I know this has been discussed many times, but what is the best 300 for accuracy, recoil, range, and knockdown power. I will reload and so ammo is not an issue. But since we are on the subject, what is your favorite bullet to go with your choice? I am after a gun for North American big game. Thanks for your help.

A 300 Win Mag will do it all! or if you want more get a 300 RUM or 30-378. I realy like 30cals but, I love my .338 RUM better and I have all the accuracy, recoil, range, and knockdown power I'll ever need!....LOL

T/C Nut pretty much settled it. The 300 win is easily the most practicle and it will do it all. A goot 150gr load for deer and 180-200gr load for all the bigger stuff. With todays premium bullets it will handle anything you want at any reasonable range.

He is also right on the money with the 338 RUM. Excellent cartridge!

300 RUM

As Elmer Keith once told a gentleman who asked him why he packed a 44 Magnum instead of a 357: "...I can always load the 44 DOWN! do 357 power levels...".

Rich

quote:

he 300 win is easily the most practicle and it will do it all.

Me too!

I have owned and/or loaded for the 300WM (which will do whatever you want in NA.), the 300 Weatherby, also a good choice, the 300RUM which is my current 300, and my bro's 300SAUM.

I know that the theory of "short and fat is better than long and skinny" when it comes to accuracy, but it was a whole lot easier to find excellent loads for the RUM and WM, with the Weatherby 2nd. But the SAUM was kind of a pain at first. Maybe because it was a new rifle. It took a good 40 rounds just to get the bore "seasoned" before anything would shoot worth a darn.

My preference is the RUM. But I still always recommend the good old WM.

If you want the most power with good accuracy I guess I'd go with the RUM too, I shot my last Elk with one.
If I had to pick just one 300 I'm going to be a dissenter here and vote for the 300 WSM. It's not quite as powerful as the 300 Win when you reload but it's plenty powerful enough. It comes in some particularly nice rifles, I prefer a Short Action when possible. Compare a Kimber 8400 to a Kimber 8400LA and you'll notice the difference. You might prefer the 8400LA and if you do go with the 300 Win but I much prefer the standard 8400 and so vote for the WSM. I prefer the SA Sako M-75 over the longer version also.
There is conflicting data over whether or not the short/fat case is really more efficient but in my experience the 300 WSM uses a few less grains of the same powder to move the same bullet to the same velocity of a 300 Win. The WSM seems to kick less but that's probably mainly due to the excellent rifles I've shot it in.

There's lots of good 300's out there, hopefully you won't have to restrict yourself to just one......................DJ

I like the 300 Win Mag shooting 180gr bullets. To me it would be the best. Even tho I have the 300 RUM and 338 RUM also. It my favorite rifle.

I have it in Savage Action witch isn't the best of actions. With a shilen barrel. I redid the stock.

I could get those 180gr bullets up to 3100 FPS with it.

300WM 200gr bullet. If I were wanting to shoot a 165 or 180 gr bullet, I'd use a 30-06.

I have never needed more than the standard old 30-06. If I need more I go to the 375H&H and if that won't 'git er dun' I go to the 416Rigby and that won't do the trick I go to the 470NE and if all those fail I run. In all honesty I have shot very few game animals the 30-06 wasn't completly capable of handling well. Probably one of if not THE most versatile cartridge ever.

30-378 Weatherby

There is no "best 300"... there's just the one you like!

I'll side with DJ... I like the WSM version. Mine is a 7lb 3oz (all up) Kimber Montana. I use a 180 Partition at 2,960 fps. This year I took an antelope at a lasered 547 yards, one shot and a bull elk at 95 yards, one shot. It's plenty of cartridge. If I wanted more, I'd not get a faster 300 I'd go up in caliber to at least 33.

This is all fun and games and the only puropose of anything for general purpose hunting beyond a 30-06 is to please or amuse the owner...

I think the 308 Norma was the original short 300 magnum, and I think they got it right. Everything that followed is redundant and not necessary.

Winchester made the 300 WM design like it is not because it's better, but because Norma beat them to the better design, which is simply the 338 WM necked down to .308 bullets. Had Norma not done their 308 Magnum, I'm sure the 300 Winchester would be the 308/338, just like the 7mm Rem Mag necked up to .308. Anyway, it's history now, and simply demonstrates the power of Winchester marketing to sell an inferior design. With the .308 Norma already on the market, the 300/338 is just too close to put out there for safety reasons, and because Winchester would correctly be accused of copying Norma.

Since you say ammo is not an issue, because you reload, consider the 308 Norma, or do what Winchester should have done, and make a 300/338. Since you specified 300, I am assuming that you are limiting your consideration to a Magnum. If not, the 30-06 is plenty, and likewise, anything bigger or faster than the 308 Norma - such as the RUM or the Weatherby - is way excessive. The 308 Norma is just right, if you just want a little more than the 30-06 can do, especially with 200gr bullets.

For perspective, my favorite in 30 Cal. is the 308 Winchester. I really think that if you need anything with more power or range, jump to the 338 WM, with 225gr bullets.

As a handloader, it's about more than bang-flop. It's also about the fun of working with a cartridge with good technical design, and just looks right, instead of a big corporation's marketing ploy.

