One thing that needs to be clear. When I develope a new cartridge, I ALWAYS, run the pressure (velocity) up higher than I end up shooting it or recommend that other people shoot it. I have reached 3070 with a 180 even with Norma brass and did not loosen the primer pockets. I also measure case heads as I work my way up and use that info. The point is, I've told people that I have run them up that far to show that 3000' with the 180 in the 7ss is a safe place to run it in most rifles, and MANY people run it there. Never have I suggested to anyone that it should be a practice, and I don't think that's what you are saying either. This is just to clarify to others who might read this! If I didn't run the pressures up in testing to above what we end up shooting, people would then say, "how do you know 3000' is safe"? Also, as we all know, every rifle combination is a separate case and barrels can often vary up to 50-75 per second. This is why we always tell people to start low and work up.
As far as barrel life goes, there can be no question that burning more powder down the same bore size, all else being equal, will burn out a barrel quicker. The WSM loses there. The debate goes on as far as neck length and shoulder angle having an affect, but many people far more inowledgable than me agree that it does, and the description of adjusting the flame point on a cutting torch is an example. As I posted earlier, there is no doubt that a wsm will outrun the SS at equal pressure. The problem is, if you load both to say, 2.950" to the lands, I'm betting the WSM will not outrun the SS. The reason is because your useable case capacity in the WSM is likely no more than the SS and it's less efficient to start with. The choice really comes down to what length action and magazine do you want to run and how important is barrel life? As a side note, now that ADG is making brass for the Saum and Sherman, they get the nod there too.
