308 vs 30-06 SPRINGFIELD vs 300 WIN MAG: WHICH SHOULD YOU HUNT WITH? For medium sized game like whitetail and antelope, both cartridges can easily take down these critters at ranges of 800 yards or more. I obtained the data used to compare the trajectory of the cartridges from Hornady (here), Federal (here and here), and Nosler (here, here, here, and here). Both are more than enough for elk and I do not think you would ever tell a difference in on game performance. This chart is just to show the difference between the windage. While the two cartridges are often available in rifles of the same size and length, other rifles chambered in 28 Nosler may be slightly longer, heavier, and more unwieldy than rifles chambered in 300 Win Mag. As of 2022, the lineup of Nosler cartridges also includes the 22 Nosler (.224 caliber) introduced in 2017, the 27 Nosler (.277 caliber) introduced in 2020, the 30 Nosler (.308 caliber) introduced in 2016, and the 33 Nosler (.338 caliber) introduced in 2016. On the contrary, 150-180 grain bullets in 300 Win Mag can hold up to 1000 rounds. The 175 gr Accubond LR bullet for the 28 Nosler had the highest kinetic energy at 3,794 ft-lbs of force at the muzzle while the 165 gr TTSX for the 300 WM had the lowest at 3,566 ft-lbs. Mar 29, 2013 1,317 2,066 USA. If youre looking for cartridges for hunting deers, 300 Win Mag is your partner. This includes all the factors like gravity, the weight of the bullet, atmospheric pressure, etc. The recoil produced by this particular load is getting up there and is certainly stout, but its also not so excessive that its impossible to shoot. This is not unusual though. On the other hand, the 7mm bullet is not as common as the American classic 30-caliber. Both work extremely well when used on bigger game in North America, Africa, Europe, and elsewhere. Reloading is one method shooters use to reduce their overall cost per round and increase the consistency of their ammo to sub-MOA levels. The differences between these cartridges become even more apparent at longer range, which is illustrated in the table below for those same loads at 600-800 yards. Youve seen only the main features in the previous segment. One major difference between the 300 WM and the 28 Nosler is their case design. Still, if recoil is your concern, then you should go for the 300 win mag instead of the 28 Nosler or 30 Nosler. 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag; 300 PRC vs 28 Nosler; The 28 Nosler is clearly superior to the 6.5 Creedmoor from a ballistic standpoint, it is incredibly flat shooting with higher muzzle velocity and kinetic energy. The 300 Win Mag load firing the 190gr AccuBond Long Range has the flattest trajectory of the 300 Win Mag loads, but still has 7.2 (22.5%) more bullet drop at 500 yards than the most arching 28 Nosler load. Not even with the suppressor cover on. Do not make the mistake of thinking that the 300 Win Mag has an arching trajectory, as the 300 WM has a flatter trajectory than the 6.5 Creedmoor. Furthermore, its important to note that the actual case diameter of the 28 Nosler (.55) is larger than the non-belted portion of the 300 Win Mag case (.513). This is where it helps us to prove a point. If were being honest with ourselves here, the 300 Win Mag is by far the more popular elk hunting cartridge and has taken way more elk than the 28 Nosler over the years, primarily due to the fact that its been around so much longer. There are also two semi-automatic options available for the 300 Win Mag in the Browning BAR and the Nemo Omen, which is an AR pattern rifle. Apple | Google | iHeart |Spotify| Stitcher. That same general time period also saw the start of modern Magnum Era when Winchester introduced a line of new belted magnum cartridges that utilized a modified.375 H&H Magnum case. You can hunt any game within 200-350 yards distance without flinching an eye. Nosler Ballistic Tip always looks good. For instance, the 28 Nosler most often uses bullets in the 150-185gr range in factory loads. The primary difference between the two is the 28 fires a smaller diameter bullet with a similar powder charge. 150gr, 155gr, 160gr, 162gr, and 175gr bullets are the most common for that cartridge. The rule of thumb is, the bullet will hit the target with terminal energy as long its running at supersonic speed. To increase your barrels lifespan, its best to run either factory ammo or handloads below maximum charge. The 28 Nosler will also have a shorter barrel life which may or may not be an issue. First, with 1,617 ft-lbs of retained energy out at 800 yards, its the only load of the 7 that still surpasses the 1,500 ft-lbs of energy minimum many people consider a good rule of thumb for elk hunting. The .300 PRC was introduced in 2018, and it is based on the .308 Winchester cartridge. In fact, the 7mm Remington Magnum and the 300 Winchester Magnum are both among the most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the United States to this day. It's often put head-to-head with other popular calibers like the 7mm Rem. I don't see any material difference between the 300 PRC and 300 Win Mag when using the same barrel configurations. 