Anyone download a WSM cartridge for deer?

[jeepmor]

All,
Do any of you slow the 300WSM bullets down a bit for deer season into say, the 2700fps region typical of the 30-06 and 308 cartridges? I'm not sure of the exit wound size and want to minimize meat damage should I be lucky and talented enough to score some venison this year. For elk and up, I suspect I'll just use the standard stuff that shoots best in my new rifle in the heavier bullet offerings.

Okay, Who am I kidding, for the cost of 40 factory rounds, I can make roughly 150-200 reloaded rounds in premium bullets. I'll be buying factory fodder to build the brass inventory, then I'll be reloading until more is needed.

I just purchased my first medium/large game hunting rifle in the 300WSM cartridge. I bought it as my first rifle with more of a do-all approach for a first large game hunting rifle and wanted something a bit bigger than the 30-06, but less than the 300 WinMag and the like. I have a 223 varminter, but it's heavy and a small cartridge, so it's out for venison collection in my book.


jeepmor

 

[hoghunting]

I also have the 300 WSM and had the same intentions of loading it down for smaller game. When working on my loads, I found that the 300 WSM isn't too fond of lower pressures. Accuracy increased tremendously when pressure was increased. With the 165 gr Hornady Interbond I consistantly group at 3/8" at 100 yds. I realized with a load this accurate, there wasn't any reason to use anything else.

Just use a bonded bullet or a Barnes and you won't have any trouble at shorter ranges or smaller game. I have used this load on deer and haven't had any problems.

 

[steve4102]

165gr Nosler Partition @3150fps out of my 300WSM droped 3 Whitetails in their tracks. The meat damage was less then my 30-06 with SP bullets. Load up some Partitions or other premium bullet and shoot for the most accurate load at 300WSM velocities.

 

[R.W.Dale]

What I've found using my 300wby is that if you leave the lightweight bullets at home and stay 180grn and heavier that even at full throttle meat damage will be less than a 30-06 shooting 150 grainers.

 

[jeepmor]

Premium heavy bullets it is

Shortly after I generated this post I read that using the higher weight premium bullets would cause less damage on medium game. And it was reiterated here by the reloaders as well. And it appears that loading down in speed costs accuracy. All this learning without spending a penny on supplies yet, thanks again folks.

I appreciate the first hand hunting reports. I'll be getting some premium 180s for setting my new guns zero, and giving it a try soon. I hope to coyote hunt this week with the .223, but wife needs a gun too, so she can pack that and I'll take the 300WSM since she won't appreciate the WSM recoil. Only two rifles we have that qualify for coyotes at the moment. Overboard for a coyote on the WSM, for sure, but I'm not worried about damaging the hide. If I'm good enough to get them to come my way with my calling.

Maybe I'll get a chance to test myself out to 250yards with this new WSM, that should be fun. If I can drag my wife away from the fishing pole that is. We are getting a small smokercraft lake boat next week and I think she may have other plans for me on that note. Either way, I'm outdoors, but I need to get out in the woods for some calling practice. Feel kinda silly practicing my howling for coyotes in suburbia.

regards,
jeepmor

 

[robctwo]

I've been looking at the youth loads from Hodgdon in 270 Win for a friend. While there I've looked at the 300WSM data and have loaded up somne 130 gr hollow points for fun. No data yet from the chrono. In the regular data I also saw the 110 Hornady SP and had some of those on hand. Need to get to the range.

For a hunting report i shot a nice little 3 point mule deer last year with a Hornady 150 gr interlock bullet with nominal damage to meat. It had a bit more damage than the .243 & 6mm holes and less than the 06 from the other hunters.

I did get a bit of guff about the 300WSM BAR with BOSS and a Nikon 8x16 scope from the lighter gun owners. Oh well. I have a .243 featherweight myself with a few freezers of meat behind it.

 

[dakotasin]

jeep- my wsm likes pressure... lots of it. i run 180's out at full honk w/ rl-19.

 

[robctwo]

Got out to the range yesterday for a bit.
Ran the lighter bullets through the chrono.

110 gr Hornady SP 60 gr H4895 averaged 3,221 and 3,252. Mediocre accuracy. 3-4" groups with 10 mph cross wind.

130 gr Speer HP 56 gr H4895 averaged 2,894.
About the same accuracy. Will shoot the rest of each on a calm day and fiddle with the BOSS a bit when I have time.

I'm thinking I'll stay with the 165 gr bullets and shoot them where there isn't much meat.

 

[GooseGestapo]

It's been a long time noted characteristic of IMR and H4895 to give target level accuracy down to 60% of full power loads. But it will take a little tweaking to find out which bullet/powder/charge weight works best. Also, the faster burning powders really don't care for the hot Magnum primers either. Also, the extruded type powders work better in the reduced loads.

I would begin looking there.

Other powders to consider are H4198 and H4227.

Just be cautious not to double charge, as that can be catastropic in a case as large as the magnums.

Or, you could get you a good used .308 and just load it normally. Unfortunately, you'll just find out that 99% of the time you just really don't need the extra power of the Magnums.

Marketing just makes us "THINK" that we need it so they can make/sell us something that we otherwise would not have bought.

 

[Sunray]

"...that qualify for coyotes..." Anything qualifies for coyotes unless you're hide hunting. Then you want commercial FMJ's. They're not built like milsurp FMJ's. You could work up a load with 125 or 130 grain bullets for coyotes and 150's or 165's for deer. Reloading lets you do that. Tailor the load for what you want to hunt.
However, meat damage on deer is caused by the wrong bullet or calibre for the size of the game and/or poor shot placement. Ideally, you want the bullet to expend all its energy inside the chest cavity and not have an exit hole at all. Mind you, that can depend on the distance at which you see the deer. A proper heart/lung shot won't damage much meat as there isn't much meat to damage on a deer's ribs.
"...appears that loading down in speed costs accuracy..." Not always, it depends on your rifle. However, accuracy is more important than anything else.

 

[Dr.Who]

Since I have not shot either a 30-06 or a 300 WSM (30-30, 12 guage yes and all kinds of handguns), what is the recoil like?

From the post, it appears that the 300 has a bit more kick with a lighter faster bullet than the 30-06. But the 30-06 has a bigger mass but a slower speed. Granted the wieght of the gun, does allot to absorb recoil...

But theoretically, if two guns the same weight fire each round, would the 300 have more kick? or the 30-06?

 

[jeepmor]

Recoil thoughts

It's heavy, but not abusive or overpowering like some of the belted magnums can be. I'd put it in the 12 gauge category for recoil. Also keep in mind that I'm 6'2" tall and 220lbs. I have not shot a 30-06 before, but have a .308 and have heard the recoil difference as imperceptible by some, widely different by others. Recoil is very subjective. But yes, if comparing rifles of similar weight, the extra 300fps out of the WSM should offer a bit more pop. But then again, I've read in some of the gun rags that the WSM cartridges don't kick as much due to the fat diameter configuration. I don't have enough knowledge in ballistics to adequately explain this claim.

Here is my rationalization for the purchase, I have a long term plan.

1. I can hunt black bear with it and not be underpowered should the bear be "grumpy and agressive"
2. It's 30 caliber and I will be getting the wife a 308, eventually, so reloading inventories will overlap. This was one of the biggest deciding factors, actually, it was primary in my search for hunting rifles since I am a reloader also.
3. Eventually AK or SKS purchase will fit into this 30 caliber inventory also. Minimizing my reloading coffers and maximizing my flexibility at the reloading bench.

jeepmor