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Any of those listed rifles in the budget friendly yet highly accurate category?? New to the channel and hunting world. Looking for a .300 WM and I appreciate your help in advance! Keep up the good work!
STOP WITH THE .300 RECOIL, MOST RIFLES HAVE A BREAK ON THEM AND IT DOESNT KICK BUT LIKE A .243! AND THAT'S OFF A BIPOD NOT SOME LEAD SLED EITHER!!!! STOP EXAGGERATING CLOWN
Shoulder pain lol my 8 year old shoots my Christensen. 300 off a bipod it doesnt kick at all this guy is such a pssy! Yea it has a muzzlebreak look at videos it kicks like a .243!
@@chrismoreau6425 Recoil tolerance is subjective, my 300 with 200 brain projectiles, I thought was a little "up there" that didn't come out right, but 250's out of a light 338 educated me otherwise.
My first centerfire rifle was a .270 Win and I still have it (and love it). Living in north central British Columbia, I wanted something with more oomph for grizzlies and for hunting in the mountains where long range shots are a fact of life. 35 years ago I got a .300 Win Mag made by Krico. It's a genuine tack driver. The recoil is stout but manageable. It loves good old Hornady 180 gr. flat base InterLocks. It's my go to moose and mountain rifle. I have absolutely no desire or need of any other 30 calibre magnum. Reloading is easy. IMR 4831 works great. Yes, there's lots of newer powders but when you're getting half minute groups at 200 yards, why try 'fixing' it?
Kriko made excellent rifles back then, I have one in .243 Win & it’s a highly accurate and beautiful little rifle, the build quality far exceeds any of the current mass production offerings.
@@torreyintahoe Ummm...half minute shooting sounds good to me. You have to be a good shot to consistently do that. Any one can get lucky once in a while but consistent half minute is excellent.
I have a 300 win mag in the Weatherby vanguard rifle. I had Weatherby put an Accu brake on it for me to reduce the recoil. I now have 300 win mag power with the recoil of a 243 caliber rifle. Fantastic can’t beat it.
I'm a fan of the 300WM. I own 3 and have owned at lest 3 others in the past. Very accurate. I hand load, so I can turn it in to a 30-30, 308 and a 30-06. Four guns in one. Recoil is stout. I have a Remington stainless that came with a factory muzzle break and it recoils less than a 308. It truly is a pleasure to shoot. Thanks for expounding on the 300 WM! Currently I'm setting up a Browning BLR take down as go anywhere gun. I'm getting it threaded for a break because the straight stock will kick you very hard. Thanks
Everyone keeps saying that the 300 wsm has the same ballistics as the 300 wm, its just not true. The 300 wm has a 90-100fps advantage over the wsm and it can run much heavier bullets. You can run a 220 gr 300 wm at the same velocity as a 200 gr bullet in a 300 wsm. Saying they are the same is like saying the 30-06 is the same as the 300 wsm. The 300 wm may be slightly less efficient, but just barely. The 300 wsm is a fine cartridge and if I didn't already have 4 magnum rifles, I would buy one. If it was the same as the 300 wm, the 300 wm would fall off the map.
My first gun was a savage 111 trophy in .300WM.. Damn thing kicked my ass at first. Now I’ve bedded the action to a Boyd’s stock and put a custom 27” barrel and brake on. Chrono showing 3,000FPS with a 212gr .30cal is seriously impressive energy
I purchased a 300 win mag in 1970, Remington BDL and box of factory amo. Reloaded for it since then with 180 grain Speer grand slam bullets. Killed 44 elk, a few deer , bear and is very accurate at short and long ranges. Still use it today. Also have a 270 which is great but not as good over 300 yard on elk.
The Winchester Model 70 should be on the list, it is the original rifle the calibre was released for. Either a Featherweight or a Supergrade, both are timeless classics.
If you tried the Tikka T3X Lite Veil, you yould see it is perfect for the 300 Win Mag (my favorite cartridge). Its stock is a bit heavier, the barrel profile (D18, I think) is heavier, and the barrel is factory threaded and comes with a muzzle break. The barrel does not heat up after 3 shots like the regular Tikka Lites. This thing is a joy to shoot and the recoil is not bad. Mine is ridiculously accurate. They now come in 300 win mag with a 1-10 barrel twist. However, my favorite bullet is the terminal ascent 200 grain. This bullet has a plastic tip, which makes the effective bullet length shorter. Most stability calculators do not take the plastic tip into account. Also, the terminal ascent has a hollow region below the tip, further reducing the effective bullet length. My Tikka 300WM has a 1-11 twist; It shoots the Terminal Ascent 200 grain factory loads (yes, I have spent thousands of dollars on them; enough to buy several more Tikkas) to better than a .5 MOA group out to 650 yards (the furthest I have shot, so far). I live in Idaho, so I seldom, if ever, shoot at less than 2200 feet elevation. Here is a link to a stability calculator that takes into account the plastic tip. For the Terminal Ascent 200 grain, the tip is 0.25 inches. www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi
I'd have to add the Winchester Model 70 Alaskan to the list. It's a great looking rifle with it's wood stock and iron sights. Plus the control round feed is awesome too.
@@kurtclark8560my dad has the model 70 300 Weatherby Magnum and I shot 4-5 rounds to sight in his optic and I had green/yellow bruising on my shoulder. It’s not fun to shoot at all lol. I wanted to stop after the second shot. If you’re shooting at an animal you don’t notice it as much but for target shooting it’s horrible. I’m sure in a different rifle the 300 mags are more pleasant.
I have a 300wm browning 26" barrel factory ported and carbon fiber stock. It's 1 of the first rifles browning made with those stocks. It's a tack driver and don't kick at all , for as light as it is. I'm 60yrs old and love that rifle.
I've told this story a couple of times before but not sure if I told it on this channel. When I was in highschool I worked at a small local gun shop. I basically grew up in this shop. Anyway.. my job throughout highschool was to load my pickup up with every used rifle we had come in on trade, mount one of our entry level scopes(sightron at the time) on it sight it in and put it back on the shelf with a target group cutout for sale as a "ready to go" rifle. I did this with every caliber imaginable. 17 all the way up to some 416 calibers. Anyway I'll get to the point... There was a used Kimber featherweight in 300 win mag that came in that looked like someone had dragged behind a pickup with a chain...rust scrapes, scratches, cracks. It shot lights out though. So it was priced to sell. We ended up selling and rebuying the rifle THREE times in as many weeks and the complaint was always the same. "Sob kicks like a mule!!, "I didn't expect that kind of recoil!!" Each time we refitted the shooter with either a 30-06 or 270 and they were happy as could be. Of course it didn't help that it was a featherweight. As near as we could tell it was a Kimber custom shop rifle that someone just horribly abused. I just always got a kick out of that story. It's one of my favorites from that old gun shop.
My first center fire rifle was/is a Weatherby Vanguard in 7MM Remington Mag, been handloading for it since 2001And that belt on the brass does require some extra steps in the reloading process. It has less recoil than the 30-06 and shoots flatter with higher BC’s Bullets. What’s not to love .
Thank you so much for explaining the round’s characteristics. I bought a NEMO 300 WIN MAG years ago and just bought the scope for it. I am about to start loading my own ammo for it and this information is very useful. I reside in California, so I enjoy shooting long range targets.
11:08 the belt is just a holdover from the 375H&H which did need a belt to headspace off of with such a subtle shoulder and it just stuck. The 375H&H is the only belted magnum I have reloaded for but for a 30 Cal magnum I'd go WSM or WM without issue and just bump the shoulder back to headpsace correctly.
I used to have a Remington 783 in 300WM and loved it. Great accuracy and great stopping power for the big game in my area (moose, caribou, black bear).
I chose the 300 PRC. I reload 300 win mag for my friend all the time. Love the round. But I like the PRC better. Never really had an issue with the belts. They usually only swell with really hot loads. Great video. But my main hunting rifle is a 308 Winchester.
I was looking to get a 300 PRC but the non availability of brass makes me strongly lean towards getting another 300 Win Mag. I already have lots of brass and the dies, so it makes sense for me to stick with it due to availability. The Bergara MG Lite I’m looking at (not available in 300 PRC) has a magazine long enough to allow seating the big bullets out long enough to get plenty of powder behind. In my Remington 700P it runs out of magazine length before I get near the lands with the 210 Berger. I get 2900 FPS out of my 300 WM with the 210 gr Berger. I was able to get it to 2950 FPS but started getting a stiff bolt so I backed it off
@@michaelcheshareck3275 right now that is smart. I got lucky and bought 3 boxes of PRC. With Dillon reloading press the 300 win mag lower kit is the same for both cartridges so I can reload for both. Just got both case gauges and dies. Do both. I would do 300 win mag first.
