I think for 95% or more, .308 magnum hunting situations nothing is wrong with the cartridge's performance. But, for today's long range crowd it does not fit the current cartridge nor rifle template.I have a question - what is wrong with this cartridge. I have seen more than a few trying to off load thier weatherby rifle chambered in this cartridge. I have a mid 60s Mark V built by JP Sauer - to me a very nice rifle but there has been zero interest. I might have paid too much for it but I am hard pressed to get half of what I paid. I reload for it so the cost is notvan issue . It isn't a bad rifle but I dont need four 30 caliber magnums. I was just curious.
A popular seller for Weatherby in their rifles that did not extend to the masses in large numbers. Particularly once the 300 Winchester Magnum hit the streets.
I have a 300 WBY in a stainless Winchester M70 Classic 26" barrel. I bought it used from a guy that was retiring and moving to the Lower 48. Mainly because it was somewhat unique in that M70. And, from when a kid, I still was somewhat fascinated by the cartridge. Plus it only needed a re-barrel to be a 340 WBY. The original owner had killed a few moose and I think a bear or two with it. I had a friend that had one in a Weatherby stainless model that used his quite a bit on Alaskan game. He really liked it.
The 300 Winchester was overwhelming as to availability and units in the field. Pretty much the same end user results for most people, without the Weatherby premium price of rifles and ammunition. A portion of today's buying crowd consider the 300 Winchester Magnum an overgrown dinosaur. A few others like me, figure the short and fat 300's are the maximum performance desired from a .308 cartridge. Toss the 300 RUM and 300 PRC in the mix of more modern, the 300 H&H for the nostalgic and it is a crowded field.