.308 or .300wm

[Watch_this71]

I'm sure that this has already been covered in here, but my server is giving me problems tonight...

I'm pulling the trigger on a bolt gun. I'm a relative novice except for practice with the M14DMR when I was still in the military. I'm trying to cut out some of the cost of rifle buying since I'm going to have this thing for years to come. I'm also sure that I'm pretty much answering my own question, but I'd like the opinion of those with more knowledge than I.

I'm looking for a gun that will let me learn the basics of precision shooting. Should I get a .308 and learn the basics and THEN move up to .300WM or just get the .300 and learn on it?

 

[REL1203]

Re: .308 or .300wm

300WM is over $1 a round, 308 is under $1 a round.... Barrel life of a 308 is over 6000 rounds, 300WM is less than 3000 normally.. 300WM kicks hard, 308 is pretty soft... 300WM can go to 2000yards, 308 can go to 1000yards... If you are new, and learning, 100% go 308... Its very accurate, cheap rounds, cheap to reload, plenty accurate and more fun to shoot... save the 300WM till later

 

[Km22]

Re: .308 or .300wm

I was in the same boat as you. I went with the 300 win mag and now I wish I started with the .308...

 

[wallace11bravo]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Are you planning on getting into handloading?

 

[fdkay]

Re: .308 or .300wm

The easy answer is a savage 12 LRP in 6.5 creedmore.

Easy to shoot, flat shooting, exterior ballistics similar to a .300 WM with less recoil than a .308.

Match ammo is very reasonable, from the right sources.

 

[dangerdan87]

Re: .308 or .300wm

I bought 200 rounds of .300 WIN MAG 220gr from Southwest Ammo for just under $300. I probably wont shoot my .300 as much as my ARs, so I guess the price for ammo isn't too bad for my position.
IIRC, I paid $1.20 per round.

 

[rusty815]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Without a question get the 308, get practice in with it and then move on to the hard hitting rounds when you feel confident.

 

[rgrmike]

Re: .308 or .300wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Km22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was in the same boat as you. I went with the 300 win mag and now I wish I started with the .308... </div></div> I couldn't agree more. I also went with a 300WM and even though I love it, I wish I would've went with the .308. You can put so many more rounds down range for a lot less money.

 

[netranger6]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Get a DTA and have both??

 

[jerseymike]

Re: .308 or .300wm

308, since your stated you are new at this youll want to shoot a lot. 300wm cost more to feed and will burn out more barrels. My last barrel had about 1600 thru it and the throat was gone and rifling was firecracked about 3/4 of the way towards the muzzle.

 

[Remoah]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Rifles are about practice, as you'd know from the Mil, you only got better the more times you did something.

You only get better at driving the more times you actually put petrol in the damn thing and go for a drive.

Cheaper ammo = more ammo to practice with = more practice = better shooter.

Some people have this obsession with power and 'oh my 338 LapMag holds enough energy to drop a man at 1800yd better than your pissy .308'
yet they can't hit a paint tin lid at 300m.

Plus, if you start out on a .300wm, you've got nothing to 'look up to' so to speak. Finish your .308 and then if you like go up to something bigger, and that's another project.

Also, as a final thought, consider .243 Winchester or 7mm-08. Both are similarly priced, however are inherently more accurate and go flatter, so are a little easier to learn on. But by no means does that mean that the .308 is a 'dead' calibre.

 

[Nisils14]

Re: .308 or .300wm

As much it seems like everyone rips on the .308, I feel like it's one of those calibers that you just have to keep in the collection. Everyone makes something for this cartridge, and it makes it easier to start out with.

 

[Watch_this71]

Re: .308 or .300wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: netranger6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get a DTA and have both?? </div></div>

Funny you should mention that, I was looking at that last night after I posted this. I like the fact you change barrels with relative ease.

 

[mnhntr]

Re: .308 or .300wm

.308 unless you like pain and an empty wallet.

