.300 wsm too much for whitetail?

[kmrcstintn]

I have been contemplating getting a .300 wsm (had a .300 win mag that I didn't like--recoil) and I've been told that the recoil from a .300 wsm is more managable; I currently hunt whitetail, but want to get an 'investment' for later ventures...

is .300 wsm too much for whitetail?

would I be better with a 'big 7' magnum?

 

[Stinger]

If 300wsm is too much then so is the 7mag. But neither are...

 

[hoghunting]

I read the same stories about how the 300 WSM's recoil is significantly lighter than the 300 WM. I own a 300 WSM and also shoot a 300 WM. I haven't noticed a measurable difference in recoil between the two.

I use my 300 WSM as my all around rifle and load it with premium bullets and it has worked very well on deer and hogs.

 

[dakotasin]

i use both routinely.

there is a slight difference in recoil, but if the 300 win mag was too much for you to handle, then the 300 wsm will be too much as well.

no, it is not too much gun for deer.

look seriously at the 7-08.

 

[Alphazulu6]

Most (if not all) of your .30 or 7.62 type rounds great for deer and elk

 

[koja48]

Paired with an appropriate bullet to ensure expansion, a 300WSM would be fine, though you will realize more tissue damage (don't plan on "eating right up to the bullet hole"). I used a 300 Winmag as my all-arounder for years until I realized I really didn't need that much gun & went back to the '06 (.25 & .30) & .270.

 

[Grumulkin]

I found that a 458 Lott isn't too much for rabbit so a 300 WSM may be a little light for deer.

http://stevespages.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=670

 

[trueblue1776]

I wouldn't use it, but as you can see I'm in the minority.

 

[Brian Williams]

A 30-30 has killed many more Deer than a 300whoopdeedoopMAG.
At what ranges are you shooting said deer?

 

[ArmedBear]

I wouldn't buy a .300 WSM. But if I already had one, I would use it for deer. Recoil might be worse than a .300 Win Mag, because WSM rifles are short actions and usually lighter than big .300 Win Mag rifles.

Especially if you don't enjoy recoil, a .308 will do whatever you need in a short action; a 7mm-08 if you want something flatter-shooting and even lower in recoil.

If you just want less recoil, get a .30-06 to replace the Win Mag. It can be loaded almost as hot as a factory Win Mag round, but a standard deer round isn't at all bad. Far more versatile than the WSM, easily reloadable, easy to find factory ammo, wide variety of factory ammo and pre-tested loading recipes alike.

 

[phantomak47]

.270, 30'06, 30-30, even the 308 are solid deer calibers no need for mags on whitetail. Yes bring enough gun, but at the same time dont bring too much.

 

[MCgunner]

How much is "too much"? It might tear up a deer with some loads, but the deer dies, right? I don't use my 7 mag on deer anymore mainly because the gun is big, long, heavy, and long action and my M7 is short, light, short action and plenty enough gun in .308. But, I COULD use it no problem and have and the deer fell dead on impact and I butchered and ate 'em. Blew the shoulder off a doe once and ruined the on side shoulder, too, but if it were the only rifle I had, I'd down load it to lower velocities or use a heavier, slower expanding bullet, or both. That's one reason I bought it. I was thinking .280 at the time, but reckoned it's the same gun and I can always download the 7, can't make the .280 shoot like the 7 is capable of.

That WSM should be EASY to load to .308 levels and it's chambered in short action guns. I think it's pretty versatile for that reason. But, then, I've handloaded every rifle I've ever owned except rimfires since I was 14 or so and my grandpa gave me his reloading tools. I've never owned a rifle that I relied on factory loads for.

 

[Art Eatman]

Opinion: There's no such thing as "too much". What there is, is, "more than you need".

I've listened to a lot of arguments. I've loaded for and used various cartridges on deer, with plenty of success.

I guess that looking at what's available in today's world and keeping in mind the KISS principle, I'd recommend a 7mm08 over most others.

IMO it's plenty good for any deer-sized critter inside of 300 yards, which is around 99% of all deer shooting for 98% of hunters.

My 700 Ti in 7mm08 weighs 6.5 pounds, total. At the benchrest, the recoil doesn't bother my ancient and arthritic shoulder. In the field the recoil doesn't amount to a hill of beans...

