.300 wsm

[Arkansas Paul]

All I can say is, I can buy 3 times as many .308`s for the same money.................

The OP handloads, so while there will be a slight difference in the amount of powder used, it won't be nearly as big a difference as buying factory ammo. Primer and bullet are the same. Brass and powder capacity are what will cost a little more.

 

[EchoM70]

Thanks for all the input guys. Seems like this cartridge is gonna be fun to develop a load with, Thanks for the link Arkansas Paul it will prove to be useful. Can't wait until I can get it to the range, just gotta find the perfect scope for it first.

 

[greywolf444]

I recently got a 300 wsm in a cz model 3. Terrific rifle, even better caliber. Plenty of power when I need it and the recoil is not nearly as bad as I was told it would be. It is very shootable. From 308 to full on magnum power levels covers all I really need to do with a rifle. I resisted getting a magnum because I could do everything that needed doing with a 270. (probably still can) The 300 just does those jobs better. I am glad that I got it. I have laid in a supply of brass and components so I really couldn't care less if it becomes less popular over time.

 

[mnhntr]

The WSM craze is not all it is cracked up to be. It is expensive and has a good amount of recoil without much benefit at the end. I can load my .260 to surpass the 300wsm at 1000yds, and not suffer any recoil while doing it. a lot of other high power rifle cartridge will accomplish the same thing, cheaper, and in some instances better, and without the magnum recoil.

 

[MCMXI]

I'm a fan of the .300 WSM too. I bought a Kimber 8400 Montana chambered for that cartridge a couple of weeks ago and am thrilled with it. A 5-shot group with the Kimber last weekend measured 0.95" and I haven't started load development in earnest. I've had a Remington 700 Alaskan Ti chambered in .300 WSM for a few years now and it's a very accurate rifle as well. I also have three rifles chambered in .300 Win Mag so I like both cartridges. I don't subscribe to the "short action is better than long action" point of view for a hunting rifle regardless of action length or magazine capacity. The shorter barrel, typically 24", could be a tangible benefit being lighter and shorter, but I bought a .300 WSM because I like variety and it's similar in performance to the .300 Win Mag which I've liked for years.

 

[303tom]

The OP handloads, so while there will be a slight difference in the amount of powder used, it won't be nearly as big a difference as buying factory ammo. Primer and bullet are the same. Brass and powder capacity are what will cost a little more.

I meant what I said, I hand load to & I checked, I can reload 3 times as many .308`s for the same money !!!!!!!!!!

 

[MCMXI]

I meant what I said, I hand load to & I checked, I can reload 3 times as many .308`s for the same money !!!!!!!!!!

What .308 Win load and .300 WSM load are you comparing?

I reload for both and if I compare a premium .300 WSM load to a premium .308 Win load the difference in cost is about 1.6:1 and nowhere near the 3:1 ratio you mention. The difference in my comparison is the powder and brass i.e. 75gr vs. 45gr and Norma vs. Lapua.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I meant what I said, I hand load to & I checked, I can reload 3 times as many .308`s for the same money !!!!!!!!!!

Are you factoring in the cost of new brass each time? That is the only way I could see you spending 3x the money. You are using the same bullet and the same primer, or rather a magnum primer that cost the same as a standard primer. In many instances you are using the same powder, just a few grains more of it.

Please let me know the numbers. I am truly interested in them. As I said though, I suspect you are factoring brass costs each time.

 

[303tom]

I am talking about buying new everything for both rounds, and (1858) if you are a reloader then you should know, you can reload a plain old .308 case 2 or 3 times more than you can a magnum..............

 

[Sweden]

Sorry TOM, I can't get anywhere near your numbers.

Let's compare prices of factory Federal Premium using a 180 grain Nosler Partition:

Federal Premium Vital-Shok Ammunition 308 Winchester 180 Grain Nosler Partition Box of 20 = $36.99

Federal Premium Vital-Shok Ammunition 300 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) 180 Grain Nosler Partition Box of 20 = $52.99

Ratio approximately 1:1.4, surely you can do better handloading? I load and hunt with both cartridges, I can easily load the WSM for less than 2x the 308 load.

 

[GooseGestapo]

In reality, the .300wsm case is somewhat heavier built than the .308. You'll get equal or more loadings from the WSM case over the .308 due to the thicker brass. This is where the .300wsm is able to approach the power/speed of the .300wm. The .300wsm operates in the 60,000-63,000psi range, whereas the .308win operates at a slightly lower 55,000-57,000psi range.

If you use surplus powders for the .300wsm (ie: WC-867 or WC-872, you can load the .300wsm CHEAPER than the .308.
And, all the .300wsm brass I have is FREE, as I picked it up at a public range, and from a friend who shoots a WSM.
I don't have a WSM. I do have a .300RUM. I'm using 180gr bullets I bought on sale in 2005 CHEAP and WC-860. My .300RUM cost less than my .30/30 to feed with RL15 and 150gr RN bullets........
I did have to buy my cases, but 100 is going to last me a lifetime at the rate I shoot it....
Something usually dies very quicky when it speaks....

cost is not 3x like 303Tom supposes......
But I'm not knocking the .308 either. Though I much prefer the .30/06 to all of the above.....

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Though I much prefer the .30/06 to all of the above.....

That's the beauty of the RUM. You can load it like a '06 if you want.

 

[Kachok]

That's the beauty of the RUM. You can load it like a '06 if you want.

Any one of the 300 magnums can be loaded to 30-06 performance, the myth that the short mags will experience case failure under lower pressures has been disprove over and over again. I avoid the RUM because the brass is so darn expensive, worse then the 300 WBY even. Besides I consider my 30-06 to be a dramatic overkill for nearly everything I hunt, doubling the powder charge will only increase muzzle blast, recoil, cost, barrel burn and gunshot meat. The only case I could make for a RUM would be for shooting very large game at extended ranges, far past the ranges that I hunt here in the southeast.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Any one of the 300 magnums can be loaded to 30-06 performance

True. Perhaps what I should have said was that you can buy .30-06 performance rounds off the shelf if you don''t handload. I don't need one either where I'm at. The '06 is more than enough. That doesn't stop me from wanting one though. Because I like things that go BOOM!

 

[d vader]

300wsm

I also love the 300wsm, have noslers ,winchesters ,berettas, sako,rifles all are tack drivers, and one shot kills,Realistically how many guys shoot more than one or two shots during hunting season,only when sighting in maybe a bit more.I only use factory ammo ,an understand the need for those to reload to control expensives.this cartridge will be around a long time including 270wsm and 325wsm. check out the alaska forums on the 325wsm use in that state for hunting. I also own the 325wsm and it is devastating on big game animals.Kerblam!

 

[wankerjake]

I've shot my brother-in-law's 300 WSM and I love it. I've shot a number of 150gr and 180gr bullets, factory and handloads and I don't think recoil is any more than my 30-06. I'm sure it depends on the rifle to an extent, but from my limited experience recoil is not bad at all in this caliber.

I don't think it's going anywhere, either. It's my firm belief this one is here to stay. Yes it's a little more expensive than 308 to reload but still not breaking the bank, and it'll sling a 180gr bullet on the order of 400fps faster than a 308. That's nothing to sneeze at, but not everybody needs the extra punch.