 

[DubGunner]

Re: .308 or .300wm

I've got a couple 308s now, and was originally thinking my next would be a 300wm to make 1000yd shots a little more repeatable. But from what I'm reading about ballistics, I think my next will either be a .260 or 7mm-08. Seems like they shoot like a 308 or softer, but have the velocities of 300wm.

 

[Rick 324]

Re: .308 or .300wm

If you get the .300 Win Mag, then make sure that you take it and have a Muzzle Break put on it!!! It is harder kicking and more expensive, but has a much longer range than the .308 and you can get some awesome bullets to go REALLY Fast!!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[Graham]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Why do you need a magnum?

Do you want to shoot .300WM for three days at a PR course?

You'll burn out the barrel learning the fundamentals, chasing your errors and erasing your bad habits.

 

[RFtinkerer]

Re: .308 or .300wm

I'm just a stupid newb, but I went 300 WM last year, realized my mistake after 6 months, and sold it for a 308 this year. I couldn't be happier. Well, maybe if I went with the 6.5 Creedmoor, but I can't beat all the factory loads.

 

[Little Z28]

Re: .308 or .300wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NisilS14</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As much it seems like everyone rips on the .308, I feel like it's one of those calibers that you just have to keep in the collection. Everyone makes something for this cartridge, and it makes it easier to start out with. </div></div>

For some odd reason I'm the same way. Even though there are much more "capable" offerings out there, I think everyone should have at least one .308. Mine is fun to shoot and I find it more challenging taking longer shots than my 22-250 or 25-06. For the last year or two my .308 has gotten used alot more than any of my other rifles. This includes shooting paper, hog hunting and deer hunting.

 

[Rick 324]

Re: .308 or .300wm

I Love my .308!!! It will always be a great shooter but my next one will be a .30-06!!! And yes it will have a muzzle break!!!

Great Points Guys!!!

 

[Inzaneriderz]

Re: .308 or .300wm

.308 for sure...better for learning as a newer shooter and gives you the ability to put more rounds down the tube bc ammo is cheaper

 

[stalski]

Re: .308 or .300wm

308, period. Learn how to reload, less things to go wrong, less money, less kick.

 

[Mendy300wm]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Go Easy on the 300wm girls, but yes start with a 308 for sure.... if it was me I'd go 260

 

[buffybuster]

Re: .308 or .300wm

If you don't reload, then there are only two choices: 308Win and 6.5Creedmoor.

If you reload, then: 308Win, 6.5Creed, 260Rem, 243Win, 6.5x47, 6XC, and some others.

The cost of match quality factory ammo is going to be cheapest with 308Win and 6.5Creed (though 6.5Creed is Hornady only at the moment)

 

[victorz]

Re: .308 or .300wm

DTA is a good choice if you want both. but expensive.$$$$$

308 is a good choice for under 1000, it's easy to handle, cheap, a lot of surplus ammo and even cheaper if you reload. Why 300wm, not 338lm?

If you are looking for a gun to learn the basics, get the 308 and then move to 338 when you are ready.

I started with a cz550 .308 varmint 10 years ago and still love it.

 

[Bob L Swagger]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Why settle for just one..

 

[mrunge]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Well the next logical step above a .308 is a 30-06 then a .300 magnum, 30-06 wont burn the barrels and will still scream at 1000yds. I just have yet to see anyone with a custom 30-06 on here.

 

[nomore606]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Like everyone says 308...good factory loads and plenty of data out there and it's a caliber you are currently familiar with. Work on your skills then go for a different caliber. If you can't shoot 1000 yards with a 308 what makes you think you can do it with a 300 win mag? Work on reading wind and developing your DOPE book so you can be confident because knowledge builds confidence. Once you master the 308 move to the 300 and push it out to 1500 (if you have a range to). Just my two cents.

 

[mrunge]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Not knocking the .308 it is a great round. 30-06 doesn't bother me as it's all I shot with the PSMA and I was 14 so If I can handle a Garand for half a day(half shooting half in pits) I think I can handle a winmag with a brake on it. If anything just load it to 30-06 specs or a little hotter, it's still a .30 cal round, just a bit larger brass than -06.