300 PRC: Bertram = 89 gr. Additionally, note the lackluster performance of the 165gr 300 Win Mag here. 1 ft-lb means, if the rifle is weighted 1lb, it will move 1 ft backward upon the thrust of the bullet. On the other hand, 300 Win Mag runs at supersonic for 2.7 seconds. This makes finding inexpensive plinking bullets as well as premium hunting bullets a relatively simple task. The big bore .458 Winchester Magnum came along first in 1956. The .28 Nosler. The end result is that the 28 Nosler has about 6.6% more free recoil energy than the 300 Win Mag. That time period saw a flood of new centerfire rifle cartridges like the .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .280 Remington, and .308 Winchester. While those differences are indeed small in favor of the 28 Nosler, they are still worth considering because those slightly more aerodynamic projectiles dont slow down as fast and are more resistant to wind drift. I own .270 and 300WSM. As were here, we hope weve been able to help with your 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag query. The new high velocity 7 mm Remington Magnum cartridge was a massive commercial success and quickly began to take market share away from the .264 Winchester Magnum. The 404 Jeffery sired the majority of Noslers cartridge line, namely the 30 Nosler, 26 Nosler, and 33 Nosler as well as other cartridges like the 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum (7mm RUM). Just seems like a 300 win is the better choice. The 300 Win Mag utilizes a belted case while the 28 Nosler is beltless. Now, even the 28 Nosler doesnt have a ridiculous amount of recoil. Are you sensitive to recoil and in need of a serious low recoil cartridge? I used ShootersCalculator.com to compare trajectory and recoil for the cartridges. One of the most prominent differences between the two is that the 28 Nosler fires a bullet diameter of 7.2mm or 0.284" while the 300 Win Mag fires the more common 30-caliber or 0.308" diameter bullets. Those cartridges were all commercially successful, but Winchester didnt stop with the .264, .338, and .458 Win Mag cartridges. Everything else being equal, the smaller diameter 7mm bullets the 28 Nosler uses have a higher ballistic coefficient and a higher sectional density than the larger diameter bullets of the same weight from the .300 Winchester Magnum. After the bullets are shot, both the bullets gradually start losing velocity. But based on the usage, grains, the barrel life could vary. Norma = 95 gr. What is the difference between 300 Win Mag and 28 Nosler? The 28 Nosler is the clear winner for a hunter looking for a really good cartridge for use on bigger game, especially at extended range. This is another advantage in favor of the 300 Win Mag. This means, 28 Nosler is more likely to hit the target than 300 Win Mag. This holds true for both the 300 Winchester Magnum and the 28 Nosler. Are you looking for the cartridge better suited for long range hunting for game like mule deer or pronghorn antelope in open country where you might need to take a shot at several hundred yards? Go for that 8 twist barrel. Well, it is not weird at all. Both 28 Nosler and 300 Win Mag bullet drops are almost the same in the initial phase. the 300 RUM took an elk at 400+ in 30 mph gusty wind with 2 hits 3" apart and it was only animal that required 2 shots this year. It should be noted that both cartridges have heavy recoil, as anything over 20 ft-lbs is considered uncomfortable for some shooters. But in most cases, it has been proven that suppressors dont affect the velocity of the bullet. Especially for beginners, muzzle brakes are a must! It is because the bullet weight of 300 Win Mag is slightly more than 28 Nosler. