I don't need a 30 caliber yet, but I am just trying to figure some things out before I do need one. I am just wondering what people's opinions were on
1) 30-06
2) 300 win mag
3) 300 wsm
4) 308

Those are the main four I am wondering about. I am kinda leaning toward a 300 win mag, partly because everyone has a 30-06 or 308. And I am not sure how I feel about the short mags yet. I realize there are more factory ammo options with the 30-06 and 308 but one of these days (after I graduate) I am going to reload anyway. So any ideas or opinions on any of these rounds, or others I have not mentioned are welcome.

Oh and I have no idea what I'll be using it for yet (hence the first line on the thread).

Thank you.

Niner,
I like the .308 because it kills well and has mild recoil.
I have a brother who is in love with the .300 Win Mag. He has taken game from from moose on down with it. He like it better than the .35 Whelen. We argue about this some!
I have a friend with a Browning A-Bolt in the .300WSM. The rifle is loud due to the boss. The rifle is light and it kicks him around pretty badly on the bench and this affects his hunting accuracy. He is going to load it down.

Personally, I don't shoot anything with a belt, unless it needs it (.300 H&H, .375 H&H), or anything else with the marketing term "Magnum" attached to it. As a general rule of thumb, I only shoot cartridges that were developed before I was born. That kinda leaves the .30-06 and the .308 Win.

RSY

I have owned all of them but still own a 308 and two 300WSMs. I'm trying to shoot out the barrel on the 308 and go to someting different(I have alot of 308 ammo left). In the 300WSM I have a Finnlight and a Win Super Grade. The Finnlight is a little punchy on the bench, but the Super Grade is alot more tame, although I'm not looking forward to packing the Super Grade up and down mountains. Kick from the bench and kick from out hunting is alot different. I have a 7mm Rem Mag Laredo with the Boss but I haven't been out hunting with it, yet, but it is substantially louder but kicks like a 243. I'm working on loading up some 165gr Scirocco loads(3100fps) w/the Super Grade and the Finnlight likes the 180gr bullets(3000fps) switching to Accubonds over the Grand Slams I have been trying to use up.

SPAD

As a reloader, I would still lean towards a 308 or 30-06. The 30-06 is pretty much the standard, so enough said about that. The best part about the 308, especially compared to the magnums, is the fact that it is very efficient with the powder. A pound of Varget or 4064 goes a long way in a 308 Win.

Just something to consider.

amndouglas

I can't say which of the 30 cal cartridges would be right for you, though it does sound like you want something a little different than the ordinary. A rifle/cartridge combination that I believe is hard to beat is a pre-64 Winchester M70 chambered in 300 H&H. I own one of these and have owned a 300 Win Mag. As far as the cartridge goes, one will do whatever the other will for all practical purposes. As a matter of fact, until you get out to ranges where the trajectory starts becoming a factor the 30-06 will match the 300's for most North American game.

The 300 H&H was developed by Holland and Holland around 1925. It is based on the 375 H&H introduced in 1911 or so. It is a full length magnum case, and requires a long action, or a standard action opened up to accomodate the longer cartridge. My pre-64 M70 is a 30-06 length action that was opened up at the factory.

If you want something a little different, have a look at the 300 H&H. Be aware most of the factory loads are not loaded to the cartridge's full potential.

I USE A A-BOLT WITH BOSS IN 300 WINCHESTER MAG. I LOVE IT! I ALSO PUT A LIMBSAVER PAD ON AND THE KICK IS LESS THAN MY 270. iT WILL SHOOT 1'' @ 200 YRDS. ALL DAY WITH FACTORY AMMO AND CLOVERLEAF @100 YDS. I ALSO HAD A 300 WSM BUT LIKE THE 300 WIN MAG BETTER.

Everyone has tried to best the 30-06 with newfangled cartridges, but it still comes down to this - the bench standard of the US is the 30-06. All other cartridges are compared to it in some form or another as to velocity, energy and recoil.

