.300win mag vs .300 WSM

They are ballistically identical. Like really identical. The only difference is the 300wsm is a short-action cartridge as opposed to the .300 WM which is long action. I would be more concerned with rifle choice over the difference in these calibres. Neither are pleasant to shoot in a light rifle (which is probably what you will want for sheep). For the record I have used both.
 
People like them both, and the game apparently can't tell the difference.

The WSM comes in a short action, which is nice, but you pay by having one less round in the magazine, and factory ammo is going to set you back more too.

You don't reload, but word is that reloading heavy bullets in the WSM eats more into your powder capacity than the 300 WM, but I haven't reloaded for the WSM myself. If you do start reloading, it's very likely won't be loading 210 grain VLD's for sheep anyways, though.

I prefer the 300 winmag myself; more rifles to chose from (both new and used), one more round in the mag, and cheaper (and more available) factory ammo (or 1F brass for a reloader). Not one lick of difference in the field, really, though.
 
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Both work well. If you handload, the 300 WM will chuck the same bullet about 100fps faster. Net result on game is the same.

Find the rifle you like, and buy it regardless of which cartridge it is chambered for.
 
My favorite cartridges are 300wsm , 7rem mag , and 7-08 ... In that order, i currently have all 3. I have had 5 different rifles chambered in 300wsm and have settled on a rem 700 titanium in 300wsm... Man is it a sweet heart. I love the light weight short action TI with the hitting power of a 300wm. Just my all time favorite all around set up.

Although the I'm not personally a 300wm fan. I couldn't possibly come up with a negative comment for it. Tried tested and true is virtually an understatement for the 300wm.

I think the pro's and cons of both cratridges have been accurately stated in the above posts.

I'm wsm lover
 
Dogleg said:
Mine sure wasn't. 2800 is all it pushed 180 grainers. I quickly decided that if I wanted a 30-06 I already have 4 of them. The good part is I never lost any money on it.
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I am curious now. What type of rifle and ammo combo where you using? On paper (I know, I know) they are identical. I have to say my Tikka M-695 in 300WM has lazer-like accuracy. With tons of horsepower.
 
I'm happy with my 300WSM that replaced my 300WM. I use about 5 grains less 4831 powder in the short mag. Works great on deer with a 165gr bullet, I don't have experience with anything larger than deer. Can't say I've taken any really far shots either. 225 yards max so far. I don't go looking for far shots either. You may have more demands sheep hunting.
 
I have one of each, plus 2 - 308 Norma Mags.
The difference between the 300 WSM and the 300 Win Mag is moot.
In factory ammo they are so close that they cannot be distinguished on targets.
However, factory ammo for the WSM is pricier.
As has been mentioned, if one reloads, The 300 Win [and the 308 Norma] will outpace the 300 WSM by about 100 fps.
In the field, this will mean exactly squat!!
The short/long action argument is a non-issue to me, and many others.
If I was going on a sheep/goat hunt, I would be packing a nice, very lightweight 270 Winchester.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
davemccarthy707 said:
I am curious now. What type of rifle and ammo combo where you using? On paper (I know, I know) they are identical. I have to say my Tikka M-695 in 300WM has lazer-like accuracy. With tons of horsepower.
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It was a Tikka T3-Lite useing Winchester factory ammo. My .300 Wins routinely produce 3150 fps. 350fps was too much to leave on the table, and I couldn't see finding it on the loading bench.

That doesn't make the Wissum useless, but I couldn't think of one reason why it should go hunting while something else stayed home.
 
Dogleg said:
It was a Tikka T3-Lite useing Winchester factory ammo. My .300 Wins routinely produce 3150 fps. 350fps was too much to leave on the table, and I couldn't see finding it on the loading bench.

That doesn't make the Wissum useless, but I couldn't think of one reason why it should go hunting while something else stayed home.
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For sure. Nice to know.
 
Dogleg said:
Mine sure wasn't. 2800 is all it pushed 180 grainers. I quickly decided that if I wanted a 30-06 I already have 4 of them. The good part is I never lost any money on it.
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I actually pillar bedded and free floated my factory TI barrel in 300wsm. I was running a 165 accubond at 3000fps. Once i free floated the barrel my accuracy was exscatly the same but i lost 200fps ... less than impressed. However i have a buddy that is getting 3000fps with a 180 TSX out of his WSM with a custom #3 Pac nor.

Going to be taking my barrel off and going with that same Pac nor cut with the same reamer. I hear what your saying Dogleg ive seen the same results, but 3000fps with a 180gr and sub MOA can be acomplished with the 300wsm

I will add that th reason i like the 300wsm so much is that i do think that its in between the '06 and the 300wm. I personally do not think its either cartridges but fills a nice little niche right in between the two in a short action.

I did not own the '06 or the WM so it had exsactly what i needed in a 30cal. More than a '06 in a short action non belted magnum. Was very interesting to me. After shooting it for 10 years i dont think you will ever be able to look in my cabinet without seeing one.

The one thing that is a real goat f**k with the 300wsm , If you try and hang high BC bullets out of it in that short action your SOL.
 
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I'll say I prefer the 300win mag, although I currently only have the 300wsm. It's an X-bolt stalker, with a 2.5-8 VXIII mounted in lightweight Talleys. Shoots like a house on fire with 168g ttsx's, and weighs just a pube over 7lbs unloaded. My chrony says 3030fps, and I had loads that went to 3100, still staying moa. Recoil honestly isn't bad. I had a couple A7's in both the regular win mag, and the wizzum, and they had severe recoil for me compared to the browning.

The only thing I really dislike about the short mag is how tricky the brass seems to be to resize. She's a fine line between not enough, and too much. The 300 win mag head spaces on the belt which theoretically isn't as good as the shoulder, but I sure never had too watch the sizing so close.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I'm happy with my 300WSM that replaced my 300WM. I use about 5 grains less 4831 powder in the short mag. Works great on deer with a 165gr bullet, I don't have experience with anything larger than deer. Can't say I've taken any really far shots either. 225 yards max so far. I don't go looking for far shots either. You may have more demands sheep hunting.
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5 more rounds per pound of powder. That means that you can't shoot 2 entire boxes of bulelts out of a pound, instead you have to buy another box of bullets. So shooting a 300 WSM is technically more expensive than shooting a 300 WM.

I'd prefer a 300 WM to the WSM but realistcally it's a chop pot with the exception of the extra round in the mag and 100 more FPS with the Winchester. The 300 WSM performs like the 300 H&H. I have one of those and it's about a billion times cooler than the short-tubby one.
 
Homesteader said:
The only thing I really dislike about the short mag is how tricky the brass seems to be to resize. She's a fine line between not enough, and too much. The 300 win mag head spaces on the belt which theoretically isn't as good as the shoulder, but I sure never had too watch the sizing so close.
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You full length resize? How gauche!
 
Pick the whatever rifle you want and whatever caliber you get the best deal on go for it. Factory ballistics and availability are the same. Beware reloading the wsm if you decide to I have found them very finicky with headspace, lube choice and they tend to find accuracy right at or below factory velocity. The win mag seems to get more accurate the harder you push em and easy to load for. I have both and enjoy both
 
The most rediculous thing about the whole WSM thing is some rifles it is chamber in only come in long action. The whole point of the WSM is they have the balistics of a long action magnum but in a short action.
So in guns like the T3 that are long actions you may as well just get the 300 win mag and have a bit more potential velocity and cheaper ammo.
 
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