300WSM or 300 mag ?

[tooth doc]

I agree. I have both. I shoot a 180 scirocco out of the WSM and. 215 berger out of the 300 win mag. Happy with both. The longer bullets may have a longer effective range but I can shoot that scirocco about 800 yards before the velocity drops below my comfort level for reliable expansion, and I don't like to hunt much further than that anyway. My WSM has killed 2 bears without difficulty out to 525 yards. Yep

when someone really get in a snit over 50 to 100 fps as the only deciding factor then they better go 300 weatherby, go 30 378 weath, lazzeroni warbird or some such. good for discussion but geez, some of the nitpicking is craziness. shoot what you like, in this case, there is NO wrong choice. my nitpick, i dont love belted mags so i like 300 wsm, 300 dakota, 30 prc. and yet i still own a win 300 nosler 48 and a sig professional . nevertheless , i love the discussion and do learn somethings

 

[Upsidedownjack]

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.

For me, 300 WM have taken Elk from Aprox 50 yds out to again Aprox 800 yds. All with a 180 gr spbt , using H-1000 All have been with one shot, and I don't remember any ever walking more than a FEW FT!
But shoot you can shoot without ever flinching, or Closing eyes because of recoil! Have a great hunt!

 

[Danehunter]

NEITHER.
.300 PRC instead.

 

[vancewalker007]

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 should

Had em both. Either one will do business at 600 yards on an elk (a ton of cartridges will). If you stay under 200gr on your bullet choice its a toss up on performance. The WSM falls behind the WM with heavier bullets. The universal nature of the 300 WM around the world makes it a nice travel cartridge, super for Africa. The WSM is more efficient with powder so you can go with a smaller lighter rifle and still match the 300 WM. A WSM with a medium length action, a 22in barrel, and long lead chamber would be a nice hunting rig. With the efficiency of the WSM case you would not loose much going shorter on your barrel but you gain a lighter easier handling rifle. Great for hunting elk in tight spaces with enough juice to shoot cross canyon. Hmmmm I might have to build another 300 WSM.

 

[Truc]

Weatherby factory lists that 200gr. ELDX @ 3000 FPS... 160 fps is significant, especially at 500 yds. Just sayin...

Velocity

Bullet Type	Ballistic Coefficient	@ Muzzle	100 Yards	200 Yards	300 Yards	400 Yards	500 Yards
165 Grain Ballistic Tip	0.475	3350	3133	2927	2730	2542	2361
165 Grain Interlock	0.387	3390	3123	2873	2636	2411	2197
180 Grain Interlock	0.425	3240	3005	2782	2570	2368	2175
180 Grain Interbond	0.480	3240	3031	2832	2642	2460	2285
180 Grain TTSX	0.484	3232	3025	2827	2638	2457	2283
180 Grain Ballistic Tip	0.507	3250	3051	2806	2676	2503	2334
180 Grain Accubond	0.507	3250	3051	2806	2676	2503	2335
180 Grain Scirocco	0.520	3175	2985	2803	2628	2460	2298
200 Grain ELD-X	0.597	3000	2840	2687	2538	2394	2255
200 Grain Accubond	0.588	3075	2910	2752	2599	2451	2307

Looking at this chart, I have a 300 SAUM that shoots 200 20X at 2830fps, so the Weathetby only has 100 yard advantage over my SAUM. It shoots bug holes at 3fps ES

 

[Nuclear Worker]

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.

I am still here just taking in all the comments and trying to make decision.

 

[subslinger]

300wm,181hh 3250 perfect.

 

[CBH Australia]

300wm,181hh 3250 perfect.

There are people here that are saying the .124 HH are doing wonders in the .300 magnums, punching above their weight.

 

[Dentite]

I have a 300WSM, a few buddies have 300 win mag. I burn about 10 grains less powder to push the same 175 bullet to within 50ft/sec of their Win mags but with a shorter barrel and less recoil. So I like 300WSM as it's a bit more efficient. But I agree that if you want max performance or to use 200+ grain bullet, the Win Mag has some advantages.