@Terry Winderweedle recoil was not part of our discussion but you can add it if you want. It was more about availability of the two rounds. I run mainly 308 Winchester. Lighter and less powder in reloading. Do you have some relevant information on your experience between 300 PRC and 300 win mag? If so I would love to here your experience.
@@jeffgenchi5863 recoil on a 300 win mag with a brake isn’t that bad, to me. It’s pretty snappy without a brake in a hunting weight rifle. My 308 win POF Revolution DI isn’t a traditional hunting rifle but it is a 6.8 pound AR platform rifle with a good brake on it, and it certainly kicks way less than a similar weight 300 win mag. Cheaper to load 308 for sure, takes barely over half the powder I’m using in my 300 WM. But the 300 WM reaches out very flat and hits with authority.
I have a 300 win mag in a Tikka Veil Alpine, which comes equiped with a muzzle break. The recoil is quite mild, and its .5 MOA. Its not picky about ammo and I like 200 grain Terminal Ascent and 180 grain Fusion. Its got the1:11 twist and it shoots the 200 grain Terminal Ascent to better than 1/2 MOA out to 600 yards. I will try it further when I put some targets up at further distance.
I bought a 300WM from Alamo Precision Rifles a few years back. Beautiful gun, but unfortunately for me I became obsessed with archery hunting at the same time. I've actually never used it in the field. I live on the East Coast, so lots of archery saddle hunting and .45-70 when I'm in the thick mountain laurel. One day I'll hunt out West where I can do the rifle justice.
My favorite is my 300prc in my HMRwilderness, but I'll always keep a 300 win mag in my safe along side it. Also ammo for 300prc factory now includes Berger and Federal cartridges
My first 300WM in 1977 was a Parker Hale 1200 S (made in UK) and I have now a Blaser R8 in 300WM and another one in 9,3x62 for drive hunt (+ a Browning BAR Mk3 same caliber for that purpose in certain conditions) that fills all my needs 😎
Found this channel this morning!!! What a blessing -- also I am a 300 win mag fanatic (my precious wife got me a rem 700 5R setup for Christmas). I had been a 7mm mag fan for years … but she flipped me to the 300! Thanks again for this channel and all the work that goes into it … VERY appreciated !
My favorite 300 mag is the 300 WSM as well. Just great all around cartridge, also seem to recoil a little less than the 300 WM and this is across different platforms.
It holds less powder so of course it has less recoil lol. Seriously though I do love 300 WSM. I got a .300 PRC but ammo is so hard to find right now it is ridiculous. I really like the ability to load super heavy high BC projectiles. Heavy .300 bullets are actually more efficient than .338 LM.
Loved the 300WM and have had several. Used them with great results Uk and outstanding in Africa where I would suggest it’s the ubiquitous round for plains game safaris and ammo available most everywhere. I also use on a mostly daily basis a Borden 257 WM which is a fantastic very understated and understood cartridge with lots of energy and by comparison mild recoil
I've owned the Winchester Model 70, the Sako 75 Finnlight, the Sako 85 Finnlight and the Browning A Bolt 11 in 300 Win Mag. I currently own the Tikka T3X in 300 Win Mag. All I've done to the rifle is to add a prefit Limbsaver recoil pad. It now feels like a 30/06 at most to shoot and is the most accurate rifle I think that I've owned. The trigger is awesome, the barrel is Sako and I can carry it all day. I also own one in 9.3x62 with a prefit Limbsaver recoil pad added and it also is very manageable to shoot of the bench. In the field all I feel is the report of the shot in my ears. Thanks for sharing!
Great video. I’m a huge fan of the 300 Win Mag as a hunting cartridge. I actually don’t really find the recoil to be that much worse than the 30-06. You definitely have to focus when you shot it but a 300 Win Mag can be a very accurate cartridge and very versatile in game. I thought I’d point out that you’re way off about the purpose of the belt however. #1 case strength never had anything to do with the folks at H&H adding the belt. #2 remember that the parent case of the 300 WM is the 300 H&H. A very long cartridge with a lot of taper and a very shallow 8 degree shoulder. The designers were concerned that it wouldn’t headspace properly so they added the belt. So to say that the belt is completely unnecessary is false. Sure, the 300 WM with it’s steeper shoulder doesn’t need a belt. But remember that it’s parent case is a much different design.
Correct. And the 300 inherited it from the 375 H&H which also had not much of a shoulder with which to headspace on. The belt is a compromise allowing function through box magazines but also a solid headspace point. In the 50s and 60s when the 375 parent case became "shortened" and stuffed into standard actions (338 win mag, 264 win mag, 7mm mag, etc.) it was blown out and the neck was steepened to take full advantage of the shorter case's reduction of powder capacity. Sure, those cases don't really need to be belted, but they weren't going to make a whole new case just for them. And also don't forget, the 458 Win mag was also a descendant of the 375 case and it has no neck at all, so it must use the belt to headspace.
Ok, so I have a custom 26” R700 300 WM Built with a match chamber. And then I bought a semi custom Bergara Premier 300 PRC which came stock with the match chamber. Match chamber being that it is a little bit tighter tolerances than a standard chamber. My 300 win mag runs about 100 ft./s faster (with a SAMMI Max load of H1000 pushing 215 bergers) than my 300 PRC (using a max load a Retumbo) pushing the same bullet. The Retumbo would push the WinMag even faster. I guess my point is, a 300 WinMag has the potential to run hotter and faster than a Premier factory 300 PRC. You can get that extra punch with heavy bullets and not have to switch to the latest and greatest. Cost of the build was less than a new Bergara.
I wouldn't necessarily say that it outperforms. On average the 300 PRC will outperform the 300 win mag. If the 300 PRC had all the same benefits of my 300 win mag build, it would do even better. The point is that the 300 win mag is still very capable and if done right can outperform a high-end factory 300 PRC.
My first rifle was a 300 win mag, found a good deal at the gettin spot a long time ago. It went right back, and I picked up a 25-06 that still goes deer hunting with me to this day. Very uncomfortable to shoot that thing, props to those who don't mind, but it wasn't for me.
I have a Browning X Bolt that Im in love with. This year we are taking our granddaughter out for her first elk hunt. She will be using said 300 wm with suppressor. The "can" tames the recoil so much that a 13yr old girl will use it for a hunt. Hornady 208grn ELD-M 77grn Retumbo. 500yrds can't miss.
Great video, you really know your stuff. One more thing for the existence of the belt has to do with the original cartridges it was designed for. The 375 H&H followed shortly after by the 300 H&H. When Holland and Holland designed these cartridges they were for double barreled rifles. The cartridges were strongly tapering towards the neck so as to create ease of extraction because double rifles then and now still lack the camming action strength of a bolt action rifle and relied entirely on ejectors of different designs but similar to a modern over and under shotgun or a side by side. Because of that tapered designed the belt allowed the cartridges to headspaces on itself. Without the belts, with the strong tapered cartridges and their long neck, there was no pronounced shoulder to rely on. The belt was essential on these early cartridges and then as you say in the video there was the notion that the belt made the brass stronger, which it did. Nowadays the brass is configured differently and is as strong without the belt, shoulders have steep angles and cartridges have more case capacity. If shooting doubles, it is a good idea, not essential but worthwhile to stick with belted cases. Forgot to add that the tapered cartridges did not present the same stickiness with a hot load, therefore not necessitating a bolt to extract them, that straight wall cartridges can present. (necessitating a bolt to extract the cartridge)
I'm way retired now but decided on the 300 Win Mag 50 years ago as a young hunting man. My Father In Law had seen me shoot long distances varmint hunting and thought maybe I could kill Whitetails at the extreme bean fields distances we were facing. I reloaded and tested various ammo and settled on 180 gr Spire Points that shot dime size groups at 200 yards. You have to know what's coming with its recoil, but it delivers out extreme range, which was what I wanted. It's still my go to gun, though it has its place in a rack of many choices. I have both the Ultra Mag and the 375 H & H, but the 300 Win Mag is my sweet spot. Any creature (I think) that takes a first clean shot from my 300 Win Mag isn't going to get away or possibly harm me.
As far as recoil goes I shoot an old savage 110 30-06 with a wood stock and no recoil pad my hunting buddy shots a cooper rifle in 300 win mag with a factory muzzle brake. His 300 win mag is definitely more mild. Probably closer to my 308 but much louder. Their muzzle brake really tames things down .
My elk rifle is a Ruger M77 skeleton stock in 300 WM. Don't expect to manage recoil without training. Recoil is managed by proper shooting stance more than anything else. Practice shooting stance with a smaller cal rifle until it becomes automatic, it will transpose to the larger cal rifle.
3rd generation sporting goods store worker here. We sell Tikka T3x Superlites in 300WM for the guys here in the east (central Pa) that are going out west to hunt. We send them to Mag-Na-Port and get the 4 port cuts in the barrel. It reduces recoil and doesn't add extra length to the gun. Then we put them in a McMillan stock and they become a very shootable rifle (personally, I think it feels similar to a 30-06 with a decent recoil pad on it). My dad has one of those in his own personal gun in a 300 WSM. It's a gamechanger to the Tikka T3x Superlite in our opinion.
