New Rifle, .308 , or .300 Win Mag

rrg991981

rrg991981

Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Messages
778
I am seteled on a new savage tactical series rifle, and I cant decide between .308, or .300 Win Mag. I will be deer hunting with it in addition to target shooting. Or should I look for somthing in 30-06? I am looking for somthing that is accurate out of the box, isnt super expensive to shoot, fun to shoot, and powerfull enough to hunt with
 
those savages shoot like the dickens right out of the box.I have a 300 mag that I shot a 3/4" group at 200yds with Federal factory ammo,last fall.
Have a 12 year old daughter whom is taking hunter safety,at the moment.Probably going to buy her a 308.But they all really shoot.Out of the box.Bought myself a 243 and put a 4x12 leupold on it.Great antelope gun.
Have not had a chance to shoot it.

I shot one of the tacticals at a demo day last fall.308 Tack driver.
 
i dont know how big the deer are in michigan but in TX a .300 mag is a little too much gun lol, except maybe in west TX for mulies & then only for a little greater range.

if it was me i'd get a good old '06, or a .308 i suppose. personally i prefer the '06 to the .308, a wider selection of bullet weights being the reason, that and the fact that with the wide range of bullet weights available the '06 is plenty enough for anything in the lower 48, its just more versatile than the .308 imho.

also a '06 is a lot easier to shoot well vs a .300 mag, i shoot a LOT of big rifles (.45-70, 7 mag, .300 weatherby mag, .300 win mag, 338 win mag and 375 H&H) and while i usually enjoy shooting an '06 or a .308 i cant say the same for most mags, even a 7MM mag with stout loads, lots more recoil and muzzle blast, and lots harder to shoot well.

also the .300 mag will be heavier than the '06 or .308, or ya will wish it was if ya shoot off a bench much lol.
 
I'll second SIFU's thoughts on the '06. I used to make it a point to own only NATO calibres- so I had a .308. It was a great round, and I really liked the handiness of the short action. But, I ultimately switched to .30-06 because they are just so dang versatile and available.
 
30.06 has a little more to offer than the .308 or .300wm.

Also, do not skimp on glass. Be prepared to pay more for glass than for the rifle. A high-end rifle with a pos scope is a pos shooting system. A cheap rifle with a quality scope will usually perform better. (I do not mean to imply that savage is a cheap rifle)

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.
 
If you spend a little time at the loading bench, any bullet you can shoot out of a .308 or a 30-06 can be shot out of a 300WM. If it was me I would really look at a 300WSM if I was looking at getting a new gun.
 
Before answering your question, I have to ask a few myself...

  • What are you shooting?
  • What range are you shooting?
  • How heavy of an animal are you shooting?

These questions make all the difference in the world. By the way, where is the .338 in the mix?

Cape buffalo? 375 H&H or 338 hands down. (Even these are a little light.)
Elk? Considering the range, 338, 30.06, 300 Winmag.
Deer? 30.06...probably the best all around 30 cal round.
Nothing bigger than deer and including deer? .308 would be sufficient

The "every-man's caliber"? 30.06

By the way, the 308 cartridge is the most accurate 30 caliber round, period. But then again, accuracy is subjective...inside a 50-cent piece and inside a quarter isn't that much difference.

Craig
 
If we're talking white tail then i'd say the .308 no question. It is an accurate round with good ballistics and a wide variety of bullet weights available. ammunition is readily available and the recoil is minimal. the savage is a good choice also as far as value for money spent.
 
In that case I would go with the 308. Ammo is cheaper and at times easier to find and the shorter case in inherently more accurate with modern powders if you reload. Should you wish to go to sub-sonic loads for any reason they are available in .308 as well as brass for loading sub-sonic rounds. (a suppressed .308 is a riot)
 
If you plan on doing much target shooting the .308 wins hands down. The ammo availability and benchrest competition history alone gives you a wealth of info. It will kill as well as any rifle on everything in N.A. well enough with the exception of Grizzlies.
I have nearly one of everything mentioned here. I like having the "right tool for the job" and keep finding new niches to fill.:eek:
 
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