"Ash heap of history..."
Mullins 81--While Slam Fire 1 may be perfectly correct, that the WSM's are on a long slide into oblivion, and your rifle will be unsalable in later years, it is my contention that you buy shooting gear to shoot, not to plan on reselling.
It's a hobby, not a business. You please yourself, not any potential customer. With that in mind, I say, if you want one, get one. When you can't resell it for what you bought it for in, say, 20 years, so what? You had your fun with it in the meanwhile.
If you modify the rifle from as-factory-issued, in any way, there goes the resale value anyhow. Again, so what.
(If you want to resell any rifle at a profit, firstly it must be a popular model. Buy it brand-new, never fire it, save all the documentation and receipts, and for heavens' sake keep every bit of the packaging pristine, and in 50 years or so you have a valuable collectors' item on your hands. BO-ring!!)
I have two .30-'06's. I needed another 30 caliber rifle like a hole in the head. But I wanted a .30-'06 on steroids, so I bought a .300 WSM, and I got what I wanted. Since, I've also acquired a .308 Win. Did I NEED either one? Of course not--What has need got to do with it?
If your idea of "long range deer hunting" is like mine, a .300 WSM will work as well as anything else similar. The .300 Win Mag fans notwithstanding. To be ethical at long distances, you need to practice a lot.
To practice a lot, you need to either be rich or be a reloader, to afford the necessary ammo. And reloading, you can tailor the rounds to your rifle's preferences, and your exact needs.
If the WSM's should become passe' and ammo isn't available, you'll need to reload anyhow. Brass will always be available, no matter how oddball the cartridge, from The Old Western Scrounger or the like, albeit at premium prices.
Son-in-law has a .270 WSM. It shoots fine, but I'll keep my 7 Rem Mag. He only hunts deer/hog. It's a bit of overkill out on my place where a long shot is 150 yards.