I agree with your assessment of the WSM... Additionally, the WSM also makes the action torque (flex) less. While this may be splitting hairs, once you start shooting XLR, (1500+yds) you try to eliminate ALL flex...(ask any benchrest shooter)...!!!
T\C Encore in 300WinMag is a 28 inch fluted stainless barrel. No action to flex. Shoots MOA out to 1100 yards (at least mine does, and that's the farthest I've had the opportunity to test) with factory ammo.
The belt was absolutely there for head space. Originally it was made for straight walled high power cartridges. They kept the belt when they made necked calibers from the original is all.
And in a properly designed case head, it is much thicker than a non-belted head. No one seems to notice these days and marketers are too busy bringing too many 300 mags to market.
My dad thought he might get assigned to Alaska in the Air Force and bought a 300 magnum. He ended up getting assigned to Oklahoma. Shot a few deer and a couple turkeys with it, but he doesn’t hunt anymore.
I’ve been looking for rifles on line a lot lately. I’m finding that 300 win mag rifles and ammo are in stock way more than the rum or prc or wsm. Just an observation not saying anyone is better than the other.
Great cartridge. I have one chambered in a Bergara Hunter rifle. But you can do better. It's called the .300 Weatherby Magnum Mark V. Got one of those too. No comparison. Gonna get a .300 PRC, soon as I can find one.
I’ve been reloading for the 300WM for a few decades now and I have also loaded for my cousins 300 Bee. My old Ruger had a 24” tube and there was usually a couple hundred fps difference between the two with equal bullet weights. When I switched to my Fierce Fury 300 WM with the 26” tube I’m now within 50-75 fps of the Weatherby. As far as recoil, stock design has a LOT to do with felt recoil. My Fierce is much less punishing than the Ruger, both in 300wm. By the way, both the Ruger and the Fierce are easier on the shoulder than my brother in law’s old Browning 30-06. That thing is just sadistic.
My first was a 30-30 up close firearm my favorite is 30/40 krag. But can't beat 300 win mag. Loaded with 165 or 180 gr. 300 yrd. Head shots. 550yrd. Elk pickup and planted big mule buck.
All these new boutique cartridges are an answer looking for a question . 7mm rem mag, 30/06, .270 win, .308, .243 win, 300 win mag have been filling freezers for decades
Great info! I was in the market for a 06 or something similar and I ended up winning a 300wm at an event. It’s more than I really need, but it was free! I’m excited to test it out this spring.
Before I even watch this video (which I know I'll enjoy) I have a Savage 300 Win Mag that I bought from a 140lb guy who didnt like it for $250. I bought a Nikon 3x9x50 scope for it and installed a 3.5 lb trigger. Im not a gun freak but when I go deer hunting I will pass up every other gun I have and hunt with this gun. I call it the touch of death for a reason. I have a Ruger Predator 308 with a Boyds stock and its a great gun but theres something about that 300 Win Mag that I know it will do just about anything with confidence. I can also sight it in so much faster than my other guns.
I have the 300 Winchester Mag , Pre-64 replica. Model 70 Winchester Exstream weather 26" barrel . I shoots factory 165 gr. federal fusion 3185 fps 5 bullseyes 3 were touching each other 100 YARDS. Mouser BOLT ACTION !! MY FAVORITE 🤗
After years of owning and handloading for rifles I decided the 300WM and 270 make a perfect pair. If I could only have one it would be the 300WM. The belt is no issue. Just load to seat off the shoulder instead of the belt.
I have owned 5 Tikka T3x Superlite rifles chambered in .300 Win and have never noticed this savage recoil you speak of, I like the .300 WSM a lot but with it's steep shoulder it usually does not feed near as smooth as a .300 Win...That being said I dont currently own any rifles chambered for magnum cartridges as they are all powder hogs when compared to the .308 Win....Thanks for the video I enjoyed it as always
Have a Tica in 300 WM. Ported it, and it is nice to shoot. 4 succesful trips to Africa taking virtually all plains game available. In New Mexico for elk right now and the Tika is with me
Hey man, love your videos! I must admit, I was gifted a t3x supelite in 300WM. And obviously, recoil perception is different from person to person but I didn’t mind it at all. I also swapped out the buttpad with a limb saver, and added some natural weight with a scope and mount, and it softened up significantly.
I'm not really a fan of the 30 cals but I definitely agree with the don't waste your money buying a 300 PRC unless you're needing it for long range or maybe if all you plan on hunting is moose or brown bear and you want some added horsepower at distance... I still preference something in the upper end of the 7mm family but I do own a 30-06 and 300 Win Mag and I've killed several animals with them. Love these videos brother keepem coming!!!
I would advise anyone considering the 300 Win Mag/Weatherby etc. to actually go to a range and shoot one before you plunk down your money. Simply put, if you are Not a good sized guy, the big 30's are a in a whole new league of 1. Muzzle blast, 2. Recoil abuse, 3. Meat destruction, and 4. shooting expense from pretty much anything below it. You want to make absolutely sure you WANT to shoot this round. I personally sooo prefer my 7mm Rem Mag ( I reload) ergonomics, with only slightly less terminal performance, that its silly. And I'm considered a big guy, who also, when circumstances require, i.e. with something that might hunt ME, move up to one of my .375 H&H's which with hot loads, can leave your arm 'dangling' if not using proper form.
I had a 300 Win Mag in a Ruger No1 for many years,and I loved it.Because it was a single shot,it had a 26" barrel,but was the same length as my M77 in 06.I handloaded for it and settled on a 200gr Partition at 3050 fps.I was extremely accurate and yes there was recoil,but not so much as to be bothersome.But to be honest,the gun was a 9lb.rifle with scope,and a ammo sock on the butt,with five or six rounds of ammo. My brother had a Browning A Bolt Stainless in the 300,and it was a fine rifle,and shot extremely well,but shooting it on the bench,is the only time I have ever had a rifle give me scope brow,ouch! But that was as my fault. I sold my rifle out of necessity,and regret it,and now want to buy another.As far as the neck,neither I,nor my brother,had any issues with it,as both guns would consistently shoot half inch groups at 100 yards.I prefer five shot groups,and they would open up a bit,but still stayed just under one inch,with any weight bullet I chose to try,and found the right load for it,which was not hard to do.I agree,the round is not for beginners,and it's not for extremely light rifles without muzzle brakes,but it is a really great cartridge for damn near anything you want to hunt,and wholeheartedly recommend it for someone that knows how to shoot,can handle a little more recoil and wants something that they don't have to wonder if the round is up to the task.
Some years back, Clint Smith did an experiment in which he progressively cut back a .300 Win Mag barrel all the way to 16 inches. At that length, he got about 2,700 fps: that's .30-06/150 grain velocity, but with the heavier Win Mag bullet. Oh, and it was *LOUD!*
I grew up shooting magnums. My first rifle was a Ruger 77 in 300 Win. Recoil seemed never a concern. Hey, put a Limbsaver pad on your T3 Magnum to tame recoil! Seriously, I had a stainless T3 338 Win Mag. No problem shooting off the bench with Limbsaver! Plus the rifle was moa! I can't leave well enough alone and changed the 338 Tikka to 375 Ruger. Have not shot it yet, but am not worried about the recoil at all. The secret is using a Limbsaver on factory stock! So far the absolute worst kicking 300 Win Mag was my synthetic stocked Mossberg Patriot!!!
I own a beautiful walnut and matte finished Vanguard in 7mm mag, that I bought thirty years ago. My first high velocity rifle, after years of hunting with .30-06 and .35 Remington. It proved tried and true on western mulies and pronghorns. Although I have moved on to several .30 and .338 caliber Mark V's, that Vanguard will always represent one of my favorite rifles to handload, hunt, and shoot, at a fraction of the cost.
I just traded a Savage Axis in 308 Win for a Parker Hale 1200 in 300 Win Mag. Beautiful rifle. I reload using H1000, Win, Fed, or Rem cases and Federal magnum primers. I also use 180gr Nosler Partitions for moose hunting. It came with Over/Under rings to utilize the sights at close range. It came with a fixed 4x scope but I had a spare Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x40 with the 600 DOA reticle and put it on. The pit where I shoot is only 110 yards long but I was getting incredible accuracy. Stay safe and happy shooting.
I’ve got a Mk-13 Mod 5 in .300 Win Mag and the Barrett Mk-22 MRAD Both with suppressors and both shoot the 220 grain Mk-248 ammo. They cost a lot and also weigh more than 14 pounds a piece. Yes these are actual to spec sniper rifles and have as much kick as an AR-15 in 5.56mm At a mile, I’m dinging steel 17 out of 20 rounds. 230 gr A-Tips are super accurate at a mile as well.