If I were limited to just ONE .30 caliber rifle, it would have to be a Winchester or Ruger bolt gun in 30-06 caliber. The reason it is so common is that nothing has really come along to supplant it.

IMHO

Everyone has tried to best the 30-06 with newfangled cartridges, but it still comes down to this - the bench standard of the US is the 30-06. All other cartridges are compared to it in some form or another as to velocity, energy and recoil.

If I were limited to just ONE .30 caliber rifle, it would have to be a Winchester or Ruger bolt gun in 30-06 caliber. The reason it is so common is that nothing has really come along to supplant it.

IMHO

KDUB,
I have to agree, its just hard to beat the ole 30-06. It has plenty of power and good enough trajectory, saying ammo is easy to find and cheap would be the understatement of a lifetime, just about every style of rifle is chambered for it. I could go on and on and on.... Fact is the '06 just plain gets it done, its not fancy, not the latest, but just might be the greatest, and I like that. Next centerfire rifle I buy will be an A Bolt composite stalker in 30-06. I can't wait till I have the money for it. Give me the simple calibers, .270, 44mg/spcl, 38/357, I could go on, but I'll stop this is just my .02 and worth just that. :p

I have three of the four (no wsm), and my favorite is still my Sako '06. It still seems to be what the others are compared to (i.e "with light bullets its the equal of the .30-06"), and it still continues to get the job done. I use several other calibers in hunting, but of the 40 or 50-odd calibers that i own, its still my favorite. And, if i were limited to one gun, '06 hands-down.

'06 or .308, no question. Ammo is much cheaper, and it'll even be cheaper to reload, given plentiful brass and less use of powder.

Not to mention they'll kick less than the magnum rounds.

If you plan on reloading my choice would be .300 WSM. You will have .300 Mag ballistics in a short action. With mild loads you will have .30-06 ballistics in a short action. And the recoil is less than one would think.

I concur w/ Sunday Creek. The beauty of the .300WSM is that you can load it to be a 30.06 or .300WM. The only limitation that I have found is the inability of the WSM to push larger bullets (>200gr) due to the limited case capacity. I've found the WSM do be more than versitile enough for my needs, but I wouldn't recommend it for the recoil sensitive.

Anything I would ever want to shoot around here in P.A. could easily be killed with the 308. It is an extremely versatile cartridge without a lot of recoil.
I recently loaded 110 grain v max in it to shoot groundhogs,125 grain speer hollow points for white tail. If I ever got the urge to shoot a black bear there is a great selection of heavier bullets to choose from. I like the shorter artidge and action.I personaly dont like the recoil of a 30.06 but have only shot one with heavy bullet factory loads. As far as the 300 mag I dont have a lot of interest cuz it seems unnecessary for my purposes.
Although I must admit these new short magnums intrigue me. Seems like the factorys are just doing what wildcatters did for years.

It isnt 30 caliber but dont overlook a .270. More recoil than 308 but not as much as the 30.06. Same long case and avtion as .06 but shoots flat and fast.

It isnt 30 caliber but dont overlook a .270. More recoil than 308 but not as much as the 30.06. Same long case and avtion as .06 but shoots flat and fast.

I already have a 270win, which is why I don't need a 30 caliber ...yet.

I've loaded everything on your list except the new WSM. For a lightweight compact rifle I would prefer the .308 Win. If you want something with a little more "bone crunching" power consider the .358 Win. instead of the 300 WSM. Browning re-introduced the 358 in their BLR last year.

For a larger rifle intended for long range shooting I prefer the old 300 H&H over the 300 Win. or 300 Wby. Handloaded, the 300 H&H can easily duplicate the ballistics of the 300 Win. and presents fewer reloading problems. The 300 Wby has slightly better ballistics, but also has more recoil than many hunters like to absorb. You can still find a 300 H&H without looking too hard.

"Oh and I have no idea what I'll be using it for yet"

First you need to figure out what you want to do with your 30ca. Any of the ones you listed are good for animals up to elk or moose. It's more of a range and bullet weight thing.
I like 150/165 in my 308 and 180/200 in my 300Win.

