Differences between calibers.

feddoc · Mar 14, 2023

.300WM

.300PRC

.308 Norma

.300 Norma

.300 Norma improved.

.300 Sherman

They all seem to be pretty close, ballistically speaking.

I've got 5 .300WMs and don't see the need to switch. But....that desire.

marley · Mar 14, 2023

There’s only one degree of dead and all of those calibers will achieve that degree out to hunting distances so yea it’s just that desire to tinker with something new

littlebighorn · Mar 14, 2023

Aren't they all the same .308 caliber?
Different cartridges that all do the job.

feddoc · Mar 14, 2023

littlebighorn said:
Aren't they all the same .308 caliber?
Different cartridges that all do the job.

Yup, all the same diameter.

Bluehair · Mar 15, 2023

feddoc said:
.300WM

.300PRC

.308 Norma

.300 Norma

.300 Norma improved.

.300 Sherman

They all seem to be pretty close, ballistically speaking.

I've got 5 .300WMs and don't see the need to switch. But....that desire.

I’m with you. The old retired O-6 I used to shoot with had a 308 Norma mag and there was no functional difference from my 300 win. Butt there was a cool factor of having a rifle you couldn’t get brass for.

After the ultra mag craze 20 years ago I stopped paying attention. I had to look up a 300 norma to even see wtf it is.

Powder‘s getting just as bad……it was a lot easier when there were just a few to choose from.

BigPig · Mar 15, 2023

There is literally zero mathematical difference between each of those CALIBERS! They are all .308.

There are, however, differences between each of those CARTRIDGES.

mevertsen · Mar 15, 2023

Same caliber.

Different cartridge.

Probably nothing effectively different between them other than having someone's name stamp on them.

mtmuley · Mar 15, 2023

BigPig said:
There is literally zero mathematical difference between each of those CALIBERS! They are all .308.

There are, however, differences between each of those CARTRIDGES.

Just depends on how cool you want to be. mtmuley

feddoc · Mar 15, 2023

BigPig said:
There is literally zero mathematical difference between each of those CALIBERS! They are all .308.

There are, however, differences between each of those CARTRIDGES.

Perhaps you could explain those differences.

Zeke · Mar 15, 2023

It's the game of "almost like the next one" and perhaps "diminishing return" for the cartridges you listed.

One is almost as powerful as the next one up and at what point does the shooter see tangible returns. At what point do returns diminish? For YOU.

These are the questions YOU need to ask for YOURSELF and get the answer through research, study and pondering..... and then say "what the he!!" and but one or two.

When I build something, I think of what bullet weight I want and caliber to use. At that point I can pick the cartridge and barrel twist to suit me.

If I only wanted something to propel a 140 grain bullet, none of those 30 cals you listed would be used. If I wanted to "run" (shoot) 200 grain plus bullets, they're the exact cartridges I'd be looking at.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down? I know, it might be a bit abstract.

Zeke

marley · Mar 15, 2023

Zeke is spot on. I also base the cartridge around the bullet I want to use. I knew with my newest build that I wanted to push a 245 grain bullet around the 2950 fps mark. I also wanted a short barrel to use a suppressor without getting too long, so that was a tall order. In my research a 300 Norma Improved was the only one that would get me where I wanted to be. If I didn't care about having the short barrel, many of those listed would fit the bill.

BigPig · Mar 15, 2023

feddoc said:
Perhaps you could explain those differences.

0-200 fps

littlebighorn · Mar 15, 2023

Five 300 WM's sounds like a fetish (definition: an inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers).

feddoc, you are obviously under some WinMag spell, so I vote you break it...maybe a Creedmoor would do the trick?

feddoc · Mar 15, 2023

littlebighorn said:
Five 300 WM's sounds like a fetish (definition: an inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers).

feddoc, you are obviously under some WinMag spell, so I vote you break it...maybe a Creedmoor would do the trick?

Maybe, but, not a 6.5.

marley · Mar 15, 2023

feddoc said:
Maybe, but, not a 6.5.

Maybe a 300 creedmoor! That could probably kill Zeus himself.

Zeke · Mar 15, 2023

marley said:
Maybe a 300 creedmoor! That could probably kill Zeus himself.

Well, for practical purposes, a 300 Creedmoor would be the ballistic twin to a 308 and there’s no flies on a 308!

Not sure either would kill Zeus himself but that another discussion.

Zeke

marley · Mar 15, 2023

But it says creedmoor. That should make it the end all be all.

The_Coloradoboy · Mar 15, 2023

feddoc said:
.300WM

.300PRC

.308 Norma

.300 Norma

.300 Norma improved.

.300 Sherman

They all seem to be pretty close, ballistically speaking.

I've got 5 .300WMs and don't see the need to switch. But....that desire.

