The 300 Win Mag has a stout reputation for being the most popular big game cartridge and a very popular long range competition round. It is a powerful cartridge that is a better alternative to .30-06 and also not as big as a.375 H&H when hunting big game in any part of the planet.
Cutting through claims, stories, and facts, this article will evaluate the relevance of this very popular round and also reveal the best hunting rifles chambered in it. So get comfortable in your chair, and keep those eyes scrolling.
Comparison of the Best 300 Win Mag Hunting Rifles
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What Can You Hunt With a 300 Win Mag?
The most common fodder for 300 Win Mag bullets in the hunting season are big bulky animals like moose, elk, elands, and anything comparable in size. This round is capable of handling any big game that walks across North America. Including the Alaskan grizzlies.
It is a flat shooting caliber that has about 2,100 fps of energy and approximately 40 inches drop at 500 yards with a popular 200gr. Hornady ELD-x factory caliber. These bullets are exceptional for shooting deer when shots have to be made at extreme ethical hunting ranges (300 yards or more).
Will the 300 Win Mag kill an elephant? First, the legal minimum to hunt elephants in most places is .375 caliber. Plus, it can kill an elephant with a well-placed shot within a suitable range. But the risk isn’t worth taking.
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Why Did These 300 Win Mag Rifles Make Our List?
This review compiles some of the best 300 Win Mag rifles available today on the civilian market. It may or may not include the most popular rifles according to some shooters. But these rifles have been selected based upon certain criteria. Let’s shed some light upon them:
Long Range Accuracy
All the rifles included in this review are fairly renowned for their exceptional accuracy. Since the 300 Win Mag is used for long range engagements. Immense accuracy is of extreme importance. Rifles like the Remington 783 and Tikka T3x are acclaimed tack drivers and make up for the top picks on our list.
Ease of Handling
A long range rifle with good accuracy doesn’t have to be clumsy and cumbersome to operate. It was made sure during the selection process to choose rifles that are very easy to handle and don’t act like a burden on long hunting trips. Rifles with good ergonomics and a balanced muzzle length have been given preference.
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Tough and Durable Construction
Since these rifles will also be used for hunting big game in the frosty and soggy woods. Having tough and weather-resistant construction is imperative. All of our picks except the Browning BAR have a durable all-weather polymer stock.
Suitable Affordability
The 300 Win Mag is often used for 1000 yard competitions and has earned a reputation for being a very accurate caliber. With that said, rifles chambered in this caliber can tend to be very expensive. While compiling rifles for this review. It was ensured to include a few, if not all budget options. So there’s something for everyone to choose from.
Review of the Best 300 Win Mag Hunting Rifles
Best Overall:
Tikka T3X Lite Stainless Steel Bolt-Action Rifle
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
All buyers had absolutely no questions or gripes about the accuracy, function, and performance of the rifle. However, many users did recommend adding a good recoil pad to the stock for countering the recoil. It is a great hunting rifle and can be used on the range with a good pad and muzzle brake.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Tikka T3x needs no introduction. It has been a persistently accurate and widely loved rifle for years. Including a 6.4 lbs rifle for a 300 Win Mag caliber might seem a tad outrageous to some new school shooters. But believe me, the rifle will be your best buddy for mounting hunting trips. It’s lightweight and the long 24.4-inch barrel certainly makes it accurate over long distances
The trigger is featherweight and can be brought down to 2 lbs. Great for competitions, isn’t it? Plus, the smooth extractor and enlarged ejector help with seamless operation. It shoots great groups and is very affordable for its features.
Bottom Line
The Tikka T3x is an affordable, accurate, ergonomic, and very adjustable rifle that can be tuned to your tastes. The action is very smooth, and the rifle itself is very lightweight to be carried over long distances.
Best 300 Win Mag Semi Auto Hunting Rifle:
Browning BAR Mark III Semi-Auto Rifle
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Definitely prefers heavy bullets over lighter ones. Shoot it with 180 gr+ weight bullets and you’ll get the best results. The BAR is not a close grouping rifle on paper. But it is certainly the most preferable hog medicine in 300 Win Mag.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The BAR is a classic American rifle with a lot of history attached to it. This is one of the best semi-auto rifles chambered in 300 Win Mag you can find on the market. This specific model is a piece of art with a beautiful Turkish Walnut stock and beautiful scrollwork. The 24-inch barrel supports the caliber’s potential and the action is very reliable and durable. You even get a top rail to easily mount optics.
The rifle works great with hotter and faster hand loads. The whole point of having a semi-auto is quick follow up shots. And the BAR Mk3 works pretty well for that.
Bottom Line
The Mk3 carries more history than any other rifle on this list. It is a proven and reliable semi-auto that can handle the fastest 300 Win Mag ammo you’ll ever feed. A great rifle for hunting hogs and also any big game charging towards you.
Remington 783 Bolt-Action Rifle With Scope
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The accuracy, build quality, and performance of this Remington 783 amazes buyers. Since most weren’t expecting too much from such an inexpensive rifle. It is not a precision rifle but strictly meant for hunting.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Remington 783 was introduced on the market in 2013. With specs similar to the Marlin XT. This rifle is certainly an impeccable piece of craftsmanship and Remington hasn’t done it as an odd job about its low price. All the components are high quality and the inclusion of scope and adjustable trigger at this price point is an unbeatable feat.
The 783 comes with a 22-inch barrel, so it's maneuverable and suited for hunting. The 8.5 lbs weight may seem much, especially for mountain hunting. But that combined with the amazing recoil pad makes the rearward push feel minimal.
Bottom Line
The Remington 783 is a value-for-money rifle that can be trusted in terms of accuracy and rugged build quality. The reliability is great and the ergonomics are good. The gun itself isn’t very beautiful, but it’ll put meat on the table.