Thank you for another well put video. I have to mention that I disagree with the designers who state that the longer neck holds the bullet better. Once the bullet hits the rifling, it will straighten itself out to travel through the barrel. There is no way a bullet will travel sideways through a barrel with rifling. My 300 shoots a 1/4 at a 100. I cant see the others with longer necks doing any better. I only mention a 100 yards because if it doesn't do well at a 100 it's not going to do any better at longer ranges. I think most of the new stuff is marketing give or take.
I got one back in 95'. Boy, does it work. It not only drops deer right now, it kills their shadow. LOL. I came to realize that realistic hunting ranges in my are between 30 and 100 meters so I stepped down to a smaller cartridge. But if I go another area that has open county and a cartridge with a whole lot of MOJO is needed. .300 win mag will get it done. Great video, as always. I trust that you didn't go hunting in Brazil.
I have the 300 win mag from NEMO Arms called the Watchman. I modified it by adding the Diamond ar15 flat trigger and a ambidextrous bolt release. It's a amazing gun. Recoil is like a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I bought a tikka T3x hunter in 300wm, paired it with a leupold freedom 3-9x50 and went moose hunting, shoots like a dream, and isn’t actually too terrible to shoot recoil wise. I quite like it and I think the old classic is going to do me well as a guide rifle for many years to come
My favorite rifle is a 30-378 Wby Accumark. It's the best cartridge made for 30cal in my opinion. I also own a 300WSM. It's a very flat shooting, high energy cartridge. My off-the-shelf, wooden stock, pencil barrel hunting rifle will group inside a garbage can lid at 600yds with factory ammo. That's not bad in my opinion.
The Tikka is a great rifle .They have a tendency to make most in superlite. Thin wimpy barrels.Not great for 5 round groups but great for hunting. I had a Sako .300Wby in a trg-s and loved it. Built a house and needed money. Friend of mine said it was my gun still but he had a heart attack and died.His wife didn't know the agreement so that kind of sucks but it happened.
Hey Jim love your podcast. I am going on my first elk hunt this fall in Colorado, second rifle season. Would you pick a 300wsm, 7mm PRC or a 6.8 Western
While I agree with most of your comments I still prefer my 300prc over any of the other 30cals I own. However since the purchase of a 6.8 Western all my 30cals have taken a backseat.
I hear a lot on this channel about recoil and flinching. I shoot an 8 lb 33 Nosler without issue. It’s all about desensitization and practice. I grew up hunting whitetails in the Midwest with 12ga slugs and don’t have an issue with recoil up to my 33 Nosler. I’ve never shot the really big stuff above the 33 Nosler but I imagine anyone could be desensitized to that recoil as well. Pick the best cartridge for the biggest game you hunt and practice. Joseph von Benedikt has a great podcast episode about this that I recommend to any hunter whether you hunt with a .243 or a .416 Rigby.
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Bought my first 300 over the weekend and im so disappointed i didnt sooner. Small statured man 7lb rifle no brake or pad and its very shootable. Its a weatherby vanguard. Its like shooting a 20 gauge
The "belt bulge" is real. Think of it like the muffin top on a fat person. Brass builds up just ahead of the belt, slid down the case, as a result of normal full-length sizing. My 7mm Mag would have trouble chambering after two or three resizings. The collet resizing die fixed this problem. I can get 10+ resizings with it.
I just recently bought a Ruger American Go Wild in .300 win mag, it is 7lbs naked versus 6lbs 4.8 o.z I found listed for the Tikka Superlite. With a muzzle brake on the Ruger, it is a pleasure to shoot. The Tikka I saw didn't show it having a threaded barrel, so that sucks. Even my daughter's 6.5 creedmoor has a muzzle device, I'll mitigate any recoil if I can.
I always used to think that the 30/06 was the best round going! I've been hunting since I was a kid and now going on 63. To this very day I know that my 300 win mags are the cream of the crop, and I ain't kidding either! A 350 yd. Point blank range with regular 180 gr. Softpoints, even flatter with pointed boat tails, and only drops 30 in.@ 500 yds.when sighted in @ 200 yds. All of this coming from a flatbase 180 gr.spitzer @ 1850 ft.elevation.
I'm on my 3rd barrel for my Remington 700 Sendero 300wm. The action is old enough to have been equipped with a HS Precision stock. 3 barrels sounds like a lot but 1000 rounds is about all you get out of a 300wn barrel. Shooting prone is about the only time recoil becomes a bit of an issue. The short neck is most often blamed for the short barrel life. A longer neck is said to have a cooling or heat-sink effect for the throat. The only reason the belt was included on the 300wm was marketing at the time of its development. Magnums of the day had belts they didn't think a belt-less "Magnum" would sell.
Being 59 years young I picked up a Nemo Omen with there 24" carbon Proof Research barrel it's light on recoil and shooting a 20" steel plate a 1000 yards with the right ammo is child's play.
Love the 300 Win Mag, but as you said it does not belong in a Lite rifle. My buddy had the Savage 110 in the Lite version, worst rifle I ever pulled the trigger on. My gun safe has the CZ 550 UHR and the Beregara B-14 Wilderness. Both are fun to shoot and are accurate with a Hearing Protection Device added to the barrel.
I went to Bass Pro years ago to buy a new hunting rifle. Salesman directed me to the Tikka 695 in 300wm. Bought it without hesitation. If it had a threaded barrel it would be perfect, but not necessary for hunting.
One phrase. Military adoption. My primary go to rounds always have military adoption behind them. Are they the best? Absolutely not. Are they the most efficient? Nope. But they’re extremely prevalent. Ammo is cheap. Components are cheap and they do very very very well. There are few exceptions mainly being popular hunting cartridges like 243, 7mm mag, 6.5 creed, 280, etc
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Any of those listed rifles in the budget friendly yet highly accurate category?? New to the channel and hunting world. Looking for a .300 WM and I appreciate your help in advance! Keep up the good work!
STOP WITH THE .300 RECOIL, MOST RIFLES HAVE A BREAK ON THEM AND IT DOESNT KICK BUT LIKE A .243! AND THAT'S OFF A BIPOD NOT SOME LEAD SLED EITHER!!!! STOP EXAGGERATING CLOWN
can you please say or mark which round is which from left to right or label in video?
I have a Tikka T3X Superlite in 300 WinMag and it actually doesn't bother me too much. The price of ammo helps to moderate the shoulder pain 😀
Shoulder pain lol my 8 year old shoots my Christensen. 300 off a bipod it doesnt kick at all this guy is such a pssy! Yea it has a muzzlebreak look at videos it kicks like a .243!
Same, my tikka is the D18 and by far the nicest shooting 300 I’ve ever had.
@@ColbyKittle My sako 75 is pretty sweet, try it without the scope using irons, nice balance.
I have the Tikka Superlite in .300 wm and I love it. Recoil doesn’t bother me at all…
@@chrismoreau6425 Recoil tolerance is subjective, my 300 with 200 brain projectiles, I thought was a little "up there" that didn't come out right, but 250's out of a light 338 educated me otherwise.
My first centerfire rifle was a .270 Win and I still have it (and love it). Living in north central British Columbia, I wanted something with more oomph for grizzlies and for hunting in the mountains where long range shots are a fact of life. 35 years ago I got a .300 Win Mag made by Krico. It's a genuine tack driver. The recoil is stout but manageable. It loves good old Hornady 180 gr. flat base InterLocks. It's my go to moose and mountain rifle. I have absolutely no desire or need of any other 30 calibre magnum.
Reloading is easy. IMR 4831 works great. Yes, there's lots of newer powders but when you're getting half minute groups at 200 yards, why try 'fixing' it?
Kriko made excellent rifles back then, I have one in .243 Win & it’s a highly accurate and beautiful little rifle, the build quality far exceeds any of the current mass production offerings.
4831 is my go to. I have 165 boat tail interlocks at 3250 fps for hunting, and 208 eldm at 2850 or so for ringing steel, both with imr 4831.
I'm using 4831 for 7mm rem mag. half minute groups very consistently and probably better than that in the hands of a better shooter.
@@torreyintahoe Ummm...half minute shooting sounds good to me. You have to be a good shot to consistently do that. Any one can get lucky once in a while but consistent half minute is excellent.
Well said
I have a 300 win mag in the Weatherby vanguard rifle. I had Weatherby put an Accu brake on it for me to reduce the recoil. I now have 300 win mag power with the recoil of a 243 caliber rifle. Fantastic can’t beat it.
I'm a fan of the 300WM. I own 3 and have owned at lest 3 others in the past. Very accurate. I hand load, so I can turn it in to a 30-30, 308 and a 30-06. Four guns in one. Recoil is stout. I have a Remington stainless that came with a factory muzzle break and it recoils less than a 308. It truly is a pleasure to shoot.
