.300 win mag or .300 ultra mag?

[WVguy]

I'll be goin on a elk/mulie hunt this fall and am bouncing between the win mag or ultra mag. This is my first elk hunt and was wanting some opinions on which one would be better?

 

[packmule]

What bullet are you planning to use and how fast do you need it to start it out at?

 

[tim]

both will kill em dead. which one do you shoot better?

 

[Hilltop]

.300 win mag is plenty of gun IMO. I use a 30-06 for both with no problems. That said, both are awesome calibers that will perform great if you do your part. If you have an old trusty deer rifle you would likely be fine using that as well as long as you select a good bullet. One of the biggest mistakes I have seen made by first time western hunters is rifle selection. Above all, take something you can shoot well. A 130 grain .270 bullet through the lungs is much better than a 200 grain .300 through the guts....

 

[stevevan]

Hilltop, 10-4

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My son shoots a .300 UM and I have a .300 Wby. I reload for both. I am not a big fan of his UM as it takes 10 grains+ more powder than my Wby and only shoots 150 FPS faster. If you want to use 200 gr bullets or larger, it probably would do better with the heavier bullets (and have heavier recoil too!). Just my take, but as stated both kill dead and shot placement is what counts.

 

[coastalarms]

Both would be fine. If it were me, I would pick the 300win for the following reason;

Ammo is less expensive, both to buy and reload
barrel life is longer in the 300win
300win is plenty of gun for elk, if you need more you'd be better served by the 323 or 338 cartridges
recoil is less, which means you can shoot a lighter rifle and be more comfortable than with the 300rum


in the end, there really isnt that much difference. Get the one you like best and fill the freezer

 

[MAKAIRA]

My son shoots a .300 UM and I have a .300 Wby. I reload for both. I am not a big fan of his UM as it takes 10 grains+ more powder than my Wby and only shoots 1509 FPS faster. Just my take, but as stated both kill dead and shot placement is what counts.

1509 fps faster is a big increase!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

1509 fps faster is a big increase!

Was a typo....only 150 fps!!!! I corrected the post.

 

[goinhuntn]

300 win mag ammo cheaper & always easy to find!!

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I own neither. I have mounted scopes and sighted rifles for other hunters for years. The RUM has a good bit more recoil than the Win Mag. I wouldn't rule out the 300 WSM. As stated above, both will do the job. If you mainly deer hunt I would go the Win Mag or WSM so that you can use it when you get back from your Elk hunt. Good Luck and Good Hunting.

 

[QuazyQuinton]

Under what circumstances would you expect to kill an elk with an Ultra Mag that you could not kill with a Win Mag?

QQ

 

[swampokie]

I have a rem model 700 cdl 300rum and I love it! I have killed elk at 578 yds antelope at 490 and whitetail and muley at over 400. That being said they would have all been just as dead if shot with a win mag. I think the scope is much more important than splitting hairs about the 2 calibers. The ammo availability is a huge factor as I have 2 order specially for the rum and it sux! All that said I wouldn't trade my rum for 2 win mags!

 

[johnsd16]

Both would be fine. If it were me, I would pick the 300win for the following reason;

Ammo is less expensive, both to buy and reload
barrel life is longer in the 300win
300win is plenty of gun for elk, if you need more you'd be better served by the 323 or 338 cartridges
recoil is less, which means you can shoot a lighter rifle and be more comfortable than with the 300rum


in the end, there really isnt that much difference. Get the one you like best and fill the freezer

This!

Ammo is way more available and will be for a long time for the WM. I could see ammo drying up further for the UM over the next 20yrs.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I'd go with the 300 Win Mag, GREAT elk cartridge. I shoot the 300 WSM for everything which has nearly identical ballistics and uses the short action. It puts the hurt on elk.

 

[Retterath]

Unless your getting into longerange hunting go with the 300 rum. The 300 wm is a great caliber and that's what I would suggest. The rum brass is very hard to find and primer pockets stretch in a few rounds and can't reload any more,that's been my luck with them. I do think the 300 rum is an ultimate longerange hunting rifle with 210 Berbers.

 

[Hycntryhtr]

I shoot the rum, love it. My dad tipped a bull over at 850 with it. I shoot a 200 grn accu bond through it. It's like the hammer of god. I've hunted coues deer, bear, elk, everything with it. I love it. It has some push to it, but i think it's smoother than my brothers 300 Weatherby. You can't go wrong with a gun that's pushing 1300 lbs of ke at 1000 yds and 4000 at the muzzle.

 

[Timberstalker]

I've been using a 300 win mag for nearly 20 years, it gets the job done every time!

 

[Kentucky hunter]

I have a rem model 700 cdl 300rum and I love it! I have killed elk at 578 yds antelope at 490 and whitetail and muley at over 400. That being said they would have all been just as dead if shot with a win mag. I think the scope is much more important than splitting hairs about the 2 calibers. The ammo availability is a huge factor as I have 2 order specially for the rum and it sux! All that said I wouldn't trade my rum for 2 win mags!

Same here I wouldn't trade my 300 rum for anything but I also have a $1500 scope on mine makes a big diff on how the gun shot down range with a custom turret 1000 yd is not a problem

 

[libidilatimmy]

I'd go with the 300 Win Mag, GREAT elk cartridge. I shoot the 300 WSM for everything which has nearly identical ballistics and uses the short action. It puts the hurt on elk.

^^This is my sentiments as well. I also shoot the 300 WSM for elk and have never felt under gunned at any sort of practical hunting ranges. If you plan on shooting the rifle a lot, the 300 Win would be the choice for me between the two. WAY cheaper to shoot and you really don't give up all that much performance wise.