300WSM or 300 mag ?

[Trooper1]

I went with the 300wm. Two friends shoot WSMs and really like them. For where I hunt, the longer rifle barrel does not bother me. I like the ability for those longer shots, although I've never taken one longer than 600y. If it's brushy, I have a 22" 280 rem, and a 24" 280ai (my favorite). I got the 300wm for a pending moose hunt, although the 280ai would have been plenty. Honestly, I wanted the excuse to get a 300wm. I do like tha fact that ammunition for the wm is more available everywhere, and if you aren't reloading for it, you'll have more choices with the 300wm.

What do YOU want? Neither one will be the wrong choice.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Are you buying/building a custom rifle or a factory rifle?

If custom, 300 WM built right all day. If factory 300 WSM.

But either way at the ranges you mention, your animal won't know the difference. Go to a shop and stroke some rifles in those chamberings and see which one strokes you back...

 

[ARlife4me]

Are you buying/building a custom rifle or a factory rifle?

If custom, 300 WM built right all day. If factory 300 WSM.

But either way at the ranges you mention, your animal won't know the difference. Go to a shop and stroke some rifles in those chamberings and see which one strokes you back...

Or maybe someone could anneal some brass and it's win win?

 

[Fedwell]

I have a serengeti chambered 30-06 that I would put up against a 308 any day, And also I should have made myself clear that
when I said perform better I meant at high to over max pressures. The bottle neck max out way before the streamline one does, I have not shot a standard spec case in 30 years.

I Gotta agree. I have owned both (and still do) Far and away rather shoot the 06.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

Thanks for all the info guys. Not sure what I'm going to do? Looking at the different Sherman calibers also.

 

[tooth doc]

Thanks for all the info guys. Not sure what I'm going to do? Looking at the different Sherman calibers also.

one thing is clear, we r all a bunch of anal, nit picking, opinionated , passionate, enthusiasts, me as much as any. lolol! makes it interesting and fun. doing the research might just be the best part.

 

[FEENIX]

one thing is clear, we r all a bunch of anal, nit picking, opinionated , passionate, enthusiasts, me as much as any. lolol! makes it interesting and fun. doing the research might just be the best part.

Yep! This is one of the reasons why "I" never ask what rifle to build or buy.

 

[richhymas]

Don't have the patience to read 8 pages of replies on a strictly opinion based question, but I'll give my own .02 on the topic. I own both. It depends entirely on what you want to get out of the rifle. My 300 WSM is extremely active shooting the 180 scirocco bullets at 2900 FPS. Excellent hunting rifle. Short barrel, I try to limit my hunting shots to 600 yards or so. Great short action rifle. If you want to limit your bullet weight to 200 grains or less the WSM will keep up with the win mag for the most part. When you start wanting to shoot the heavy sleek bullets over 200 you start to consume too much case capacity because there is not enough room in the mag to lengthen the bullet enough and a SAMMI spec chamber will limit the length as well. If you build a custom gun with a medium or long action and longer than SAMMI spec throat you can squeeze out a bit more with those longer bullets, but in my opinion that's a lot of effort and cost and time. At that point you might as well just shoot the 300 win mag or better yet the 300 PRC as the PRC SAMMI spec is designed specifically for those heavy for caliber bullets.

In short I like the WSM for compact guns with bullets 180 or less, the win mag for 180-215 grains, and the 300 PRC or even the 300 RUM for pills greater than 215 grains.

 

[ARlife4me]

Don't have the patience to read 8 pages of replies on a strictly opinion based question, but I'll give my own .02 on the topic. I own both. It depends entirely on what you want to get out of the rifle. My 300 WSM is extremely active shooting the 180 scirocco bullets at 2900 FPS. Excellent hunting rifle. Short barrel, I try to limit my hunting shots to 600 yards or so. Great short action rifle. If you want to limit your bullet weight to 200 grains or less the WSM will keep up with the win mag for the most part. When you start wanting to shoot the heavy sleek bullets over 200 you start to consume too much case capacity because there is not enough room in the mag to lengthen the bullet enough and a SAMMI spec chamber will limit the length as well. If you build a custom gun with a medium or long action and longer than SAMMI spec throat you can squeeze out a bit more with those longer bullets, but in my opinion that's a lot of effort and cost and time. At that point you might as well just shoot the 300 win mag or better yet the 300 PRC as the PRC SAMMI spec is designed specifically for those heavy for caliber bullets.

