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.300 WSM ?

justme

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 13, 2008
292
1
Anyone using the 300 WSM?

It's got the same vel as the 300 WM with bullets to 180 gr, can use the short action, and it does NOT have the belted case.

Opinions? & Thanks in advance
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

That's what I was thinking.
Shorter bolt throw & smoother feeding without the belted case. Seems ideal to me and should reach out as far as my skill or lack of can hit a target and have enough horsepower to get the job done.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I have two, one in a R700 & one in Win70. Before purchasing the first one, I did a lengthy study of velocities, available ammo, etc. vs the other popular calibers.

Bonus - With the availability of Alpha Mags in this caliber, you can put a R700 in any of the stock/DBM offerings that accept AI style magazines.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I have 2, one on a Surgeon the other on a Borden. Love them both. Having another one built now. You get similar velocities up to 190 grainers. I would suggest a muzzle brake. It has a rather sharp kick compared to a 300 win mag. The 300 win mag has more of a push, the WSM has a punch or a kick.
Here's a link to some reading from Mike Miller.


http://www.snipercountry.com/InReviews/RocketRock.asp
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I got one, a custom remington. shoots just fine
grin.gif

Remington 700SA custom in an HS stock.
DSCF489b2.jpg

Thats 26 inches and some baffled change.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I have a custom 300WSM on a Lawton SA and Lawton barrel. I shoot the 208 AMax at 2940 fps and I am still hitting 12X12 steel at 1760 yards. I just read an article about a guy that just set a benchrest record with the 300WSM and Hornady 208s. The better news he and I have the same gunsmith. I am in the process of building a repeater on a Remmy SA and 22" Lawton barrel.

Go for it!
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GardDog223</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have two, one in a R700 & one in Win70. Before purchasing the first one, I did a lengthy study of velocities, available ammo, etc. vs the other popular calibers.

Bonus - With the availability of Alpha Mags in this caliber, you can put a R700 in any of the stock/DBM offerings that accept AI style magazines. </div></div>

I built this mag for the members here that run the WSM case. Go for it and thanks GardDog.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I've only got 155 rounds through mine but I love it. I am not pushing it very hard yet: 180SMK with 64.3 gr IMR4831, 210M. No chrono. I'ts a 700 SA in an AICS. The whole thing weighs about 17 pounds, recoil is not bad at all. I have no plans to put a brake on it.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SWRichmond</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've only got 155 rounds through mine but I love it. I am not pushing it very hard yet: 180SMK with 64.3 gr IMR4831, 210M. No chrono. I'ts a 700 SA in an AICS. The whole thing weighs about 17 pounds, recoil is not bad at all. I have no plans to put a brake on it. </div></div>

Send it.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

Just sold mine, but it was awesome. Had a brake and it helped a lot. Just didn't have any room to stretch it out where Im at (400 is max where I'm at). Great round, hope you're reloading.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

It was my first caliber, savage 12. Great gun, +1 on the muzzle break. You will need to reload, I loved mine, was great to shoot, just very expensive. I was feeding my viht powder with bergers and scenars. Barrel life might be an issue if your pushing them very fast though.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I have a winchester model 70 hunting rifle in 300 wsm. It doesn't have a break and I don't shoot it all that much. Definitely get a break if you want to shoot it a lot, other wise it will get a little old and painful.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

Update: moved to H4350 and 210 Berger Match VLDs and I am so far very pleased with the results. Shot prone from bipod, no rear support, I am getting 5 shot groups 0.525", 0.480", 0.600", 0.480", 0.565", 0.470", 0.400". I don't shoot from a bench and I don't use bags. I started at 56.0 grains H4350 and have gone as far as 59.1 grains. Fed 210M, WIN cases, 2.950" COL (about 0.005" off the lands). No sticky bolt, no badly flattened primers, no pronounced cratering, no other signs of excess pressure. YMMV.

I need a chrono, wife is getting me one for Xmas (best wife on the planet). Based on the data Berger sent me I am guessing I'm at about 2725 fps or so. Once I chrono I will probably go up some more.

This load drifts 18" less than my previous load at 1000 yards in a full value 10mph wind.


 
Re: .300 WSM ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Buckey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Stick with the .300 Win Mag & forget the 300 WSM!! Feeding issues are a HUGE concern with the 300 WSM caliber. </div></div>

If you run a dbm they are not a concern at all. If you plan on feeding it out of a bdl I agree the feeding is less than great.