Considerable difference between the 300 Norma/Norma improved from the 300 winny the Pooh. Don’t get me wrong the 300win is tried and true but it doesn’t have the horsepower of that of some of the big 30s like the Norma or the RUM. The 300win would fall in the class of the 300prc and 30nos ballistically speaking. The PRC is an overall better and more efficient case design compared to the old school belted cartridge design of the ol 300win but animals don’t know the difference what 30 cal magnum hits them…

Sparks Shooter · Mar 15, 2023

Talk about going backward and loving it........I went from 300 RUM to 300WM to 300 H&H. Man I love the H&H so much more than the others. Must be cool factor because it surely isn't performance. Although 175s at 3k fps isn't a slouch by any means.-----SS

Captain_coues · Mar 15, 2023

I see the 30 cal magnums as all very similar. Just pick one and go with it. As far as picking the best one, weather you think it’s right or wrong, you’re right.

I think we’re just bored with cartridges now. I’m as guilty as anyone else. I just had to have a 6.5 Creedmoor before I knew any better. I’m not too disappointed, but I stop short of hyping it up or pretending like it’s better than the rest. I leave that up to others. I do see attraction in experimenting with cartridges. As far as the 30 calibers go, why not a 30-338 Lapua Ackley Improved with a 125 grain Sierra match bullet?

feddoc · Mar 15, 2023

Captain_coues said:
I see the 30 cal magnums as all very similar. Just pick one and go with it. As far as picking the best one, weather you think it’s right or wrong, you’re right.

I think we’re just bored with cartridges now. I’m as guilty as anyone else. I just had to have a 6.5 Creedmoor before I knew any better. I’m not too disappointed, but I stop short of hyping it up or pretending like it’s better than the rest. I leave that up to others. I do see attraction in experimenting with cartridges. As far as the 30 calibers go, why not a 30-338 Lapua Ackley Improved with a 125 grain Sierra match bullet?

I have one .300 that does nothing except punch prairie dogs with a 130g Speer HP. It is surprisingly accurate.

Zeke · Mar 16, 2023

Sparks Shooter said:
Talk about going backward and loving it........I went from 300 RUM to 300WM to 300 H&H. Man I love the H&H so much more than the others. Must be cool factor because it surely isn't performance. Although 175s at 3k fps isn't a slouch by any means.-----SS

Ya but we've established that you're one of those gun-whooores, like me, so no wonder you've tried 'em all and use an H&H.

Zeke

mtmuley · Mar 18, 2023

feddoc said:
I have one .300 that does nothing except punch prairie dogs with a 130g Speer HP. It is surprisingly accurate.

I have a nice varmint load for my .300 that scoots a 125 grain Ballistic Tip 3925 fps. mtmuley

littlebighorn · Mar 18, 2023

Those are some spendy prairie dog shoots! $$$$$

feddoc · Mar 18, 2023

littlebighorn said:
Those are some spendy prairie dog shoots! $$$$$

It was all I had at the time in the early 80s. I was between USN enlistments and going to school to get a couple degrees. Driving heavy equipment as a summer job. Every Sunday after work, I would pick up the Rocky Mountain News, drive to the end of the road and hang that rifle out the window. Nothing fancy for a scope; old Burris (my first) 4X12.

deadibob · Mar 27, 2023

Stick with the .300 winny it will save you time, money and headaches. As long as you are okay knowing that the flat-brimmers won’t think you’re the coolest guy around the campfire.

JmNv · Mar 27, 2023

Well, you could sell a couple of the 300 winnies, and buy one of those sexier things you have listed. Make it a custom and have a ball.

Switchback00 · Apr 2, 2023

Dodge, Ford,Chevy……

Zeke · Apr 2, 2023

Switchback00 said:
Dodge, Ford,Chevy……

You got the order of quality wrong.

Zeke

JPickett · Apr 9, 2023

You forgot to throw 30 nosler in there. And yeah, they’re all about the same. I fell in love with my 30 nosler after decades of shooting a 300wm just because of how great it is to reload. But it doesn’t do anything my 300wm’s didn’t do down range

JPickett · Apr 10, 2023

marley said:
Zeke is spot on. I also base the cartridge around the bullet I want to use. I knew with my newest build that I wanted to push a 245 grain bullet around the 2950 fps mark. I also wanted a short barrel to use a suppressor without getting too long, so that was a tall order. In my research a 300 Norma Improved was the only one that would get me where I wanted to be. If I didn't care about having the short barrel, many of those listed would fit the bill.

did this actually work?

marley · Apr 10, 2023

JPickett said:
did this actually work?

Just fire forming brass right now but I'm sitting at 2890 fps fireforming so I don't think I'll have any problem hitting 2950 with formed brass. I'll let you know once I start loading formed brass.

mtmuley · Apr 10, 2023

marley said:
Just fire forming brass right now but I'm sitting at 2890 fps fireforming so I don't think I'll have any problem hitting 2950 with formed brass. I'll let you know once I start loading formed brass.

Are you fireforming with the 245? mtmuley

30Hart · Apr 10, 2023

Using a 300 Norma, 245s at 2950 and one ragged hole at 100. Had a 300 PRC that shot .3 but sold it. First 30 cal was a 308 norma, shot my biggest elk with that back.in the day, 409 yards with a 1.5-5x scope, one shot went 347. All are good, pick one.

JPickett · Apr 10, 2023

marley said:
Just fire forming brass right now but I'm sitting at 2890 fps fireforming so I don't think I'll have any problem hitting 2950 with formed brass. I'll let you know once I start loading formed brass.

That’s gunna be a cool gun