, Art

 

[carnaby]

The recoil on my .300 Win Mag was pretty tough, until I got a Limbsaver recoil pad. That, and learning how to properly shoulder a rifle made all the difference.

 

[MCgunner]

Came close to getting the 7-08 and if I couldn't have found my M7 in .308 and did find one in 7-08, I'd be shooting the 7 today. But, I sorta like the more common .308 even though I handload. I know I could neck down all that cheap military brass, but with the .308, I can just size it and don't have to worry about thick necks either. And, I just wanted the .30 caliber. Six of one, half dozen of the other. They're both PLENTY for any deer inside 300, and maybe 350 yards, depending on if you can shoot. I limit any caliber to 350 max on game I want to collect, anyway. Lots of variables that increase logarithmically with range. I know the drop of my rifle, but accounting for wind drift, elevation, this and that in the field can overload the brain, what little I was endowed with anyway.

 

[B.D. Turner]

Why all the worry about recoil. How many shots are you going to take deer hunting?

 

[ArmedBear]

How many shots do you take at a deer?

Ideally, one.

How many practice shots do you need to shoot in order to reach that ideal, at the sort of ranges that Magnum shooters imagine shooting, under field conditions?

At least hundreds. Ideally more.

Now at reasonable ranges, you can cut down on lots of things: cost, recoil, and practice requirements.

Catch-22: if you DON'T intend to take over-400-yard shots, you don't have any need for a magnum round. If you DO, then recoil matters.

So you can optimize your round, where you take into account effectiveness, recoil, cost, barrel life, gun weight, etc. I don't think that the .300WSM comes out favorably, when you take all those factors into account, unless, perhaps, you have a specialized application in mind.

 

[DogBonz]

Too Much?

No.

Over Kill?

IMHO, yes.

 

[obxned]

I think bullet selection is the key - light bullets expand far too violently for such small animals. You may find bone or bullet fragments blown into meat far from the point of impact. Try a heavier bullet. You will still kill them deader than last week's fish, but will have an easier job of cleaning, butchering and eating you venison.

 

[ArmedBear]

Hey, they don't make a V-Max bullet for a .450 Marlin, do they?

 

[Brian Williams]

Are you going to be a Rifleman and shoot the rifle till you know how it really shoots and spend some time hunting or are you going to bench rest it till it is in the black and then be a deer killer.

 

[Charles S]

Honestly a magnum is not necessary for whitetail, but there is no reason not to use one if that is what you like.

I have a number of magnums and they work very well with proper bullet selection (don't choose a bullet designed for elk for white tail deer).

I really can't tell much difference between the recoil of my personal 300 WSM and my 300 WM, they are similar in weight. I think the 300 WSM does recoil a little less, IMHO it is not a big difference.

I like the 7s for general purpose, but if you plan on a lot of hunting for larger game the 30 mags have a great deal of appeal.

Honestly a 270 or 7-08 can be used to hunt everything in North America expect the largest bears. If you plan on hunting the big bears I would gravitate toward a 338-06, 35 Wheelen, 338 Win, 340 Weatherby, 350 Remignton Mag, 358 Norma, or 358 STA. Fun to think about, the larger are not all that fun to shoot.

Good luck. If you want a 300 WSM grab it. I think you will love it.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

recoil on the .300 win mag and the .300 wsm are pretty darn similar....keep that in mind. I use a .300 wsm for whitetail and i have no complaints. I use 180 grain winchester power points and i find they don't damage any more meat than a .30-06 or a .308.

 

[phantomak47]

I would like to formally like to correct my earlier statement, its not too much, but rather it is overkill as someone else stated.

 

[MCgunner]

I haven't popped a cap on my 7 mag in a while, but I've sat down and fired 40 rounds out of it in an afternoon. Sure, it kicks, but I wear a past shooting shield, put on over my shooting shoulder and it takes the sting out. .375 will wake you up, LOL. Had a buddy with one. But, I shot it well, just wouldn't wanna put too many down range in a day. Recoil of magnum rifles is over rated. Nothing in a rifle I've fired matches a 12 gauge slug out of my old side by side, a rather light bird gun. I was pointing at 12 o'clock after a round out of that thing. WOW LOL I used to burn a box of 3" mag out of it goose hunting some mornings, sore shoulder for days. If you waterfowl hunt, recoil is just something you have to put up with, LOL. I must admit, I like gas guns now days, though, as I age.