300 WSM Barrel Length/Bullet combo

[SilentPew]

Hey guys,
I'm torn on a few decisions. Going to be getting a CA Ridgeline(24") or an ELR(26") here soon in 300 WSM. Reason for the WSM will be decent thump from a SA and easy to tune. I will be shooting suppressed so the 24" is more appealing, but I may throw either in a folding chassis to negate the suppressor hanging off the end too much when being packed.
My question to you all is experience when loading to SA lengths (2.950" in accurate mag) and bullet selection. I'm leaning heavily towards the 200gr eldx for its shorter profile/decent BC combo. Anyone have experience with this bullet combo paired to H3450 and real world velocities? Purpose will be for anything on 4 legs in North America out to 1k and potentially ELR plinking fun. Open to other experiences and recommendations. TIA!

 

[L.Sherm]

Your gonna have a hard time getting 30 cal. Heavy bullets seated out to the neck shoulder junction of the boatail in any SA mag box if that's your goal. For example my 6.5x300wsm with 140 Bergers seated just past the neck shoulder junction is 3.080+or- couple though just off the lands. Not saying seating them deeper wont work you just use up case capacity and alot more bearing surface deeper in the neck.

 

[SilentPew]

Thanks for the reply. Do you see that being an issue with the 200 class bullets like the 200gr eld-x? It's fairly short for its weight which i believe they had wsm in mind when developing it, or so it seems with their factory offering. If i use the Accurate Mag i can get 2.950" which is fairly generous. Maybe I'll play around with it and lighter options to see if the trade off of speed over BC wins out at distance.

 

[L.Sherm]

If you can find some measurements on the 200 eldx from boatail to tip you can figure out what the OAL woul be at the neck shoulder junction. Factory offerings are gonna be about just under .285 to fit in factory mags doesnt matter were the neck shoulder junction is gonna be with the boatail.

 

[SilentPew]

If you can find some measurements on the 200 eldx from boatail to tip you can figure out what the OAL woul be at the neck shoulder junction. Factory offerings are gonna be about just under .285 to fit in factory mags doesnt matter were the neck shoulder junction is gonna be with the boatail.

Awesome, thanks for the tip. Will have to snag a box and find out. Have some 178s on hand too i could play with as well.

 

[Hand Skills]

Someone posted these a while back. Can't remember who it was, or what the thread was...

 

[L.Sherm]

You might make it I just did the math on the new Berger 200 X .
Case to neck junction 1.802
Boatail to tip. 1.119= 2.921

 

[bigngreen]

To get the best from a 300 WSM you need it in a med length action especially with 200+ great bullets.
I build them say in a Tikka with a 215 Berger seated just over 3.20, 24 inch #5 barrel, suppressed and running 2900 fps+. Really dig them set up this way, the WSM is not a short action cartridge!

 

[SilentPew]

Awesome, thanks guys. I'm really looking forward to this build. I really appreciate the input and advice! I'm pretty set on a CA for now with a box mag setup, but i do have a tikka ctr in 308 that may need a new bolt and barrel in the future... decisions decisions.

 

[TexSavage]

I'll try and check my loads this weekend. I'm at the office and don't have the info in front of me. I am shooting the 215 Berg hybrids and I just moved them back to fit the 2.950" length. I originally had seated them the same as my 190's. I'm getting ready to put DBM on my rig, Savage 12, and use magazines. So far, no change in accuracy in comparing before and after move. I use H4831SC so no help on H4350. Velocity is 2,870fps out of my 26" tube.

 

[Hand Skills]

Credit where credit is due @Swamplord

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/300-wsm-long-action-build-input-welcomed.167249/page-4

He took photos with cutaways of not just Hornaday but bergers, noslers, Barnes and swift at 2.49" CBTO

What a champ!

 

[Dentite]

I can't speak for 1000+ yards ballistics, but my experience is that the .300wsm works well for me in a short action. Killed a handful of deer and elk and bear with handloaded Barnes 175 gr. LRX and H4350. But maybe to get out to extreme ranges, it doesn't work as well in a short action due to needing long, 200+ weight bullets and lots of powder. I have 300wsm in 23, and 26" barrels. 26" is a bit long with my suppressor on there, 24" would be a bit more manageable. Hope that helps.

 

[LoneTraveler]

With a short action 300 WSM, SAAMI list OALC of 2.860" or less.
To allow cartridge to function proper through the magazine.

If you use bullets longer than 1.260"you will need a longer action to allow longer OACL and a longer chamber throat, So the bullets do not take up powder space in the cartridge, Allowing a full case for slower burning powder required for heavier bullets.
You would be trapped with a short action between bullet weight/length and powder capacity.
Good Luck on this adventure.

 

[SilentPew]

With a short action 300 WSM, SAAMI list OALC of 2.860" or less.
To allow cartridge to function proper through the magazine.

If you use bullets longer than 1.260"you will need a longer action to allow longer OACL and a longer chamber throat, So the bullets do not take up powder space in the cartridge, Allowing a full case for slower burning powder required for heavier bullets.
You would be trapped with a short action between bullet weight/length and powder capacity.
Good Luck on this adventure.

Thanks for the input. I think I can get away with what I'm wanting out of the cartridge with the 2.950" detachable mags.