308 vs 300 Win Mag bolt action sniper rifles

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 308 vs 300 Win Mag bolt action sniper rifles

Posted: 6/17/2007 9:42:12 PM EDT

Did the military ever adopt the 300 Win Mag? All I ever hear about is the 308 and 50 cal.

Lately, I don't hear much about the 50. I would think it would make an ideal sniper weapon in the vast distances in Iraq.

If the military didn't pick up the 300 Win Mag, was it because there wasn't enough difference?

Thanks guys.

Posted: 6/17/2007 9:52:17 PM EDT

[#1]

I think it has to do with the .308 being a Nato round and all the different types of bullets available for it.

Posted: 6/17/2007 10:03:06 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
I think it has to do with the .308 being a Nato round and all the different types of bullets available for it.

They are the same caliber. The 300 uses 190 grain boat tail match and the 308 uses 168 or 175 grain boat tail match. The 300 uses a little more powder, faster muzzle velocity, and flatter trajectory.

Posted: 6/17/2007 10:10:05 PM EDT

[#3]

.300 Win Mag has a lot of recoil. It burns barrel throats quicker.

That, and in an emergency, you can't find de-linked .300 Win Mag ball ammo.

However, you can with .308!

There are some M-24s out there in .300 Win Mag, but I think its safe to say that they are very few and far between.

Posted: 6/17/2007 11:56:18 PM EDT

[#4]

The 300 probably only gives you about another 200 effective yards over the 308 and that is still within the effective range of the 50 so it's only an incremental improvement in an area already sufficiently covered by an available system.

In other words it adds logistical issues without adding any efectiveness. Answer to a non-existant problem.

Posted: 6/18/2007 12:26:50 AM EDT

[#5]

Most people cannot hit a human sized target beyond the effective range of a 308. Why bother with 300 WM?

Posted: 6/18/2007 3:55:56 AM EDT

[#6]

I dunno if it's true or not, but I've read that when designing the Army's M24, the powers that be decided to build it on a long action Remington 700 (instead of a short action like the Marine Corps' M40) so if/when the need arose, it could be rechambered to .300WM.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 308 vs 300 Win Mag bolt action sniper rifles

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