Thanks for expounding on the 300 WM! Currently I'm setting up a Browning BLR take down as go anywhere gun. I'm getting it threaded for a break because the straight stock will kick you very hard. Thanks
My 300 win mags ain't going nowhere. Don't even want none of these newfangled things.
Agree!!! I hear that!!
Everyone keeps saying that the 300 wsm has the same ballistics as the 300 wm, its just not true. The 300 wm has a 90-100fps advantage over the wsm and it can run much heavier bullets. You can run a 220 gr 300 wm at the same velocity as a 200 gr bullet in a 300 wsm. Saying they are the same is like saying the 30-06 is the same as the 300 wsm. The 300 wm may be slightly less efficient, but just barely. The 300 wsm is a fine cartridge and if I didn't already have 4 magnum rifles, I would buy one. If it was the same as the 300 wm, the 300 wm would fall off the map.
Well said I completely agree.
Love my 300WM!😉
Have both if going hunting pick the win mag every time
300 win mag!!!!!!
Hard to beat the 300 win mag or the 7mm rem mag
My first gun was a savage 111 trophy in .300WM..
Damn thing kicked my ass at first. Now I’ve bedded the action to a Boyd’s stock and put a custom 27” barrel and brake on.
Chrono showing 3,000FPS with a 212gr .30cal is seriously impressive energy
How many rounds does your barrel go through before it’s worn?
I purchased a 300 win mag in 1970, Remington BDL and box of factory amo. Reloaded for it since then with 180 grain Speer grand slam bullets. Killed 44 elk, a few deer , bear and is very accurate at short and long ranges. Still use it today. Also have a 270 which is great but not as good over 300 yard on elk.
The Winchester Model 70 should be on the list, it is the original rifle the calibre was released for.
Either a Featherweight or a Supergrade, both are timeless classics.
If you tried the Tikka T3X Lite Veil, you yould see it is perfect for the 300 Win Mag (my favorite cartridge). Its stock is a bit heavier, the barrel profile (D18, I think) is heavier, and the barrel is factory threaded and comes with a muzzle break. The barrel does not heat up after 3 shots like the regular Tikka Lites. This thing is a joy to shoot and the recoil is not bad. Mine is ridiculously accurate. They now come in 300 win mag with a 1-10 barrel twist. However, my favorite bullet is the terminal ascent 200 grain. This bullet has a plastic tip, which makes the effective bullet length shorter. Most stability calculators do not take the plastic tip into account. Also, the terminal ascent has a hollow region below the tip, further reducing the effective bullet length. My Tikka 300WM has a 1-11 twist; It shoots the Terminal Ascent 200 grain factory loads (yes, I have spent thousands of dollars on them; enough to buy several more Tikkas) to better than a .5 MOA group out to 650 yards (the furthest I have shot, so far). I live in Idaho, so I seldom, if ever, shoot at less than 2200 feet elevation. Here is a link to a stability calculator that takes into account the plastic tip. For the Terminal Ascent 200 grain, the tip is 0.25 inches. www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi
I'd have to add the Winchester Model 70 Alaskan to the list. It's a great looking rifle with it's wood stock and iron sights. Plus the control round feed is awesome too.
I have this rifle (model 70 in 300 wm) and the recoil is so extreme that I am sore for weeks after shooting just a few rounds.
@@kurtclark8560my dad has the model 70 300 Weatherby Magnum and I shot 4-5 rounds to sight in his optic and I had green/yellow bruising on my shoulder. It’s not fun to shoot at all lol. I wanted to stop after the second shot. If you’re shooting at an animal you don’t notice it as much but for target shooting it’s horrible. I’m sure in a different rifle the 300 mags are more pleasant.
I have a 300wm browning 26" barrel factory ported and carbon fiber stock. It's 1 of the first rifles browning made with those stocks. It's a tack driver and don't kick at all , for as light as it is. I'm 60yrs old and love that rifle.
I've told this story a couple of times before but not sure if I told it on this channel. When I was in highschool I worked at a small local gun shop. I basically grew up in this shop.
Anyway.. my job throughout highschool was to load my pickup up with every used rifle we had come in on trade, mount one of our entry level scopes(sightron at the time) on it sight it in and put it back on the shelf with a target group cutout for sale as a "ready to go" rifle. I did this with every caliber imaginable. 17 all the way up to some 416 calibers.
Anyway I'll get to the point... There was a used Kimber featherweight in 300 win mag that came in that looked like someone had dragged behind a pickup with a chain...rust scrapes, scratches, cracks. It shot lights out though. So it was priced to sell. We ended up selling and rebuying the rifle THREE times in as many weeks and the complaint was always the same. "Sob kicks like a mule!!, "I didn't expect that kind of recoil!!" Each time we refitted the shooter with either a 30-06 or 270 and they were happy as could be. Of course it didn't help that it was a featherweight. As near as we could tell it was a Kimber custom shop rifle that someone just horribly abused.
I just always got a kick out of that story. It's one of my favorites from that old gun shop.
I hunt with a Benelli R1 in 300 WM and love it. The R1 absorbs the recoil very well. Thank you for the video
My first center fire rifle was/is a Weatherby Vanguard in 7MM Remington Mag, been handloading for it since 2001And that belt on the brass does require some extra steps in the reloading process. It has less recoil than the 30-06 and shoots flatter with higher BC’s
Bullets. What’s not to love .
Thank you so much for explaining the round’s characteristics. I bought a NEMO 300 WIN MAG years ago and just bought the scope for it. I am about to start loading my own ammo for it and this information is very useful. I reside in California, so I enjoy shooting long range targets.
Where in California are you shooting? Looking for a place to do long range also
@@kennytran1000 the best one so far is at pala in San Diego county it has nearly 900 yards targets
I was just lucky enough to pick up a Nemo watchman. Now I know of a good place to go =) . Appreciate it Bud.
@@kennytran1000 Glad I could help 👍 especially for a fellow NEMO arms owner 🎯
11:08 the belt is just a holdover from the 375H&H which did need a belt to headspace off of with such a subtle shoulder and it just stuck. The 375H&H is the only belted magnum I have reloaded for but for a 30 Cal magnum I'd go WSM or WM without issue and just bump the shoulder back to headpsace correctly.
I used to have a Remington 783 in 300WM and loved it. Great accuracy and great stopping power for the big game in my area (moose, caribou, black bear).
I chose the 300 PRC. I reload 300 win mag for my friend all the time. Love the round. But I like the PRC better. Never really had an issue with the belts. They usually only swell with really hot loads. Great video. But my main hunting rifle is a 308 Winchester.
I was looking to get a 300 PRC but the non availability of brass makes me strongly lean towards getting another 300 Win Mag. I already have lots of brass and the dies, so it makes sense for me to stick with it due to availability. The Bergara MG Lite I’m looking at (not available in 300 PRC) has a magazine long enough to allow seating the big bullets out long enough to get plenty of powder behind. In my Remington 700P it runs out of magazine length before I get near the lands with the 210 Berger. I get 2900 FPS out of my 300 WM with the 210 gr Berger. I was able to get it to 2950 FPS but started getting a stiff bolt so I backed it off
@@michaelcheshareck3275 right now that is smart. I got lucky and bought 3 boxes of PRC. With Dillon reloading press the 300 win mag lower kit is the same for both cartridges so I can reload for both. Just got both case gauges and dies. Do both. I would do 300 win mag first.
@Terry Winderweedle recoil was not part of our discussion but you can add it if you want. It was more about availability of the two rounds. I run mainly 308 Winchester. Lighter and less powder in reloading. Do you have some relevant information on your experience between 300 PRC and 300 win mag? If so I would love to here your experience.
@@jeffgenchi5863 recoil on a 300 win mag with a brake isn’t that bad, to me. It’s pretty snappy without a brake in a hunting weight rifle. My 308 win POF Revolution DI isn’t a traditional hunting rifle but it is a 6.8 pound AR platform rifle with a good brake on it, and it certainly kicks way less than a similar weight 300 win mag. Cheaper to load 308 for sure, takes barely over half the powder I’m using in my 300 WM. But the 300 WM reaches out very flat and hits with authority.
@@michaelcheshareck3275 I agree totally. Between the two cartridges I really don't notice much. Brakes realty do make them nicer to shoot.
I have a 300 win mag in a Tikka Veil Alpine, which comes equiped with a muzzle break. The recoil is quite mild, and its .5 MOA. Its not picky about ammo and I like 200 grain Terminal Ascent and 180 grain Fusion. Its got the1:11 twist and it shoots the 200 grain Terminal Ascent to better than 1/2 MOA out to 600 yards. I will try it further when I put some targets up at further distance.
I bought a 300WM from Alamo Precision Rifles a few years back. Beautiful gun, but unfortunately for me I became obsessed with archery hunting at the same time. I've actually never used it in the field. I live on the East Coast, so lots of archery saddle hunting and .45-70 when I'm in the thick mountain laurel. One day I'll hunt out West where I can do the rifle justice.
