.300 Winchester Magnum is a powerhouse of American design and ingenuity.
Since the late 1960s, the .300 Winchester Magnum has served many hunters, soldiers, and long-range shooters looking to leave a nice .30 caliber hole in whatever they are shooting.
This mighty round is versatile and a favorite of sportsmen across North America and beyond.
That said, today, we will do a deep dive into the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge. We’ll cover its origins, performance, best ammo, and a few gun recommendations.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Big Game Ammo
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Runner Up Big Game Load
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Best Deer Ammo
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Runner-Up Deer Ammo
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Best Competition Ammo
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Editor’s Pick
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Best Hunting Rifle
Table of Contents
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Why You Should Trust Us
Travis is a firearms instructor, prior Marine infantryman, and hunter out of Florida. He’s put in an extensive amount of time researching, analyzing, and testing various guns for Pew Pew Tactical and other publications.
Additionally, the PPT editorial team has a combined 30+ years of shooting experience that extends into concealed carry, hunting, competition, and law enforcement. We tested hundreds of products, to include long guns over the years.
This article is a combined effort to bring you some of our favorite models over the years.
Best Rounds for Hunting & Long Range
If we are hunting large game, we need a rather powerful load with a decently heavy projectile. We want penetration to ensure that the projectile sails through that 800-pound moose and humanely and cleanly kills it.
1. Barnes VOR-TX 180 Grain TTSX BT
Barnes makes some great rifle ammo, and the TTSX BT ammunition keeps up its reputation for accuracy. The projectile is designed for maximum penetration and to dig through dense muscle, fat, and bone. All the while, the projectile is expanding and causing greater damage as it passes through.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The energy transfer is huge, and it will reliably put down a big animal with ease. Barnes VOR-TX series features lead-free projectiles moving at nearly 3,000 feet per second. It’s powerful, capable, and very accurate.
We are talking about 1 MOA ammo here. Premium ammo has a premium price tag, but .300 Win Mag shooters are used to that.
2. Federal Premium Terminal Ascent 200 Grain
If 180-grain ammo isn’t enough, step up to the Federal Premium Terminal Ascent .300 Win Mag ammunition and get that hefty 200-grain projectile.
As part of the Federal Premium line, the ammunition is absurdly accurate and offers match-grade performance.
The 200-grain polymer tip projectile has a bonded jacket with a Slipstream polymer tip. This offers hard-hitting penetration to take those big, potentially mean animals.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Terminal Ascent rounds use a copper core for weight retention that combines well with the bonded lead core. It’s a hefty hitter, and you’ll feel it on the stock end of the rifle.
Now, let’s move on to the world of common, medium-game animals like deer and hogs. Neither of these animals requires a big, heavy, uber-powerful round to take.
Save yourself the money, the recoil, and the potential overpenetration with rounds better designed for medium game…
3. Hornady American Whitetail 150 Grain Interlock
Whitetail is in the name! That’s an easy choice!
Plus, a box of this stuff is much cheaper than those expensive big-game-getters. The Hornady American Whitetail loads are famously effective for quickly taking down medium game.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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With the .300 Win Mag, we don’t need all the oomph of a big game load, and we don’t get it here. Its 150-grain projectile is standard on less powerful calibers and works well for taking deer.
The projectile is a simple soft tip design that will expand and adequately penetrate without over-penetrating when paired with proper target selection.
4. Winchester Deer Season XP 150 Grain
Again, it’s in the name! The Deer Season loads are another affordable option that throws a 150-grain projectile at a little over 3,000 feet per second.
It’s a hard hitter that will instantly take down medium game without the recoil of a 200-grain projectile. This load makes use of a polymer tip projectile that’s paired with a tapered jacket.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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This grants you an accurate cartridge that hits hard and expands rapidly. At the same time, it’s retaining its weight and penetrating deep. One good shot from this cartridge and any typical medium game is going down.
But sometimes, you want to reach out and hit a paper or steel target at a very long range with your fancy rifle. You don’t need expansion or penetration. It would be best if you had consistent accuracy.
