Looking to purchase a new .300 mag. this spring and sort of favouring the rem. 300 ultra. I have been shooting a savage .308 for the last 34 yrs. and now i'm hunting different terain.(northern ontario "clear cut's")Don't get me wrong , i have nothing against a .308win.. i have taken 8 moose with this gun, but all under 150 yds. now were talking posibility's of 300 yds.I don't own anything bigger than my .308, and really want to upgrade a bit. I have shot a 300 ultra, Rem. mag. in rem. sendora sf. beautiful shooting gun and accurate, but the weight of it would kill to carry all day. So my question to you guy's is, what would you buy for your very first 300 mag.(cal.)and what you think of my idea of a perfect 300 mag. (.300 ultra, savage 116 BSS, laminate stock, 26 inch SS barrel, ) any reply would be appreciated, Thank's Rick.

Ruger M77MKII 300 Win Mag.

WHY?

Because I own it! I shot a moose this year with it and was very pleased on its power.

I owned a 300 Wby and would give it a thumbs up from my experience. The only drawback was cost. You'd do fine with a 300 Win Mag for less $$.

There seems to be a great deal of RUM fans out there so this thread should bring some interesting feedback. Good luck.

I've shot enough moose in Alaska to learn a few things....(1) they typically don't have a big reaction to a shot unless you are using some fairly big like a 338 WinMag and (2) they can be hell to process in the field.

My advice is...if you are hunting moose in clear cuts you should try and drop them before they wander off after your shot...they tend to wander toward spots that are tuff to pack from. I'd think real hard about something like the 338 WinMag...mostly to save some potential grief in packing out the meat.

Hi Richard,

Having used the 30-'06, 30 Gibbs, 300 WSM, 300 Win, and 300 Weatherby I would choose the 300 Win hands down. That's what I currently use but any of the 300 magnums would do nicely. I prefer Winchester or CZ550 rifles but if the Savage trips your trigger then get after it! Everyone has a little different likes and dislikes so you will probably get a lot of opinionated advice--that's what makes the horse races!

Good Hunting,

Ditto DB - If moose was on the menu, a .338 offers a little more smack than the .30 cals. A 250gr Nosler out of a .338 WinMag is a wonderful thing. However, if you are only focused on .30 cals, then make mine a .300 WinMag or .300 Dakota.
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[ 01-02-2003, 02:19: Message edited by: Zero Drift ]

I own two 300ultramags and use them for all my moose and elk hunting.So far I have taken four elk and two moose with the 300ultra and five of the six dropped on the spot while the last moose took a few steps them fell over.As much as I like the ultra myself I have to ask if you reload and just how sensitive you are to recoil.The factory 300ultra loads are very mild and don't offer a great deal over the 300win mag.Also the 300ultramag in a lighter weight rifle does have a healthy recoil.If you handload and are very recoil tolerant then I see no problems with you getting a 300ultra.If you don't reload or don't like recoil go for the 300win mag or keep using the .308.

To be really honest the .300 mags have not grabbed my attention yet. This does not mean I might not ever own one

My take on this is that maybe your better off with say a 30/06 and then jump to a .338 or .375 H&H, even a 9.3x62 would be good. I tend to like to move up a bore size. So IMHO I woul jump a bore size and go for the 9.3x62 or a .375H&H in a cz of course. But cz also make a .300 win mag rifle as well. I Like CRF rifles so it's CZ, Winchester, Ruger and in that order.

I would be interested to know the difference in recoil between the .375 shooting 235 gr bullets and say the .300 win mag shooting similar weight bullets ??

I'd seriously consider the 300 Win Mag (mines in a BLR)or the Weatherby 300 Mag. You can get the Vanguard at Walmart for $388 in 300 Weatherby by the way.

My choice is the .300 Winchester. I've used it extensively on all sorts of animals, and I simply don't have any desire to switch to some other .300 magnum, even though many of them are quite similar in their capabilities. The .300 Win Mag. is inherently accurate, its ammunition and brass are widely-available, and it's a fairly easy cartridge to shoot well with a bit of practice. Your really don't need to look any further.............

AD

Look at the diffeence in drop between a 308 and a Weatherby at 300yards.In close a Weatherby ,unless you hit a rib,is worse than a 308,pass throughs,remember it's moose we're looking to eat.Load some 165BTs or SSTs,they open close and far.Much more important question,what kind of rope to drag it in.