 

[Don Titus]

300 WSM is a better design in my opinion for a case, but they kind of screwed up the throat in the design. That is why all the factory ammo is 150-180 gr. Companies adapted to the screwed up throat design. Of course, when you throat for the ideal 200-215gr bullet, then it doesn't fit in the ~3" mags. It really needs a 3.2"-3.3" mag…what action is that? 270 WSM fits the mag, but still biased towards lighter bullets. Brass is also a problem. You have only Norma brass available. The others are so poorly made that they don't belong in this conversation.

300 WM is ok. Seems like throats and mags are in general alignment. Twists are often 10—12 twist, but really, 10-9 twist is a better range. Good brass is available. I haven't studied this one enough to know all the belt struggles that folks talk about, but I would guess those are more related to die & chamber design. That said, why put a belt on the case?? On a positive note, the belt helps positive ignition with short sized brass. I would also expect short sized brass to blow forward, held by the belt, instead of creating a thin brass wall near the 0.2" line, but I don't have experience here.

300 PRC….kind of the best of all. Better SAAMI throats. Generally barrels are 9 twist. Lapua and Peterson brass available. The mags are generally 3.6"…although CIP length might be better for VLD'S. No personal experience here, but folks complain about the die, chamber, brass fit at the base causing clickers

300 Sherman in a 3.43" mag. @elkaholic does a lot to make simple Wildcats where brass, reamer and dies all work together harmoniously. FL Sizing is barely moving brass! Peterson, Starline both make brass. The only reason not to do this is if buying factory ammo is a require!

30 Sherman Mag….basically an improved PRC.

Peterson makes both a standard (belted) 300 WM case and a long case which seats on the shoulder…your choice …and the quality is "top notch"…

 

[Frogman77]

I'm probably odd man out with only a handful of folks who run a 300 wsm on a long action.
Using 338 lapua magazines I can seat as far as I ever need to even with heavy solids.

My most recent load is 250gr a tips over h1000 in hornady brass moving 2615fps. Very mild, extremely accurate, Just a little over 2000ft/lb ke at 600 yards.

I've shot this load out to a mile and have been really happy with it.

Had issues with norma brass, switched to Hornady and have not looked back. Looking forward to seeing ADG brass but right now Hornady brass is doing just fine.

 

[tooth doc]

I'm probably odd man out with only a handful of folks who run a 300 wsm on a long action.
Using 338 lapua magazines I can seat as far as I ever need to even with heavy solids.

My most recent load is 250gr a tips over h1000 in hornady brass moving 2615fps. Very mild, extremely accurate, Just a little over 2000ft/lb ke at 600 yards.

I've shot this load out to a mile and have been really happy with it.

Had issues with norma brass, switched to Hornady and have not looked back. Looking forward to seeing ADG brass but right now Hornady brass is doing just fine.

have us win brass in my 2, 300 wsms. for 20 years, brass hass at least 5 ,6 fireings, stll doing well. both chambers, throats done at same time by benchmark. i size minimally. dont understand all the bad press for win brass. i case prep carefully first time, have only trimmed once, run a hot max load of re 22 , 168 gr barnes ttsx at 3260. no muss or fuss, .5 yo .6 moa at 100. everything i have used on dies, quickly. same care and prep i expect 300 wm will do the same. i seat 50 thou off the lands.

 

[tooth doc]

have us win brass in my 2, 300 wsms. for 20 years, brass hass at least 5 ,6 fireings, stll doing well. both chambers, throats done at same time by benchmark. i size minimally. dont understand all the bad press for win brass. i case prep carefully first time, have only trimmed once, run a hot max load of re 22 , 168 gr barnes ttsx at 3260. no muss or fuss, .5 yo .6 moa at 100. everything i have used on dies, quickly. same care and prep i expect 300 wm will do the same. i seat 50 thou off the lands.

should read .5 to .6 moa. longest kill 623 yds on big mule deer with high shoulder , double lung hit. did 2 circles and hit the dirt within 5 yds of hit. about 100 big game animal to date for my gun. my sons has about half that, with same results. his longest kill 1028 yds on nice 4 x 4 mulie.

 

[laker]

I went with the 300 wsm over the 300 win mag as the rifle I wanted either in cams with 24" barrel for the wsm and a 26" for the win mag. I like the shorter rifle package because when carrying gun in my kifaru gunbearer it's less in my sight especially at night with my headlamp on.