Caliber choice between 223 and 300 win mag

[Dgd6mm]

The .260 or 7-08.

 

[CaptainMal]

I say 260 Rem. Lighter bullets and just fun to shoot. Going heavier to 7MM on the same 308 case cuts into the light bullet fun a bit. Both of those cartridges are stupid expensive to by ammo for so be thankful you reload.

If you didn't reload I would recommend the 270 Win. I have multiple and they are really quite fun to shoot if you stay 130 gr. I have different rifles for different bullet weights. Just like the way the 270 shoots. Ammo is everywhere and cheap like 243, 30-30 and 30-06. Most other cartridge ammo pricing is a rip-off.

 

[TZaun]

I just built my son a 7-08AI with a Defiance action, McMillan carbon fiber stock, and pencil-thin Broughton 24" barrel. Still fireforming brass so I don't have "THE" load for it yet. Just loaded up some 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, with no development, to do the fireforming. Great shooting little rifle and not much recoil for as light as it is. So many great bullet choices in the 7mm 140 gr. range.

 

[Pres100]

I'd consider 308 and loading of cast bullets for light plinking rounds. Super cheap, mild and a lot of fun for reloading.

 

[NC308]

I would go 308. Lots of cheap bullets for target and really good hunting bullets. A 150 gr bullet is all you need for that game! And the 308 has great brass available and is super easy to load for.
Sounds like your shots may be inside of say 300 yards?? So no need for a "flat shooter".

 

[alleyyooper]

I Also live in Michigan have my deer camp near Rapid River in the UP. Have a good variety of hunting terrain from thick crawl thru cedar swamps, mature hard wood stands, cranberry bogs and a good bunch of beach on Big Bay DeNoc.

I hunt with two rifles there A Remington Model seven in 7mm08 set up for the thick cedar swamp and a 300 Winchester mag.
You do not have to down load the 300 to be a great deer rifle. I had mine Mag Na Ported use hand loads about 2600 fps and 165gr Serria HPBT game king bullets. Nice thing about Mag Na Porting is you do not get that noisy back blast like you do with a brake. recoil is milder than my 7mm08 too.



View from my favorite deer blind on a early morning during the Nov fire arm deer season.



I just don't see spending money for a unneeded rifle when you have a varmint rig and the 300 WM just works for all but the crawl thru cedar swamp. It can be tailored for about any other condition too. Perfect for mid Michigan corn stubble or bean fields too.

Al

 

[swd]

Great pic!

 

[TheOtherZilla]

My advice, though late.. 270 Win.

 

[timeout]

Great pic!

^^^^^^

 

[drover]

You have the two calibers that can cover everything from varmints to grizzly everything else is - Well, just in between.

drover

 

[onelastshot]

The 7mm Mauser is a great round; 101 different choices for bullets, modest recoil and effective killing power for all deer as well as black bear. You can choose a 130 grain bullet for deer and develop a light load and use heavier bullets such as the 168 grain Noslers for bear. I've shot a Ruger Number 1 single shot for years, it's been a great deer rifle. The vast number of bullets and weights makes it an easy choice.

 

[klamathsteel]

Webster and XTR's posts have really resonated with me. Not that the others haven't offered solid advice. I appreciate the advice I have been given and have considered all of it, researching the various suggestions. Being a practical and versatile guy, I like how the 7mm-08 can handle slightly heavier bullets for big game; has readily available, good quality parent brass; and is still light recoiling.

Yet, downloading the 300 win mag is also pretty appealing. Very versatile, and definitely saves me more than $2000. As I said I like nice toys and have Nightforce scopes on both of my other rifles --Cooper Jackson Varminter/Game models with nice wood--which have been bedded, rebarreled to a larger diameter so I can use suppressors, etc. I don't mind spending money on good equipment and good craftmanship, but it means I can't have a rifle for every niche. I am not rich. I have to be selective, and have versatile equipment. I probably could get rid of my 17 FB and only keep the 223 as a fur friendly coyote rifle and use my 12 gauge for fox and bobcat. I live in the Upper Peninsula and there are more coyotes than fox, and more trees than fields.

Tough decision. Something to think about.

Any problems accurately shooting the 165 grain bullets with the 300 win mag and still being able to go up to a 200 grain, and possibly 220 grain if I ever get the chance to go on a grizzly hunt?

What twist is your 300 WM ?

 

[Evan]

This thread is long dead. March 2017.

That said, there was no reason to buy a second rifle, the 300 win mag would quiet down and mind it's manners if downloaded to 30-06 speeds. Wanting something different is of course understandable, but I would have sold the 300 first.

