30-06 vs 300 WSM vs 300 Win Mag look at these numbers

[mattri]

Looking at building an intermediate range rifle for target and hunting. This will not be a bench gun, nor a walking rifle but a field gun for shooting out to 1k as a stepping stone to longer ranges. At the moment we have been shooting regularly to 600, can hold 1/2-1 MOA confidently and are ready to move a bit further out. Won't be shooting game at these ranges any time soon, still looking at ballistics etc.

Some interesting numbers- impressions welcome:

Shooting a 180gr bullet, with a 300 yard zero and a 10 mph crosswind , the 30-06, 300 WSM and 300 Win Mag come in accordingly:

30-06:
Drop @ 600 -59", drop @ 1k -295"
Wind @ 600 27", @ 1k 88"
Ft/lbs @ 600 1350, @ 1k 710
Powder used 57gr of H4350

300WSM:
Drop @600 -53.5", drop @ 1k -267"
Wind @600 26", @ 1k 84"
Ft/lbs @600 1485, @ 1k 780
Powder used 64gr of IMR4350

300 Win Mag:
Drop @ 600 -51, @ 1k -256
Wind @ 600 25", @ 1k 81"
Ft/lbs @600 1545, @ 1k 814
Powder used 80gr of H1000

So for this application there doesn't seem to be a clear winner. All rounds have their merit. As this is a field gun I will use a brake if necessary but would prefer to avoid one. The 30-06 obviously uses the least amount of powder, least amount of recoil and the best barrel life. On the other hand the 300 Win Mag shoots the flattest and hits the hardest.

There are other rounds to consider of course, the 7mm mag, the 280AI, the 264 Win Mag etc etc etc.

The ultimate question is still which round will give the best results, use the least amount of powder, have the longest barrel life etc.

Not asking much right? Everything is a compromise.

For those who have done it before, if you had to start all over again, which would you choose, and why?

 

[BrentM]

6.5-284. I have a 3006. Love my 3006 but wanted the high BC of the 6.5. However all of this stuff is relatvie to the FPS of the bullet combined with BC. Shoot a 210 vld at 3000 fps and see what it will do. Impressive.

I choose the 6.5 for light recoil and LR BC bullet with SD for smaller animals such as wolves. I bow hunt for deer and elk.

@ 600
drop 47.3
wind 17.9
1482 ft lbs

@1000
drop 217.2
wind 56.6
965 lbs

56 grains retumbo

52.5 grains retumbo and a 160 produces more drop but more ftlbs energy. 1505 and 1011.


*** The rule of thumb is to shoot the heaviest bullet, with the highest BC, at the fastest rate. Where things get complicated is when BC is low, speed is fast, or BC is high, and speed is low. You just have to run the numbers. It seems like the .264, .284, and .308 calibers all offer something for everyone. It seems like an endless sea of options that cover every aspect.

Good luck.

 

[mattri]

The 6.5x284 is a great round for sure but how does it compare with the others for barrel life?

 

[BrentM]

Well, from what I am told it sucks. 800-1200 rounds is what I hear. I have about 700 thru it now. I loaded them hot too. 2970-3000 fps. I had a new load I played with for awhile at 2910. The 160's are at 2700 and I am getting to know that bullet better and better. I ordered another 100.

 

[mattri]

That's the thing about rounds like that- the performance is there for sure, but if you want to be able to shoot a lot (which I do) then you run into throat erosion issues. Again, everything is a compromise, not looking for a free lunch, just the best round to start with.

 

[HARPERC]

I love a 30-06, but configured for a carry rifle. Light and handy for game to about 600 yards. When trying to extend the range from 600-1000 yards, I'd prefer a heavier rifle, more scope etc., then the .300 Winchester would be my choice.

 

[mattri]

Good points. The idea with this build would be a heavier rifle to reach out to the longer ranges, if it were 30-06 then it should get close to factory 300 win mag velocities. Obviously a similarily built 300 win mag would extend the range some. The real question is how much, and at what cost.

 

[wbm]

Thanks for the comparison. The venerable 30-06 is by far the most efficient of the group.

I ran some data using a long barrel, modern chamber 6.5x55 with a 140gr Berger VLD G7=313 @2750fps. It did a bit better at 600 than any of the three 30 calibers...but only to 600.

The 168gr 7MM Berger G7=.316 running at 2950fps puts them all in the dirt at 1000.
The 180gr 7MM Berger G7=.345 running at 2900fps leaves no doubt as the the superiority of the 7MM bore size over the 30.

Guess that's why the .284 and .264 bore sizes have been showing up with higher frequency in the last few years.

 

[mattri]

Fair point but that raises an important question:

Which of the 6.5/7mm rounds match the efficiency of the 30-06? If it is the .30 to beat which 6.5/7mm does better without being a barrel burner?

 

[HARPERC]

If you're going to use bullets in the 140-180 range, then I would go 6.5, or 7mm. In the .30's my preference is 200 grains and up.

I think the .300 Winchester has been proven world wide, and is the "standard" this class is judged by. That's not to say other cartridges don't compete or have merit. If you look at the various platforms, and settings it's been used successfully in, it can't be left out of the discussion.

Relative recoil is a legitimate factor to consider.

 

[wbm]

I think the .300 Winchester has been proven world wide, and is the "standard" this class is judged by

I agree. The thing about the tried-n-true calibers like the 30-06 and 300 WM is with the tremendous advances in projectiles and powders both can shoot beyond the levels that existed when they came out.

 

[LONGSHOOTER]

30-06:
Drop @ 600 -59", drop @ 1k -295"
Wind @ 600 27", @ 1k 88"
Ft/lbs @ 600 1350, @ 1k 710
Powder used 57gr of H4350

300 Win Mag:
Drop @ 600 -51, @ 1k -256
Wind @ 600 25", @ 1k 81"
Ft/lbs @600 1545, @ 1k 814
Powder used 80gr of H1000

Your data is obviously faulty. The 300 WM enjoys a minimum of 300 FPS velocity advantage over the '06. Therefore, your drops are not correct.

You are showing a 15% diff in drop, when in real life, the diff is 27%.

So, you might want to rethink this one.

 

[BrentM]

I suppose those drops could be true depending weight of bullets etc. for example a 150 in the 06 could be over 3000 and a 300 with 210 could be 3000

 

[Korhil78]

I suppose those drops could be true depending weight of bullets etc. for example a 150 in the 06 could be over 3000 and a 300 with 210 could be 3000

It could be but he stated that he was going to use a 180 gr bullet for each one. His numbers are off quite a bit. There is no way the 30-06 will push a 180 gr pill close to the velocity of the 300 WM.