For that, you need a long-range load like the…
5. Hornady 195 gr ELD Match
The Hornady 195-grain ELD Match provides consistent and total accuracy. This round uses the ELD Match projectile, which Hornady derived as a very low-drag projectile.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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It has excellent consistency and a .584 ballistic coefficient (G1). This allows a shooter to reach out repeatedly and easily strike the target.
The hefty 195-grain round delivers predictable performance, and even the recoil isn’t that bad compared to some other .300 Win Mag loadouts. It’s perfect for those 1,000-yard shoots.
Best .300 Win Mag Rifles
1. Christensen Arms Ridegline
Christensen Arms went from a company known by precision shooters to one known by anyone who appreciates well-made guns in concise order.
The Ridgeline represents the combination of the match-grade performance of Christensen Arms rifles with a rifle specifically made for hunting.
This gun breaks the mold in terms of weight, and if you are humping and hiking over rugged terrain searching out that mountain sheep, then the Ridgeline won’t weigh you down.
At 6.75 pounds, the Ridgeline makes snapshots possible. However, your shoulder might not like 35-foot pounds of recoil.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Don’t worry too much. Its radial muzzle brake will help you a bit. The Ridgeline shaves weight and creates a greatly balanced rifle using a carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. This trims weight significantly and ensures you get that 1 MOA accuracy you want.
This is the best .300 Win Mag rifle for under $2,000.
2. Mossberg Patriot
Two grand! That’s a lot of money! Don’t worry. Thanks to Mossberg, you can get into the .300 Win Mag for a lot less than that.
The Mossberg Patriot Long-Range Hunt Bolt Action rifle in .300 Win Mag will set you back by less than $700.
At 7.5 pounds, it’s certainly not a lightweight rifle, but it’ll get you into the .300 Win Mag comfortably. The end of the barrel is threaded and perfect for a suppressor or, at the very least, a muzzle brake to reduce recoil even further.
Across the top, we have a machined-in optic rail to make adding an optic easy and increase the budget nature of the rifle even further.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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It’s an accurate rifle that’s perfect for the average hunter. It’s not fancy, but accurate, reliable, and capable. For less than $700, it’s tough to beat.
3. Barrett MRAD
Here’s the cool guy .300 Winchester Magnum rifle. The MRAD, or Multi-role Adaptive Design, is a precision-oriented tactical rifle developed for its modularity.
Users can easily swap calibers and chamber everything from 6.5 Creedmoor to .338 Lapua Magnum. The .330 Win Mag sits right in the middle.
The MRAD was developed for the U.S. Military, but as always, Barrett opened up their rifles for the consumer market. For the average person, the hefty MRAD isn’t great for hunting but works exceptionally well for precision shooting.
This is an ultra-modern rifle with all the modern features. We get a massive optics rail setup to work with precision optics and thermal and night vision attachments: a crazy modular stock and multiple barrel-length options.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The rifle delivers such crazy good accuracy. With proper match grade .300 Win Mag ammo, we are seeing less than half MOA. That is absolutely brilliant, and if you want to hit targets at long ranges repeatedly, the MRAD has you covered.
History
Before the .300 Winchester Magnum, the .30 caliber magnum-powered cartridge was nothing new. Lots of folks were making dome impressive rounds, the most famous being the .375 H&H magnum.
The old .375 H&H Magnum is still kicking and would become the parent cartridge for the .338 Winchester Magnum, leading to the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge.
As the name implies, Winchester created the round specifically for the famed Model 70 rifle. In 1967, Winchester was still taking a beating for changing the Model 70 in 1964. The .300 Winchester Magnum promised shooters a versatile cartridge that could be used for any North American game.
At first, it faced stiff competition with the newly released 7mm Remington Magnum. It fought the good fight and eventually became the most popular of the medium magnum calibers. The .300 Winchester Magnum still survives to this day.
This cartridge beat the 7mm Remington Magnum, the .300 H&H Magnum, the .308 Norma Magnum, and a few more to become the dominant magnum cartridge.
