Reciol of the 300 WSM vs the 3006 for a T3

[Harry Snippe]

Question for the 300 WSM owners out there . Is the reciol of your T3  Much worse than that of a rifle chambered in the odd 6 ?
I am trying to decide which to buy .
Already have one in 338 f as well as a 6.5x55 .
Thinking of selling the winchester model 70 in 300 WM and going to a bit lighter rifle .
Thank you in advance
Happy

[LanceR]

Hello Harry

I don't know if you will get an answer from someone with experience with all three rifles so I'll take a shot at a different route.

You didn't say what weight bullets you intend to use and just which model of Tikka or Winchester 70 you are asking about so this information has some guesses involved.  I used the standard factory data for the Sporter version of the 70 and the Hunter version of the Tikkas.

The Model 70 has a 26" barrel so you'll get very close to the factory stated velocities for most ammo.  The Tikka .300 WSM has a 24" barrel so from chronograph tests expect about 100 FPS less than factory or reloading manual data unless is state it was generated with a 24" tube.  The WSMs and other short magnums seem to pay a larger velocity loss penalty for shorter barrels than the standard magnum which have more powder burning to help compensate.  The Tikka 30-06 has a 22-7/16 barrel-expect 40 FPS less than the book data.  If the 30-06 data was developed with a 26" barrel the loss will be closer to 80-100 FPS.

Now for the recoil.  I assumed a little less than maximum powder charges and ran the weights of the rifles, bullets and powder charges through a recoil calculator.  Since the most popular bullet weight for the .300s is 180 grains I used that.  I pulled the expected velocity off for the shorter barrels.  I used the factory stated weight and added 18 ounces for a scope and rings.

The Tikka 30-06 (7.8 pounds) with a 180 grain bullet at 2635 FPS has about 19.4 foot pounds of recoil. 

The WSM (8.2 pounds) at 2800 FPS will have about 23.0 foot pounds of recoil.  T

Your Model 70 (8.5 pounds) at 2880 FPS has around 25.6 foot pounds of recoil.

It is worth noting that a lot of experienced folks think that 20 foot pounds is the upper limit for most of us mere mortals to shoot without recoil becoming much more likely to cause flinching etc.

I also ran all three velocities through a ballistic calculator to compare the trajectories.  They are all within an inch of each other right out to 250 yards in both elevation and windage for a 10 MPH wind.  For most any applications there is darn little to pick from downrange.  At that distance each of them is capable of doing anything the others can.

If you hand load, I'd stick with the Model 70 and load some softer shooting (and recoiling) loads if recoil is an issue.  The .300 WM will have a bigger velocity advantage with heavier bullets.

If you choose to buy a new rifle I'd go with the 30-06.  Certainly over the life of the rifle you'll save a lot of money on ammunition and you can walk into any ammunition seller in the world and find 30-06.  The 30-06 is lighter, has a softer recoil and is a lot less money to feed than the magnums.

Heck, if you don't reload, save the money from the rifle and buy a set of reloading equipment.

If you have different bullet weights or specific models in mind the recoil trend will be the same but I could run the data again.

I will also note that stock shape and the total surface area of the recoil pad have a lot to do with perceived recoil.  You may want to measure the height and width of your Model 70's recoil pad and then check the Tikka.  If one is appreciably larger it will effect how you perceive the recoil.  For example. Weatherby rifles tend to have quite large pads on their heavier recoiling guns and the comb slopes forward so that it recoils out from under the face.

Hope some of this helps.

Lance

[parkergunshop]

Lance,
Excellent detailed advise.
The only advantage of the 300 WSM and the other WSM's is in the marketing hype, the ammo cost and the performance short fall vs the other standard length magnums makes the choice a no-brainer for the average hunter.

A WSM length action makes for much fewer options if you choose to rebarrel.   An experienced handloader can make the standard .300 Winchester magnum do anything the .300 WSM or  the 30-06 will do.
In reality you can hand load and duplicate the .308 Winchester and the 30-30 Winchester with the .300 Winchester magnum'
Stay with the model 70 and get into the reloading business, lower your cost and get the best of everything.
 