"Oh and I have no idea what I'll be using it for yet"

First you need to figure out what you want to do with your 30ca. Any of the ones you listed are good for animals up to elk or moose. It's more of a range and bullet weight thing.
I like 150/165 in my 308 and 180/200 in my 300Win.

This is why I was wanting people's opinions, so that when I decide what to use it for I can figure out which round would be best :p

Just saw an interesting comparison of the various 30 caliber cartridges concerning capacity in grains weight of water.

If you allow me to plagarize:

308 = 56
30-06 = 68
300 SAUM = 74
300 WSM = 79
308 Norma = 85
300 H&H = 86
300 Winny = 92
300 Dakota = 94
300 Weatherby = 100
300 RUM = 113
30-378 = 133
If you want to see the entire thread
http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=804926&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=21&fpart=1

9R,
Are you planning on one 30ca rifle or more? The '06 is hard to beat for a middle of the road round, a bit on the heavy side for most deer though. If you want two 30ca rifles a 308 and any of the 30mags(take your pick) would be the way to go. I'm kind of a rifle junkie and have a 308, 2 '06s (a sporterized Springfield and a M54 Winchester), and a 300Win Mag.

niner,

1st choice try a 30/06 in M70 Winchester and find out for yourself why its the standard.

2nd choice try a M673 Remington in 308 - should be nice accurate carry around rifle.

Either way these would be my choice for reloading.

In 30 cal. I would have to say go with the -06 in a controlled feed, not push feed.

A couple of reasons;
Flexibilty of loads. You can shoot the same bullets by weight that you can in .308 and the heavies as well, so it is not too much for deer (150grain bullets) and not too little for moose(220 grain bullets). The neck is longer than that of the .300WinMag so seating longer bullets deeper into the powder space is not as critical. 200 grain SBT seat considerably below the shoulder in the WinMag. The -06 won't shoot as flat as the mag, but it comes pretty close, also it won't pound on you. Go with a 24 inch barrel rather than a 22 and you see even closer performance.

Also, the -06 is not overly consumptive of powder. It isnt as frugal as the .308, but you get more flexibility in bullets for that.

Read what Ken Waters has to say in Pet Loads.

One last thing. Would the 30-06 still be here 98 years later if it wasn't getting the job done? The others are mere pups compared to that kind of experience. LOL

Yeah, I like my -06.

While many dedicated Magnum enthusiasts will disagree, I think that the .30 caliber is best with rounds like the .308 Winchester or .30-06. Either makes a great choice, with the right bullet, for game up to elk at least. If large game animals that bite back are on the agenda, I'd want a larger bore instead of a faster .30.

Niner,

I think you stated that you already have a .270 win.

So that means you have your "long shooter". ie 200 yrds plus.

You stated several 30 calibers. Why not the 30-30? This can be your "short shooter". My personal choice would be the 35 Remington. for a short shooter. Both the 30-30 and 35 rem are excellent inside 150 yard guns. At least for whitetail deer.

May even want to consider the 444 Marlin. for 150 yards and a little larger/dangerous animal.

But I think a 358 win is also a great choice. with a little more oomph! Think of it as a .308 win magnum!

In fact I bet that if a gun manf. and amo manf. would market the a 358 gun in both bolt and lever as the .308 win mag they'd sell! Everyone is "magnum crazy" these days.

Remington is also making the 350 Remington magnum. Now that is a lot of whack!

well I already decided on a 30-30 and a 338 win mag as 2 calibers that I WILL own. So that is why I am tossing up the idea of a 30 cal. basically it would be adding to my collection. I have shot my friend's 30-30 before and like the lever action, so I may add more levers to my collection over time

You just have to decide the purpose you want you 30 for.

Short range deer - .30-30, .300 savage or .308. They are easier on meat and your shoulder. I would love to have a lever .300 Savage.

