it's overkill for deer and a little worried about overkill on my shoulder but one of those calibers that have been rolling around in my want list for a few years.

I would go with 7mm its all purpose but I would do the Ruger precision camo cercote tbe price is not much different I have it in 450 bushmaster deadly accurate my buddy has it in 6.5 Creedmoor great rifle

 

[TheLBLman]

Many years ago I had a rifle made specifically that I could use for anything in North America, just get good at shooting that one rifle. It remains my "go to" gun for almost anything and everything. Choices were not as great then as today, but I see no reason to change.
.300 Weatherby gets my vote.

Regardless what you choose, you probably need to load your own cartridges to be assured of future supply, especially in the exact load(s) you want.

 

[medic]

I bought a Tikka T3 lite in 300 WSM this year and love it. Recoil isn't that bad. I haven't shot it much but I can put 3 touching at 200 yds, that is the furthest I have shot it.

 

[Labboy]

That is all I have used for the last 30 or so years. I was born and raised in Indiana. We couldn't hunt with rifles there. So growing up shooting a 12 guage slug gun as a kid out of trees long before a tree stand was even thought of. I was just happy when I would pull the trigger on a deer and be able to remain in the tree. So after I got out of the army I moved to Tennessee in 1989. Shot a friend's .300 and loved em every since. People talked about them kicking and I thought they were crazy if they thought that kicked. I have the scars on my forehead from true kickin guns. I was just a young kid who loved hunting deer so much I just hunted with what we had a cheap mule kickin 12 guage slug gun. Just loved the chance to finally use a rifle at 22 years old for the first time to hunt deer without getting popped in the face by a short slug barrel.

 

[BSK]

If I KNEW I was going elk/moose hunting, probably go with a 300 Mag. However, I love my 7mm-08 and 308. Both are tack-driving death dealers.

I would also recommend taking other's suggestions and try shooting the 300. Ouch. Also, the other day a friend "tried out" his new 300 Mag - with muzzle break - on a doe at 275 yards from a shooting house. Hammered the doe. And he still can't hear out of his left ear!

 

[CBU93]

If I KNEW I was going elk/moose hunting, probably go with a 300 Mag. However, I love my 7mm-08 and 308. Both are tack-driving death dealers.

I would also recommend taking other's suggestions and try shooting the 300. Ouch. Also, the other day a friend "tried out" his new 300 Mag - with muzzle break - on a doe at 275 yards from a shooting house. Hammered the doe. And he still can't hear out of his left ear!

Can definitely attest to no muzzlebrake on a .300!

 

[jemo4570]

30 cal for everything.
300wm for longer range shots like on power lines or west tn bean/corn fields.
308 for everything else.
Definitely do not use a brake on any gun if there is a possibility you might shoot it in a holler! Huh.......
I've had short action 6mm(243) and 7mm bullets stop at off side shoulders and not leave a blood trail. In my experience, they work on broadside, behind the shoulder shots only.
Majority of deer shot by me are 150+ lb on the hoof.

 

[Deer Assassin]

not a fan of 30 cal


7 mag
280 AI
7stw
7wsm
7 saum
7 rum

 

[reloadxx]

I am not a fan of 300 wm. If you don't shoot it Enough and have proper forum it will teach you bad habits quickly.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

My 3-1/2" 870 turkey gun kicks considerably more than my 300 win mag model 700.