The .300 WSM, How good is it?

G

gmarr

New member
When the WSM line of calibers came out this and the .270 WSM seem to be the most popular and worthwhile as well as lasting.

So my question is just how good a cartridge is the .300 WSM? Bullet weight will be the 150 and 165 with primary being the 150. Target animals are deer and hogs at anywhere from 100 to 250 yds.

I know a .30-06 and .270, etc are the "standard" but I'd like to hear real world performance on the WSM.

Much appreciated
 
T

T. O'Heir

New member
The ballistics of a 150 WSM are kind of astounding compare to a .30-06. Way more remaining energy at 500 yards and going about 100 FPS faster than the same bullet out of a .30-06. A deer or hog won't know the difference though.
The Winchester factory numbers.
http://guide.sportsmansguide.com/ballisticscharts/
Mind you, the WSM isn't shorter(isn't really a magnum either). It's actually a wee bit longer than the .308 and uses more powder than either the '06 or .308 with like bullet weights.
Biggest difference between the .30-06 and the .300 will be the length of the receiver. And the possibility of not being able to find replacement ammo in small places should the airline lose the case your ammo is in.
"I want one." is a reason to buy anything.
 
D

disseminator

New member
It's radically overkill for that bullet weight at those ranges.

The 308 Winchester is what you want. I shoot 180 and 200 grain bullets in my 300 WSM and it's a great cartridge, definitely a "Magnum". It's really better compared to the 300 Win Mag than a 30-06 though.

"Real world" performance is identical to 300 Win Mag with the same bullets.

The Win Mag has the advantage when hand loading or using bullets over 200 grains for sure.

There are VERY few bullets weighing 150 grains that can deliver optimal terminal performance at those extreme velocities. Not to mention, recoil and muzzle blast will be severe.

But if you just want one, then by all means get one, but I would recommend 180 grain or higher loads at least.

Check out the new Federal Premium Edge TLR 200 grain, If I didn't load my own, that's what I would use in my 300.
 
N

Nathan

New member
The best!

The 270 WSM is not great. It could be good, but all 277 bullets are made with an eye for 270 Win. Therefore many explode or generally give poor performance.

So, the 300 WSM is best! Why 150 gr bullets? Those are generally geared for 308 velocities.

3300fps is fast....too fast. 3300 fps will make that kind of a barrel burner, but not too bad. Still, I much prefer 2800-3100 fps. Also, the 150 gr bullet likely has a .400 bc. A longer bullet will fly truer and have a high bc.

I shoot 190 Berger VLD's out of my 300 WSM with good results on deer and antelope. For elk, I need to develop a premium bullet load.
 
J

jmr40

New member
I had one for a while. Short version, you come within 50-100 fps of a 300 WM with recoil closer to 30-06 than 300 WM in a more compact rifle. Technically the WSM is a hair more accurate, but the average shooter won't notice the difference.

It should probably be compared to an "improved" short action 30-06 rather than a 300 WM.

The Specifics:

Since the case burns powder more efficiently you need 10-15 gr less powder than 300 WM, yet it comes close to the same speeds. The slightly lower speeds combined with less powder results in much less recoil.

In my 7.5 lb rifles, with my loads

308/180 gr bullet/ 44.5 gr powder, 2620 fps, 18 ft lbs recoil
30-06/180 " /57 gr powder, 2800 fps, 22.6 ft lbs recoil
300 WSM/180 /64 gr powder, 2950 fps, 26 ft lbs recoil
300WM/180 /75-80 gr powder, 3000-3050 fps, 30-33 ft lbs recoil.

I simply never noticed the difference in recoil between 30-06 and 300 WSM. I did notice the difference between 30-06 and 300 WM. It wasn't worth the extra speed to get kicked that hard for me to keep a 300 WM.

Why I sold it. I qualify as an old fart. I've been using 30-06 for over 40 years and I ain't selling them. I've found that a 308 does everything I need a rifle to do. My 308 load and rifles will kill anything including elk past 400 yards and that is as far as I can shoot. Someone offered to buy mine for more than I paid.

But if I were a new shooter with no emotional attachment to 30-06 I think the 300 WSM is the better round. But I also think 30-06 is bigger than 95% of us need. Today I'm inclined to lean toward 308, 7-08, 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor. And I consider those rounds superior to either 300 magnum.
 
J

jackstrawIII

New member
It's radically overkill for that bullet weight at those ranges.
Click to expand...

Yeah, your impact velocity with 150 or 165 grain bullets would still be faster than I'd want at the ranges you're talking. Most bullets perform most reliably at impact velocities of 2800 fps or less (there are a few exceptions of course).

I did a lot of research on the 300 WSM when I was considering buying one. It truly is a great caliber, but for the type of hunting (game and distances) I do, it was just too much. So, I just keep killing deer with my 7.62x39 and 308 Win.

