Elk rifle: 300 WSM vs 300 RSAUM

ATH · #8 12-25-2005, 05:18 PM

You found a factory SPS in 300 WSM?? They don't list the caliber as an option on the website...their list must be incomplete?
How do you like the barrel contour on the SPS?

BountyHunter · #9 12-25-2005, 08:33 PM

It is the their catalog. There are quite a few around here in middle VA.

Standard factory contour. We will see how it does. After the first of the year scheduled to be firelapped, recrowned, lugs lapped and trigger set at 2.5 lbs.

Bruce Baer is making a 1.5 lb butternut thumbhole wooden stock that will be pillared. Total weight with new stock should be right at 7 lbs and hopefully little under.

First bullet I am going to try is the 180 SST, and H4350.

Goal is .5-.75 MOA and I will be happy.

BH

Derek M. · #10 12-26-2005, 09:59 PM

ATH, I know you didn't mention a 300 Win Mag but if you have trouble finding the rifle you want in the chamber you desire, I'm confident you can find a 700 in 300 Win in a few hours.

The WSM's are fine calibers and I've loaded for both of the 300 versions. My brother shoots the Remington short. I personally couldn't see a remarkable difference in the 2. The longest shot made with my brother's 300SAUM is just over 400 using the 168 TSX and IMR4350. Worked like a charm.

But my concern echos the others in regards to future popularity. I think the SAUMs will slowly fade out where the WSMs are here to stay.

That's why I side with the guys at Sierra and ask, "why did they every make them?"...when in comes to the shorts. I still continue to remind those rifle shoppers of the good old 300 WM.

ATH · #11 12-26-2005, 10:17 PM

I started out decided on 300 WM, but had two concerns: 1) long action, 2) I heard it's a much harder case to resize/reload.

Though I'm an avid shooter, I've spent my life in shotgun/ML zones and my only centerfire rifle is a Garand, so I'm admittedly ignorant on some of this and that's why I'm asking so many questions! So correct me if I'm wrong.

Derek M. · #12 12-27-2005, 10:21 AM

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I started out decided on 300 WM, but had two concerns: 2) I heard it's a much harder case to resize/reload.

[/ QUOTE ]

Much harder? I strongly disagree with this concern. The 300WM has won the 1000. It is a sound cartridge, and I never had a problem reloading for it for 15 years.

ATH · #13 12-27-2005, 03:52 PM

I didn't say it wasn't a sound cartridge or that it was inaccurate...I wouldn't have been considering it if that were the case! Specifically, I read that it was difficult to resize the cases due to the belt, and this could lead to jamming after the case had been reloaded a couple times due to expansion in front of the belt and the inability of most resizing dies to address this area.

Derek M. · #14 12-27-2005, 07:52 PM

If you know how to measure the headspace you will not have a problem. I loaded the 300WM cases up to 5x each. Beyond that, I prefer new brass anyway, just my thing. JMO, but if anyone has difficulty sizing 300WM brass, then they might want to re-evaluate their method. I've never had an issue, and to the best of my knowledge, neither has anyone else I know that loads it. And I know at least a dozen or so others that load it regularly. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]