In short I like the WSM for compact guns with bullets 180 or less, the win mag for 180-215 grains, and the 300 PRC or even the 300 RUM for pills greater than 215 grains.

Similar in my decisions also? I shoot up too 170gr (some 180) in 308win, but do heavier in the wm. I do the same with 26cal (4 different cartridges) and base case capacity on bullet weight. Barrel length also changes my mind with a minimum velocity.

 

[tomsd]

Don't have the patience to read 8 pages of replies on a strictly opinion based question, but I'll give my own .02 on the topic. I own both. It depends entirely on what you want to get out of the rifle. My 300 WSM is extremely active shooting the 180 scirocco bullets at 2900 FPS. Excellent hunting rifle. Short barrel, I try to limit my hunting shots to 600 yards or so. Great short action rifle. If you want to limit your bullet weight to 200 grains or less the WSM will keep up with the win mag for the most part. When you start wanting to shoot the heavy sleek bullets over 200 you start to consume too much case capacity because there is not enough room in the mag to lengthen the bullet enough and a SAMMI spec chamber will limit the length as well. If you build a custom gun with a medium or long action and longer than SAMMI spec throat you can squeeze out a bit more with those longer bullets, but in my opinion that's a lot of effort and cost and time. At that point you might as well just shoot the 300 win mag or better yet the 300 PRC as the PRC SAMMI spec is designed specifically for those heavy for caliber bullets.

In short I like the WSM for compact guns with bullets 180 or less, the win mag for 180-215 grains, and the 300 PRC or even the 300 RUM for pills greater than 215 grains.

GREAT REVIEW. Thanks

 

[Don Titus]

Don't have the patience to read 8 pages of replies on a strictly opinion based question, but I'll give my own .02 on the topic. I own both. It depends entirely on what you want to get out of the rifle. My 300 WSM is extremely active shooting the 180 scirocco bullets at 2900 FPS. Excellent hunting rifle. Short barrel, I try to limit my hunting shots to 600 yards or so. Great short action rifle. If you want to limit your bullet weight to 200 grains or less the WSM will keep up with the win mag for the most part. When you start wanting to shoot the heavy sleek bullets over 200 you start to consume too much case capacity because there is not enough room in the mag to lengthen the bullet enough and a SAMMI spec chamber will limit the length as well. If you build a custom gun with a medium or long action and longer than SAMMI spec throat you can squeeze out a bit more with those longer bullets, but in my opinion that's a lot of effort and cost and time. At that point you might as well just shoot the 300 win mag or better yet the 300 PRC as the PRC SAMMI spec is designed specifically for those heavy for caliber bullets.

In short I like the WSM for compact guns with bullets 180 or less, the win mag for 180-215 grains, and the 300 PRC or even the 300 RUM for pills greater than 215 grains.

Due to a mag length of 3.370", my Tikka T3X in 300 WM has similar limitations…the answer (for me at least) is the 274 gr. Hammer Hunter.

 

[richhymas]

Due to a mag length of 3.370", my Tikka T3X in 300 WM has similar limitations…the answer (for me at least) is the 274 gr. Hammer Hunter.

Please explain how a 274 grain hammer hunter solves the problem? Typo on the weight? 274 grains in a 30 caliber? That would take up half the case. Maybe 174?

 

[FEENIX]

Please explain how a 274 grain hammer hunter solves the problem? Typo on the weight? 274 grains in a 30 caliber? That would take up half the case. Maybe 174?

LOL, I think he meant the 174 HH.

 

[ZAK13]

300WM gets my vote. Cost & availability, and although I have no experience with the 300WSM, I've read that the 300WM handles the 200+ grain bullets better. Personally I've had no issues with 180's so far in my 300WM to warrant trying heavier bullets.