U wanna sell ur APR💵
My favorite is my 300prc in my HMRwilderness, but I'll always keep a 300 win mag in my safe along side it. Also ammo for 300prc factory now includes Berger and Federal cartridges
I want a new mountain rifle and am having trouble deciding between prc and win mag
My first 300WM in 1977 was a Parker Hale 1200 S (made in UK) and I have now a Blaser R8 in 300WM and another one in 9,3x62 for drive hunt (+ a Browning BAR Mk3 same caliber for that purpose in certain conditions) that fills all my needs 😎
Found this channel this morning!!! What a blessing -- also I am a 300 win mag fanatic (my precious wife got me a rem 700 5R setup for Christmas). I had been a 7mm mag fan for years … but she flipped me to the 300!
Thanks again for this channel and all the work that goes into it … VERY appreciated !
What do you like more in the 300 than 7mm ?
@@dimmacommunication Would like to know the same. I cant decide between 300wm and 7mm for a new elk rifle this season
Thanks for a great video and good info on the 300 win mag cartridge. I own a Bergara B-14 HMR in 300 win mag
My favorite 300 mag is the 300 WSM as well. Just great all around cartridge, also seem to recoil a little less than the 300 WM and this is across different platforms.
It holds less powder so of course it has less recoil lol. Seriously though I do love 300 WSM. I got a .300 PRC but ammo is so hard to find right now it is ridiculous. I really like the ability to load super heavy high BC projectiles. Heavy .300 bullets are actually more efficient than .338 LM.
@@thatoneguy454c yeah for sure, its certainly part of the equation.
@@thatoneguy454c The new Norma 180g Bondstrike are great for the 300wsm. All over right noenit seems.
I like the 300 norma magnum, a lot better than 338 LM
I like the WSMs a lot. I have a 270 WSM. If I got a 30 caliber magnum, it would be a 300 WSM.
.30-06 for me - 22" barrel and enough juice for any critter out to 400-500 yards.
Can’t beat the .30-06!
Absolutely!
Loved the 300WM and have had several. Used them with great results Uk and outstanding in Africa where I would suggest it’s the ubiquitous round for plains game safaris and ammo available most everywhere. I also use on a mostly daily basis a Borden 257 WM which is a fantastic very understated and understood cartridge with lots of energy and by comparison mild recoil
I haven't heard of the borden. I will need to look it up. Was going to neck down a WSM case to .257
I've owned the Winchester Model 70, the Sako 75 Finnlight, the Sako 85 Finnlight and the Browning A Bolt 11 in 300 Win Mag. I currently own the Tikka T3X in 300 Win Mag. All I've done to the rifle is to add a prefit Limbsaver recoil pad. It now feels like a 30/06 at most to shoot and is the most accurate rifle I think that I've owned. The trigger is awesome, the barrel is Sako and I can carry it all day. I also own one in 9.3x62 with a prefit Limbsaver recoil pad added and it also is very manageable to shoot of the bench. In the field all I feel is the report of the shot in my ears. Thanks for sharing!
Great video. I’m a huge fan of the 300 Win Mag as a hunting cartridge. I actually don’t really find the recoil to be that much worse than the 30-06. You definitely have to focus when you shot it but a 300 Win Mag can be a very accurate cartridge and very versatile in game.
I thought I’d point out that you’re way off about the purpose of the belt however.
#1 case strength never had anything to do with the folks at H&H adding the belt.
#2 remember that the parent case of the 300 WM is the 300 H&H. A very long cartridge with a lot of taper and a very shallow 8 degree shoulder. The designers were concerned that it wouldn’t headspace properly so they added the belt.
So to say that the belt is completely unnecessary is false. Sure, the 300 WM with it’s steeper shoulder doesn’t need a belt. But remember that it’s parent case is a much different design.
Its*
Correct. And the 300 inherited it from the 375 H&H which also had not much of a shoulder with which to headspace on. The belt is a compromise allowing function through box magazines but also a solid headspace point. In the 50s and 60s when the 375 parent case became "shortened" and stuffed into standard actions (338 win mag, 264 win mag, 7mm mag, etc.) it was blown out and the neck was steepened to take full advantage of the shorter case's reduction of powder capacity. Sure, those cases don't really need to be belted, but they weren't going to make a whole new case just for them. And also don't forget, the 458 Win mag was also a descendant of the 375 case and it has no neck at all, so it must use the belt to headspace.
You can put 4 300 H&H rounds in the magazine. It will feed empty casings. Try that with a Win Mag.
My three go to cartridges....
22-250, 25-06 and .300 Win mag.
With proper bullets everything you will ever need for North America.
I'm with you in a general sense...mine are .243 .270 and 300 win mag
Ok, so I have a custom 26” R700 300 WM Built with a match chamber. And then I bought a semi custom Bergara Premier 300 PRC which came stock with the match chamber.
Match chamber being that it is a little bit tighter tolerances than a standard chamber. My 300 win mag runs about 100 ft./s faster (with a SAMMI Max load of H1000 pushing 215 bergers) than my 300 PRC (using a max load a Retumbo) pushing the same bullet. The Retumbo would push the WinMag even faster.
I guess my point is, a 300 WinMag has the potential to run hotter and faster than a Premier factory 300 PRC. You can get that extra punch with heavy bullets and not have to switch to the latest and greatest. Cost of the build was less than a new Bergara.
Love to hear that the WinMag outperforms the PRC from a reloader perspective. Thanks.
I wouldn't necessarily say that it outperforms. On average the 300 PRC will outperform the 300 win mag. If the 300 PRC had all the same benefits of my 300 win mag build, it would do even better. The point is that the 300 win mag is still very capable and if done right can outperform a high-end factory 300 PRC.
Just like 7 REM Mag, there is a reason the 300 Win has held up for so many years.
It performs. It works. Therefore it sells.
Well put!
My first rifle was a 300 win mag, found a good deal at the gettin spot a long time ago. It went right back, and I picked up a 25-06 that still goes deer hunting with me to this day. Very uncomfortable to shoot that thing, props to those who don't mind, but it wasn't for me.
The .25-06 is probably the best all around North American cartridge.
I put a muzzle break on mine and it’s recoil is way less punishing.
@@danbandito which brake ? I picked up a APA fat bastard and I’m hoping it takes some bite off the recoil
All you needed was a slip on butt pad.
@@hydrogen2121 Midwest industries brake is pretty good
I have a Tikka T3 in 300winmag. I love it!! I replaced the factory stock with a B&C sporter stock.
I have a Browning X Bolt that Im in love with. This year we are taking our granddaughter out for her first elk hunt. She will be using said 300 wm with suppressor. The "can" tames the recoil so much that a 13yr old girl will use it for a hunt. Hornady 208grn ELD-M 77grn Retumbo. 500yrds can't miss.
Great video, you really know your stuff. One more thing for the existence of the belt has to do with the original cartridges it was designed for. The 375 H&H followed shortly after by the 300 H&H.
When Holland and Holland designed these cartridges they were for double barreled rifles. The cartridges were strongly tapering towards the neck so as to create ease of extraction because double rifles then and now still lack the camming action strength of a bolt action rifle and relied entirely on ejectors of different designs but similar to a modern over and under shotgun or a side by side. Because of that tapered designed the belt allowed the cartridges to headspaces on itself. Without the belts, with the strong tapered cartridges and their long neck, there was no pronounced shoulder to rely on. The belt was essential on these early cartridges and then as you say in the video there was the notion that the belt made the brass stronger, which it did. Nowadays the brass is configured differently and is as strong without the belt, shoulders have steep angles and cartridges have more case capacity. If shooting doubles, it is a good idea, not essential but worthwhile to stick with belted cases. Forgot to add that the tapered cartridges did not present the same stickiness with a hot load, therefore not necessitating a bolt to extract them, that straight wall cartridges can present. (necessitating a bolt to extract the cartridge)
Well done. Tried & true. Hard to argue or complain with it's success. Thank you.
I'm way retired now but decided on the 300 Win Mag 50 years ago as a young hunting man. My Father In Law had seen me shoot long distances varmint hunting and thought maybe I could kill Whitetails at the extreme bean fields distances we were facing. I reloaded and tested various ammo and settled on 180 gr Spire Points that shot dime size groups at 200 yards. You have to know what's coming with its recoil, but it delivers out extreme range, which was what I wanted. It's still my go to gun, though it has its place in a rack of many choices. I have both the Ultra Mag and the 375 H & H, but the 300 Win Mag is my sweet spot. Any creature (I think) that takes a first clean shot from my 300 Win Mag isn't going to get away or possibly harm me.
As far as recoil goes I shoot an old savage 110 30-06 with a wood stock and no recoil pad my hunting buddy shots a cooper rifle in 300 win mag with a factory muzzle brake. His 300 win mag is definitely more mild. Probably closer to my 308 but much louder. Their muzzle brake really tames things down .