I have found that the .300 Win mag is more than suitable for all of North America. I have seen just as many moose drop on the spot with a .300 as with the .338, half of the people I hunt with shoot .338's the rest of us shoot .300's. I have found the same thing on elk, the only big improvements in reaction, were from hits by a .375 H&H, and from my 45/70. The .300 Win mag is reasonably cheap to shoot, whether factory ammo, or rolling your own. Thing to remember, use bullets with good construction, as the higher velocity of all of the 300's places more stress on this the most critical part of the equation. Nothing against the .338, think it is a fine round, just love my .300, it is a Ruger M77 MKII with the zytel stock, will do an inch at 200 yards when I do my part.

Rich,

Considering that you have already shot the 300RUM and don't object to its recoil. Then I would recommend that caliber.

IMO, the 300Win is a better choice if you don't reload since there are a large number of factory loaded ammo available.

Myself, I shoot 300Win/Wthby/Ultra/Warbird simply because I like the 30cal. Don't get me wrong, the other calibers are great, but I have just more experience shooting a 308 bore than anything else.

There isn't a whole lot you can't do with a stoutly constructed bullet from a 300Winny on this continent. It's a proven round with mild manners and can be shot reasonably well by those who practice with it.

Good Luck

True Eyes

Encore with one of many different barrels. I have them from 223 up to 300 win mag and even a 50 cal Blk. Powder. I use stainless frame and barrels with composite stocks, Burris Dual Dovetail base and signiture rings and lastly Leupold Vari X III in a 3.5 X 10. Alway has the same feel and trigger set at 3#s. Used the 300 win for elk and deer this year.

[ 01-02-2003, 08:45: Message edited by: southern utah ]

The differences in velocity results for the various 300 mags are small enough that they won't make any significant difference in the field on shots under 400 yards. So get the one that floats your boat. (For myself, I have a 300 Weatherby.)

I own a Savage .300 RUM and get .600" groups with my best handload. Make sure you get the one with the muzzle brake on it. Don't get the model with the plastic stock, I can't keep my stock screws tight. A .300 RUM will shoot a 220 gr bullet faster than a .338 will shoot a 225 gr so you're looking at approx the same energy but with better sectional density and a higher coefficient which will give a flatter trajectory.

bowhuntr

[ 01-02-2003, 08:49: Message edited by: bowhuntrrl ]

Unless you are prepared to hunt with earprotection do not get a muzzlebrake.One shot without hearing protection will cause your ears to ring for hours.

Richard, the 300 WM is about as big a step up from the 308 as I could see a guy making if you're not used to hard kicker's... there's no point torturing yourself as this is supposed to be fun . Honestly, though I'll probably get grief for saying it, why not a 300 WSM in a stainless M70? 3,000 fps with a 180 is as good as it gets in a 30 cal... if you "need" more than that the I'd suggest you need to go up in bore diameter.

BA

Don't get a Savage, the safety is a bear to work with gloves on and they are butt-ugly but I've been told that they do shoot.I had a couple of them but both had feeding,extraction AND ejection problems.Get yourself a 300 Win Mag in a Rem 700 LSS.Probably the best model to get if you don't want to shell out another $400-$500 for a real stock.Adjust the trigger,glassbed the action and float the barrel.It'll work.

I'm gonna follow Brad on this one. Shoot a 300 WSM and you'll be suprised. I was. It seems to be my go-to gun now.

Gentlemen

300 wby loaded with a good 200 grain bullet.

If you like bigger bore a 338 or 340 wby/330 dakota with 250 grainers is the real deal

For bear, Elk or Moose gun 338 is very fine.

/ JOHAN

300 win with 180 partitions. Its all the recoil i want or need and plenty flat shooting. Sight in at 200 yards, you are 6-7 inches low at 300, depending on if you are handloading or using factory. The additional velocity of the bigger 300's equate to little difference in trajectory.

They're all shooting pretty much the same at 300 yards. There might be 3-4 inches difference in drop at that distance, but once you know where your rifle shoots, it 's up to you, not the tool. I shoot and would recommend the 300 WinMag, mostly for the availability and cost of ammo. You can get 300 WinMag at WalMart, hardware stores and I've even seen it at select drugstores in hunting country. Let's see you try to find some 300 Weatherby Mag, or 300 RUM or WSM in BFE.
As for the rifle, find one that fits, that you like, and just shoot it till your comfy with it.
Steve

My choce would be the .338rem ultra mag, i myself want to purchase one . Waiting for winchesters model 70 classic stainless . As for the 300's No contest i would go for the newer remington ultra mag . It beats out all the rest including the weatherby. And not being a belted mag. is a plusfor both accuracy and loading.

