[Want a Moose Tag]

I have been contemplating buy a .338 or 300 WSM as an upgrade from my .30-06 (which I bought used for $125). After looking at gun prices ($1,000 + scope and tax) and ballistics charts, I have concluded that an upgrade to expensive ammunition is the answer for any .308 or .30-06 hunter. Here is the pertinent info (I calculated based on Winchester ammo and @ 200 yards):

FPS Ft. Lbs. Bal Co-effic
.30-06 (180 g)-
Silvertip (cheap ammo) 2262 2044 0.507
XP3 (premium) 2414 2330 0.527

300 WSM (180 g)-
Silvertip 2641 2788 0.507
XP3 2655 2817 0.527

338 Win Mag -
Silvertip (200 g) 2509 2794 0.414
Accubond (225 g) 2474 3058 0.548

7 mm WSM (160 g) -
XP3 2682 2555 0.512

The only draw back to a lower caliber is your trajectory after 300 yards, the .308 and .30-06 drop faster than the other calibers but that is expected with less FPS. However, $10-20 more per box is alot cheaper than $1000+ for 200 more FPS (velocity) and 400 more Ft. Lbs (energy). Hope this saves you some money.

 

[ElseSomeOne]

Agreed, new (and even used) gun prices are crazy high, and I don't subscribe to it.

I personally consider a .308 to be "good enough" for all game in NB (unless you'll be making 800yard shots, but those are few and far between).

Heck, you can even resurrect your old '94 30-30 with some Hornady LeverRevolution ammo.

Just my thoughts.

 

[nbdeerhunter]

if you are looking for a new gun the savage edge is running around $300 in most of the common calibers