The Head-to-Head: .308 Winchester vs. .300 Winchester Magnum

This test has been requested by many readers. Although I’d typically pit two cartridges that are more powerful level, these two are very popular as all-purpose hunting cartridges. They are also among the 2 .30-caliber cartridges that I’ve spent the longest time with, which is why I have a special spot within my soul for both of them. Each of them has their own set of fans and are both forced to compete with .30-06 Springfield’s performance as a benchmark.

The . 308 Winchester was created through the U.S. Army as a replacement for the .30-06 Springfield, as powder technology had demonstrated that the same speeds could be achieved with smaller combustion chambers. From an .300 Savage case, the military tests led to T65, or the T65 cartridge. This was to be named 7.62x51mm NATO in 1954, but was released to the public in the form of .308 Winchester two years earlier. A rimless cartridge with an 20-degree shoulder resulted in muzzle speeds that were similar to those produced by the ought-six, but the 1:2″ twist rate restricted the bullet’s weight to 200 grains. No matter what, the capacity of the cartridge was most effective with bullets weighing between 125-180 grams which could take on almost any weapon using the .30-caliber cartridge.

Comparatives with that of .30-06 Springfield were immediate, and even though the previous cartridge has a small speed advantage but the .308 Winchester isn’t slow even in the slightest, and can be an all-round hunter’s cartridge, as well as being a favourite of the target shooting community, particularly prior to the launch of the Creedmoor thing. I love the bullets with 165 grains that are available in the .308 Winchester, as they can be shot at approximately 2650 fps, or take, based on the manufacturer, and they have a density that is high enough to provide an extremely deep penetration. This .308 Winchester is easy on the shoulder and I’m still convinced that it’s one of the finest whitetail cartridges, particularly when it is in a multi species zone like that we do here in New York, where black bears increase in number throughout the year. Given it is the .308 Winchester is the first to define the long-action rifle, it is an excellent hunting rifle, more than 70 years on from its debut.

Its .300 Winchester Magnum is located on the other end of the spectrum of velocity it is slightly more powerful over its predecessor .30-06 Springfield. It was launched in 1963, and was the fourth of a line of magnum cartridges belted in the Holland & Holland case, which was shortened to fit inside the long-action receiver. Although the .458 Winchester Magnum handled thick-skinned game and was a great choice for hunting, this .338 Winchester Magnum had become the most sought-after cartridge for those traveling into Alaska as well as those that hunted bugling bulls in the autumn. And, since it was the .264 Winchester Magnum shined on the longer shots that were taken out West for pronghorn and mule deer It was only natural for the marketplace to want an .30-caliber version. It was the .300 H&H Magnum had been an extremely popular choice, chambered in Winchester’s Model 70, it required the use of a magnum-length receiver. Norma created what everybody expected to be the brand new .300 Magnum would be with their 1960 release that was the Nils Kvale designed .308 Norma Magnum; this cartridge, though not as popular as the .300 Winnie, remains a stunning design.

Winchester’s .300 could be different than the previous three versions in that the length of the cartridge would be changed by 2.500 inches. It would then be 2.620 inches and the shoulder would move forward to cut its neck size by 0.264 inches. This allowed for more space for powder. And even though the cartridge has been criticised for its neck length that is shorter than normal but I’ve not had any issues in adjusting the neck. The cartridge is the same 3.340-inch length of the cartridge as its counterparts, and although it’s designed to allow headspace away from to the belts, those who reload’ long shoulders that allow the 25-degree angle to take over that responsibility to ensure better focus.

Its .300 Winchester Magnum will push the 180-grain bullet up to a muzzle velocity of 2960 fps, which I believe is about right–and also the 165-grain bullet up to 3050 fps. This is significant improvement over those of the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. The increase in velocity comes with a higher recoil, however I believe that the .300 Winchester Magnum is among the more appealing out of .300 Magnums. It’s also more comfortable for shooters than .300 Weatherby Magnum, or the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum. It’s an extremely precise cartridge, offering the slick accuracy needed for long shots of game animals. It is well-suited for the range for shooting targets too. It has been the weapon of choice of military snipers as well as hunter sheep alike.

Both cartridges come with a vast range of factory-loaded ammunition options until it’s no longer an issue. Actually, I believe that any manufacturer of ammunition will have a certain type of selection with both cartridges. Reloading components, if they’re available, are readily available in both cartridges. The best cartridge for you will depend on what species you want to hunt and the location you plan to go hunting. The extra power and power from the .300 Winchester Magnum may appeal to you if you wish to hunt elk and bear, and moose in the west, or even the most powerful game of all hunting the African prairie game. If you are familiar with the arc that is this .308 Winchester (only marginally less smooth than those of the .300 Magnums) and are planning to stay within reasonable hunting areas There’s no reason to not depend on the .308 Winchester.

For more than 10 years for the better part of a decade .308 Winchester rifle was the sole cartridge I had in the majority of my hunting big game, however, it was only used for deer that were whitetail, black bear and, in rare instances, coyotes. Although the ranges were within the 200-yard range, I was able to handle the rifle very well and it never failed me. This .300 Winchester Magnum has been everywhere with me in hunts that are local to me in New York, to caribou hunts in Quebec and Pronghorn hunting in Wyoming Aoudad hunts across West Texas, to being my lighter rifle during three safaris through southern Africa. It’s also incredibly flexible and is capable of being loaded manually down close up to .308 Winchester specs, but the loads that are full-house will sound like an Lion.

If we view this contest from the perspective of the hunter, who could use his rifle to hunt only a handful of species, the soft recoil and the economic advantages from shooting with the .308 Winchester will shine, and the cartridge is the one that makes more sense. However, for the hunter who plans to travel around the world, and has a rifle to be used for the vast majority of their hunts, whether it’s Coues hunter deer from Arizona and hunting elk in Colorado or bears within the Yukon or the most memorable eland traversing the red sands in Namibia It’s impossible to beat the broad spectrum of possibilities which the .300 Winchester Magnum is designed to.

It’s possible to describe it as follows I am a lover of traveling across the globe and encounter the most diverse hunting experiences as I can, while filling every page of my travel journal; it seems like the .300 Winchester Magnums get to travel, whereas my .308 Winchesters are more likely to remain at home. Both are needed in the world, and I can’t imagine any of them disappearing in the near future.