 
 
 

[Harry Snippe]

The winchester has a 26 " barrel and with the scope it is a bit heavy and awkward to carry .
(It was bought years ago thinking some day I go on a hunt in more open country )
So I carry the 338 Federal tikka most of the time in the bush where I do most of the hunting .
 
Lance  Thanks for your detailed response and suppose the 06 in a tikka will probably do everything I need to do .( Moose ,Black bear and deer )
I do reload and the reciol of the 300 never bothered in the winchester, but might factor in on the lighter tikka . That and the 3006 does use a lot less powder .
So I will go with the 006.

[hoghunting]

 I hunt, shoot and reload with my T3 300 WSM, and it comes out of the safe more often than the other rifles for hunting trips. Using the 165 gr Interbonds and RL-19, I average 3162 fps with a load that is under max, and under 0.5 MOA. I replaced the factory recoil pad with a Hi-Viz X-coil pad - Limbsaver now has fitted pads for the T3.

 When working up my load, recoil would become a problem after 25 - 30 rounds, and I would use more padding. But for hunting, you won't notice the recoil difference between the WSM and the 30-06. I will take longer shots at hogs than I will game animals, and the 300 WSM is deadly at 300 - 400 yds.

[Luckyducker]

I had (youngest son has it now) a Tikka T3 Lite chambered in 300WSM.  This rifle's dry weight is 6.6# and I shot 165 grain Hornady Interlok bullets handloaded to 3000 ft/sec muzzle velocity.  I do not think the recoil is that bad, and frankly, don't consider it any more than the two 30/06 Spfld standard wt rifles I have.  I only shot one deer with the WSM, and she ran away from me in a corn stubble field but made the mistake of stopping at the far end of the field behind a terrace to look back and with only the head and neck for a sight picture.  I put one through her neck at about 400yds.  I have shot many deer with my 06's at ranges up to 600 yds. but never this easy.  I think I have got Kyle, #2 son, talked into trading the WSM for my Ruger MkII 06, as he shoots off a bench at the range and thinks the Tikka is a little abusive........whatever.  I believe a field rifle should be a joy to carry; as they are carried way more than they are shot and I don't think an 8+# rifle fills the bill, especially as the years start adding up to higher numbers. 

[parkergunshop]

Luckyducker,
In my part of the country we don't field hunt, we hunt for the most part from box stands on the ground or from tree stands.  Very little walking and carrying of the rifle is in order here.   Most shots are well under 200 yards with the average being less than 100 yards.
From a tree stand I use 30-06 or 8X57 mannlichers with 18 or 19 inch barrels that weigh around 7 1/2 pounds  from a box stand, a .308 Norma  mag or a .338 mag with 24 inch barrels both of these guns weigh over 8 pounds with scope..
On a magnums, I want more weight and have a 11 pound .458 Winchester mag and a 9 pound .375 H&H mag.
If I need a light weight I have a .257 Ackley improved that weighs less than 7 pounds with scope, it is normally a house gun for dealing with varmints.

Many of us live in different environments and have different physical limitations in the field, one size does not fit all.
I have no problems with the weight of any gun, however in a tree stand a shorter easier handling rifle  is better.
 
 

[jcn59]

I have a T-3 in .338 Win Mag and the wood stocked version in .270 Win.  .
 
I found the recoil in the .338 more than I want so I switched stocks.  Now the .338 weighs 8.25# scoped & the .270 is 7.25 # scoped.  They shoot the same in either stock.  Great rifles. 
 
My Browning micro .300 WSM weighs 7.25 # scoped.  Recoil is sharp so I load it down to hot 30-06 levels.  If I need a bigger hammer I'll use my .338

[Nobade]

Here is something to think about. I install a LOT of muzzle brakes. People buy them for a reason. Nearly every T3 I see in the shop for a brake is chambered for 300 WSM. I almost never see one in 30-06 or other normal cartridge. Evidently folks don't like the recoil level the WSM produces.

[ihookem]

I wouldn't want to shoot a t3 in any mag. My son has a .270 win. and it kicks like a horse. Had I known it kicked like that I'd gotten him a a a well something else. We got .270 cause I have  a .270 win , dies cases etc. A 550 dollar gun needs a real pad.