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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.
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.