Merkel R15 300 Winchester Magnum 22" Matte Finish Walnut Stock Bolt Action Rifle

The 300 Winchester Magnum, introduced in 1963, was the last of Winchester's family of (nominally) 30-06-length belted magnums based on the shortened 300 H&H case. It followed the 458, 264, and 338 Winchester Magnums, but has an unusually short neck to maximize powder capacity. Initial reception was mixed; critics faulted the short neck, and it was caught up in Winchester's unpopular post-1964 manufacturing shift. It took time, but the 300 Winchester Magnum has not just survived but prospered. Today it is the world's most popular cartridge that wears a "magnum" suffix. It is manufactured by all ammunition manufacturers, chambered by all riflemakers who have a suitable platform, and often employed by military snipers in the Special Operations community. Though not the fastest "fast 30-caliber" it is fast, accurate, incredibly available, and well-suited to virtually all non-dangerous game hunting throughout the world. — Craig Boddington