.300 WSM for long range?

logan1080

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I got a .300 WSM and would like to get it out to that 800 yard mark consistently, maybe a 1000 yard shooting. I had other threads about reloaded and what not and browsed around the web some more. It seems like everyone has a different opinion about every caliber, its frustrating. I came out from my search not knowing if my .300 wsm was worth while working a load out for those ranges or not. What is your guys opinions on the .300 WSM? Just keep it for hunting or is it possible to make it into a range monster?
 
If a .223 can be taken out to a mile (see mysticplayer's article) there is nothing stopping the 300 WSM being used at 1000 yards, well except for the rifle. Are you looking at a build or do you already have a rifle? A thin barreled hunting rifle can bang a gong way out there, but if you want to shoot with any volume and at a higher level of precision you need to be looking at a more target oriented rifle with a heavy barrel. If you're looking to build a target rifle there are better options than the 300 WSM. The issue with the short mag is that the longer bullets will limit case capacity and your magazine will not fit bullets of that length. This doesn’t mean you can’t load up match bullets of a lighter weight and use the cartridge to its potential. It just means if you want a dedicated target rifle, you should look elsewhere.
 
The 300 WSM is an extremly good long range cartridge! The winner of the US F-Class Championships was shooting one this year. If you browse the 6mmbr.com website, you will see that cartridge appearing in more long-range wins and long range group records.

People that shoot long range precison target loads generally don't use magazines, so cartridge length isn't an issue for them anyway.

There are only a few 30 cal bullets out there with ballistic coefficients that I would consider exeptional. One is the 208 Amax. The 200 and 210 bergers are two others. This cartridge will be perfect for those bullets.

Its down side is recoil, but they are capable of phenomenal accuracy, and barrel life is considerably better than the 7 WSM

You MUST appreciate that long range shooting is about far far more than just the cartridge. Almost anything will shoot to 1000M, but there are dozens of variables that must be overcome to do it accurately.

Donp on here is currently campaigning a 300WSM in F-Class and he shot it to 1000 yards with light bullets at the PGWDTI championship this year.

This cartridge is on a very short list of candidates to be chosen by our national F-Class (open) team.
 
If a .223 can be taken out to a mile (see mysticplayer's article) there is nothing stopping the 300 WSM being used at 1000 yards, well except for the rifle. Are you looking at a build or do you already have a rifle? A thin barreled hunting rifle can bang a gong way out there, but if you want to shoot with any volume and at a higher level of precision you need to be looking at a more target oriented rifle with a heavy barrel. If you're looking to build a target rifle there are better options than the 300 WSM. The issue with the short mag is that the longer bullets will limit case capacity and your magazine will not fit bullets of that length. This doesn’t mean you can’t load up match bullets of a lighter weight and use the cartridge to its potential. It just means if you want a dedicated target rifle, you should look elsewhere.



I do not have a custom rifle. I currently have a Browning M-1000 Eclipse. It has a 26" heavy barrel with a 1 in 10" twist. It is a heavier rifle, I have no problems shooting it all day long with nothing but a t-shirt on. Thanks for the advice guys. I have shot at a 22"x32" steel plate at a 1000 yards. I think I hit it 3/10 times with factory winchester ammo. I used info from my chronograph as well as a weathermate and isnipe ballistic calculator (which I never found very accurate). Shooting off a bipod you realize how much you shake around looking at a target at 1000 yards haha. It is very tough to do accurately but a lot of fun no doubt.
 
Sounds like you have a long range gong ringer to me. Reloading will do wonders for you. Match quality ammunition for probably right under $1 a round.
 
I do not have a custom rifle. I currently have a Browning M-1000 Eclipse. It has a 26" heavy barrel with a 1 in 10" twist. It is a heavier rifle, I have no problems shooting it all day long with nothing but a t-shirt on. Thanks for the advice guys. I have shot at a 22"x32" steel plate at a 1000 yards. I think I hit it 3/10 times with factory winchester ammo. I used info from my chronograph as well as a weathermate and isnipe ballistic calculator (which I never found very accurate). Shooting off a bipod you realize how much you shake around looking at a target at 1000 yards haha. It is very tough to do accurately but a lot of fun no doubt.