 

[Webster]

I have only been into shooting the last 3-4 years. I have a 17 FB and a 223. Shot a few coyotes and have been enjoying target practice. I want to get into big game hunting (primarily deer and possibly black bear; I live in Michigan) and my dad recently gave me his 300 win mag. He doesn't like shooting it anymore. I have shot it some and although it gets your attention, it's not worse than shooting 12 gauge, 1.25 oz slugs.

Although I could shoot 165 grain bullets through the 300 win mag and use it for deer, it is really more recoil and power than I need in Michigan. I'll keep this one for future elk and moose hunts. So, what I am looking for is a caliber between 223 and the 300 win mag that I can use for big game from deer to black bear. I don't mind if it is slightly light for black bear; I'll just pick my shots more carefully. Granted I could use the 300 win mag for black bear if needed, but I envision using my new rifle as my primary big game gun for Michigan size game.

Some considerations:

1. I reload and it is not critical that the caliber is commercially available, although that would be nice.
2. Brass needs to be readily available and in good quality
3. No complicated steps in reloading, e.g. shortening a parent case that requires thinning necks, fireforming (unless it can be done shooting regular reloads with a minimal loss of accuracy), etc.
4. Has light recoil

One caliber that comes to mind is a 308. It is another 30 caliber and closer to the 300 win mag than I would like. Plus it would be nice to get something lighter recoiling, although I can handle the recoil fine. It is the one caliber that seems like it fits my list the best. Another one is the 243. Granted it is a little light for black bear, but I would need to pick my shots more carefully.

Any other thoughts? I suspect this will be my last rifle a while. I am the type that likes a few really nice toys that are versatile and I use regularly.

Thanks much.

Just because it's magnum doesn't mean you have to shoot high velocity.
From the Berger reloading manual it gives the starting fps for 168 gr bullets as 2971 max 3100 fps. Try the lighter loads. With my varmint rifles i can fell the difference in recoil between shooting 55 an d 70 gr. Bullets. Not sure but a 150 gr bullets with light loads may feel comfortable. I can feel the difference in recoil between a 32 and a 34 gr powder charge.

 

[rudysts]

280 Rem with 140 or 160 class bullets for deer and 175 or 180 for bigger game. easy to load for with exceptional accuracy. recoil is mild especially with 140 or 160 bullets. Nosler makes 280 Rem brass and it will last a long time.

 

[Bulletbob]

I have only been into shooting the last 3-4 years. I have a 17 FB and a 223. Shot a few coyotes and have been enjoying target practice. I want to get into big game hunting (primarily deer and possibly black bear; I live in Michigan) and my dad recently gave me his 300 win mag. He doesn't like shooting it anymore. I have shot it some and although it gets your attention, it's not worse than shooting 12 gauge, 1.25 oz slugs.

Although I could shoot 165 grain bullets through the 300 win mag and use it for deer, it is really more recoil and power than I need in Michigan. I'll keep this one for future elk and moose hunts. So, what I am looking for is a caliber between 223 and the 300 win mag that I can use for big game from deer to black bear. I don't mind if it is slightly light for black bear; I'll just pick my shots more carefully. Granted I could use the 300 win mag for black bear if needed, but I envision using my new rifle as my primary big game gun for Michigan size game.

Some considerations:

1. I reload and it is not critical that the caliber is commercially available, although that would be nice.
2. Brass needs to be readily available and in good quality
3. No complicated steps in reloading, e.g. shortening a parent case that requires thinning necks, fireforming (unless it can be done shooting regular reloads with a minimal loss of accuracy), etc.
4. Has light recoil

One caliber that comes to mind is a 308. It is another 30 caliber and closer to the 300 win mag than I would like. Plus it would be nice to get something lighter recoiling, although I can handle the recoil fine. It is the one caliber that seems like it fits my list the best. Another one is the 243. Granted it is a little light for black bear, but I would need to pick my shots more carefully.

Any other thoughts? I suspect this will be my last rifle a while. I am the type that likes a few really nice toys that are versatile and I use regularly.

Thanks much.

Man have you opened up a can of worms, there are zillions of choices, but since you are already reloading try the 6.5x47 Lapua, Very low recoil, REALLY accurate, long barrel life, and hell on deer. I personally love mine, and it is really easy to load for. Almost any thing you do reloading for it will shoot. Bullet ranges from 108gr through 155gr, I personally like the 140 gr Elite hunter from Berger. And RL17 or H4350 for powder. Its a fun round.

 

[Shinbone]

25-06 for an easy shooting very effective cartridge, or 270WSM if you want more power. Buy a Kimber Montana in one of the above cartridges and you will have a very handy and effective hunting rifle.

The .30 caliber cartridge are just overkill for deer, especially whitetails, and black bear with modern powders and bullets.

JMHO

 

[Barlow]

Write on a separate piece of paper each of the posted recommendations, fold them up put them in a hat, stir contents, have someone reach in and pull one out, open it and you have your cartridge. They will all work. Barlow