[keano44]

I've read all the plusses about the new Short Magnums.
What are the minuses?
What are the reasons not to get one as my next rifle? I'm looking at either .308 or 7mm (.284).
I will definately handload for it as well as try factory cartridges.
Is it too early to see a trend as to which will "make it" and which will become obsolete, Win. WSM or Rem. SAUM?
I would appreciate your thoughts on these questions.

[4Truck]

I currently hunt Va whitetail with a .300WSM.

I love it, I bought the gun back in August and couldn't be happier.

I must say though that the true advantage is the weight of the rifles it can be found in, mine has been very handy, weighs in at around 7.5lbs with scope and it took 3 bucks this year.

As to ballistics, I haven't really cared if it is better that a regular ole .300, I just like it and it does the job just fine, all the deer I took with it were one shot stops at 100-250 yards, but a properly placed .308 will do that

[cratz2]

To me, the only disadvantages are a less wide variety of factory loaded bullet weights and actual bullets.

Higher velocity, whether that difference is slight or not so slight, is still higher velocity which means more energy and longer distances being slightly easier to achieve.

The shorter cases are more effecient and should allow for greater potential accuracy due to more consistant burn times.

On the other hand, and this goes back a lot of years, I'm still not convinced that most shooters can utilize the extra power. Of either short magnums or magnums in general. While I certainly can't argue against shorter, handier rifles, the 30-06 and 270, and even the 308, 260, 7mm-08, 6.5x55 etc, are very capable cartridges and have proven themselves year after year all over the globe. I'd be willing to bet that 95% of all American whitetail hunters can't kill any better with a new wizbang super duper 300 WSM than with the nearly ancient 6.5x55. The old Swede is capable of taking game out to about 280 yards with the Hornady 139 Gr loading. There are 120, 125 and 130 loads for smaller deer and, dare I say, varmints. The 160 Gr loads for elk and moose are used ad infinitum in Scandanavia.

Compare this to the 300 WSM which allows for point blank shooting out to 300 yards in either 150 or 180 Gr loadings. For trajectory, this gets you about 20 yards with no need for holdover. Granted, there is more energy but the 140 and 160 Gr loadings for the 6.5 have proven extremely effective with proper shot placement and shot placement is the key.

The 6.5x55 hits the shooter with about while the 300 WSM has over 30 ft/lbs of recoil in an 8 lb rifle. This is 50 percent more than a 30-06 of equal weight and three times as much as the 6.5. That's a lot of extra recoil for an additional 20 yards. Most shooters aren't capable of estimating range to within 20 yards at 300 yards and most laser range finders are barely capable of this level of accuracy. That reduced recoil will allow for more shots fired in practice and better real world accuracy for most shooters not used to this level recoil.

I know American shooters have long preferred mangums and I admit it's fun to go out with a but blaster every once in a while. But most shooters don't put 500 rounds of magnum cartridges through their rifle each year and if you don't relish pain or have long years of experience with heavy kickers, a milder, though equally effective chambering will probably prove more effective on nearly all North American game, esp deer.

Just my 1/50th of a Susan B Anthony. ;)

[Art Eatman]

I already have a 7mm08 and several '06s and a couple of .308s. So, I'm not in the market for a "Shorty".

However, if I wanted a 7mm or a .30 to fit a need, not already having one, I'd go the Shorty route. Even moreso, handloading, as beaucoup good bullets are available.

Short action means less weight. Efficient case with the improved uniformity, shot to shot. I don't see any drawbacks, since one can load to whatever power range seems desireable.

I'm guessing that barrel length is less of a factor, thinking about performance comparisons between the '06 and the .308. The latter suffers less loss of muzzle velocity for the more common barrel lengths of 20" to 22". The '06 works best with 24" or 26"...

The Shorty is pretty much a hunting cartridge, so magazine capacity is not much of an issue. Darned rare to need more than three + one.

FWIW, Art

[Marshall]

My humble opinion is, go for it! I own 3 WSM's so far and really like them, I have seen no downside and there will be more choices available soon. As far as choice of ammo, I truly believe that will come! Heck, you have Winchester and Remington driving this thing, they both want to sell more ammo and guns so, what do you think the trend is? ;) You also have Browning, Ruger and others jumping on the bandwagon everyday. I don't see this being a fad at all, I see this as today's and tomorrows latest and greatest offerings. You even have the .223 and .243WSSM's now.

[redneck2]

I got a copy of Ken Waters "Pet Loads"

our latest, greatest new and improved were all mostly done by Newton and Mashburn 80+ years ago

if I were going with one of the "new" ones, it'd be the Winnie. Remington is seeming to come out with a string of losers lately (carbon wrapped barrel, electronic ignition, and now the new longest-shortest-magnum non-magnum)

problem with the Remmie is that, to get heavy bullets to correct OAL, you have to seat them into the case which takes up powder space which is the reason you got a mag in the first place

so the obsolutely correct answer is...get what you like. I sincerely doubt if any animal you shoot will know the difference.

Odd calibers make it more difficult to get ammo and may reduce resale value. Then again, this comes from a guy with rifles in .44-40, 45-90, and a 35 Whelen

[Kimber Kid]

Marshall, so how does the 223 WSM shoot. I'm not ready to replace my 22/250 (Rem 700 VS) but if I should I'm going to take a hard look at the 223 WSM, (I hate that name). Before I buy one I'm going to SEE how they shoot or maybe just have my Rem rebarreled in that caliber, maybe not who knows? I just remembered the $150 dollars I spent for the Precision Redding dies. Long live the 22/250 :what:

[Art Eatman]

Heck, KimberKid, let's just rename that lil doofer! I nominate "Wizzum".

:D, Art

[Marshall]

Kimberkid,

I wouldn't have the foggiest idea, I don't have any of the WSSM's, yet. Or as Art has suggested, Wizzum's.

Let me clarify though. My earlier comments were based on the question of should someone buy one of the short magnums for fear they may just be a fad? My answer was buy em, no fad.

However, I see no reason at all to buy another caliber if you already have one that is similar. The manufacturers aren't going to stop making ammo for popular calibers by any means! And frankly, the rifle I shoot from and how I do my job are going to make a much larger difference in accuracy than a short magnum will.

For example, I have Browning BBR 30-06 that will outshoot my A-Bolt 300WSM at 100-200yds, it just makes tighter groups all day long. Maybe it's the rifle, maybe it's the shooter? I suspect it's a little of both because, anything I shoot or my buddies shoot can't touch me with that particular rifle and, these dudes have spent some bucks! Every once in a while you run into a combo that just hits.

Anyway, my point is, if you like or want a WSM, WSSM get one. If not, no big deal! Matter of fact, I am longing for an 84M of your namesake in .308! :D I really, really want one of those rifles! Did I say really? ;)

[Art Eatman]

I don't see any downside to the Shorties. (Well, magazine capacity, if that's important. Otherwise, can't think of one.) They look to me to be a handloader's dream.

Fad? I doubt it. The concept sorta derives from what's come from the .308-.30-'06 experience as to efficiency of a case which is rather wide as compared to its length.

Compare the raw numbers: Roughly 20% less powder but only a 5% to 10% loss in muzzle velocity compared to a long-case magnum. This makes for happy shoulders. :)

And as far as continuing to load for "old" cartridges? Hey, they still load for .30-40 Krag and .45-70! Whaddaya want? Egg in your beer?

:), Art