300wsm vs 7mag

[bankbum]

I am torn between to rifles/calibers. Shooting factory ammo
I have the opportunity to sell my current rifle and buy something new for elk. With shot opportunity ranges out to 800-900 yards.

My current rifle Tikka t3 superlight 7mag with 1:9.25 twist. shooting 162gr eldx
(I shoot 154gr sst currently with great success on many deer and bear out to 700 yards)
Or
Kimber 8400 300wsm with a 1:10 twist shooting 200gr eldx

With those two options at hand. Would I be better off with the 300wsm or stick with the 7mag.
Thank you

 

[Slim13]

Depends what your overall goal is. Both are easy to load for. Factory ammo advantage with the 7mag, 300wsm is a short action caliber so there's a little weight savings and the rifle will be about 3/4" shorter with barrel length being equal (26 is great for both).
The only long action magnum I have is a 7mm mag. I send 168 Berger VLD's at 3000 FPS with it - and it's a killing machine. You'll have to shoot a much heavier bullet (210 VLD) In the 300WSM and you'll still have a lower BC.

 

[FEENIX]

I am torn between to rifles/calibers. Shooting factory ammo
I have the opportunity to sell my current rifle and buy something new for elk. With shot opportunity ranges out to 800-900 yards.

My current rifle Tikka t3 superlight 7mag with 1:9.25 twist. shooting 162gr eldx
(I shoot 154gr sst currently with great success on many deer and bear out to 700 yards)
Or
Kimber 8400 300wsm with a 1:10 twist shooting 200gr eldx

With those two options at hand. Would I be better off with the 300wsm or stick with the 7mag.
Thank you

Between the two, "if" there are equally as accurate, I pick the .300 WSM based on your factory ammo choices because elk is in the mix:

300 WSM factory ammo Hornady 200 ELD-X
MV=2820 FPS, ME=3531 FT-LBS, G1=.597
@ 900 yards; 1601 FPS/1138 FT-LBS, -229.51"
@ 700 yards; 1835 FPS/1495 FT-LBS my personal max range preference for this load.

7MM RM factory mmo Hornady 162 ELD-X
MV=2940 FPS, ME=3109 FT-LBS, G1=.631
@ 900 yards; 1742 FPS/1092 FT-LBS, -202.76"
@ 600 yards; 2100 FPS/1587 FT-LBS my personal max range preference for this load.

NOTE: "My" unwritten rule is 1600 FPS min and 1500 FT-LBS at point of impact for elk size game.

Good luck and happy safe hunting.

 

[xsn10s]

I am torn between to rifles/calibers. Shooting factory ammo
I have the opportunity to sell my current rifle and buy something new for elk. With shot opportunity ranges out to 800-900 yards.

My current rifle Tikka t3 superlight 7mag with 1:9.25 twist. shooting 162gr eldx
(I shoot 154gr sst currently with great success on many deer and bear out to 700 yards)
Or
Kimber 8400 300wsm with a 1:10 twist shooting 200gr eldx

With those two options at hand. Would I be better off with the 300wsm or stick with the 7mag.
Thank you

This answer is a little off topic but here's my 2 cents worth. I reload so I'd look into 180 gr class of bullets for the 7mm RM. Or I'd just would look at a 215gr Berger for the 30 cal and choose a cartridge that would send it to where it surpasses the 7mm RM. Otherwise I wouldn't see it as an upgrade to the 7mm RM. IMHO.

 

[xsn10s]

I am torn between to rifles/calibers. Shooting factory ammo
I have the opportunity to sell my current rifle and buy something new for elk. With shot opportunity ranges out to 800-900 yards.

My current rifle Tikka t3 superlight 7mag with 1:9.25 twist. shooting 162gr eldx
(I shoot 154gr sst currently with great success on many deer and bear out to 700 yards)
Or
Kimber 8400 300wsm with a 1:10 twist shooting 200gr eldx

With those two options at hand. Would I be better off with the 300wsm or stick with the 7mag.
Thank you

This answer is a little off topic but here's my 2 cents worth. I reload so I'd look into 180 gr class of bullets for the 7mm RM. Or I'd just would look at a 215gr Berger for the 30 cal and choose a cartridge that would send it to where it surpasses the 7mm RM. Otherwise I wouldn't see it as an upgrade to the 7mm RM. IMHO.

 

[FEENIX]

This answer is a little off topic but here's my 2 cents worth. I reload so I'd look into 180 gr class of bullets for the 7mm RM. Or I'd just would look at a 215gr Berger for the 30 cal and choose a cartridge that would send it to where it surpasses the 7mm RM. Otherwise I wouldn't see it as an upgrade to the 7mm RM. IMHO.

I reload 215 Bergers on my .300 WSM as well and would be my recommendation too.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I am torn between to rifles/calibers. Shooting factory ammo
I have the opportunity to sell my current rifle and buy something new for elk. With shot opportunity ranges out to 800-900 yards.

My current rifle Tikka t3 superlight 7mag with 1:9.25 twist. shooting 162gr eldx
(I shoot 154gr sst currently with great success on many deer and bear out to 700 yards)
Or
Kimber 8400 300wsm with a 1:10 twist shooting 200gr eldx

With those two options at hand. Would I be better off with the 300wsm or stick with the 7mag.
Thank you

I would stick with the 7mag unless you just have the itch to get a new rifle...the 162gr eldx is an awesome bullet.

 

[Rick Richard]

I reload 215 Bergers on my .300 WSM as well and would be my recommendation too.

View attachment 143717

How do you get that 215 to fit in the case without over stuffing it when shooting a short action and magazine?

 

[FEENIX]

How do you get that 215 to fit in the case without over stuffing it when shooting a short action and magazine?

I know what you mean. My magazine can accomodate 3.003" with maybe .010" clearance but to cycle correctly and the best COAL/CBTO compromise, I ended up with ...

COAL = 2.975"
CBTO = 2.197"
.080" off the lands.

 

[cjl2010]

I know what you mean. My magazine can accomodate 3.003" with maybe .010" clearance but to cycle correctly and the best COAL/CBTO compromise, I ended up with ...

COAL = 2.975"
CBTO = 2.197"
.080" off the lands.

Feenix, can you put a picture up with a loaded round next to a bullet to show seating depth?

 

[FEENIX]

Feenix, can you put a picture up with a loaded round next to a bullet to show seating depth?

Here you go ...

Let me know if you need anything else. Cheers!

 

[FlyGuy11]

Based on the Ballistics of 300 vs 7mm Rem Mag I would go with the 7mm. Please note I am a biased 7mm fan.

 

[POORBOY]

Of your choices using factory ammo I would keep the tikka 7 mag, have it bedded into a new cf stock from Mesa or AG( both made by AG) and shoot with confidence over spending more money playing Kimber roulette.

If you were inclined to handload or someone handload for ya, I would take that Tikka & get in contact with Mike Johnson @ Hell's Canyon Armory about his upcoming Tikka carbon killer build package he's going to offer. A 300 wsm throated for whatever bullet you choose in a tikka semi custom would scratch everything that itches for you.

I'm having him build me a Tikka carbon killer at the end of the year in 300 wsm throated for 215 bergers. It will be my go to killer for everything in the western states. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[highdrum]

I'm building a Tikka 300wsm or 300 Sherman max with the new hells canyon magazine designed to run wsm/saum cases with 3.38" max length. It's going to have mike's 23" alpine 9.5tw barrel, Mesa altitude stock, should be 6-6.2#. Will run 225 freebore for shooting 215 Bergers @ 2850-2900 hopefully. Keep in mind a 7 mag pushing a 180 hybrid @ 2900+ will do very similar things ballisticly.