I run a surgeon 300wsm with a 22" tube. Pushes 208's to 2800 without pressure issues, been up to 2850 but at 2800 there is a sweet spot. Also likes 185 bergers at 2950.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I love my 300WSM. its a win model 70, and i added a bell and carleson stock (due to budget and weight since i carry it hunting)and got a trigger job done to it and thats all i've done with it and i am getting sub MOA groups very easily at 100 yards (as far as ive shot it so far, but plan on getting out further soon).

but my load is:
185 berger hunting VLD
65gr RL17
win brass, CCI primer
2.945 OAL (.010 off lands)

Also i would recommend a winchester action due to the fact that they have longer magazines than most rifles (especially remington, great rifles, really short magazines on their short actions) and you can load the bullet much further out. my loads are 2.945 OAL and easily fit into the magazine so its still a repeater and not a single shot like they would be in most rifles.

seven mm, do you mind sharing your load for the 208 amaxs?
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnda</div><div class="ubbcode-body">seven mm, do you mind sharing your load for the 208 amaxs? </div></div>

I run 65.5 of R19 in an aics mag with the plate removed. Wolf magnum primers and norma brass.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

Jhnda-

What's your fps for the 185 Berger's?

Currently my load is...
175 smk
Win brass (nickle)
63.5gr win 760
CCI #34 primer
3020 fps

This is from a factory savage 24" tube. I've shot factory hsm 185 hunting vlds (factory rated at 2930 fps) and they crono'd at 2950 out of my tube. Every savage barrel that I've. Had has been fast. I would be interested in seeing what someone with quickload gets with my load.

I'm building a heavy 300 wsm with this action, but will definitly be keeping this barrel around as it shoots great, consistantly .75 +/-...plenty good for a sporter weight factory tube.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BPaige</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jhnda-

What's your fps for the 185 Berger's?
</div></div>

I havent had a chance to chrono yet, but should be around 2900-2950 i would guess. this is out of a factory 24" tube as well.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

Well first off, I have 4 300 WSM's all sporters. I was a big fan of the short fat cartridges when they came out, and still like them a good deal. Feeding CAN be a huge issue, that is certain. Newer designs (last 4 or 5 years IMO) mfgs. have been making dedicated rigs for these cartridges, and feeding is not the issue it once was, but regardless of that, a short fat cartridge is not a gunsmiths ideal for smooth feeding! The center feed DBM magazines eliminate this issue to a large degree. I have several of my SM's in Sako rifles, and they are staggered box DBM's and they feed without issue, always have.

As to the WSM (300 or any other) being expensive to load for, I don't understand that comment--the brass lasts longer than 300 WM IME, and is readily available. It uses LESS powder...it is more efficient, but will not run with the 300 WM with heavier pills, I think a 180 is max for me the SM, and typically run 165's or 168's in mine. If you want to run the heavier pills I'd go a 300 WM or 300 Dakota if you want some out of the norm. If looking at factory ammo, it is pretty close in price, I just looked on Midway, and if anything some of the 300WM was a bit higher than the WSM, but all in all pretty darn close in $.

I have not experienced the difference in recoil that at least one poster indicated, in fact quite opposite, my 300WM punches me hard and quick (same weight bullets in both rigs) and my WSM's in two different stock designs, (Sako Hunter and Rem Sporter) push more so....probably more to do with the specific stock design from rifle to rifle than actual recoil, all the 'tech studies' I have seen say there is a slightly less recoil in the 300 WSM, but it is splitting feathers so to speak.

I'd build one in a second, a lot of match shooters like them and have results to back there liking them up.......not that there aren't tons of the same with the good ole 300 WM too
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Re: .300 WSM ?

<span style="font-style: italic">"...I think a 180 is max for me the SM"
</span>
I read this all over the place and can't for the life of me figure out why this is thought or believed to be the case. I'm shooting 210 Bergers from my .300 WSM very nicely, thank you very much. 'Till I am done with developing a load I will probably have given up about 100 fps or less to the .300WM.

Edit: Thus far I have run into no case capacity issues. In fact, with the 210 Bergers and 58.8 grains of H4350, with the Berger seated to within (about) 5 thousandths of the lands, I can still shake the loaded cartridge and hear space. Yes, there's a lot of bullet inside the case. So far it hasn't seemed to matter.
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I've never had any feeding problems out of my tikka 300wsm, nor has my brother out of his....mine is left, his is right...we have to go in half on boxes of shells though, they're crazy expensive for premium
 
Re: .300 WSM ?

I've been loading and shooting for the 300 WSM pretty much since it came out. That is one of the reasons we included the round in our initial product offerings: http://www.southwestammunition.com/300wsm.htm

My hunting buddies and I have all standardized on the 200 Accubond, with the 200 smk for the range. I have succesfuly loaded up to 220 grain bullets, with no issues. These rounds have taken everything from turkey to bison.

It can't keep up with the 300 win with the havies, but you can get pretty close. Also, you get a little more actual barrel length when running the wsm. The shorter case allows the portion originally taken up by the 300 Winchester's longer cartridge to accellerate the bullet. That is where most of the "efficiency" advantage comes from.