Here's the way I look at it:
Brass quality...
Sort the WSM's and get equal brass as the 300WM, problem solved. I know Boyd sorts, weighs and neck turns his brass too, so it does make his shoot better than most all of them. Wrong!
Boyd is also put tons of time and effort into load development for that finiky case design too, so he's doing better for that reason too. Wrong again!
Higher MV:
Well, higher MV is great, but as Darryl has pointed out many times concerning using SMK's for hunting, accuracy and placing the shot correctly is always the most important aspect. Snipers have relied upon the 308win for a long time, usually one shot is all they have, and is what they "count" on. Do they use super heavy for caliber bullets? Accuracy and hitting the POA is the key for them as well as the discriminating LR hunter or target shooter. High BC bullets have there place, they're just not the end all, be all. Shooting for group or score in competition is different as well, the LR hunter is after both high scores, and a tight group, all to increase his effective range.
Wind:
Wind has nothing to do with the inherant accuracy of a cartidge, period. Longer bullets with higher BC's do help in the wind, no doubt, but longer bullets require higher twist rates, which can cause accuracy issues from imbalances and uniformity in bullets etc that don't surface with the slower twists and slightly lighter bullets.
Recoil:
It is certainly a consideration and effects accuracy, as seen in light guns verses heavy guns. The smaller the recoil effect, which is a major part in the overall vertical change at the target, the more consistant it will probably be in the end. A change in your hold on a rifle, or rest you're using will or can change the vertical POI at the target just the same as a hotter load can from the recoil effect, although MV when changing the load has it's influences on the vertical POI as well.
Too many variables and too small of statistical sample yet to say if the WSM will be, or won't be more accurate than the WM is. If people think it will, more will be used and the sample will grow fast.
The 300 WSM has an increasing following for many reasons and will probably make the guys shooting 300 WM's think hard when they get beat by them, especially if it's happening over and over again and becoming the norm.
Anybody know how many guys gave up the 6.5/300 WBY for the slower 6.5/284 when it started having success, and why? Any thoughts on how this one or other comparison ringing a bell from this discussion?
