Recognizing that this is an old thread, but that readers looking for information on this issue currently may still appreciate the info, I would say that the way I would look at it is a little different. I would try to answer the question: "what am I going to hunt?"
If the rifle is to be used in Europe, the 7.62 mm magnum caliber (.300") with bullets as light as 150 gr and as heavy as 200 gr, will do anything you want. Folks are correct when they point out the advantage of larger frontal area, but for European animals, there is no real need for anything really large. If that notion still appeals to the buyer more than anything else, then the 8x68 is not the champion; the 9.3x64 is, or the .338 caliber (in Win or Wby), but these are unnecessarily too much gun for anything that walks in Europe. Which maybe why the 9.3x62 is more popular... The bottom line seems to me that if frontal area is not a very important criteria in the discussion, then why not favor speed and sectional density, hence the .300?
If the rifle is to be used in Africa, I see a second tier question. Do you include Eland on the list? If no, in any case a larger frontal area never hurts, but the .300 Wby has a truly stellar world reputation, which is objectively well deserved. If yes, the .323 / 250 gr slugs are objectively better than the .300 / 200 gr slugs, but I would also make the point that the .338 / 250 gr slugs are even better, not to mention .375 / 300 gr...
Practical considerations... Objectively, there is little to chose, from a ballistic or hunting efficiency perspective, between 8x68 and .300 Wby. BOTH ARE FANTASTIC CARTRIDGES. I will admit that my final decision would likely be a very practical one. Let me illustrate: being of European origin and having been raised in Europe, for years I wanted a 8x68 to complement my 7x64. 8x68 ammo availability (not to mention price!) in the US being what it is, I have a .300 Wby and I love it...
I am not sure what the 8x68 ammo availability is in Spain nowadays, or in various African countries, but I remember that in France, and even in Germany, in the 1970's, it was not very common, and German or Austrian ammo (I remember RWS and Hirtenberger) were ALWAYS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE than American ammo (I seem to remember seeing a lot of Remington ammo).
Actually, looking back, I would venture to say that the fantastic adoption rate of US calibers over European calibers in post WWII up to 1980's Europe was due in a very, very, very large part to the fact that American rifles and ammo were essentially half the price of German rifles and ammo, and maybe were not of the same high quality, but certainly of a quality high enough for most hunting popular crowds, if not the "elites", and certainly of a quality high enough to do the job and do it well. But I digress...
As to recoil, yes, the .300 Wby recoils a bit more than the .300 Win, but this is still very bearable. As we have all confirmed time and again, no one ever notices recoil or blast (unless someone uses a dang muzzle brake!) when shooting at game, and a decent shoulder recoil pad and earmuff make it fine at the range. I would consider (and I am on record on this blog to regularly advise to consider) recoil if the discussion was between .243 and .300 Wby. BIG difference. But between 8x68 and .300 Wby, nah, not much to discuss...
If the rifle is to be used in Europe, the 7.62 mm magnum caliber (.300") with bullets as light as 150 gr and as heavy as 200 gr, will do anything you want. Folks are correct when they point out the advantage of larger frontal area, but for European animals, there is no real need for anything really large. If that notion still appeals to the buyer more than anything else, then the 8x68 is not the champion; the 9.3x64 is, or the .338 caliber (in Win or Wby), but these are unnecessarily too much gun for anything that walks in Europe. Which maybe why the 9.3x62 is more popular... The bottom line seems to me that if frontal area is not a very important criteria in the discussion, then why not favor speed and sectional density, hence the .300?
If the rifle is to be used in Africa, I see a second tier question. Do you include Eland on the list? If no, in any case a larger frontal area never hurts, but the .300 Wby has a truly stellar world reputation, which is objectively well deserved. If yes, the .323 / 250 gr slugs are objectively better than the .300 / 200 gr slugs, but I would also make the point that the .338 / 250 gr slugs are even better, not to mention .375 / 300 gr...
Practical considerations... Objectively, there is little to chose, from a ballistic or hunting efficiency perspective, between 8x68 and .300 Wby. BOTH ARE FANTASTIC CARTRIDGES. I will admit that my final decision would likely be a very practical one. Let me illustrate: being of European origin and having been raised in Europe, for years I wanted a 8x68 to complement my 7x64. 8x68 ammo availability (not to mention price!) in the US being what it is, I have a .300 Wby and I love it...
I am not sure what the 8x68 ammo availability is in Spain nowadays, or in various African countries, but I remember that in France, and even in Germany, in the 1970's, it was not very common, and German or Austrian ammo (I remember RWS and Hirtenberger) were ALWAYS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE than American ammo (I seem to remember seeing a lot of Remington ammo).
Actually, looking back, I would venture to say that the fantastic adoption rate of US calibers over European calibers in post WWII up to 1980's Europe was due in a very, very, very large part to the fact that American rifles and ammo were essentially half the price of German rifles and ammo, and maybe were not of the same high quality, but certainly of a quality high enough for most hunting popular crowds, if not the "elites", and certainly of a quality high enough to do the job and do it well. But I digress...
As to recoil, yes, the .300 Wby recoils a bit more than the .300 Win, but this is still very bearable. As we have all confirmed time and again, no one ever notices recoil or blast (unless someone uses a dang muzzle brake!) when shooting at game, and a decent shoulder recoil pad and earmuff make it fine at the range. I would consider (and I am on record on this blog to regularly advise to consider) recoil if the discussion was between .243 and .300 Wby. BIG difference. But between 8x68 and .300 Wby, nah, not much to discuss...
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