Can I fire a .30-06 or a .308 bullet in rifle that is chambered for 300win mag?

Bullet, yes. Cartridge, no.

Bullet, yes. Cartridge, no.

hmmm... i'm new at this.

could you please expand on this?

Thanks

They all shoot .308 diameter bullets, but the shells are much different. What Jayhawker is saying, is that if you reload, for example, you could use the same bullet in each cartridge. However, since the shells themselves are much different, you can't shoot a .308 in a .30-06, or a .30-06 in a .300 mag.

hmmm... i'm new at this.

could you please expand on this?

Thanks

He is speaking about the "Shell Casing" ALL .308 diameter bullets can be used in the .308, 30-06, 300 Win mag, 300 Winchester Short Mag, 300 Remington Ultra Mag.

However, the shell case themselves are very different in size on several accounts. As previously stated all of the above chambers must match the "shell case" inorder for the loaded cartridge to fit into the chamber of the rifle.

The Shell Case on a .308 is "shorter" than one of a 30-06 and so on with the 300 win mag verses the 300 Ultra mag etc.
Once again the neck diameter of ALL these cases will except any and all .308 diameter bullets of various brands of bullet manufacturer's.

He is speaking about the "Shell Casing" ALL .308 diameter bullets can be used in the .308, 30-06, 300 Win mag, 300 Winchester Short Mag, 300 Remington Ultra Mag.

However, the shell case themselves are very different in size on several accounts. As previously stated all of the above chambers must match the "shell case" inorder for the loaded cartridge to fit into the chamber of the rifle.

The Shell Case on a .308 is "shorter" than one of a 30-06 and so on with the 300 win mag verses the 300 Ultra mag etc.
Once again the neck diameter of ALL these cases will except any and all .308 diameter bullets of various brands of bullet manufacturer's.

Thanks for all the input. I am aware that (300win mag, .308, .30-06 & .30-30) are all the same diameter. I'm Also aware that the casings vary in length or/and width. The reason I asked is because for example, you can shoot a .40 SW special in a Win/Mod 94 rifle chambered in a 44mag win.

A .44 Spl..........that's because the cases are the same diameter, etc, but the length is different. That can work with a straight-walled case, but not a tapered one. Anyway, headin' for the house...see ya tomorrow.

Max2oo5 -

As Hatch says, straight walled, rimmed cases are sometimes interchangable - the .38 Spl into the .357 Mag, the .44 Spl into the .44Mag. The Spl cases and bullets in these instances are of the same diameter and Over All Length (OAL) of the loaded cartridge is shorter than the Magnum cartridges.

You cannot, however, insert the magnum rounds into Special chambers - they are approx. .10 inch too long.

Bottleneck cartridges are a whole different ball game. They only can be fired in the exact chamber they are designed for - to do differently is very dangerous. It can be done - such as stuffing a .308 Win. cartridge into a 30-06 chamber and getting it to fire. The bolt face diameter is the same and the extractor hook on a controlled feed rifle will hold the case to the bolt face and allow the firing pin to hit it. The bullet will be unsupported for that distance the .308W case is shorter than a 30-06 and the bullet may or may not enter the bore in alignment. The cartridge neck will blow out to the diameter of the chamber wall.

My brother years ago wasn't watching what he was doing while benchresting several rifles and inserted a 6.5x55mm cartridge into his 1917 Enfield 30-06. Luckily, nothing happened with this extremely strong action other than the case had no neck when ejected - just a shoulder fireformed into the '06 chamber wall.

Be very careful of interchanging ammo.

kdub:

thanks for spelling it out. i didn't grow up in a shooting family and i'm starting from scratch. I find firearms, loads and especially ballistics extremely fascinating. i have learned a ton from these forums and also through internet research. i have a 7 year old daughter & 8 year old son and if i can help it, they will grow up in a shooting family. we are hoping to move higher up the hill soon and i want a good rifle for plinking and protection from cougar/black bear. i'm kinda leaning towards a winchester mod 94 in a 44mag. I really want an m1 garand but that will have to be my second rifle. Anywayz, thanks a bunch.

kdub:

thanks for spelling it out. i didn't grow up in a shooting family and i'm starting from scratch. I find firearms, loads and especially ballistics extremely fascinating. i have learned a ton from these forums and also through internet research. i have a 7 year old daughter & 8 year old son and if i can help it, they will grow up in a shooting family. we are hoping to move higher up the hill soon and i want a good rifle for plinking and protection from cougar/black bear. i'm kinda leaning towards a winchester mod 94 in a 44mag. I really want an m1 garand but that will have to be my second rifle. Anywayz, thanks a bunch.


Max........If you like the 44mag you will love the 444-Marlin for it gives you another 100 yards distance and you won't be undergunned around cougars or blackbears. Good Luck!

Thanks for all the input. I am aware that (300win mag, .308, .30-06 & .30-30) are all the same diameter. I'm Also aware that the casings vary in length or/and width. The reason I asked is because for example, you can shoot a .40 SW special in a Win/Mod 94 rifle chambered in a 44mag win.

max2oo5 - I'm very sure you gave us a misprint. The 40 SW is actually a rimless round for the 40 caliber semi-auto which cannot be fired in any 44 chamber. You get split cases and the loaded cartridge falls forward into the chamber. If it does fire, you got a serious problem. The 40 SW headspaces on the case lip and all 44's headspace on the rim.

Max........If you like the 44mag you will love the 444-Marlin for it gives you another 100 yards distance and you won't be undergunned around cougars or blackbears. Good Luck!

2Bits:
I checked out the Marlin website. Nice looking little canons. The 444-Marlin is the biggest chambered rifle they sell. That sure is a big jump from a 44mag. I noticed the other rifles Marlin sells and was trying to figure out the order in cartridge size. Also are any of these pistol shooting rifles?

475 Linebaugh
480 Ruger
450 Marlin
45/70 Gov't.
444 Marlin

max2oo5 - I'm very sure you gave us a misprint. The 40 SW is actually a rimless round for the 40 caliber semi-auto which cannot be fired in any 44 chamber. You get split cases and the loaded cartridge falls forward into the chamber. If it does fire, you got a serious problem. The 40 SW headspaces on the case lip and all 44's headspace on the rim.

EDip:
Appreciate the benefit of the doubt but I'm new to all of this. Trying to learn. Thanks for the input.

2Bits:
I checked out the Marlin website. Nice looking little canons. The 444-Marlin is the biggest chambered rifle they sell. That sure is a big jump from a 44mag. I noticed the other rifles Marlin sells and was trying to figure out the order in cartridge size. Also are any of these pistol shooting rifles?

475 Linebaugh
480 Ruger
450 Marlin
45/70 Gov't.
444 Marlin


Here's my take on the 444Marlin vs 1894PG (44m/44spcl). I own both and they are two of my favorite guns period. With a good recoil pad installed on the 444 you won't be able to tell much difference between the two recoil wise. If you have plans of needing to shoot past 100-125yds, get the 444 and never look back. If you ever plan on getting into reloading buy the 444, it can be loaded down to perform like a 44 shooting plinking rounds, or loaded up to really powerfull bear/moose stoppers. But If you don't reload, don't plan to reload, and don't plan to shoot much past 100yds buy the 1894PG and you'll be very pleased. Do however upgrade the factory sights to a peep site of some kind. Let me know if I can help you out in any way. I might even know of a 1894 for sale.

if you like shooting and ballistics, you will LOVE reloading, it will make shooting cheaper (sort of, loads are cheaper, but you shoot more, which brings us to our next point) you will become a better shot, because you can afford to practice more, also, it is just plain fun to experiment to find the best load for each gun