Rick,

A bit more information would be helpful.

1) Do you reload? Are you concerned about finding factory ammo in "Timbuck Two?"

2) How did you find the recoil of the Sendero? You said the rifle was heavy but if it's recoil was all you can handle you don't want a lighter 300 RUM. My A-Bolt is very light and full power loads are brutal.

If you're concerned about finding ammo anywhere or the recoil of the Sendero you shot was bad enough, stick with the 300 Win. That's what I would recommend to most for their first 300.

If not, since you have already shot a RUM and liked it, go with the RUM--especially since it sounds like that's what you really want anyway. If you aren't worried about ammo availability and can handle the recoil I see no reason not to go with the RUM. It'll do everything the other 300's will do and do it with a bit better trajectory, less wind drift and more athority when it gets there.

[ 01-03-2003, 07:52: Message edited by: Jon A ]

I like my .300 Weatherby, but that's the only one I've ever owned.

Don't imagine there's a nickles worth of difference between the whole bunch of em, far as the critters are concerned.

I own a Browning A-Bolt in 300WinMag. For your purposes I think you might be better off with a 338, not because you'll drop moose faster but because it's a more substantial step up from the 308. Your 308 is great for most of NA, so why not step up to something that will serve more than adequately on the biggest NA game? I think the 300Mags are marginal on the big brown bears.

If you handload and don't want to step beyond the 300Mags, I'd vote for the 300WSM. It performs like all the others, fits in a small package and is beltless.

You'll have to find the balance between weight and recoil. Ammo avail is important, especially given new flight regulations. If you handload you can pick anything you want with far less concern for real world practicality.

That's it from me. And I vote for an A-bolt Stainless Stalker. If that's too much cash, I'd go for a Savage. And always Stainless Synthetic.

I will heartily disagree that the .300 Win mag is marginal for brown bear. Recommended by the Dept of Fish and Game here. Being able to hit where you need to is the key to taking down a bear, big bones and CNS. In most cases, it isn't the gun or cartridge, but the man pulling the trigger that makes the difference.

For moose hunting at ranges that are attainable there is little actual difference betwen any of the 300 mags. Any difference is made up by shooter error and range estimation. I highly advise against using a Sendero or other land cannon, unless you plan on only hunting from a quad or truck. While moose can be shot at 400 yards, they are also found at 50 yards where a fast handling 24" barreled 9lb rifle is best.

300 win mag. Good cartridge and ammo is available everywhere. If you travel by air, guns and ammo can't be in same box so gun may end up with you and ammo in Timbukto.

First off, i would like to thank everyone for there opinion, it's really nice, especially the way the world is to-day. Anyway my instinct tell's me to purchase a savage 116 model, s.s. laminate stock, but i have no experiance with such rifle. This is a one shot deal,at 52 yrs. old, i don't think i will purchase another gun.It will be used stricktly for moose.(maybe deer, or black bear)but that's it. (can't afford those big hunt's- sheep, goat, kodiak, etc.)Would like to try "BOU" a third time.To "John A" ,i don't reload but i'm going to, not concerned about factory ammo, Recoil was moderate on sendero, my savage 99-c,308, kick's harder with federal HE load's. To Bowhuntrrl, which model savage 300 RUM do you shoot? I"ll probably decide to such rifle and have a problem getting it, see i live in Canada , and to get a gun that is not in stock may take some time to get, patience run's short , and you end up buying over counter , what ever they have, getting bad up here for that.(no 2nd. emmendment)again , thank's guy's, nice hearing from you's. Rick.

Rick,

just take a look at a cz before you purchase that savage, just one little look mate, you might be really surprised

[ 01-04-2003, 01:35: Message edited by: PC ]

Richard,

My Savage .300 RUM is a 112 FSAK . I believe they were made especially for one of the distributors down here (Jerry's Sport Centers). It has a stainless barrel, black receiver, adjustable muzzle brake and synthetic stock. I like the stock ok, I just cant seem to keep the bolts tight. I wouldn't mind a laminated stock, I think the extra weight wouldn't hurt any. Just what does it take to get a gun into Canada ??? Can a relative give you one from the states if it's transferred from a dealer ??? Reason I ask is that I have an FFL and am curious.

bowhuntr