Where the .300 Winchester Magnum Shines
The .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge is a magnum-powered cartridge designed to fit into a standard rifle action.
It’s built to be very versatile. Using a .308 diameter bullet was the ticket to making it powerful enough to take big game humanely and mild enough to take deer without dealing a crazy amount of damage.
Projectile weight can vary from the lightweight 125-grain projectiles to the 220-grain hard-hitting beasts. The belted bottleneck case is 67mm long, leaving plenty of room for enough powder to keep the projectile moving.
The .300 Winchester Magnum shines in a lot of roles. Winchester created the round originally for hunters who wanted to hunt everything on the continent. As a hunting cartridge, it’s still one of the most versatile and useable rounds on the market.
Beyond hunting, the cartridge has found a place with competition shooters. It’s capable of being quite accurate, and the fact it fits into a standard action length makes it perfect for certain competition classes. This made the cartridge a successful factory load for shooting out to 1,000 yards.
The military has adopted the .300 Winchester Magnum. While slow to pick up on the adoption of the cartridge, the .300 Winchester Magnum has slowly replaced the 7.62 NATO cartridge in bolt action rifles. The Army and Marine Corps both use the round known as the MK 248 MOD 1.
This cartridge proved more robust and accurate than the 7.62 NATO without a massive weapon size or configuration trade-off. Some police forces have also adopted the round with their sniper teams.
Across the world, military forces have adopted the .300 Winchester Magnum as a long-range, precision-oriented round.
.300 Win Mag Performance
The .300 Winchester Magnum outperforms most other .30 caliber rounds. When compared to the .308 and .30-06, it blows it away over and over again.
At 500 yards, a 150-grain .308 is moving at about 1,800 feet per second. At that same range, the .300 Winchester Magnum is moving at 2,300 feet per second. That’s a big jump in speed, translating to a huge energy difference.
With those same two rounds at those same ranges, the .308 hits with 1,166 foot-pounds of energy, and the .300 Win Mag slams into targets with 2,180 foot-pounds of force.
That’s a big difference, and yet, the rifle that shoots the .300 Win Magnum doesn’t have to be much bigger than the .308 caliber rifle.
The supersonic range of the .300 Win Mag round is 1,200 yards, and the .308 comes in at just a hair over 1,000 yards.
Let’s talk drop and go back to our 500-yard range. At 500 yards, the .308 Winchester drops about 50 inches, and the .300 Win Mag drops 39 inches. That’s a big difference.
The downside to all this performance is recoil. You get a boat and more recoil with the .300 Winchester Magnum. .300 Win Mag rifles are often a little heavier than most .308 caliber rifles.
We see a big difference in recoil if we compare the two with the average weight of a .308 caliber rifle and the average weight of a .300 Win Mag rifle.
A 7-pound .308 generates a little more than 20 pounds of recoil. A nine-pound .300 Win Mag generates over 25 pounds of recoil. There is no such thing as a free lunch. This will vary depending on the load used and the rifle’s action.
The .300 Win Mag is a great cartridge, but a cartridge is only as good as the load it fires. With that in mind, we picked out a few of the better options on the market.
Final Thoughts
The .300 Winchester Magnum is a powerhouse of a cartridge. It’s accurate, hard-hitting, and capable of some absolute long-range awesomeness.
No wonder it’s still an absurdly popular option amongst precision shooters and big game hunters.
What have I missed about the big cartridge? Let me know below! For more on big guns, check out the Best Large-Bore Hunting Rifles: Big Guns & Big Game.
18 Leave a Reply
take a look at tika rifles 308 and 300
Bought a Bagara HMR-PRO, in the 300 Win Mag. Putting a 4.5x14x50 older Luppy scope on it and sighting in the scope @1000” (27) yds Then shooting at a “small bore” 50 yd target reduced for shooting at 50’, BUT SHOT AT. 100 YDS. All shots were placed inside the BLACK for 12 shots and the last 12, 3 each inside the same size BLACK. SOME 1 1/4” black 10 ring.
