Seeking advice/opinions on 300 win mag for first long range gun

[TJjohn36]

OK, I've been shooting rifles, handguns and a bow for many years . Lately, I shoot AR's more than anything, because i enjoy building them and have the ammo supply to support my shooting/training needs with them.
I'm not a gunsmith, but I have built many AR's and have no issues disassembling and reassembling firearms. My dad was a drill Sergeant at Benning and started teaching me the importance of proper maintenance at an early age.
I'm leaning heavily towards a 300 Winchester mag, particularly a Remington 700 platform . I'm not dead set on that yet though, still in research mode.
I'm not wanting a 308 though, because in my opinion, i can get almost the same results with my 270 as i can a 308 .(please don't hate me for saying that lol)
At this time, i don't reload, but do plan on getting into it within the next 12 to 18 months.
My concerns are as follows,
1. In your opinion, is a 300 a good caliber to get into the 1,000 to 1,500 meter arena with?
2. If you were going to start with a 300, would you feel the Remington 700 is a good platform to start with? If not, what route you recommend starting with? (Preferably for under $1,000 with out glass)
I know I would have to change the stock and mag area, that's a given.
Any other advice is absolutely welcomed!
I thank y'all in advance for answering a question that has been asked many times in many ways, it just seems it's always asked about 308, 6.5 or 7 mm .

 

[FIGJAM]

OK, I've been shooting rifles, handguns and a bow for many years . Lately, I shoot AR's more than anything, because i enjoy building them and have the ammo supply to support my shooting/training needs with them.
I'm not a gunsmith, but I have built many AR's and have no issues disassembling and reassembling firearms. My dad was a drill Sergeant at Benning and started teaching me the importance of proper maintenance at an early age.
I'm leaning heavily towards a 300 Winchester mag, particularly a Remington 700 platform . I'm not dead set on that yet though, still in research mode.
I'm not wanting a 308 though, because in my opinion, i can get almost the same results with my 270 as i can a 308 .(please don't hate me for saying that lol)
At this time, i don't reload, but do plan on getting into it within the next 12 to 18 months.
My concerns are as follows,
1. In your opinion, is a 300 a good caliber to get into the 1,000 to 1,500 meter arena with?
2. If you were going to start with a 300, would you feel the Remington 700 is a good platform to start with? If not, what route you recommend starting with? (Preferably for under $1,000 with out glass)
I know I would have to change the stock and mag area, that's a given.
Any other advice is absolutely welcomed!
I thank y'all in advance for answering a question that has been asked many times in many ways, it just seems it's always asked about 308, 6.5 or 7 mm .

You'll have to change the trigger too if you go with a Remington - their triggers suck. They make a a few models that come with hs precision or bell and carson stocks. The 5r Gen II, the Sendero SFII and the Long Range are the models I was thinking of. I have two sendero sfIIs and a 5R, all have been super accurate for me. 300 win is a good option, especially if you don't handload yet.

I think there are better platforms if you are just punching paper, even if you are hunting too - Savage makes some solid options in your price range, tikka is awesome...Browning xbolts are awesome too.

 

[davsco]

300 win (or wsm) are pretty good calibers, pretty much kills anything in north america though you prob can't have enough caliber for griz. tons of factory ammo out there, can get it loaded up or down for smaller or larger game.

spell out if you want this for hunting and/or shooting matches (ie precision rifle series) or just for plinking, will help others help you pick out a platform.

 

[lancetkenyon]

.300WM w. 26" 1:10" twist will stabilize a 210-230 bullet and be plenty for shooting out to 1500 on targets, and 1000+ for hunting.
I am a big Rem 700 fan. So I vote Sendero SFII or 5R. Heavier rifles are more forgiving to shoot. A bit more than your $1000 price, but worth it.

 

[Elkeater]

I just picked up my new browning x bolt hells canyon long range from the store today. It's .300 WM for killing critters to 800 yards and paper, steel and rocks as far as I think I can hit it. It was a little over $1000 but it came with a good trigger set right at 3lbs. A glass bedded stock and a muzzle break and thread protector if you don't want a muzzle break. I'll be shooting it tomorrow for break in I'll let you know how it goes. I'll be shooting 181gr hammer hunters out of it hopefully.

 

[jpfrog]

I have had a few 300win mags- all Rem700, ranging from the 700 Long Range model with the B&C stock, to the 5r Gen 2, and a semi custom with a Kreiger barrel. The Long Range didn't impress me, and had to be sent back after only 3 rounds to have the chamber fixed. It was a fine rifle when I got it back and it shot handloads about .75" at 100, but it needed more work than I was willing to invest to make it a better shooter. The semi custom was obviously great, but pricey as I had to involve aftermarket barrel and smithing, and waiting.

