300 win mag , 300 WSM or 30-06

[longrangestalker]

So I’m looking to build a rifle for going aboard to shot boar along with other trips but also want to be able to use it in the uk for stalking some times I can’t decide on what caliber can any one else help by giving me there opinions and experience with these calibers please 300 win mag, 300 WSM or 30-06

 

[Lateral]

All very good calibres, but personally, I would eliminate the 300wsm, based on ammunition availability.

The 30-06 will be easy to find ammunition for, including abroad, but the 300wm has the legs on it, if you intend shooting at much longer distances. Both will shoot 150-220gr bullets.

I shoot 9.3x62 for boar, but I think I'd choose the 30-06, but with a circa 22" barrel, as an all rounder.

 

[Dunwaters]

I’d go for the 06, it’ll do for anything on the planet outside of the very biggest game. Its also just about as far as I can go and not be intimidated by recoil.
Most piggies you shoot will be under 100kg, no need for the magnums, but if you want one, you want one....

 

[longrangestalker]

Ammonia not a problem as I will be home loading it I liked the idea of wsm as it’s like in the middle of both

The win mag is nice because you know you will never be be under gunner if you want to do long range goats or some thing

The 30-06 is nice because it’s only like 200/300 fps slower but I don’t want to have to change in the future and if your going long action are you better going magnum at same time ?

It’s a hard one I must say I want to shoot 180-200gr bullets ideally

 

[Selous]

I would previously have said 300 Win Mag until my son got a 300WSM... now I think the WSM is a better designed case that eliminates the belt and gives good velocities with game worthy bullets. Out of the cartridges you mention there isn’t a bad choice but I would go with the WSM

 

[Lateral]

I have used my 300wm for driven boar, although it was bought for longer distance, and plains game. I load Norma Oryx 200gr for boar, and it is very effective.

BUT, and this is why I'm not so keen for driven, to get the benefit from the 300wm, or in fact most magnums, you want a circa 24-26" barrel, and that's a lot to swing quickly, at very short ranges, common on driven hunts.

I'm fortunate to shoot quite a bit of driven, so I can justify having a 9.3x62 barrel for my Blaser R8, and other barrels for other hunting.

I would want to choose the best calibre for the vast majority of your hunting, and compromise if boar will only be occasional. Now if you can justify a change barrel rifle, get a barrel for stalking, and if you do book to go driven, buy something for that ?

 

[Fabnosh]

I love the 300WSM but not for traveling overseas. 300WM or 30-06 are universally available globally so if your ammo doesn’t arrived you can usually get some locally. I think you’d struggle to get 300WSM in the far flung corners of the planet.

FN

 

[Tazz]

I have a 300 wm great round shot lots of stuff out to 450 yards with it in both SA and Namibia, downside you get challenged for its use in the U.K. with some forces. 300 WSM a good round and decent compromise but ammo availability will be an issue as you can’t take home loads through Border Force. 30-06 universally good round ammo everywhere especially in Europe and Africa, not as good as the 300wm at longer ranges

 

[Namman]

Ammonia not a problem as I will be home loading it I liked the idea of wsm as it’s like in the middle of both

The win mag is nice because you know you will never be be under gunner if you want to do long range goats or some thing

The 30-06 is nice because it’s only like 200/300 fps slower but I don’t want to have to change in the future and if your going long action are you better going magnum at same time ?

It’s a hard one I must say I want to shoot 180-200gr bullets ideally

If you go abroad there is no contest. .300 Win Mag is the way to go. It is my choice for all the plains game from giraffes to duikers. Best to use 200 to 220 grain bullets . I now use partitions.
Imagine being in some foreign country and your WSM ammo has gone missing -- and it happens. You can buy.300 Win mag (or 30-06) anywhere, worldwide.

 

[John Gryphon]

300 wsm cases have been in short supply here at times but 300 WM`s stuff is all over the shop.......hint.

 

[Hanechdene]

but ammo availability will be an issue as you can’t take home loads through Border Force.

There is no problem taking home loaded ammunition through Border Force.

I have taken 300 wm, 300 WSJ, 6.5x284 and .375 Ruger home loads to SA on my last 8 trips.

