A look at exactly what 300 Win Mag is capable of when it comes to ballistics. We explore velocity, trajectory and more for some of the most common 300 Win Mag ammo loads sold in the United States.

Bullets up to 180 grain and 3,000 feet per second, 300 Win Mag Ballistics are a treasure trove of possibilities for distance shooters. Let’s dive in and take a look at all this rifle caliber offers.

Fast Facts

• With its flat trajectory and superior power downrange, the 300 Win Mag makes a versatile hunting cartridge.
• Powerful enough to hunt any North American game, with lighter bullets available to prevent overkill on whitetail and mule deer.
• The 300 Win Mag’s primary shortcoming is its forceful recoil. Low recoil rounds are available to put its kick more on par with the 30-06, however.
• While newer cartridges may outperform it on paper, the 300 Win Mag remains the most popular .30 caliber magnum load among American hunters.

300 Win Mag Ballistics Chart

	Barrel Length	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.	500 yds.	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.	500 yds.	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.	500 yds.	(G1)	(G7)	Sect. Density
Federal Gold Medal - 190 Gr Match	24	2900	2725	2557	2395	2239	2089	3548	3133	2758	2420	2115	1841	-1.5	1.6	0	-6.9	-19.9	-39.9	0.542	0.272	0.286
Black Hills Match - 190 Gr. HPBT	24	2950						3671														0.286
Black Hills - 180 Gr. Poly	24	2950						3478														0.271
Hornady Superformance- 180 Gr. SST	24	3130	2927	2732	2546	2366	2195	3917	3424	2983	2589	2238	1925	-1.5	1.3	0	-5.9	-17.3	-34.8	0.48	0.233	0.271
Federal Trophy - 180 Gr. Bonded Tip	24	2960	2771	2591	2417	2250	2089	3502	3070	2682	2334	2023	1745	-1.5	1.5	0	-6.6	-19.3	-38.9	0.5	0.247	0.271
Barnes VOR-TX - 165 Gr. Poly	24	3120	2899	2690	2489	2298	2114	3567	3081	2651	2271	1934	1638	-1.5	1.3	0	-6.1	-17.9	-36.3	0.442	0.215	0.248
Black Hills Gold - 165 Gr. GMX	24	3050						3408														0.248
Hornady Superformance - 165 Gr. GMX	24	3260	3035	2821	2617	2422	2235	3893	3373	2915	2505	2148	1830	-1.5	1.1	0	-5.5	-16.1	-32.7	0.447	0.214	0.248
Federal Fusion - 180 Gr. SP	24	2960	2766	2580	2401	2230	2065	3502	3057	2659	2304	1987	1704	-1.5	1.5	0	-6.7	-19.5	-39.4	0.485	0.24	0.271
Federal Fusion - 165 Gr. SP	24	3080	2865	2660	2464	2276	2097	3475	3006	2591	2223	1898	1610	-1.5	1.4	0	-6.3	-18.3	-37.1	0.449	0.219	0.248
Federal Gold Medal - 190 Gr. MatchKing	24	2900	2725	2557	2395	2239	2089	3548	3133	2758	2420	2115	1841	-1.5	1.6	0	-6.9	-19.9	-39.9	0.533	0.265	0.286
Winchester Silvertip - 180 Gr. Poly	24	2950	2768	2593	2425	2263	2107	3479	3062	2688	2351	2047	1775	-1.5	1.5	0	-6.7	-19.3	-38.7	0.516	0.258	0.271
Federal Vital-Shok - 180 Gr. Poly	24	2960	2780	2606	2439	2279	2124	3502	3088	2715	2378	2075	1803	-1.5	1.5	0	-6.6	-19	-38.3	0.523	0.258	0.271

300 Winchester Magnum Origins

Winchester introduced 300 Win Mag ammunition in 1963. Its casing is adapted from the 338 Win Mag, which itself is a shortened version of the 375 H&H Magnum. While magnum rounds were not novel at the time of the 300 Win Mag’s introduction, that it featured America’s favored .30 caliber bullet set it on course to the widespread popularity it enjoys today.

Looking at 300 Win Mag Ballistics

Generally, a 300 Win Mag’s 150 grain bullet delivers a 3,260 fps muzzle velocity, while its 180 grain bullet achieves approximately 3,000 fps. It is a flat shooting cartridge, able to hit a target at 300 yards with negligible hold over. (Essentially, you don’t have to arc the 300 Win Mag’s bullet trajectory in order to strike a target up to 300 yards.)

The 300 Win Mag retains the energy adequate to kill an elk humanely at distances greater than 600 yards. Even at 900 yards, the 300 Win Mag can pack the 1,000 ft lbs punch considered the required minimum to kill a whitetail without undue suffering. In short, this is a widely available, accurate, and powerful round that you could hunt anything with.

The 300 Win Mag’s muzzle velocity surpasses that of most 30-06 ammo by about 400 feet per second. This confers a flatter trajectory coupled with approximately 20 percent more energy to transfer downrange.

300 Win Mag Recoil

As usual, the advantages that go hand in hand with a powerful round are tempered by greater recoil. The 300 Win Mag’s perceived recoil is about 30 percent more powerful than a 30-06’s, which is already substantial. At 30 ft lbs, the 300 Win Mag’s recoil energy places it on the upper threshold of what shooters can tolerate for any reasonable amount of time. It is roughly comparable to firing a 12 Gauge slug.

Other Attributes

• A consistent winner at 1,000 yard long distance shooting competitions.
• The 300 Win Mag’s popularity conveys a great selection of rifles to choose from.
• Part of the driving force behind the 300 Win Mag cartridge’s popularity is its overall length, which permits use of a standard length action.
• While heavy recoil can cause flinching that throws off accuracy, sufficient practice can habituate a shooter to the 300 Win Mag’s substantial kick.