300WSM or 300 mag ?

[Sanford338]

If you were going to get one for Elk hunting which would you get. Don't plan on shooting more than 600 yards. I had a 300WSM and shot an Elk at 535 yards ran 20 yards. Sold it to help pay for a 6.5x284 for my sheep hunt. Have never had a 300 mag. I know my 6.5 would get it done at 600 but would like something with a little more for that shot if I don't make the perfect shot and end up in the shoulder.

300 Win Mag ~ availability of ammo, 180 grain bullets, lots of good choices to take care of business...,really all subjective. Really about preference and which one you can better consistently. Good Luck

 

[ratrod54]

Seeing as how he appears to have bailed on his post a page and a half ago I am not sure he's getting these, but what the hell. I went to 300 WSM route, but built on a long action so I could seat the long heavies. I'm shooting 210 VLD's at 2840 and its a hammer. Not for everyone, but the only way I would do it.

 

[tomsd]

Shucks - lost my post.

Growing up - I had a .32 Winchester Special in a lever action Model 94 - and thought the slightly bigger diameter of the bullet helped with knockdown power - but in reality - the ole 30-30 did it's job just fine.

Think the 325 WSM and 300 WM are far more alike than dis-similiar - especially as peop;le note - out to 600 yards -which is plenty of distance for most humane shots.

Here in the states - more availability of ammo and rifle brands in the 300 WM - around most of the world in fact.

 

[baldhunter]

I chose the 308 Norma Magnum for my last rebarrel job because of mag box restrictions.I have both the 300WSM and 300 Win Mag.Both are great,but the 300 Win Mag easily out does the 300WSM.The 308 Norma runs a bit closer to the 300 Win Mag.I chose it over the 30-338 because I can get factory brass or can easily neck up 7mag brass or neck down 338 Win Mag brass.The latter two will end up being a little short,but that doesn't hurt anything.You can also use 300 Win Mag brass,but that is the hardest way to make the brass and requires trimming.It also has to move the shoulder more.Here is a couple of test loads I ran through it on my first range trip.The rifle has a 26" Shaw barrel.I ran a couple of 180gr loads that ran a little over 3100fps,so it really isn't much different than the 300 Win Mag.

 

[TexSavage]

Even if you cannot get to ~3.2" OAL, the .300 WSM loaded with 215 Berger is no slouch. My Savage 11 propels the 215 (.060" off the lands, IIRC, COAL is 3.003) at 2850 FPS out of 24" barrel with RL17.

Yup, my Savage 12 is in the same camp. 215 Berger, 26" barrel, H4831SC, 2810 fps, & extremely accurate & repeatable.

 

[cabelasken]

I've had a 300 WSM from about 5 months after it was introduced. The factory barrel was discarded and a #3 - 24" Shillen SS frozen Match was inserted. After a lengthy break in and recipe experimentation period, 5 shot groups of 1/2 MOA were common with 168 TTSX bullets when they became available. You don't need a 200+ grain bullet anymore when these and Hammer bullets are available and perform well with a faster and lighter weight design. At a launch velocity of 3130 FPS they do the job on elk with enough energy to 500+ yds. With this short action cartridge, you get a little more effective barrel length over the 300 WM which is why some WM rifles have 26" barrels. With scope, sling and loaded with ammo, this rifle is slightly over 8 lbs. My buddies Browning 300 WM with a 26" barrel is closer to 9 lbs.

 

[Snowboy]

I have a serengeti chambered 30-06 that I would put up against a 308 any day, And also I should have made myself clear that
when I said perform better I meant at high to over max pressures. The bottle neck max out way before the streamline one does, I have not shot a standard spec case in 30 years.

If you want the best max velocity streamlined case use the 300 weatherby.

 

[Web1350]

If you were going to get one for Elk hunting which would you get. Don't plan on shooting more than 600 yards. I had a 300WSM and shot an Elk at 535 yards ran 20 yards. Sold it to help pay for a 6.5x284 for my sheep hunt. Have never had a 300 mag. I know my 6.5 would get it done at 600 but would like something with a little more for that shot if I don't make the perfect shot and end up in the shoulder.