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Not to mention ammo . Both are extremely effective deer hunting cartridges and will absolutely get the job done on medium sized game if you do your part. If you frequent any shooting or hunting forums, you are likely aware that comparing ballistics of different factory ammo is a real thread starter. Both cartridges have fairly stout recoil, but the 300 Win Mag is definitely a better lower recoiling option than the 28 Nosler. Best 22 Hornet Ammo For Hunting Coyotes, Bobcats, & Other Varmints, Best Hunting Rifle Slings Ultimate Guide [2023], 25-06 vs 30-06 Springfield Review & Comparison, 6.5 Grendel vs 300 Blackout Review & Comparison, 11 Reasons The Leupold VX-6HD Is An Outstanding Hunting Scope, 450 Bushmaster vs 45-70 Review & Comparison, 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag Review & Comparison, 15 Best African Hunting Books For When Youre Dreaming Of Being On Safari[2023], Best 350 Legend Ammo For Hunting Deer, Hogs, Bear, & Other Game, Best 6.8 Western Rifles for Hunting Ultimate Guide [2023], Best 300 PRC Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, Bear, & Other Game, Best 6.5 PRC Ammo For Hunting Deer, Elk, Bear, & Other Game. Unlike those other .30 caliber magnums though, the .300 Win Mag utilized a shorter case that fit in a standard length rifle action like the other new Winchester belted magnums as well as the 7mm Remington Magnum. For this reason, while theyre both among the best cartridges for hunting many species of game these days, its really easy to get confused when trying to understand the actual strengths and weaknesses of that cartridge compared to more established centerfire rifle cartridges like the 300 Winchester Magnum. Bertram = 100 gr. 28 Nosler has a ballistic coefficient of 0.648 where 300 Win Mags is 0.615. You can store both of these ammo in cartridge pouches for keeping them. I spend much of the fall hunting elk and success this year has been excellent. This helps maintain shot-to-shot consistency for a time, but it is a temporary fix as eventually they will reach the limit of how far out they can seat the bullet in the case. Remember: there are certain 28 Nosler loads that have an additional 300-400ft-lbs of kinetic energy than comparable 300 Win Mag loads out at several hundred yards. For the maximum output with 28 Nosler, youll need 79 gr powder charge of H1000 powder. Barrel lengths do vary depending on the manufacturer and exact model, but24 and even 26 barrels are pretty standard with the 300 Winchester Magnum. At the same time, the 28 Nosler Terminal Ascent load is neck and neck with the 300 Win Mag Terminal Ascent in terms of retained energy, but the 300 Win Mag load is going over 200fps slower and has more than 3 feet (37.5) of additional bullet drop at 800 yards. Note: while the powder capacity figures listed below do give a good indication of the differences between the two cartridges, exact case capacities vary slightly according to the brand of brass used. The most common comparison is 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag, because they're both popular in North America and are kissing cousins as far as bullet diameter goes. This way you can be confident in your skills and equipment well before you ever set foot into the woods. However, in this case, it still falls short when it comes to the range. So, if youre planning to save more money in the long run, 300 Win Mag is your choice. As both the 300 Win Mag and 28 Nosler can shoot longer ranges, one data point for 800 yards was included in the ballistics table. On the other hand, as we covered earlier, many of those longer, heavy for caliber .284 bullets the 28 Nosler is optimized for have a higher ballistic coefficient than the most common bullets used in the 300 Win Mag, especially when bullet weights are similar. the 300win mag would be the best choice of the two. Keep this in mind if your hunting rifle has a shorter barrel, as you might not be able to achieve the advertised muzzle velocities. Additionally, dont forget about the importance of impact velocity. Now, you must be wondering- what is the muzzle energy of a 300 win mag? It should be noted that most hunters will not shoot out a barrel for multiple seasons with either cartridge. . All things considered, the 28 Nosler does have an edge here with the heaviest for caliber loadings for that chambering (over 160 grains). More recoil means the rifle will hit you back with more thrust. For a sub-MOA barrel, many shooters report a loss in peak accuracy for 28 Nosler around the 800-round mark, while a 300 Win Mag barrel can maintain superb accuracy between 1,000 and 1,500 rounds depending on your load. But let us warn you, this was just the tip of the iceberg. The bottom line is that most hunters should not experience any appreciable difference in accuracy for multiple seasons, but if a high-volume shooter or hunter is concerned about barrel life then a 300 WM barrel will typically last longer. Once again, theyll both work really well in this role and situations like these are where they start to stand apart from other cartridges. Because of less ballistic coefficient and weight, 300 Win Mag detours a bit more than 28 Nosler. All other things equal, a heavier projectile of a given caliber will be longer and therefore have a higher sectional density and consequently penetrate deeper than projectiles with a lower mass and sectional density. