.300WSM action/bolt face: If i rebarrel, what are my cartridge options?

[desidog]

Title pretty much says it -

What are my options without replacing the bolt?

Pros and cons of suggested cartridges? I have .223rem, .243win, .308win, and .300WSM...don't know much about many other non-military cartridges....but i do know i don't need 2 300WSMs.

I'd like something that throws some weight out to 150-200yds....and makes a good "whumphh" noise on impact...like throwing a soup can. But i'd like to hear other options as well.

Thanks for your input, desidog

 

[dakotasin]

run a 458-300 wsm.

w/ the wsm bolt face and feed rail designs, it would take quite a bit of work to make it into something non-wsm. if i was building a custom from a 300 wsm donor, i'd go 6.5 wsm or 25 rsaum.

 

[Maverick223]

run a 458-300 wsm.

I like that idea (but haven't even heard of one)...should be about like a .458SOCOM with extra "whumphh".

 

[dakotasin]

there's a few wildcatters that have built one, but it is certainly not common...

 

[rangerruck]

do a wildcat 7mm/300wsm; a necked down 7mm neck on a 300wsm case.
One awesome hunting round, and a fantastic long range round, a 1000 yd shooter...

 

[NCsmitty]

do a wildcat 7mm/300wsm; a necked down 7mm neck on a 300wsm case.

Winchester already makes it, the 7mmWSM.

With the short action and a magnum bolt face, you are pretty much relegated to the WSM series or the WSSM rounds.
I believe the Ruger Compact Magnums would work too.



NCsmitty

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

.375wsm.

 

[desidog]

i like the sound of a 458WSM - since winchester already has a 458win mag; is the 458WSM a cartridge they might launch at some point in the future?

Also, were i to go that route, what do i need to know about the resizing of brass? as far as fireforming or some other method?

 

[desidog]

...and how would i guestimate a good barrel length? - i'd like to go shorter, but don't want a blinding flash or to go deaf prematurely...i'm thinking about 20", but that might make for a 3' flame. I suppose there are some muzzle devices for AR's that could be adapted.

 

[dakotasin]

i would be shocked if winchester launched a 458 wsm. i've not even heard of any rumors about that possibility.

let me be clear that i do not have one of these, though i may in the near future. i would say an 18-20" barrel would be about right. after your gunsmith gets done w/ the reamer for the barrel, just send the reamer on to rcbs or whoever and have the dies cut. it would be a very close match to your chamber, then, because the same reamer that cut your chamber will also cut your dies.

i doubt fireforming would be necessary, though necking up cases is likely to be a 2-step affair at first, and you may want to consider annealing cases.

 

[hardluk1]

You do have a choice of the 325 as a factory load. If custom then 375 and a 416 after that. Or a short 404 jefferies round, have to open the base just a bit.

 

[Maverick223]

I am liking the idea of the 458WSM (and the 416WSM even more), upon calculating the potential of the cartridge I came up with the 458WSM having as least 106% of the velocity (and likely a little boost over that due to a more efficient case design) of the original Win. Mag using the same projectile and staying within pressure specs. This is due to the higher SAAMI pressure spec. (using the 325WSM as the guide) for the WSM case. Also calculated the .416Rigby and came up with the same result (smaller case + more pressure = slightly more velocity). The .416WSM looks like a winner!