308 vs win mag for hunting purposes??

[turnburglar]

Hey huys I just wanted to run by the forum what has been on my mind...


I am on the verge of moving back to AZ and want to buy a hunting rifle. This will by my first non AR or tactical gun. The primary use would be to shoot hogs, elk, deer, lions during the hunting seasons. The main question I have is:

"does the extra velocity of the magnum really matter for close range hunting?"

The only critter I am concerned with taking would be the ELK. I wouldnt be shooting them past 300 yards and would be using only solid or bonded hunting bullets. The magnum might help me load heavier bullets, but otherwise the 308 and any magnum have similar bullet selection. The main difference I have observed here is velocity. The magnum is running about 500 FPS faster, but is that even useful for my application? It seems that 30 cal bullets moving at more modest velocities have great penetration, where as when they are moving faster its more of the explosive varmint liquidator effect. Impressive yes, but neccessary for killing?

For refence I am looking at the lever actions made by browning and henry. The BLR and long Ranger.

[NWPilgrim]

The .308 is plenty for elk especially within 200-250 yds. I would have thought it would start running out of steam for elk but my dad had a one shot kill on a bull elk at about 320 yds. He was an excellent shot though. 180 gr CoreLockts is what we always used but nowadays there are so many excellently constructed bullets for elk. In the wide open I would go with a premium mono or bonded bullet in 165 gr to get a little more velocity at the 300 yd area. Personally I never shot at anything much beyond 200 out here in the PNW woods.

The .300 WM is a fine cartridge as long as you are OK with the bit more recoil and ammo cost and longer barrel. .308 rifles are often 18”-22” whereas the magnums are typically 24-26”. Likely not an issue in AZ, but in our thick woods and steep ridge climbing every inch and ounce matters.

[fledge]

Lots of guys shoot elk at 300yds with 308 here in Colorado.

[turnburglar]

Hey Thanks for the quick response guys!

I'll buy a 308 without worrying now.

[Falshooter]

I chose the .308 for those ranges
The .308 recoil is light there fore I can concentrate on bullet placement not the scope eye I might get if I'm not holding the .300 right.

And I'm a broke --- reloader so the .308 can get the 500 yard deer with less powder. Past 500 yards the 300 shines in every way. That being said I wouldn't switch from my 3006 till I new that a shot past 800yrds was possible. For the simple reason that I know this rifle very well and I know what its going to do out there with just about every wind situation that I'm going to encounter...

[flenna]

With the right load there is not much in North America that a .308 cannot humanely takedown. I chuckle to myself when I hear hunters talk about the .300 Win Mag they bought for hunting eastern whitetails.

[Nightvisionary]

I use a .308 DPMS G2 Hunter for elk in Oregon. That was to be my do it all hunting rifle. I added a 7mm Rem Magnum to my toolbox was after I started hunting mule deer in Central Oregon. There is almost no concealment in that area and those deer seem to have an uncanny 350-400 yard buffer zone. I spent two years tracking and bumping for miles trying to get my sub 300 yard .308 shot and I could never quite manage it. It doesn't help that Im 6'3 and 270. Other than the wide open hunting 308 will get it done.

[Eurodriver]

Lost river - can we be friends?

I have some swampland and nightvision you can try if you aren’t afraid of gators or mosquitos or Zika.

[noonesshowmonkey]

Lost river - can we be friends?

I have some swampland and nightvision you can try if you aren’t afraid of gators or mosquitos or Zika.

Seriously. I'll make the steaks.

Lost River is living The Good Lyfe(tm).

[biggfoot44]

For the best part of 100yrs , the .30-06 was considered both the most versatile all around rifle, and unquestionably the yard stick against which everything else was compared, for every aspect . ( Hint - the simplified version is the '06 split the difference between the later .308 and .300WinMag .

And the widely available , if somewhat simplified answer for the masses of " What hunting ctg has about the same recoil as .30-06, similar muzzle energy, and shoots way far away , and able to find ammo every place ammo is sold ? " , the answer is 7mm RemMag .