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Need schooled on 300wsm

operatorj

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 17, 2009
623
57
45
Heltonville ,Indiana
Im in the mood for a new bolt gun i just can't decide if i want a 300 winmag or a 300 wsm.what are the pros and cons to them. I guess im just bored with the 308 and want to move up. Any help and insight would be great.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm


I had a WSM and liked it but I don’t think it would keep up with the win mag if you want max velocity with the long heavy weights (190 and greater). If you’re wishing to continue shooting mid weights then (155-175 grain) the WSM is more efficient... But a long action WSM would be a cool hybrid.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I had a WSM and liked it but I don’t think it would keep up with the win mag if you want max velocity with the long heavy weights (190 and greater). If you’re wishing to continue shooting mid weights then (155-175 grain) the WSM is more efficient... But a long action WSM would be a cool hybrid. </div></div>

I use nothing but heavy bullets (200gr+) and can tell you that the 300wsm has no trouble keeping up with the 300wm at all bullet weights, that nonsense about the long bullets taking up too much case capacity isn't true. For example, I can still run a 200gr. Barnes LRX, which is 1.624" long, at over 3000fps, I could probably take it to 3100fps, but I found no need to and it would be too hot for my needs.

The 300wsm is a great performer, and I have found that it is easy to load for. If you handload, I would suggest the 300wsm, for me the only real advantage of the 300wm is the price of factory ammo is a bit cheaper and a bit easier to find.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Thanks for for all the help. I am thinking that the 300 winmag may be the way to go sense I am not set up to reload yet and it may be awhile before i do. So im guessing that the only real.difference would really be in long range capability.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

The 300WSM should have the same long range capabilities of the 300WM, after all their velocities are almost the same.

This might be a good excuse to get into reloading, it was for me
wink.gif
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Maybe you should divert your funds from a new magnum rifle to reloading?

If the new rifle is largely based on wanting something new/different, I promise - you'll be into a whole new/different world with reloading. Will probably keep your attention for a while before you start thinking "I need a new rifle" again.

Just a thought.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Certainly not trying to discourage you as my .300 WSM is a nail driver. Having said that my .300 WSM is nicked name the mule. I have a Win Model 70 featherweight which I had restocked into a AAA grade walnut Weatherby MK 5 style stock. It still kicked like a pissed off mule. The first words out of Chad Dixon’s mouth at LongRifles Inc when he rebarreled it, that SOB kicks like a mule. Like me he didn't find it very fun to shoot.

My rifle is deadly accurate but it’s not something I want to take to the range for an afternoon outing or shoot prairie dogs or ground hogs. As I stated its just not a lot of fun to shoot, but it does it's job perfectly on moose and deer!
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Recoil is not too much of a issue to me as accuracy is. Right now im rifle poor and down to my ar15 so i was wanting a new bolt gun that could do about all i want from target and coyote hunting to going out west and taking a elk. I grew up shooting a 270 and was just really interested in the 300 wsm and 300 winmag.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

why not 270 wsm? bullet selection is different (but you can still go for berger, accubond, ...), but it's alot less of a mule
wink.gif
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

I guess i just have a itch for a 300. After talking to my smith i think i might just do a winmag being that factory ammo is easier to get.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

interesting. in my area hardly anyone uses 300 winmag. they rather go for the wsm because they think it's easier to handle *shrug*
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Same bullets at similar speeds on paper, but I went 300wsm so I could run the short action and reuse a lot of stuff I had laying around for the build (the short action itself, couple stocks to pick from, two scope bases, etc). I also think there are more used parts for rem700 short actions so it might be easier/cheaper to outfit with the short action platform.

To be fair though, I've not shot either one yet (my 300wsm build just finished... there is a thread about on it here) so my opinion is only based on figures on a spreadsheet.

I reload for everything I shoot so factory ammo doesn't matter too much to me as long as there is a lead-free factory offering from somewhere in case I want to hunt in some areas of my home state. You can load lead-free but it's nice to have the proper box too...

 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: threetrees</div><div class="ubbcode-body">interesting. in my area hardly anyone uses 300 winmag. they rather go for the wsm because they think it's easier to handle *shrug* </div></div>

My 300wsm doesn't have a muzzle brake, and weigh's 10.8lbs scoped with a bipod, and I can shoot it all day, I love this rifle.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

I also have a 300wsm xcr I put in a 5r take off stock now it has a muzzle brake so I can shoot all day long and accurate as hell I also have shot a 300wm with and without a break I prefer the wsm can't beat the short action I have a ton of extra bases bottom metals ect now a 300rum kicks like a mule that I know first hand.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Also I forgot to add I reload my 300wsm im pushing 180sst a little over 3000ft per sec. that's my elk load of course.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

The FN Herstal TSR XP 300wsm kicks like a stout 308.
But, I'd also be sure there are other models out there
in 300wsm that will kick.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

Replying to my own post in this thread because I have now actually used my 300wsm. It groups like this on paper:

wsm_shots_1-s.jpg
wsm_shots_2-s.jpg
wsm_shots_3-s.jpg


and drops a cow elk at 452 yards like this:

me_with_elk-m.jpg


It's a keeper... and just seeing it in the picture makes me want to get to the range again.
 
Re: Need schooled on 300wsm

That's great. The more I shoot the wism, the more
I like it. Great target round as well as hunting.
I pretty much decided on two calibers. The 300wsm
and the. 308