KB

300 savage

My choice: 300 Wby Mag

Bullet choice: 168gr or 180gr Barnes TSX (depending on size of game)

quote:

Originally posted by Iron Buck:
300 savage

Actually, not a bad little cartridge... ...wouldn't say the best 300 but fine for what it is intended.

30-378 Weatherby

It looks like I am in the minority but I am mighty pleased with my remington classic in 300 weatherby. I also have a sendero in 300 wby I haven't shot yet.

30-06

Another vote for the 300win. It's a very versatile cartridge for loading down for deer orup for elk. Or, you could just pick a tough 180gr bullet like the TSX and use it for everything - it won't blow up on deer and it's plenty of stopping power for an elk or bear.

Here is another vote for the 300WSM

I agree with the other two posts above (DJ & Brad).

Make's a great all around Mountain Rifle and I find the recoil is on the mild side.

the soon to be 300 ruger i nicknamed the 300 AMERICAN!

I really love the .300 RUM round and people will can it but they shoot great and there just a little more of a .300 win mag.

My two favourite .30 cal rounds are the 30/06 and the .300 RUM.

I'm going with the 300 RUM. I have one and I just like the way "remington ultra magnum" sounds.

"300"-06 but if you have to have a magnum 300 win mag makes the most sense. If you feel nostalgic and want to hunt for brass 300H&H.

I have 4 300 Win mags and have used that caliber for many years in many places. That said I have fallen in love with a Sako 300 WSM Finnlite. If I could only keep one, it would be the one. Very accurate with mild recoil. I'm working myself up for a Kimber 300 WSM in the near future.

DITTO on the 300win.

A vote for the .300 RUM. 12 One shot kills and counting.

My vote goes to the 300 Whiney. Brass, bullets, powder, dies and factory ammo easy to gather. More than enough speed with recoil that most of us can handle. Nosler Accubonds for Elk/Moose, 165gr Sierra Pro Hunter/Game King for deer. Time proven and tested....One of the top 5 all time classics. That's about it. Regards, Rick.

.308 Norma Magnum also known as .30-338.

I have to vote for the 300 H&H cause it has served me well , and it's cool!!

Coyote Bait....I gotta throw my 2cents worth in on this thread. The 300 Winchester magnum has one oustanding track record for not only 1000 yard shoots in past decades but for harvesting numerous big game animals in the fields, mountains accross the USA and other countries.

I myself would never consider the newer 300 WSM, it is but an industry fad in my eyes. The .300 Ultra is indeed an impressive caliber for big game but is it really need, I sure don't think so and neither is it's 50 plus pounds of recoil generated at the bench for the one who pulls the trigger......OUCH Twice.

How in the world can a shooter/hunter be accurate far down range with something that kicks worse than 2 mules. Yes, I know all about those muzzle brakes etc but apples to apples the .300 Winchester Mag gets top billing by this hunter.

+1 for the 300 win mag

I own a 300RUM and a 300 H + H, the H + H is the one I grab, the 300 RUM is still NIB. Hard to beat a classic that has been around for years!

Hey coyote bait

I'm gonna hurt some feelings but these are my opinions:

The 300 WSM is new and with that straight taper case can't be neck sized only starting with the first reload (IME), might have feeding problems and holds fewer rounds down. Does have a modern design case though. Has a reputation for not shooting the heavier bullets well.

The 300 H & H is a fantastic old but rare caliber. Harder to get brass and factory loads can't be found easily. Not quite as much pep as the 300 win mag.

308 Norma Magnum is a good caliber but components, equipment and factory loads would be harder to find.

30-378 Weatherby has that rounded shoulder and kicks the snot out of you. I avoid muzzle brakes as much as possible. Brass is very expensive.

300 RUM is a fine caliber and has a fine reputation for accuracy and no reloading problems. It also kicks the snot out of you (reference above note about muzzle brakes).

However, the 300 win mag is common. You can get all kinds of dies and brass and factory ammo. It has a reputation for accuracy and ease of reloading. It does have that belt but after the first firing you can start headspacing on the shoulder and it doesn't matter anymore. It can be shot without a muzzle brake by almost all shooters and provides all the downrange energy and trajectory you should need.

What difference if the 300 RUM drops 3" less at 500 yds than the 300 win mag (200 gr Accubond zeroed at 200 yds using max velocity in Nosler #5 manual for ea caliber), or 1.5" less at 400 yds?

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

There is only one .300, the .300 H&H...only comes close in velocity to the Win. mag, and a few of the others, but none of the others come anywhere close in the "class" department!
In my opinon that is!

300 WSM, I love mine! It's a custom so it feeds good! 24" tube. I don't load for velocity. My loads are "medium" I guess. A modest load of 65.5 grns IMR 4831 behind a 180 N AB, is very accurate!!!!

I will put another vote in for the good ol' 30-06....Ammo available anywhere and good enough for anything in NA. I've had several 300 Mags of different flavors and kept going back to the '06. Rifles are generally lighter and shorter barrels. Plus if you use the HE or Light Mag ammo the velocity is up ther with the 300WinMag.

quote:

Originally posted by congomike:
There is only one .300, the .300 H&H...only comes close in velocity to the Win. mag, and a few of the others, but none of the others come anywhere close in the "class" department!
In my opinon that is!

We are are among the filthy few who believes this mike

Another vote for the .300 H&H. I have 3 and they would definitely be the last of the various .300s I own that I would part with.