Browning AB3 Composite Stalker Bolt-Action Rifle
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The AB3 is a simple, practical, and very accurate rifle. Especially over a long range. The locking bolt is a feature you won’t generally find with budget 300 Win Mag rifles. Plus the adjustable trigger, all-weather stock, and light trigger pull are overall great features.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The AB3 is an amazing affordable alternative to the very expensive X-Bolt series from Browning. You can always have one if you want. But there’s little point in spending upwards of $2,000 for budget buyers, that’ll be sitting around in your gun safe most of the time. The AB3 is the answer to those budget issues. This rifle features everything and more you’ll expect from a budget 300 Win Mag gun.
The locking bolt and adjustable trigger are amazing features. Plus, the long 26-inch barrel lets you utilize the full potential of the magnum caliber. Making the rifle suitable for long range competitions and also hunting.
Bottom Line
The Browning AB3 is a good competition rifle and is also suitable for hunting and practice. Despite its long barrel, the rifle weighs just 6.1 pounds. It is a great budget rifle from a renowned buyer and features that surpass its price tag.
Editor's Pick:
Savage Arms Model 10T-SR Tactical Bolt-Action Rifle
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Savage claims sub-MOA accuracy for the rifle, and it sure delivers that. The 10T is a long range precision, competition, and benchrest shooting rifle with a very smooth action and ergonomic stock. Yes, it is a heavy rifle which limits its use to some extent. But it's still a great piece of craftsmanship.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Savage 10T SR is a long range precision rifle designed by Savage to give you the pleasure of shooting a sub-MOA gun without burning a hole through your wallet. The rifle has a very comfy all-weather stock that manages ergonomics very well.
The AccuTrigger™ is a great addition for the price and it can be adjusted to as low as 1.5 lbs of pull. Coupling with the long 26-inch barrel, the rifle becomes perfect for competitions. The premounted top rail makes mounting optics easier. Plus, the extra sling attachment stud offers better sling options for this already long and heavy rifle.
Bottom Line
The Savage 10T is the perfect rifle for beginner long range competition shooters who want an accurate and feature loaded rifle without breaking the bank.
Comparison Overview
The 300 Win Mag isn’t the only popular 30 caliber cartridge on the market. It’s been more than 50 years since it was introduced and has a few formidable rivals when it comes to debates. Let’s make a comparison.
300 Win Mag vs 308
The 300 Win Mag is a flatter shooting cartridge than the 308. Both these calibers use the same diameter bullets. But the former is a more powerful and bigger round. The 308 has a shorter case and is comparable in power and performance within the 200-yard range. But as things start getting distant, the 300 Win Mag is the clear winner.
6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 Win Mag
The 6.5 Creedmoor can be seen as the sassy younger brother of the 300 Win Mag. The Creedmoor and Win Mag are known for their flat ballistics, but the difference lies in effective range, power, and case size.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is shorter in size and carries less power. The 300 Win Mag retains about 1500 fpe at 1000 yards. Whereas the 6.5 retains only 880 fpe. In short, the 300 Win Mag can do things (like kill an elk!) at 900 yards, what a 6.5 Creedmoor can only do at 400.
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300 Win Mag vs 30-06
These are by far the closest comparable calibers in this section. The 300 Win Mag uses a bigger bullet, larger case, and hits with more power when compared with the .30-06. Both these are revered hunting cartridges, and the 300 Win Mag shoots flatter with comparable grain bullets.
7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag
The 7mm Rem Mag uses a .284 inch diameter bullet and the 300 Win Mag uses a .308 inch diameter bullet. Both these rounds are very similar in size, but the 300 Win Mag has a higher recoil and more energy due to the larger bullet size. However, these bullets are still very similar in terms of ballistics with only a minor difference in energy, drift, and velocity with similar grain bullets.
Conclusion
The 300 Win Mag is a cheaper and readily available cartridge against the .338 Lapua and .408 Chevy-Tac and similar calibers. But it performs closely and can hit targets accurately over long range, causing considerable damage.
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People Also Ask
Check out this brief but comprehensive FAQ section that covers some interesting and some important facts about the 300 Win Mag caliber.
What is a 300 Win Mag?
300 Winchester Magnum is a belted, bottlenecked magnum cartridge designed to fit standard rifle actions. It was introduced in 1963 by Winchester Repeating Arms Company. It is a 7.62x67mm cartridge that shoots a .308 caliber bullet.
How Far Can a 300 Win Mag Shoot?
The maximum effective range of the 300 Win Mag is 1200 yards or 1100 meters. However, its potential allows it to accurately hit targets at about 2000 yards with 220 or 230-grain bullets.
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What Caliber is a 300 Win Mag?
The 300 Win Mag is a 30 caliber bullet. Bullets of the .308, .30-06, and several other popular cartridges are the same in size.
What Distance Should I Zero My 300 Win Mag?
The best distance to zero a 300 Win Mag is 200 yards. Since with that zero, a 180gr bullet will be about 3 inches below the line of sight at 250 yards and never higher than 1.86 inches. The bullet drops about 40 inches at 500 yards and almost 70 inches at 600 yards. The distance you zero will depend upon the distance you’re shooting at.
What is the Difference Between 300 Weatherby and 300 Win Mag?
The 300 Weatherby has a longer case and has a muzzle velocity of 100-200 fps more than the 300 Win Mag. These cartridges cannot be shot interchangeably with their respective rifles due to the difference in size.
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How Much Does a 300 Win Mag Cost?
Talking about rifles, A 300 Win Mag rifle can cost anywhere between $350 to upwards of $2,000. Depending upon the type of rifle, its build quality, and brand. For ammunition, the cost of 300 Win Mag rounds ranges from $1.4 to as high as $8.75 per round.