For an economic focused rifle, it's really hard to beat my 5r Gen 2. The 24" heavy fluted barrel is threaded for a break or suppressor from the factory, and the bolt has a more comfortable tactical style knob. It's silky smooth action is also cerakoted black and has a great HS Precision stock. I replaced the bottom metal with a Magpul DBM and the trigger with a Jewell. Total cost, getting deals on the rifle and parts by patiently shopping around, was about $1150 before scope/rings/base. It shoots factory Nosler Accubonds around .5" at 100 yards, which makes me smile, too, because I handload and know I can likely get even better results.

 

[ar10ar15man]

in stock guns with factory ammo the 300 win mag is a very good choice. 26" bbl
if you buy a cheap gun now you will just add more money as you try to improve.
expect to spend as much of not more on the scope.
hand loading is your friend.
and do not ignore the top end savage rifles

 

[wildcat455]

TJ, here are my thoughts and then my advice.

I think the 300 win mag is one of the finest long range calibers, and would have no problem recommending it to you...except for one thing. And it's an important one.

Not everyone can shoot one.
Sad, simple truth.

You need to find that out before you go spending money after something only to find you fit in the category of folks who are better off without one.

Borrow a buddies 300 win mag.
Buy a box of 215gr berger ammo for it.
It's important to do this test with the 215's or if your heart is set on 230's then use those.
Sit down at a bench and slow fire that ammo, so as not to heat the barrel, and shoot for groups.
If by the time you get to the end of the box, your groups haven't opened up, you'll probably be all right.

I have recommended 300 WM's to guys and they have taken to them like a duck to water. That is not always the case.
The last young man I work with really admired one of my 300's. He's a great kid, figured no harm if I sell him my rifle, he seemed to know what he wanted etc. I took him out with that rifle and shot about a 1/2" group with some factory Federal 180 gr. I handed the rifle over to him, this was almost a year ago now, he has yet to get his groups under 2" with that rifle. This is shooting 180 gr federals mind you. Not the heaviest recoiling ammo. Last week he was up shooting with it. I watched for a while, I thought there may actually be something wrong with the rifle. Maybe the barrel was shot out of it Maybe he needed to clean it better. I watched a bit more and then said let me see that rifle. I proceeded to shoot another 1/2" group with factory ammo. The problem was glaringly apparent at that point.

So just don't put the cart before the horse here. See if you can actually shoot one consistently first.

 

[TJjohn36]

Great input so far, thank you.
I'm sure the majority of the time with this rifle will be spent hitting paper, but i don't want it to only be a paper gun. I plan on taking it hunting at least a couple times in its life.
You're all definitely right in saying not to cheap out on it, and i know by the time i add a good stock, trigger and mag pull it's going to be around 2 grand.
I completely forgot to mention the 5R gen II, that one if on the list as well that I've been looking into.
I don't know anything about Sendero, i guess i need to look them up!
It seems like the rem 700 if not the platform it once was though? This is why I wanted to ask these questions to y'all, real world experience and advice!
So, let me ask a third question then. If I'm persistent about it being a 300, would bumping the starting budget up to 1500-2000 open up any better options?
I wouldn't mind purchasing a semi custom from the start, I just don't really have any where close by that I trust experience wise to buy from, and have a hard time letting go of my money to someone I've never met in person or that doesn't have a store front that has been around for a while .To many horror stories out there!

 

[middleofnowhere]

This video sold my buddy a Mesa Long Range...

 

[FIGJAM]

Great input so far, thank you.
I'm sure the majority of the time with this rifle will be spent hitting paper, but i don't want it to only be a paper gun. I plan on taking it hunting at least a couple times in its life.
You're all definitely right in saying not to cheap out on it, and i know by the time i add a good stock, trigger and mag pull it's going to be around 2 grand.
I completely forgot to mention the 5R gen II, that one if on the list as well that I've been looking into.
I don't know anything about Sendero, i guess i need to look them up!
It seems like the rem 700 if not the platform it once was though? This is why I wanted to ask these questions to y'all, real world experience and advice!
So, let me ask a third question then. If I'm persistent about it being a 300, would bumping the starting budget up to 1500-2000 open up any better options?
I wouldn't mind purchasing a semi custom from the start, I just don't really have any where close by that I trust experience wise to buy from, and have a hard time letting go of my money to someone I've never met in person or that doesn't have a store front that has been around for a while .To many horror stories out there!

$2000 grand would get you into semi custom territory. You can pick up a 5r Gen 2 for under $1k on gunbroker. If it shoots, awesome, if for some reason it doesn't, you can rebarrel. I personally like the hs precision stocks that come on them.

 

[FIGJAM]

This video sold my buddy a Mesa Long Range...

Savage has a similar video with their long range version that runs about $1k.

 

[middleofnowhere]

Savage has a similar video with their long range version that runs about $1k.

It's just crazy now what is available at a relatively affordable price. Savage makes an incredibly accurate rifle.

 

[Elkeater]

Shot my new x bolt hells canyon long range yesterday. Took me 3 shots to zero it. The next 7 shots went into sub MOA at 200 yards. That was just a random handload with some H1000 and 175gr MatchKings. After that I'm kind of expecting to see this rifle shoot .5-.75 MOA with good handloads.