There are more replies leaning to the 300WM and with valid reasons. What needs to be considered is that it has been around for decades longer than the WSM, therefore it only stands to reason why there are so many in favor of it. But, when ballistics are compared, they're virtually equal. Now, it basically boils down to one's personal use. Do you need a heavier bullet, is rifle weight a consideration, etc? IMHO, the 300 WSM is probably the better choice for the "majority" of hunters.

 

[436]

If you were going to get one for Elk hunting which would you get. Don't plan on shooting more than 600 yards. I had a 300WSM and shot an Elk at 535 yards ran 20 yards. Sold it to help pay for a 6.5x284 for my sheep hunt. Have never had a 300 mag. I know my 6.5 would get it done at 600 but would like something with a little more for that shot if I don't make the perfect shot and end up in the shoulder.

Most of what you've mentioned would work, however with the question being the two .30's you named... I'd say go with the .300 Win Mag and all the reasons have pretty much come out in comments here already, "if it were me," I'd go with the .300 Weatherby Mag and call it a day. With that said, I think the accuracy edge/potential is on the side of the .300 Win Mag with a little extra punch going to the .300 Wby Mag. Good luck.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I went with the WSM. I have a 300PRC also but just like the Short Mag. I also am building a 7WSM.

 

[cabelasken]

In reality, there is no bad choice with the aforementioned cartridges. They all can do the job. Some prefer the the biggest bang they can get, while others prefer a more efficient short cartridge. It's a matter of personal choice.

 

[Snowboy]

If you were going to get one for Elk hunting which would you get. Don't plan on shooting more than 600 yards. I had a 300WSM and shot an Elk at 535 yards ran 20 yards. Sold it to help pay for a 6.5x284 for my sheep hunt. Have never had a 300 mag. I know my 6.5 would get it done at 600 but would like something with a little more for that shot if I don't make the perfect shot and end up in the shoulder.

It depends on many variables but there is no bad choice in 300 magnums.
I chose to replace my 300WM with the 300WSM for several reasons. #1 I am getting older and wanted a lighter rifle. I was also not enjoying the extra recoil and found the WSM much nicer to shoot even in a lighter rifle. I also find the cases easier to handle and reload without the belt.
Write down the most important things to you for this rifle and then it will be much easier to make a choice of caliber at this stage in your hunting life.

 

[tooth doc]

I know you wanna shoot Elk, but you haven't made suggestions on WHAT bullets you intend to use.
IMHO, the choice between these 2 cases all boils down to bullet choice.
My mate has a WSM, I have several 300WM's, a 300 Bee and a 300 RUM.
They all use different bullet weights.
If I were going to use 180g bullets exclusively, then the WSM is fine for that, it only gives up a 100fps or so to the WM.
If I planned on using 200g bullets, then the WM will handle that better, more capacity, therefore higher velocities.
My mate uses 165g Barnes TTSX in his WSM, funny thing is, this is the only ammo I could get for my 300 RUM. Have fires 3 shots sighting the rifle in so far, it boots quite a bit!
As to brass availability, here in Australia at present, WSM brass is on the shelves, Norma, Remington and Winchester are all in stock, however WM brass is no where to be seen, as is Weatherby or RUM.
We had no brass in stock other than 30-06 for a very long time starting in 2017. It is only the last 2 years that most cartridge cases are back in stock and now we get another lack of stock.
Anyway, the 300WM will most likely always be in stock somewhere.

Cheers.

i have both, and love both. my go to gun is a win 70 300wsm with Oregon gunsmith stock and benchmark barrel. i shoot a 168 barnes ttsx at 3260. very accurate, gr8 performance on over 100 big game. deer, bear, elk, almost all african plains game, from small antelope to 1800 lb eland. i think the 300 mag will do the same, but not better, really 6's for me.

 

[HunterMann]

If I were making this decision today, I would get neither, I would get a 300 PRC. It's throated right for the heavy bullets, has no belt. and ADG makes great brass for it. I have/had 2 300 WSMs and a 300 RUM. I think the 300 PRC is a sweet spot.

I agree, the modern 300 PRC was designed for this and NO belt. Just make sure you can get enough ammo and reloading components to get everything tuned up in time for your hunt. Or you could load a heavier bullet in in your 6.5x284 and go for it.