Border Force, in my experience, never look at the ammunition they are more concerned about the weight. The ammo should not be packed loose and rattle around though, the federal plastic holders are ideal for packing.

SAP however are a different kettle of fish and we look for the smallest thing that is not correct to extract some money from you........

 

[Tazz]

I have a 300 wm great round shot lots of stuff out to 450 yards with it in both SA and Namibia, downside you get challenged for its use in the U.K. with some forces. 300 WSM a good round and decent compromise but ammo availability will be an issue as you can’t take home loads through Border Force. 30-06 universally good round ammo everywhere especially in Europe and Africa, not as good as the 300wm at longer ranges

There is no problem taking home loaded ammunition through Border Force.

I have taken 300 wm, 300 WSJ, 6.5x284 and .375 Ruger home loads to SA on my last 8 trips.

Border Force, in my experience, never look at the ammunition they are more concerned about the weight. The ammo should not be packed loose and rattle around though, the federal plastic holders are ideal for packing.

SAP however are a different kettle of fish and we look for the smallest thing that is not correct to extract some money from you........

Not wishing to be pedantic but the regs with Border Force at the airports is that ammunition should be packed in the manufactures original packaging and only full boxes. In reality yes you can stick your home loads in to manufactures boxes or risk it further and pack them in custom bullet boxes. On a purely personal sample size of 1 that being me, I have been abroad 6 times to date BF have never asked me to unlock my Peli box that has the ammo in, however the SA guys at there end wanted both the box opened and checked the round details on the boxes lined up with my rifle and license

 

[Lateral]

I think the thinking was not so much being able to take it with you, home load, or factory, but what if the airline loses it ? Rare, but it can happen.

 

[Lateral]

Not wishing to be pedantic but the regs with Border Force at the airports is that ammunition should be packed in the manufactures original packaging and only full boxes. In reality yes you can stick your home loads in to manufactures boxes or risk it further and pack them in custom bullet boxes. On a purely personal sample size of 1 that being me, I have been abroad 6 times to date BF have never asked me to unlock my Peli box that has the ammo in, however the SA guys at there end wanted both the box opened and checked the round details on the boxes lined up with my rifle and license

I believe the reason for ammunition being packed into original packaging, is because it's believed to be "safe", packed that way. The chances of your average official, knowing the difference between factory, and home loads, is remote !

I pack my ammunition, factory, or home loads, into the MTM 20 round cases, and often some into the Norma plastic bullet carriers, very useful for ammunition in your pocket, and those into a Peli case.

Never had an issue, including SA.

 

[Tazz]

I am not disagreeing that what you are doing is very unlikely to get picked up by BF or SA and other overseas forces, it’s just that in the event that you are unlucky with BF or SA ( where they have gone through my ammo boxes on 2 out of 5 trips) you risk ending up with no ammo. If you are going to take reloads abroad put them in manufactures boxes then you would need to run in to “Inspector Poirot” to tumble you, likelihood low

 

[Hanechdene]

What they are worried about is loose ammunition rolling around in a large box.

Any back to the original question regarding which .30 calibre to choose the wm and WSM are very similar in recoil. The WSM was touted to have less recoil than the WM, that wasn’t what I found.

 

[Wsm]

Had all three and settled on the Win Mag.Bit more legs than the 06 and a chance of finding factory ammo than the wsm if needed

 

[25 Sharps]

Have a look at the 300 PRC before you decide

 

[ian67]

I love my .300wsm. I have a tikka t3 with berserk stock. The factory ammo is pricey but i home load. I took it to South Africa, plains game. For a while it was my go to rifle for all my stalking.

 

[alberta boy]

All good cartridges . I've used all three , but predominantly the 300WM and 06 . If you see yourself shooting at extended ranges ( 300 yards + ) fairly often , go with the 300WM . You can find ammo for it in most places , even here the 300WSM is getting a little scarce at times , and it's a very capable round . I carry a 30/06 a lot these days , it does everything I need to do . I rarely shoot over 200 yards anymore and it's easier on my old bones , no moderators allowed . None of the three would be a mistake .

AB