Bergara B-14 ridge, bedded with devcon, vortex pst Viper 2: 5-25X50, American arms lil bastard 3rd gen brake.
Hornady GMX 150gr, 71.5 GR IMR 4350, NOSLER fire formed brass, CCI #215 PRIMERS. Average velocity: 3100fps
Hornady GMX 180gr, 73.7 gr IMR 7828ssc, same brass and primers. Velocity consistently averages 2988.
Both rounds loaded at saami max OACL 3.340 and group 1.5 inches at 200yds. Less tha 3/4in MOA on a factory hunting rifle. Very pleased with Bergara and Hornady combined.
180 Accubond 74.6 gr H1000
And
175 LRX 75 gr RL 22
I shoot these out of my CA Traverse 300 WM.
Tack driver!!!!
Great article!I bought an EvoShield recoil shirt-best investment ever if you shoot a 300! Recoil is no longer an issue and I can wear it by itself or under whatever clothes the weather requires. My 300 is a T3Lite and easily shots sub -MOA with most factory ammo.
I shoot a Browning Stainless Stalker 300 Win Mag. I have killed 3 moose ( 1 head shot 60yrds, 1 hump/spine shot 120 yrds, 1 dead center heart shot 225 yrds) and 2 Black Bears ( 1 head shot 40 yrds and 1 broadside double lung 50 yrds) with it. All animals died instantly or withing 30yrds. The biggest problem I have with it is recoil. 2nd is meat damage if the shot is slightly off target (the spine/hump shot). Unless u want to shoot 300+ yrds, I think it is too much gun even for moose. If I was to buy again, I would get a 270.
I've contemplated the ultimate general hunting rifle and caliber for some time now. A difficult choice considering rifle weight, caliber, bullets, accuracy, recoil... Many fit the need. But what is the ultimate? A compromise for sure, which means perfection will never be reached. But one can come close, especially with modern equipment. I like the 270 WSM in a modern rifle. Mine shoots Federal 130 Trophy Copper sub MOA all day long with a 3-9X40 scope with ease! I have some hunting experience and have shot them all from 243 to 416 Mag. I suspect I could easily hunt and take deer, elk, bear out to 400 yards shooting the WSM using that load. It's a modern accurate rifle shooting a tough modern bullet. But, it's tough letting go of my Old School experience on big game. These days I want every advantage needed as hunting has become more difficult and expensive. There is little doubt in my mind the 338 Win and 375 H&H clobber big animals harder than lesser cartridges most of the time. That gives an edge perhaps not always needed, but it's nice to have. So do I really want to risk say an expensive moose hunt shooting my 270 WSM? Perhaps? On the other hand there's no doubt my stainless Tikka T3 Lite in 338 Win Mag will get the job done! Amazingly a Limbsaver recoil makes that Tikka a joy to shoot! Forget muzzle brakes! Too loud! But for the ultimate hunting rifle it feels silly hunting say deer with a 338! By the way my 338 shoots sub MOA too! Which brings me to the 300 Win Mag. It's an honest 400 yard big game cartridge. My last moose in Alberta was shot through the heart beyond 400 yards shooting a 180 grain X style bullet on the last day. Yes the 338 would have hit harder, but the Winnie got the job done and gave me the confidence to take such a shot, say over a 30-06. I'd say the 300 Win fits the bill for the ultimate hunting cartridge. As for the rifle... Well I've had most from dirt cheap to expensive custom jobs and my vote for the ultimate hunting rifle is a stainless Tikka T3 or T3X. With either one gets a lighter, tough, accurate rifle. Mount a quality 3-9 scope and I seriously doubt for the money there's a better weapon. Especially with the T3 on the used market. $450 to $600 for a stainless T3 in 300 Win! Matter of fact I just picked one up used but near new. With the T3 I swap out the plastic bolt shroud with an aluminum version from Atlas Worxs. I also swap the factory aluminum recoil lug with one of stainless steel and replace the factory recoil pad with a LimbSaver Airtech, which really works! I like the light plastic factory stock and torque the action screws to 45 inch pounds. My favorite Tikka scope mount is the one piece low by DNZ. For this new to me Tikka 300 Win I've mounted a used Bushnell 3-9X40 Eliete Firefly scope. Good optics, but I wanted to try their hydrophobic Rain Guard coating for foul weather hunting. Entire rig weighs around 7lb 5oz with sling. As with all my T3s I expect sub MOA! On a T3X I would still replace the factory heavy metal bolt schroud with an aluminum and replace the factory pad with the Limbsaver. The T3X stock is a bit better than the T3. Better grip, but not by much I have a new T3X Super Lite in 7 Rem Mag in the box, but I feel a 300 Win is the better cartridge, especially on bigger game such as elk/moose. I think my T3 300 most likely is the ultimate big game hunting rig.
