.300WM for Newb?

[jj303]

Would you recommend .300WM for a beginner shooter/hunter? Curious if this caliber might be too large and create bad habits in the initial stages of learning..flinching and the like?

[SBruce]

IMO, yes......it's too big, unless it's got a brake on it.

I don't deal with recoil very well, and I like to shoot alot of rounds in a day. I don't enjoy having the snot knocked out of my nose every time I pull the trigger. Hell, even a heavy barrel 25-06 will bruise a collar bone after 100 rounds in a prarie dog town.

I think it's hard enough for new shooters to get in the groove and enjoy the experience without adding pain to the equation.

My grandfather used to shoot competition for the military and he said "A 243 or 308 or 30-06 is all the gun a guy needs, I've seen alot of good shooters ruined by those 7mm and 300 maggies!"

FWIW

[Long Trang]

Typically?...NO. But, it depends on the person. If one is well familiar with high powered rifles, the the 300 WinMag is a possible learning rifle for long range. However, if you're unfamiliar with most aspects of shooting, I would recommend a training rifle like a .22. Yes, I know it sounds like kindergarten, but a 22 is cheap as is the ammo. There is no recoil to develop that infernal flinch. You can mount a cheap scope and practice the fundamentals while you pull together the coin to get a quality 300 Win, glass and assorted accessories.

BTW...to deal with the flinch (which everyone developes repeatedly...at least I do), you dry fire in your house. Dry firing doesn't mask any problems the shooter has like the recoil of live fire does. It's free, doesn't wear the rifle, make any noise and it's great practice.

Good luck.

[roninflag]

do you reload? will it have a brake? what rifle? the rifle is more important than the caliber.

[kcebcj]

When learning to shoot you should not have to deal with heavy recoil that a 300 will produce. You could put a brake on it but doing that brings forth other problems especially when hunting that a beginner should shy away from.

From what I understand flinching is a subconscious reaction to recoil and noise that all shooters have to deal with at some time or another but for a beginner it can really screw up the learning process.

With my son as my father did with me it started with a BB gun then a 22 then a 257 Roberts then a 270 and now my son shoots a 300WM and is deadly with it. So I would suggest you find a rifle with mild recoil that will take deer size game with a well placed shot put the best scope you can afford on it and shoot the crap out of it.

Good luck in the sport. Once hooked it goes on forever!

[Dean2506]

I would look at 7mm before 30 cal. Recoil will be milder and bc is better. If you want to shoot long range a 7mm mag is a good choice with manageable recoil. If shots are to be under 400 yds the 7-08 is a very accurate and fairly mild recoiling round. Just my .02

[roninflag]

the 300 wm mag is versitaile- you can load it to 308-3006 velocities. then when you want or need you can load it up. also very good components are available norma, lapua , nosler, rws brass. with a braek it kicks more like a 243 , less than a 308.