 

[Tackman11]

Re: .308 or .300wm

There you have it. Start with .308 and learn to reload it will save you alot of money and get 300wm later. Good luck and listen to these guys.

 

[JoshcBoucher]

Re: .308 or .300wm

I moved "down" to a Stag Model 6 Varminter, a few months ago, cause my son was burning through my reloads. It's a fun gun to shoot, and the ammo's cheap. It's a tack driver. Not going to sell my 308's, and I LOVE my 300 Win Mag. But when "the guys" get together, to blow off some rounds, I break out the 223, for the first hour, to "get focused" To quote "the other guy", Why "delude your self" into thinking you can live with one gun? I tried that> Didn't last long. I tend to lose my resolve, when I see the new guns on the shelf, at the local shop. When .223 is about $350/ thousand, and you can "convert" to 22LR, it's not a bad place to start. Looking back, the guns can be "sold", to recover some of the "investment". The ammo is GONE.

 

[Pappasniper]

Re: .308 or .300wm

308 first, 300 second. But get both, every man deserves a 300. And put muzzle brakes on both. The 300 will be no worse than the 308 with the right brake. Get a threaded barrel and you can spin on a brake. I went Rem 700 5R

 

[UIUCPPQ]

Re: .308 or .300wm

+1 for the .308, great caliber to learn on

 

[JoshcBoucher]

Re: .308 or .300wm

+1, on the 5R{that's one of my favorites}1 in. groups, at 100, all day long, with factory fodder. One hole,up to1/2 in., with hand loads. And the 300 Win.Mag, feels like the 308, with the brake.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PappaSniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">308 first, 300 second. But get both, every man deserves a 300. And put muzzle brakes on both. The 300 will be no worse than the 308 with the right brake. Get a threaded barrel and you can spin on a brake. I went Rem 700 5R </div></div>

 

[JoshcBoucher]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Re-submitting thoughts.My List: Ya need a 223, with xtra clips. Ya need a 308. Ya need a 300 Win Mag, or a 300 weatherby mag.cause they're just plain fun to shoot. Ya need a Hammer: Mine is a 45/70 1886 Winchester Lever action, with "loads" that are a little "hard" on the gun/user. 350 gr. bullet goin down range at 1900 fps.{Gets close to the 458 Win Mag.} Then ya start to "fill the gaps".Think of me as a "gun addict", though. I'm a little bit of a "collector" But for the "first"? After 2, or 3 days of consideration, since I first read your post, I fall back to the 308. My 5R Rem 700 is the first gun I grab, for fun, at distance.The 223 is cheap to shoot, but doesn't really have "muscle", at distance.

 

[Whit]

Re: .308 or .300wm

+1 for .308. I shoot mine to a 1000yds. I love my .308

If all you are shooting is paper or steel I would go with a 6.5mm round (260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x47 Lapua). They are flatter shooter and less recoil. I traded my Sako TRG-42 300 WinMag for a Sako TRG-22 308 Win and having it rebarreled to a 260 Rem.

 

[Patriot Prepper]

Re: .308 or .300wm

The .308 will be a better choice until you get to longer distances. I use my .308 for 600 yards and under. On occasion I will shoot the .308 one thousand yards. For further distances, I use my .338 LM.

The 300 Win Mag is a great cartridge, I skipped it and went to the .338LM to get more distance and power.

 

[Patriot Prepper]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Also keep in mind with the 300 win mag you will need a muzzle break. It can create problems at some ranges. People sometimes complain when I shoot the .338 LM

 

[VKC]

Re: .308 or .300wm

308 win over 300 win mag because of cheaper costs and less recoil, as well as longer barrel life.

6.5 Creedmoor if you want something with less recoil than a 308 win, longer range capacity, less wind drift and drop.

 

[dlklamfo]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Go with a 308. Less recoil, cheaper to shoot, easier on barrels. I do love my 300wm though!! Why did I get it over 308? Because I just wanted to.

 

[Watch_this71]

Re: .308 or .300wm

Thanks to all who contributed. I decided on the 6.5 Creedmoor...