300 wsm.

Fit in a short action? Heat up barrels faster? Take less shells in the mag? I didn't have my 300 WSM long, but long enough to chronograph some factory Winchester loads at 2800 fps. I've got a 30-06 that beats that; so letting it go didn't hurt my feelings any. With over-lap like that the answer to your question would be "nothing".

Theoretically the WSM should split the difference between the 30-06 and the .300 Win. Whether that difference needed to be split is up to you, but there is nothing exactly wrong with the cartridge on its own. Personally I'd just skip ahead to the .300 Win and live happily ever after.
 
I always prefer the short action, but this fat 300 WSM case and all the reported feeding problems - thank you, I'll stick with my tried and true 308 win for short action
 
I have one in a model 7 stainless with 22 inch barrel. This is a light rifle set up with compact scope and mcmillan stock and is lively in the hands when shot. My reloads with the barnes 180g tsx run at 2900 fps, nosler 180 accrabond at 2940 fps and hornady 180g sst at 3000fps according to the chrono that i use. I believe this was with imr 4350. I also was playing with rl19 also and results were a bit slower.
 
I shoot a .325 WSM in a model 16 savage.

The gains for the 300 WSM are around 250 fps in a 180 grain, and around 350 fps in a 168 grain over the ought six.

One of the cons, is magazine capacity which is now 2 or 3 rounds depending on what make or model you have or will aquire, whereas with the 30-06 it is often 4 or 5 in the mag, as well expect to spend more for ammo, for me I can get a box of .325WSM at shooters edge for about $39 a box, at wholesale it's $75 or something, which is a fair bit more as compared to the 30-06.

And, just because it is a shorter round, doesn't mean it is a lighter rifle, the savages use a larger barrel shank for the WSM's, mine with a 24" barrel isn't any lighter or more nimble then my brothers win mag.
 
Personally I like .300wsm. It shoots very flat. I had shot target to 800 yards, and mulie to 450 yards with it. The only thing I don't about like about it is the price of ammo, with a box over $60 or more before tax for premium factory load, can be quite expensive. On other hand, once you zeroed in your rifle, usually it's one shot one kill.
 
Hmm, seems to be more not to gain...was considering it over the 300 WM just to keep from having a 26" barrel...just prefer shorter for convenience. Thinking the '06 may just be the thing to stick with for now.
 
I like my .300WSM. Short action, under 8 pounds scoped, 3000 fps with a 175gr LRX, its way closer to the .300 Win Mag than the .30-06. The feeding issues were growing pains when it first came out 13 years ago, not an issue anymore.
 
YukonBrett said:
Realistically, what would I gain going from 30-06 to 300 WSM? What will it do the '06 won't? Thanks!
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Not to be rude, take this as a caring question please: What are you capable of? It is rarely the firearm that determines the outcome, but the purpose of it and the skills of the shooter. Usually it is the purpose: a 300WSM has no advantage over a 308 or 30-06, in my opinion, at less than 200 yards with any animal in North America... even bear defense. :redface:

If you can shoot like Prairie Hunter ("I had shot target to 800 yards, and mulie to 450 yards with it.") then you will likely find that the flatter shooting shell in the short action will reach out farther on all game and give you better performance on larger game. However, if you cannot shoot accurately that far or just plain don't shoot past 300yards then the 30-06 or 308 is perfect for you, as for most people.

That is, once again, just my opinion. :yingyang:
 
What aniest said. If i didn't have a 300 Wm the 30/06 would be all that is needed. If u just want a new rifle I'd go it. Personally the wsm line offers nothing over the standard mags
 
Recoil is a little sharp on the 300WSM in a synthetic stock, as opposed to say a 30-06 or 300WM. The T3 I have is not nice on the shoulder after a few consecutive rounds.

I haven't seen that much in terms of gains over say a regular 300WM, other than more powder being used during the reloading process imo. Given that & the extra powder involved, this one is probably on the chopping block for another Cal within the next year..

Bottom line? 30-Oh
 
ShrtRnd said:
Recoil is a little sharp on the 300WSM in a synthetic stock, as opposed to say a 30-06 or 300WM. The T3 I have is not nice on the shoulder after a few consecutive rounds.

I haven't seen that much in terms of gains over say a regular 300WM, other than more powder being used during the reloading process imo. Given that & the extra powder involved, this one is probably on the chopping block for another Cal within the next year..

Bottom line? 30-Oh
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The Win Mag as more powder capacity than the WSM.
 
bcsteve said:
I like my .300WSM. Short action, under 8 pounds scoped, 3000 fps with a 175gr LRX, its way closer to the .300 Win Mag than the .30-06. The feeding issues were growing pains when it first came out 13 years ago, not an issue anymore.
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As a side note here I hit 3000fps out my my 22" barreled .30-06 with 175 LRX and RL17
 
BigUglyMan said:
Nothing. That's why it's only fiddling along rather than taking the world by storm. The only place for it is in a short action mountain rifle.
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I respectfully disagree, in so much that I hand load for one: the shorter & rounder case (from my observations) burns most powders more efficiently so I find a cleaner barrel, less barrel heat, and better accuracy beyond average ranges. I also find the short action easier to work with as I do not have a long bolt coming back a long ways: easier to cycle and I didn't need to trim down a cheek riser as a friend with a 300WM had to.

However, this is my preference... and my "go to gun" for all large game in open fields every year, with success every year. :) It is a simple .308 I use for pushing bush, short cut lines and the like: anything under 200 yards, and it works just as well.
 
Haters are going to hate regardless what anyone else says.

The only way to compare the 300 WSM cartridge is to pit it against other short action cartridges. In long action rifles the 300 Winchester or 300 Weatherby will always be "superior" and the hand-loaded 30-06 will be nipping at it's heals. The true value in the WSM cartridges is seen only when they are mated to a light-weight short action. Putting the WSM in a long-action fitted with magazine spacers (Read T3 here) leaves a lot of potential on the table.

I personally like the 300 WSM cartridge as it does offer noticeable velocity gains over the 308.
 
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