Best 300wm for elk hunting?

[Rock4]

Looking to try and get out west for an elk hunt. What are some good rifle options (300wm) for under $1300?

 

[Tullis94]

In 300 win mag at your price range I'd look for a Bergara. Which ever model you like best. Tikka is my preference for factory rifles but with their magazine length a 300 win is not ideal.

 

[Gen273]

Look at a Browning Hell’s Canyon.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Whichever one fits you. Just about all commercial rifles can shoot well especially with hand-loads.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

In 300 win mag at your price range I'd look for a Bergara. Which ever model you like best. Tikka is my preference for factory rifles but with their magazine length a 300 win is not ideal.

Christensen Arms Mesa in 300 prc or the Browning western hunter.
Unless you have a specific reason to go with a 300 wm, the 300 prc is a much better option

 

[Racer00]

Christensen Arms Mesa in 300 prc or the Browning western hunter.
Unless you have a specific reason to go with a 300 wm, the 300 prc is a much better option

Not trying to start an arguement or hi jack this thread but much better in what way? I have used 300 wm for years and always found them very good medicine for elk.

 

[Tullis94]

Christensen Arms Mesa in 300 prc or the Browning western hunter.
Unless you have a specific reason to go with a 300 wm, the 300 prc is a much better option

I agree that the 300 PRC is a better cartridge, but with its popularity and our current situation I think ammo is going to be tough to come by for a lot longer than the 300 win.
I didn't think of the Christensen Mesa. That is probably the best option in this price range. I have heard a lot of great things about Browning but I stay away due the the limited after market options. If you never have any intention of tinkering with the rifle a browning is probably a great option.

 

[bpctcb]

Christensen Arms Mesa in 300 prc or the Browning western hunter.
Unless you have a specific reason to go with a 300 wm, the 300 prc is a much better option

There is not a nickels worth of difference between a win mag and PRC. Except win mag ammo is probably more common. Both will accurately shoot 200+ grain Bullets farther than most people have any business shooting.

BP


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[762 ULTRAMAGA]

There is not a nickels worth of difference between a win mag and PRC. Except win mag ammo is probably more common. Both will accurately shoot 200+ grain Bullets farther than most people have any business shooting.

BP


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There is definitely a nickels worth of difference between the two, I've owned both.

The prc:
Doesn't have a belt
Has a longer neck and 30 degree shoulder
Has a 2-4 grain capacity advantage depending on the brass
And the saami configuration is set up for shooting 212- 230 grain bullets, a saami 300wm will never keep up.

For anyone in the market to get a factory rifle the advantages of the PRC are huge, faster twist barrels throated for long heavy bullets used to require a custom barrel and handloading.
Now its all available off the shelf.

I handload and use custom barrels so the benefits are more of a wash, however the sizing issues and case stretch that I've experienced with belted mags was a PITA.
For that reason alone the prc wins

My personal favorite though is a custom throated 30 Nosler

 

[bpctcb]

There is definitely a nickels worth of difference between the two, I've owned both.

The prc:
Doesn't have a belt
Has a longer neck and 30 degree shoulder
Has a 2-4 grain capacity advantage depending on the brass
And the saami configuration is set up for shooting 212- 230 grain bullets, a saami 300wm will never keep up.

For anyone in the market to get a factory rifle the advantages of the PRC are huge, faster twist barrels throated for long heavy bullets used to require a custom barrel and handloading.
Now its all available off the shelf.

I handload and use custom barrels so the benefits are more of a wash, however the sizing issues and case stretch that I've experienced with belted mags was a PITA.
For that reason alone the prc wins

My personal favorite though is a custom throated 30 Nosler

Rock4 asked about a $1,300 rifle in 300 win mag for elk.....so please tell us about a time that you could not kill an elk; or when you wounded an elk, with a 300 win mag and that having a 300 PRC in your hands would have meant a successful hunt.

I submit that a 300 win mag with the belt on the case, 3-4 grains less powder and a 1-10 twist barrel can absolutely keep up with a PRC at killing elk out to at least 1,000 yards.

BP


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[thinhorn_AK]

Look for a used kimber in 300 win mag. I recently scored a mountain ascent for a song and as of now, it is my favorite rifle. It was easy to work up a load for and shoots great.

 

[cmcpherson]

I love my browning hells canyon long range in .300 win mag has 1:8 twist which let's you play with some heavier bullet options. If you shoot factory rounds prc will out perform the win mag. If you reload you can get win mag to do everything prc can.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Looking to try and get out west for an elk hunt. What are some good rifle options (300wm) for under $1300?