My elk rifle is a Ruger M77 skeleton stock in 300 WM. Don't expect to manage recoil without training. Recoil is managed by proper shooting stance more than anything else. Practice shooting stance with a smaller cal rifle until it becomes automatic, it will transpose to the larger cal rifle.
3rd generation sporting goods store worker here.
We sell Tikka T3x Superlites in 300WM for the guys here in the east (central Pa) that are going out west to hunt. We send them to Mag-Na-Port and get the 4 port cuts in the barrel. It reduces recoil and doesn't add extra length to the gun. Then we put them in a McMillan stock and they become a very shootable rifle (personally, I think it feels similar to a 30-06 with a decent recoil pad on it). My dad has one of those in his own personal gun in a 300 WSM. It's a gamechanger to the Tikka T3x Superlite in our opinion.
I agree with your assessment of the WSM... Additionally, the WSM also makes the action torque (flex) less. While this may be splitting hairs, once you start shooting XLR, (1500+yds) you try to eliminate ALL flex...(ask any benchrest shooter)...!!!
T\C Encore in 300WinMag is a 28 inch fluted stainless barrel. No action to flex. Shoots MOA out to 1100 yards (at least mine does, and that's the farthest I've had the opportunity to test) with factory ammo.
The belt was absolutely there for head space. Originally it was made for straight walled high power cartridges. They kept the belt when they made necked calibers from the original is all.
And in a properly designed case head, it is much thicker than a non-belted head. No one seems to notice these days and marketers are too busy bringing too many 300 mags to market.
I've hunted with the 300 win for 35 yrs.
Land load .. factory ammo you name it it will do anything you need
back in 1996 I picked up a Browning A- bolt with factory Christensen carbon fibre barrel. love it! still shoot it today. .300 mag
My dad thought he might get assigned to Alaska in the Air Force and bought a 300 magnum. He ended up getting assigned to Oklahoma. Shot a few deer and a couple turkeys with it, but he doesn’t hunt anymore.
I love my 300 Win Mag. I admit it.... I put a muzzle brake on mine and it makes a world of difference IMO. Yes, I wear ear protection/enhancement.
I am with you. My 300 barely even moves when I shoot it because my brake is so good. I shoot so much better with a brake
I’ve been looking for rifles on line a lot lately. I’m finding that 300 win mag rifles and ammo are in stock way more than the rum or prc or wsm. Just an observation not saying anyone is better than the other.
I'll say it, it's stood the test of time and proven itself unlike the rest. I agree with what your saying.
Great cartridge. I have one chambered in a Bergara Hunter rifle. But you can do better. It's called the .300 Weatherby Magnum Mark V. Got one of those too. No comparison. Gonna get a .300 PRC, soon as I can find one.
I’ve been reloading for the 300WM for a few decades now and I have also loaded for my cousins 300 Bee. My old Ruger had a 24” tube and there was usually a couple hundred fps difference between the two with equal bullet weights. When I switched to my Fierce Fury 300 WM with the 26” tube I’m now within 50-75 fps of the Weatherby.
As far as recoil, stock design has a LOT to do with felt recoil. My Fierce is much less punishing than the Ruger, both in 300wm. By the way, both the Ruger and the Fierce are easier on the shoulder than my brother in law’s old Browning 30-06. That thing is just sadistic.
My first was a 30-30 up close firearm my favorite is 30/40 krag. But can't beat 300 win mag. Loaded with 165 or 180 gr. 300 yrd. Head shots. 550yrd. Elk pickup and planted big mule buck.
All these new boutique cartridges are an answer looking for a question . 7mm rem mag, 30/06, .270 win, .308, .243 win, 300 win mag have been filling freezers for decades
Just ordered a superlite in 300 win mag and the "yes but don't" makes me more excited for it.
Great info! I was in the market for a 06 or something similar and I ended up winning a 300wm at an event. It’s more than I really need, but it was free! I’m excited to test it out this spring.
That's awesome!!! How r u liking it?!
@@johnagen3688 I am! I put a brake on it and surprisingly it doesn’t kick much. Still playing around with ammo, but so far so good.
@@joncook6331 awesome!!!
Before I even watch this video (which I know I'll enjoy) I have a Savage 300 Win Mag that I bought from a 140lb guy who didnt like it for $250. I bought a Nikon 3x9x50 scope for it and installed a 3.5 lb trigger. Im not a gun freak but when I go deer hunting I will pass up every other gun I have and hunt with this gun. I call it the touch of death for a reason. I have a Ruger Predator 308 with a Boyds stock and its a great gun but theres something about that 300 Win Mag that I know it will do just about anything with confidence. I can also sight it in so much faster than my other guns.
I have the 300 Winchester Mag , Pre-64 replica. Model 70 Winchester Exstream weather 26" barrel . I shoots factory 165 gr. federal fusion 3185 fps 5 bullseyes 3 were touching each other 100 YARDS. Mouser BOLT ACTION !! MY FAVORITE 🤗
After years of owning and handloading for rifles I decided the 300WM and 270 make a perfect pair. If I could only have one it would be the 300WM. The belt is no issue. Just load to seat off the shoulder instead of the belt.
I have owned 5 Tikka T3x Superlite rifles chambered in .300 Win and have never noticed this savage recoil you speak of, I like the .300 WSM a lot but with it's steep shoulder it usually does not feed near as smooth as a .300 Win...That being said I dont currently own any rifles chambered for magnum cartridges as they are all powder hogs when compared to the .308 Win....Thanks for the video I enjoyed it as always
Have a Tica in 300 WM. Ported it, and it is nice to shoot. 4 succesful trips to Africa taking virtually all plains game available. In New Mexico for elk right now and the Tika is with me
Hey man, love your videos! I must admit, I was gifted a t3x supelite in 300WM. And obviously, recoil perception is different from person to person but I didn’t mind it at all.
I also swapped out the buttpad with a limb saver, and added some natural weight with a scope and mount, and it softened up significantly.
shooting both 300WM & 300RUM, i as well don't mind it & it truly isn't that bad. I guess it depends on the person/rifle setup.
I'm not really a fan of the 30 cals but I definitely agree with the don't waste your money buying a 300 PRC unless you're needing it for long range or maybe if all you plan on hunting is moose or brown bear and you want some added horsepower at distance... I still preference something in the upper end of the 7mm family but I do own a 30-06 and 300 Win Mag and I've killed several animals with them. Love these videos brother keepem coming!!!
I have the S20. Havent found any ammo it likes yet. Can't pattern with box ammo and can't get reload supplies anywhere in western Canada.
You didn’t talk about the AR platforms 😢. Like the NEMO arms recon lite
I would advise anyone considering the 300 Win Mag/Weatherby etc. to actually go to a range and shoot one before you plunk down your money. Simply put, if you are Not a good sized guy, the big 30's are a in a whole new league of 1. Muzzle blast, 2. Recoil abuse, 3. Meat destruction, and 4. shooting expense from pretty much anything below it. You want to make absolutely sure you WANT to shoot this round. I personally sooo prefer my 7mm Rem Mag ( I reload) ergonomics, with only slightly less terminal performance, that its silly. And I'm considered a big guy, who also, when circumstances require, i.e. with something that might hunt ME, move up to one of my .375 H&H's which with hot loads, can leave your arm 'dangling' if not using proper form.
I had a 300 Win Mag in a Ruger No1 for many years,and I loved it.Because it was a single shot,it had a 26" barrel,but was the same length as my M77 in 06.I handloaded for it and settled on a 200gr Partition at 3050 fps.I was extremely accurate and yes there was recoil,but not so much as to be bothersome.But to be honest,the gun was a 9lb.rifle with scope,and a ammo sock on the butt,with five or six rounds of ammo.
My brother had a Browning A Bolt Stainless in the 300,and it was a fine rifle,and shot extremely well,but shooting it on the bench,is the only time I have ever had a rifle give me scope brow,ouch! But that was as my fault.
I sold my rifle out of necessity,and regret it,and now want to buy another.As far as the neck,neither I,nor my brother,had any issues with it,as both guns would consistently shoot half inch groups at 100 yards.I prefer five shot groups,and they would open up a bit,but still stayed just under one inch,with any weight bullet I chose to try,and found the right load for it,which was not hard to do.I agree,the round is not for beginners,and it's not for extremely light rifles without muzzle brakes,but it is a really great cartridge for damn near anything you want to hunt,and wholeheartedly recommend it for someone that knows how to shoot,can handle a little more recoil and wants something that they don't have to wonder if the round is up to the task.