I agree with you on the Tikka! I absolutely love my T3x in .270 Win for deer out here in California. Thanks for the info on the limb saver - we'll be reviewing a Howa 1500 in .300 Win Mag soon and I've been looking for ways to make .300 Win Mag a little less teeth shattering.
Go with the Evoshield. About the same cost as the limb saver and more effective-I’ve used both! Jim
Tikka rifles are awesome! The new T3 series now has a metallic bolt shroud and steel recoil lug. They must have actually listened to their customers about the most requested upgrades.
I’m pretty old school and bought my 300 in 1974. It’s a pre ‘64 model 70 Super Grade and I had no clue about what I had bought. Re-stocked in French walnut and mounted a 2.5 X 8 Leupold tor big game. A knowledgeable friend helped me work up my load 72 grains of 4350 behind a 180 grain Nosler partition. Never needed more than one shot in the 40 odd years since.
Still shoots 1/2 inch groups if I do my part. The load is considered over max now but not in ‘75 and never had any issues nor have the many friends who use the load. Best purchase I’ve made and will end up with my grandkids.
I shoot a Browing Eclipse with thumb-hole stock and chambered for the 300 win mag. with the Boss compensator. I doubt that there is a rifle on the market that will shoot any better than the Eclipse. I have it mounted with a Night force scope and load it with 208-grain bullets with good results on an 8" AR-500 round plate target. out to 1800 yards. Minimum recoil and no muzzle jump. Works excellent with 180 grain off the shelf Remington Corlok bullets.
I wouldn't sell this rifle for anything. My shooting buddy shoots a 300RUM in a Remington rifle and my Eclipse can do anything that the 300Rum does or can do.
When you roll your own the 300wm is pure magic and voodoo.
Get a ,300 RUM a killing machine long or short range 180 gr. Bullet
if the recoil is to much for you and you dont have a muzzle brake, put one on.... it will make a hell of a difference, it'll feel like a 308 but shoot like a 300 win mag.
I do like my Savage 111 300 Win Mag but it seems to be less fun for me as I have added other long range guns. Especially with a 6.5 Creedmoor and 338 Lapua Magnum in my safe. It was my first step into long range shooting and I chose it because of the different projectiles available and the power it has. Being on sale for $500 was a plus as well. The 338 Lapua is obviously more much more powerful and is nicer to shoot because it weighs 17 lbs muzzle blast not withstanding. To lay behind the 300 all day gets tiring because it is not a super heavy gun so it does punch a bit. So I find I shoot my 6.5 more. Less recoil and less blast. I will probably sell it on to someone who is looking for a start in long range. All in I only have about $1000 in it including glass and bipod.
I have an older M77 Ruger in .300 Winchester and have loved it dearly. I have taken a few deer with it at ranges from 200 yds down to 20 yds, all 1-shot kills. It is a surprisingly good varmint gun using 110-grain hollow points with which you can shoot direct to varmint or shoot low and blast him out of the hole. For deer and elk, I have long used a 190-grain spitzer boat tail bullet which chronographs at 2920-2950 yielding some easy aiming out to 300 yards. For coyotes, this combination delivers nice through holes without having to hold under or over.