I know you're looking in the $1300 range but five these a quick look while you're at it.
An additional $500 will get you a hell of a rifle
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/fierce-firearms-fury-bolt-action-rifle

 

[wtrbrdm]

I grabbed a Bergara Wilderness Terrain in .300 winmag, for about $1200 shipped/transferred. Swapped a few things but that's just one of my shortcomings. So far so good.

 

[catorres1]

We currently have a 300 win mag in a Vanguard Accuguard, and a 300 PRC in a Bergara premier. I bought the Vanguard a very long time ago, and when I did, a gunsmith friend suggested I re-think it because if I ever wanted to make significant changes, it would be better to have a Remington pattern action. I ignored him, thinking I'd never make many changes, to my detriment. The box works fine for Sammi spec ammo, but if you want to shoot the newer high BC bullets that make it really hum, you will need a lot more space. So now years later, I had to have my action opened up and a new box put in and that cost me. Trigger, I put a Timney, but I only had the choice of that one lower end Timney, not the higher end ones, and not the one I want. Manners, McMillan and a few others make some stocks (mine came with a B&C), but the choices are not there, especially in chassis. So my opinion, long and short, whatever you get, get Remington pattern.

That's why when it was time to upgrade my son's gun, we went with a Bergara. Doesn't have to be them, but I'd still recommend something that takes Rem stocks, triggers etc....and make sure the box is 3.7 internal or longer still.

In terms of PRC or win mag...I guess it depends on what you want to shoot. I shoot 212's and up. For win mag, that's a handloader's option only. PRC, it's off the shelf. On the other hand, there are few choices in PRC, but I expect that will change eventually. Basically, most would agree you can do most things with a win mag you can do with a PRC if you handload and have a long box. The exception being the real heavies....then the faster standard twist of the PRC's and custom win mag barrels come into play. But keep in mind, with that faster twist, you definitely will notice it in your spin drift vs a 10 twist barrel.

One concern on the PRC I should mention, there is a thread on a couple forums, but particularly on Long Range Only, where some PRC owners are noticing that due to the dimension designs of the case, after a few loadings, some case brands cannot be resized back to fit in the chamber....or worse, it sticks in the chamber after firing and has to be pushed out with a rod...and small base dies will not fix it. It has to do with the dimensions of the case, the max size of dies, and the proximity to the web in the case where the problems is. Apparently, it is worse with tight chambers, and it may also be worse with the better brass, ironically. To test, I took 1 piece of brass and loaded and fired it 8 times and we had no problems, so my son's chamber must be a little looser in the area just in front of the web. I'm no expert on this, but folks are reporting this on both PRC's (300 and 6.5), you can read up on it at LRO. I talked to Forester about it, they heard of the issue, but have not seen it on their end at this time.

Anyway, it's not been an issue for us, so if I were you, I'd pick a rifle that accepts Rem aftermarket parts and make sure the box is long enough. If you are a handloader, pick either....probably does not matter, you can ignore the belt on the win mag by just bumping the shoulder and it will headspace off the shoulder and give you the same case life. But if you want to shoot 212's and longer and don't handload, has to be PRC. If you want to shoot 230's, due to standard twists, PRC.

HTH....

 

[JakeSCH]

I would recommend the Christensen Arms Mesa. It will be heavy (~7.8 lb) but it will shoot well and extremely manageable recoil between the weight, muzzle brake, and limbsaver pad.

I have the Ti version in 300 WM and the regular mesa in 6.5 PRC, both consistently shoot sub half moa at 800y with handloads.

*EDIT* I bought mine at eurooptics when it was on sale for about 1100, looks like regular price is 1230 but 300 WM is out of stock.

 

[Wrench]

My buddy just told me that he is selling his m70 300win. Its a push feed in an edge with a wild west brake ceakoted black. Ive watched it shoot well sub moa enough to say it'll shoot.

I can ask for a price if you're interested. I'd guess a grand-ish in the edge and 5ish with the Tupperware.

Given the designer cartridge shortages and insane brass prices.....id roll the belt myself.
Ugly and in the hand trumps fancy and backordered.

 

[bpctcb]

...Ugly and in the hand trumps fancy and backordered.

I think this is going to sum up hunting season for a lot of people this year. I can see many 270, 30-06’s (maybe even 7mm rem mag, 300 win mag)getting dug out of the back of the safe, loaded with corelokts/anything available and put into service.

BP


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[mulie76]

Looking to try and get out west for an elk hunt. What are some good rifle options (300wm) for under $1300?

I'd consider a Christensen Arms Mesa. They offer in a 300WM. Considering the ammo shortage, I wouldn't be afraid of it at all. there is a lot of talk about the 300PRC, and its a great option also, but good luck finding ANY ammo. Most years (this one excluded), you can find 300WM right next to the Kleenex at a gas station in Wyoming