Hunting Rifle Question

[grumpyMSG]

Actually, she may be doing it the smart way, the lower pressures and velocities will help increase the barrel life. She will have a round that will have no trouble taking down a whitetail, doesn't beat her up, allows her to practice (come on, 80 rounds and happy). The gun still allows her to shoot the heavy loads later if she decides to go after bigger game out west. Think of it as the reduced loads as being like using a .22 adapter in an AR15 and instead of saving $$$, saving her shoulder and not developing bad habits, like a horrible flinch.

[acguy45]

Actually, she may be doing it the smart way, the lower pressures and velocities will help increase the barrel life. She will have a round that will have no trouble taking down a whitetail, doesn't beat her up, allows her to practice (come on, 80 rounds and happy). The gun still allows her to shoot the heavy loads later if she decides to go after bigger game out west. Think of it as the reduced loads as being like using a .22 adapter in an AR15 and instead of saving $$$, saving her shoulder and not developing bad habits, like a horrible flinch.

exactly, it is a wise move it helps to develop good shooting habits, practicing various field positions and adds to the versatility of the rifle, and definately more enjoyable during extended range sessions I frequently use reduced recoil handloads in my 30-06 all the time my wife actually likes to shoot it now and most of the time I shoot at ranges that are only 100 yds so the target doesn't know the difference and POI is only a couple inches low and easily adjusted for.

[gunderwood]

Don't get me wrong, if you want it get it. I have a .300WSM varmint gun of all things! (Check out the show off your hardware and search for 300 Varminter).

Actually, she may be doing it the smart way, the lower pressures and velocities will help increase the barrel life. She will have a round that will have no trouble taking down a whitetail, doesn't beat her up, allows her to practice (come on, 80 rounds and happy). The gun still allows her to shoot the heavy loads later if she decides to go after bigger game out west. Think of it as the reduced loads as being like using a .22 adapter in an AR15 and instead of saving $$$, saving her shoulder and not developing bad habits, like a horrible flinch.

Yes, but only if you also shoot full power loads. It would be like buying a 5.56mm AR15, then the .22lr conversion kit and never shooting 5.56mm out of it. Just buy a .22lr AR upper...they work better and are far more accurate. A 300WM shooting light loads will last longer (barrel life) than one shooting full pressure loads, but neither will last as long (and remain accurate) as a normal .308Win. (which is basically superior to Remington's managed recoil 300WM loads) A 300WM light load is still approx. 50% more powder charge than a .308Win. It is just less efficient of a cartridge at that point. Reducing the load below 55-60grs is getting potentially dangerous because of SEE. I.e. 70% load density.

One of the primary mechanisms of magnums wearing barrels out quickly is the large amount of powder going down the bore. It causes tremendous throat erosion. Cartridges that have this issue are called overbore. Here is a good read on how to determine it:

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/20 ... efinition/

According to that chart:
300WM has a case capacity virtually identical to 300WSM and both are considered a medium overbore, while .308Win is not considered an overbore cartridge. A 300WM with a light load is still overbore, just less so (moderate?). Overbore calcs are just approximations. IMHO, the volume of powder should modify those calcs somewhat more than it does. I.e. my .338LM has an overbore approximately equal to .243Win, but 2k rounds and the barrel is toast for accuracy. You can get a bit (1.5-2x) more with .243Win usually.

If you want it, get it.