If I lived where there were Elk tho... I'd be all over a 300 WSM faster than you could say "Bob's your uncle".
 
S

Sure Shot Mc Gee

New member
Don't own or plan to own. But I've read those who do> like em. Haven't read of any complaints about the caliber in the field. Although one thing is certain. Those who own are assured the cartridge is a long term market place shelf ammo being its cartridge base is stamped Winchester verses Remington. If I had the erg to buy? It would be a tough decision between a Short mag and Standard mag. One thing is certain their both powder hogs. Being a home reloader. The only thing I would check up on would be their neck lengths as whom ever's is longest would be a factor in a purchase concerning those two.
As read from others "Those 300 mag's Rule." {their} performance/stats and bullet grain weights available for its use are outstanding.
gmarr if intending to buy a Short Mag someday. Go for it as I highly doubt you'll ever incur a single {performance issue} in its ownership..
 
D

dvdcrr

New member
The 270 WSM is not great. It could be good, but all 277 bullets are made with an eye for 270 Win. Therefore many explode or generally give poor performance.
Click to expand...

I once saw a buck at 375 yds, and another at 50 yds. who would emphatically disagree with this statement.
130 gr. Gameking, max load of RL 19, two broken shoulders at 375 yds, instamatic death at 50 yds.
I once saw this load knock a 9" dia. 2" thick hanger clean off the rack at 200 yds.
 
V

Vinootz

New member
Did you ever get a 300wsm? I figure you came to the conclusion that 30-06 would be more practical for deer and hog out to 250. 300wsm is a great cartridge no doubt. If you were looking to drop an elk or moose at 500 yards or more, than the wissums could do a better job.
 
B

Bart B.

New member
Game animals are killed with bullets. Cartridges shoot bullets. Rifles direct them.

Same bullet at given speed, impact point and angle into the animal will perform identical regardless of what shot them.

If you insist on using a cartridge to kill an animal, use a 40mm Bofors heavy machine gun round swinging it like a baseball bat smacking the big animal up side its head with the heavy projectile. Or try stabbing it with a 50 caliber BMG round.
 
G

GeauxTide

New member
Ah, the Winchester Marketing Magnums. A buddy bought a Walmart Winchester 70 in 7mm. Went with him to the range, bringing my 7mmRM to compare. Velocity was within 50fps in 160gr loads, but that thin stock brought a lot of recoil velocity and his rifle was about a pound lighter. To his shoulder, it was almost 50% more. I wouldn't shoot it.
 
R

reynolds357

New member
gmarr said:
When the WSM line of calibers came out this and the .270 WSM seem to be the most popular and worthwhile as well as lasting.

So my question is just how good a cartridge is the .300 WSM? Bullet weight will be the 150 and 165 with primary being the 150. Target animals are deer and hogs at anywhere from 100 to 250 yds.

I know a .30-06 and .270, etc are the "standard" but I'd like to hear real world performance on the WSM.

Much appreciated
Click to expand...
Near equal of the 300 Win Mag.
 
P

Paul B.

New member
Well my experience with the .300 WSM is a tad skinny. I once helped a young man (college age) sight in his new M70 .300 WSM. in the standard weight rifle. Very accurate and recoil was not bad at all. My other time with the cartridge was when my son in law asked me to do the load work up for his .300 WSM M70 Featherweight. I had the rifle for a couple of weeks and again while recoil was noticeable I didn't think it was all that bad considering the light weight and it too gave decent accuracy In fact I liked the rifle and considered getting one myself but with five rifle in .300 Win. Mag. in the safe I really couldn't justify the WSM.
Paul B.
 
R

reynolds357

New member
disseminator said:
It's radically overkill for that bullet weight at those ranges.

The 308 Winchester is what you want. I shoot 180 and 200 grain bullets in my 300 WSM and it's a great cartridge, definitely a "Magnum". It's really better compared to the 300 Win Mag than a 30-06 though.

"Real world" performance is identical to 300 Win Mag with the same bullets.

The Win Mag has the advantage when hand loading or using bullets over 200 grains for sure.

There are VERY few bullets weighing 150 grains that can deliver optimal terminal performance at those extreme velocities. Not to mention, recoil and muzzle blast will be severe.

But if you just want one, then by all means get one, but I would recommend 180 grain or higher loads at least.

Check out the new Federal Premium Edge TLR 200 grain, If I didn't load my own, that's what I would use in my 300.
Click to expand...
I definitely dont want a .308 Winchester. Have 3 and wish I had never bought them.
 
R

reynolds357

New member
44 AMP said:
Why?? Because of the cartridge? or because of the rifles you chose???
Click to expand...
Its not the best for 1000 yard. Its not as flat and fast as what I prefer to hunt with. If I am hunting something large enough to need 30 cal, I prefer more velocity than the 308 Win can give it. The 6mm and 6.5 mm seem to be much more pleasant to punch paper with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top