.300 Mag VS. .308
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Posts: 2,186
You probably have all the info you need by now .... but .... I have both. Truly there is no comparison, except that they are both the same caliber.
In my opinion, the 300 Win. Mag. is an excellent choice for a 1-rifle selection, but way beyond what is necessary for deer sized game. It'll handle 150-220 gr. bullets well, with my personal favorite in the 180-200 grain size. I have used mine on white tails and mule deer ... with shot opportunities out to about 425 yards. Not a problem.
The 308 Win. is my No.1 hunting cartridge by choice. I use a 165 gr. bullet. Usually a Sierra Game King or Nosler Partition. Heavier bullets such as 180-200 br. take up case space, and in my opinion lend to less optimum performance. I have used it on feral hogs, mule deer, coyotes and white tail, with shot opportunities from near point blank out to 350-375 yards. I have had zero problems with clean, quick kills. It is primarily about placement anyway.
I have seen recoil charts but forget where or the details. The 300 Win. Mag., pushing a 200 gr. bullet an nominal muzzle velocities seems to me to be about 2X the recoil of a 308 Win. likewise pushing a 165 gr. bullet.
In my opinion, the 300 Win. Mag. is an excellent choice for a 1-rifle selection, but way beyond what is necessary for deer sized game. It'll handle 150-220 gr. bullets well, with my personal favorite in the 180-200 grain size. I have used mine on white tails and mule deer ... with shot opportunities out to about 425 yards. Not a problem.
The 308 Win. is my No.1 hunting cartridge by choice. I use a 165 gr. bullet. Usually a Sierra Game King or Nosler Partition. Heavier bullets such as 180-200 br. take up case space, and in my opinion lend to less optimum performance. I have used it on feral hogs, mule deer, coyotes and white tail, with shot opportunities from near point blank out to 350-375 yards. I have had zero problems with clean, quick kills. It is primarily about placement anyway.
I have seen recoil charts but forget where or the details. The 300 Win. Mag., pushing a 200 gr. bullet an nominal muzzle velocities seems to me to be about 2X the recoil of a 308 Win. likewise pushing a 165 gr. bullet.
#13
You get about 20-30% more power with about 50% more powder being burned and about 60-75% more felt recoil with the Mag over the standard .308. All of this is dependent on the rifle and the load being used of coarse, but it should give you a pretty good idea of where to two compare to each other. The .308 Winchester is one of the most efficient case designs there is.
#15
From Chuck Hawk's website about rifle recoil, energy, etc...
Rifle Cartridge.........Weight.....Recoil energy (how hard it kicks).....Recoil Velocity (how fast it kicks)
.308 Winchester.........7.5.........................15.80...................................11.70
.300 Win Mag.............8.5.........................25.90..................................14.00
Rifle Cartridge.........Weight.....Recoil energy (how hard it kicks).....Recoil Velocity (how fast it kicks)
.308 Winchester.........7.5.........................15.80...................................11.70
.300 Win Mag.............8.5.........................25.90..................................14.00