Target shooting - the .308 is the standard. Although you can order a .30-06 with the same 1 in 12" twist that will shoot as well with 125 to 180 gr bullets.

Elk Hunting only - The .300 Win is excellent. I'd stay away from the short magnums personally if your a reloader.

Need an everything gun... well that's easy and it's why the .30-06 is the standard. Loaded hot with boattail bullets and it will keep up with your .270 and have more punch when it gets there. In fact, according to 4th edition Hornady's tables, the max load velocity for the 150 gr .30-06 vs the max 154 gr 7mm Rem Mag is the same - 3000 FPS. For 165 and 180 gr .30-06 vs 162 and 175 gr 7mm Mag, the 06 is only 100 fps behind, which is ballistically pretty insignificant. In the 06, you can keep going up to 200, 220, and even 250 grains if you want. If you want one .30 cal weapon, it's simply THE STANDARD. And it will do anything and even more than the .270 and 7mm Mag can do.

You just have to decide the purpose you want you 30 for.

Short range deer - .30-30, .300 savage or .308. They are easier on meat and your shoulder. I would love to have a lever .300 Savage.

Target shooting - the .308 is the standard. Although you can order a .30-06 with the same 1 in 12" twist that will shoot as well with 125 to 180 gr bullets.

Elk Hunting only - The .300 Win is excellent. I'd stay away from the short magnums personally if your a reloader.

Need an everything gun... well that's easy and it's why the .30-06 is the standard. Loaded hot with boattail bullets and it will keep up with your .270 and have more punch when it gets there. In fact, according to 4th edition Hornady's tables, the max load velocity for the 150 gr .30-06 vs the max 154 gr 7mm Rem Mag is the same - 3000 FPS. For 165 and 180 gr .30-06 vs 162 and 175 gr 7mm Mag, the 06 is only 100 fps behind, which is ballistically pretty insignificant. In the 06, you can keep going up to 200, 220, and even 250 grains if you want. If you want one .30 cal weapon, it's simply THE STANDARD. And it will do anything and even more than the .270 and 7mm Mag can do.


YEAH!
What he said.

Here's my 2 cents worth....I have owned the 30-06, 308 Win. and 2 300 Win. Mags. I shot each one alot as well. They were all fine shooting rifles, but I enjoyed the 308 & 30-06 the most. A person can say what they want, but I do feel that the more you shoot a rifle, the more accurate you will be. The less they report & recoil, the more you will shoot them (thats how it seems anyway). Maybe its just my own quirks, but I was the most accurate with the 308 Win and almost as accurate with the 30-06, in fact, I shot them better than either 300 Win Mags. I worked-up my most accurate loads for all 3 cartriges and thats how it came out. Time after time, the results were the same. I stuck with the 308 Win for a number of reasons, but most of all because I am the most accurate with that rifle/cartrige. If I need something more powerful past 350 yds or so, I will probably buy a 338 Win or 340 Wby. I just don't feel I need anything more than the 308 does handily...........But it would be a really, really good excuse to buy another gun!!!

i agree with Alyeska. For the hand loader, the 300 H&H is a terrific choice. True, the factory loads are on the mild side, but still stronger than the 30-06. Hand loaded, the 300 H&H is "peas in a pod" with the 300 Winchester, and only insignificantly less powerful than the 300 Wby.

There are still a lot of good rifles available in 300 H&H and if you find one in a Winchester model 70 don't pass it up. One of the unique advantages of the 300 H&H is that the long tapered case slides up from the magazine to the chamber so smoothly that you can't resist the temptation to pull the bolt back just to make sure that you have chambered a round. This translates in a second shot so quick that you are unaware of working the bolt, leaving your total concentration on the target. This may not be the case with the new fat & short, sharp shouldered cartridges.

In my model 70 I get well over 3000 fps with the 180 grain bullet. This load will deliver 2000 ft. lbs. of energy out to 500 yards. Who needs more than this in North America.

30-06. Make & model is up to you but I like the Ruger 77.