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Admittedly, thats a pretty light for caliber bullet weight for the 28 Nosler though. This means that both cartridges will fit into a long action rifle, which is lighter and has a shorter bolt throw than a magnum action. The .300 PRC is a rimless magnum cartridge that uses a large rifle primer. So its literally impossible to explain the cartridge ballistics for each point of the atmosphere. Dealing with the wind is always tricky and it gets exponentially more difficult as range increases. But both of them have an almost close drop rate. Its true that 175gr AccuBond Long Range load looks really good on paper for the 28 Nosler. Lets go ahead! There is still debate whether suppressors reduce the damage or velocity of the bullet. So, just keep that in mind. With that being said, 7mag, 30-06 and 300 win mag are just as effective with a lot less recoil. There is quite an ethical question of taking a shot at a game animal at longer ranges, as small miscalculations can result in wounding the poor beast and prolonging its suffering. Both rifle cartridges were built for long range precision and deliver the brutal kinetic energy thats needed to harvest large game. The effective range or maximum range of a bullet depends on the shooter. With that in mind, I decided to add the 300 Win Mag Hornady Superformance loading to the comparison. In terms of cost, 300 Win Mag ammo will generally be less expensive with basic soft point ammo going for around $2/round and premium hunting ammo costing between $3-5/round. So here are the tested case capacities from Ryan. Those are some impressive numbers. Though we will not debate the ethics of long range hunting here, our advice is that you spend ample time at the range practicing at the distances you expect to shoot. The rifle situation with the 300 Winchester Magnum and 28 Nosler is similar to the ammunition situation. When it comes to classic hunting rounds, there is none more ubiquitous than the 300 Winchester Magnum. Here comes another deciding factor, the price of 28 Nosler and 300 Win Mag. Bullet size is another one of the other important differences between the 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag. leaves 0.007 inch of play between the free bore (the portion of the barrel between the chamber and the rifling) and the bullet. Its weird that with more distance covered, 28 Nosler acquires more energy than 300 Win Mag. I own a 300 WSM and I regret not buying the 7mag instead. Bullet size is another one of the other important differences between the 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag. We can calculate the kinetic energy of any object with the formula, K= mv^2. Which is 201,600 RPM. Nosler's factory ammunition is offered with the 225-grain AccuBond, the 265-grain AccuBond Long Range and their 300-grain Custom Competition. The main difference between the 300 Winchester Magnum and the 28 Nosler is the bullet size each rifle cartridge fires. Now I will be the odd man out that has never seen a. But both of them have an almost close drop rate. If your budge it a little more flexible, the Weatherby Vanguard, Ruger Precision Rifle, and Sako S20 are all amazing options available for over $1,000. When looking at ballistics for factory ammo, its important to note what barrel length was used. The United States entered a period of sustained economic growth after the end of World War II in 1945 and the manufacturing base that produced gigantic quantities of weapons for use during the war switched over to firearm and ammunition development for civilian use. Winchester developed the 300 Win Mag from the legendary 375 H&H Magnum cartridge while the 28 Nosler comes from the 404 Jeffery. But 300 Win Mags drop rate is more than that of 28 Nosler. The differences between the cartridges in terms of wind deflection are even more pronounced at longer range. The 160 grain bullet for the 28 Nosler had the highest muzzle velocity at 3,200 fps while the 200 gr Hornady ELD-X for 300 Win Mag was the slowest at 2,850 fps. Of the bullets evaluated previously, the 7mm 175 gr Accubond Long Range has the highest BC measured at 0.648 while the 160 gr Ballistic Tip bullet measured a respectable 0.531. In that vein, there is normally a good selection of bullet types and weights for the cartridge suitable for big game hunting. First, its available in the Federal Terminal Ascent line loaded with a 155gr Terminal Ascent bullet and the Hornady Precision Hunter line loaded with 162gr ELD-X bullet. Minuteman. 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