Bed this action properly - nothing else has as dramatic an impact on a factory rifle.

Load up some good quality match bullets using proper load tech. Pretty hard to shoot sub MOA if the bullet you use can't do better then 1.5MOA.

Shooting off a bipod like a Harris is really hard to do well and is a learnt skill. A pedestal rest and proper rear bags will improve your LR accuracy tremendously.

Something like a Remple pod works superbly if you prefer a pod.

Visit my website and look in the Tech section where you will find load tuning info. When you get a quality bullet shooting consistently sub MOA at 200yds, 1000yds will be simply a matter of holding into the wind.

The Hrn Amax line is likely the least expensive target bullet you can choose. I use these alot but compete with Bergers and Lapua.

Sierra, and Nosler are other options that have worked really well for others.

Good optics help too and higher mag is a great aid.

With good bullets, properly bedded actions, well tuned ammo, Optics and nice solid rests, that gong of yours is going to get pretty darn big.

Think 10X10 @ 800yds and eventually at 1000yds.

Jerry
 
Bed this action properly - nothing else has as dramatic an impact on a factory rifle.

Load up some good quality match bullets using proper load tech. Pretty hard to shoot sub MOA if the bullet you use can't do better then 1.5MOA.

Shooting off a bipod like a Harris is really hard to do well and is a learnt skill. A pedestal rest and proper rear bags will improve your LR accuracy tremendously.

Something like a Remple pod works superbly if you prefer a pod.

Visit my website and look in the Tech section where you will find load tuning info. When you get a quality bullet shooting consistently sub MOA at 200yds, 1000yds will be simply a matter of holding into the wind.

The Hrn Amax line is likely the least expensive target bullet you can choose. I use these alot but compete with Bergers and Lapua.

Sierra, and Nosler are other options that have worked really well for others.

Good optics help too and higher mag is a great aid.

With good bullets, properly bedded actions, well tuned ammo, Optics and nice solid rests, that gong of yours is going to get pretty darn big.

Think 10X10 @ 800yds and eventually at 1000yds.

Jerry

What type of bullet should I use if I also want to do hunting? I looked at the berger VLD but it fragments so bad I would think that the meat would be full or shrapnel. Yes I was shooting off a harris bipod. It is tough but I enjoy it. That way I get used to the way I will be shooting on a hunt also. The receiver is glass bedded from factory, how would I go about improving?
 
That depends on what you are shooting and how far you are shooting it.

From point blank to 500 yards or so I like a 200Accubond or 200TTSX, but any premium 180 will work just as well.

At distance the Bergers or 208A-Max are good hunting bullets.
They will work up close as well, but here you need to think before you shoot.
 
That depends on what you are shooting and how far you are shooting it.

From point blank to 500 yards or so I like a 200Accubond or 200TTSX, but any premium 180 will work just as well.

At distance the Bergers or 208A-Max are good hunting bullets.
They will work up close as well, but here you need to think before you shoot.

I will be shooting mostly deer. I do plan on shooting the odd moose or elk also though. The thing is, if I am on a hunt and there is no way I can get in closer than 500 yards (have a lot of flat, bald land where I live) then I want to be able to know that if I can make an ethical kill, I wanna have the take down power as to ensure the fastest death as possible.
 
Odds are you will end up with two bullets. One for close shots, the other for far. There isn't 1 bullet that can cover the range of impact velocities you will encounter with LR hunting.

Best thing you can do is test so you can find a combo that works best for your expected situations.

To check if the bedding is adequate. Take out the action bolts and see if the action will move in the stock. If it wiggles around, bedding needs to be corrected. If the action bends when the action bolts are tightened, it definitely needs to be bedded.

Jerry
 
I will be shooting mostly deer. I do plan on shooting the odd moose or elk also though. The thing is, if I am on a hunt and there is no way I can get in closer than 500 yards (have a lot of flat, bald land where I live) then I want to be able to know that if I can make an ethical kill, I wanna have the take down power as to ensure the fastest death as possible.

I was staying away from the hot potato of the ethics of long range hunting.
Only you can be the judge of that as it measures against your personal abilities and current environmental conditions.

Only way to figure that out is to start sending rounds down range.
Lots of rounds.
 
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