Some years back, Clint Smith did an experiment in which he progressively cut back a .300 Win Mag barrel all the way to 16 inches. At that length, he got about 2,700 fps: that's .30-06/150 grain velocity, but with the heavier Win Mag bullet. Oh, and it was *LOUD!*
I grew up shooting magnums. My first rifle was a Ruger 77 in 300 Win. Recoil seemed never a concern. Hey, put a Limbsaver pad on your T3 Magnum to tame recoil! Seriously, I had a stainless T3 338 Win Mag. No problem shooting off the bench with Limbsaver! Plus the rifle was moa! I can't leave well enough alone and changed the 338 Tikka to 375 Ruger. Have not shot it yet, but am not worried about the recoil at all. The secret is using a Limbsaver on factory stock! So far the absolute worst kicking 300 Win Mag was my synthetic stocked Mossberg Patriot!!!
Weatherby Vanguard is where it's at. I have one chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. Shoots 1/4 MOA all day with hand loads.
Proof?
I own a beautiful walnut and matte finished Vanguard in 7mm mag, that I bought thirty years ago. My first high velocity rifle, after years of hunting with .30-06 and .35 Remington.
It proved tried and true on western mulies and pronghorns. Although I have moved on to several .30 and .338 caliber Mark V's, that Vanguard will always represent one of my favorite rifles to handload, hunt, and shoot, at a fraction of the cost.
I just traded a Savage Axis in 308 Win for a Parker Hale 1200 in 300 Win Mag. Beautiful rifle. I reload using H1000, Win, Fed, or Rem cases and Federal magnum primers. I also use 180gr Nosler Partitions for moose hunting. It came with Over/Under rings to utilize the sights at close range. It came with a fixed 4x scope but I had a spare Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x40 with the 600 DOA reticle and put it on. The pit where I shoot is only 110 yards long but I was getting incredible accuracy. Stay safe and happy shooting.
Good trade! Thrown those over under rings away. 3x will be faster.
The thing I always liked the 300 win mag is it may not be the best at anyone thing, but it's very good at everything.
I’ve got a Mk-13 Mod 5 in .300 Win Mag and the Barrett Mk-22 MRAD
Both with suppressors and both shoot the 220 grain Mk-248 ammo.
They cost a lot and also weigh more than 14 pounds a piece. Yes these are actual to spec sniper rifles and have as much kick as an AR-15 in 5.56mm
At a mile, I’m dinging steel 17 out of 20 rounds. 230 gr A-Tips are super accurate at a mile as well.
Just ordered one in the CVA Cascade. Seems like a very capable/comfortable rifle/ammo combo.
I have a 300wm CZ 600 LUX. I absolutely love that rifle, and the recoil feels close to my Ruger M77 in .270.
Thank you for another well put video. I have to mention that I disagree with the designers who state that the longer neck holds the bullet better. Once the bullet hits the rifling, it will straighten itself out to travel through the barrel. There is no way a bullet will travel sideways through a barrel with rifling. My 300 shoots a 1/4 at a 100. I cant see the others with longer necks doing any better. I only mention a 100 yards because if it doesn't do well at a 100 it's not going to do any better at longer ranges. I think most of the new stuff is marketing give or take.
I got one back in 95'. Boy, does it work. It not only drops deer right now, it kills their shadow. LOL. I came to realize that realistic hunting ranges in my are between 30 and 100 meters so I stepped down to a smaller cartridge. But if I go another area that has open county and a cartridge with a whole lot of MOJO is needed. .300 win mag will get it done. Great video, as always. I trust that you didn't go hunting in Brazil.
I have the 300 win mag from NEMO Arms called the Watchman. I modified it by adding the Diamond ar15 flat trigger and a ambidextrous bolt release. It's a amazing gun. Recoil is like a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I bought a tikka T3x hunter in 300wm, paired it with a leupold freedom 3-9x50 and went moose hunting, shoots like a dream, and isn’t actually too terrible to shoot recoil wise. I quite like it and I think the old classic is going to do me well as a guide rifle for many years to come
My favorite rifle is a 30-378 Wby Accumark. It's the best cartridge made for 30cal in my opinion. I also own a 300WSM. It's a very flat shooting, high energy cartridge. My off-the-shelf, wooden stock, pencil barrel hunting rifle will group inside a garbage can lid at 600yds with factory ammo. That's not bad in my opinion.
The Tikka is a great rifle .They have a tendency to make most in superlite. Thin wimpy barrels.Not great for 5 round groups but great for hunting. I had a Sako .300Wby in a trg-s and loved it. Built a house and needed money. Friend of mine said it was my gun still but he had a heart attack and died.His wife didn't know the agreement so that kind of sucks but it happened.
I haven’t seen any of the other 300’s On any store shelves.
I live in Missouri. I love my .300WM, but I hunt with good old .308 It does everything I need🤷♂️
Love my 300WM Browning Hells Canyon Speed.
Hey Jim love your podcast. I am going on my first elk hunt this fall in Colorado, second rifle season. Would you pick a 300wsm, 7mm PRC or a 6.8 Western
While I agree with most of your comments I still prefer my 300prc over any of the other 30cals I own. However since the purchase of a 6.8 Western all my 30cals have taken a backseat.
That's strange. First time I've ever heard that. But glad you found what works for you!
I hear a lot on this channel about recoil and flinching. I shoot an 8 lb 33 Nosler without issue. It’s all about desensitization and practice. I grew up hunting whitetails in the Midwest with 12ga slugs and don’t have an issue with recoil up to my 33 Nosler. I’ve never shot the really big stuff above the 33 Nosler but I imagine anyone could be desensitized to that recoil as well. Pick the best cartridge for the biggest game you hunt and practice. Joseph von Benedikt has a great podcast episode about this that I recommend to any hunter whether you hunt with a .243 or a .416 Rigby.
What episode is it??
I have a couple of 30.06s, they are fine for my usage.
30 06 is THE true king!!!
Can confirm, my T3x SL in 270 Win kicks about as hard as my Bergara B14 in 300 WM
I don't visit sponsored links pertaining to games very often, cause the games are usually corny but I did download hunting clash and used your code to help support your channel. TH-cam is against us all, so I try to support the gun or hunting channels I follow.
Bought my first 300 over the weekend and im so disappointed i didnt sooner. Small statured man 7lb rifle no brake or pad and its very shootable. Its a weatherby vanguard. Its like shooting a 20 gauge
I love my 300WM!!!! 700 BDL 5 R barrel and a Leopold Mark 4 8.5-25x50mm
The "belt bulge" is real. Think of it like the muffin top on a fat person. Brass builds up just ahead of the belt, slid down the case, as a result of normal full-length sizing. My 7mm Mag would have trouble chambering after two or three resizings. The collet resizing die fixed this problem. I can get 10+ resizings with it.
I just recently bought a Ruger American Go Wild in .300 win mag, it is 7lbs naked versus 6lbs 4.8 o.z I found listed for the Tikka Superlite. With a muzzle brake on the Ruger, it is a pleasure to shoot. The Tikka I saw didn't show it having a threaded barrel, so that sucks. Even my daughter's 6.5 creedmoor has a muzzle device, I'll mitigate any recoil if I can.
I always used to think that the 30/06 was the best round going! I've been hunting since I was a kid and now going on 63. To this very day I know that my 300 win mags are the cream of the crop, and I ain't kidding either! A 350 yd. Point blank range with regular 180 gr. Softpoints, even flatter with pointed boat tails, and only drops 30 in.@ 500 yds.when sighted in @ 200 yds. All of this coming from a flatbase 180 gr.spitzer @ 1850 ft.elevation.
I'm on my 3rd barrel for my Remington 700 Sendero 300wm. The action is old enough to have been equipped with a HS Precision stock. 3 barrels sounds like a lot but 1000 rounds is about all you get out of a 300wn barrel. Shooting prone is about the only time recoil becomes a bit of an issue. The short neck is most often blamed for the short barrel life. A longer neck is said to have a cooling or heat-sink effect for the throat. The only reason the belt was included on the 300wm was marketing at the time of its development. Magnums of the day had belts they didn't think a belt-less "Magnum" would sell.
The short neck has nothing to do with barrel life.
Being 59 years young I picked up a Nemo Omen with there 24" carbon Proof Research barrel it's light on recoil and shooting a 20" steel plate a 1000 yards with the right ammo is child's play.
Love the 300 Win Mag, but as you said it does not belong in a Lite rifle. My buddy had the Savage 110 in the Lite version, worst rifle I ever pulled the trigger on. My gun safe has the CZ 550 UHR and the Beregara B-14 Wilderness. Both are fun to shoot and are accurate with a Hearing Protection Device added to the barrel.
I went to Bass Pro years ago to buy a new hunting rifle. Salesman directed me to the Tikka 695 in 300wm. Bought it without hesitation. If it had a threaded barrel it would be perfect, but not necessary for hunting.
One phrase. Military adoption. My primary go to rounds always have military adoption behind them. Are they the best? Absolutely not. Are they the most efficient? Nope. But they’re extremely prevalent. Ammo is cheap. Components are cheap and they do very very very well.
There are few exceptions mainly being popular hunting cartridges like 243, 7mm mag, 6.5 creed, 280, etc