Help me decide which caliber for my WSM build? ;)
- Thread starter wilkup
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
.325 WSM should do the trick.
However, I voted for the 7mm WSM, because with a Berger 180 Hybrid, that would be one nasty cartridge.
However, I voted for the 7mm WSM, because with a Berger 180 Hybrid, that would be one nasty cartridge.
Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
Long action yes, short action not always. The fast & flat factor on the 6.5 & 257 are something a shooter must experience rather than read.
The bore life on the other hand...t
The 300 gives an advantage in energy at distances. I purchased a 270 wsm for my wife looking for a magnum rifle that would reach out there and not beat the crap out of her. The small range of good bullet B.C.'s gives this rifle a distinct disadvantage.
Wind will be a bigger factor in the 270 wsm due to the lighter bullet.
Do not run ballistics with the Nosler Accubond 140 gr. You will be dissapointed when the paperwork doesn't match reality.
At close range, I expect the 270 wsm to work fine. It is a good all around caliber.
If I had it to do over I would have bought her a 300 wsm and put a brake on it.
Wind will be a bigger factor in the 270 wsm due to the lighter bullet.
Do not run ballistics with the Nosler Accubond 140 gr. You will be dissapointed when the paperwork doesn't match reality.
At close range, I expect the 270 wsm to work fine. It is a good all around caliber.
If I had it to do over I would have bought her a 300 wsm and put a brake on it.
codyjoe1128
Well-Known Member
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I love my savage model 12 300wsm and the next time i get to Houston i will be buyin one of J E Customs Assassin brakes for it....
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I went through all of this and took the approach that I wanted flat shooting at long distance, good velocity, good bullet choices, good energies at POI (In other words optimum performance from a
24'' barrel built on a short action and be reasonably light rifle.
After running the numbers I narrowed it down to two choices. The 270 and the 7MM.
The fact that the 7mm has the most case capacity of all the WSMs and a very wide selection of good
bullets with high BCs that was my final choice.
I think the poll reflects that the consensus is the 7mm WSM. They are all good cartridges and the
other ones that I liked are the 6.5, and the wildcat 338/300 WSM.
Just my opinion
J E CUSTOM
24'' barrel built on a short action and be reasonably light rifle.
After running the numbers I narrowed it down to two choices. The 270 and the 7MM.
The fact that the 7mm has the most case capacity of all the WSMs and a very wide selection of good
bullets with high BCs that was my final choice.
I think the poll reflects that the consensus is the 7mm WSM. They are all good cartridges and the
other ones that I liked are the 6.5, and the wildcat 338/300 WSM.
Just my opinion
J E CUSTOM
MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
Based on your stated needs and preferences I voted 300 WSM.
Reasons,
If your a one gun kinda guy best to have the 300. If you ad to your WSM collection, IMO it's best to start big and work down. And for one gun only, it's best to be over gunned than under gunned.... and there is no such thing as over gunned.
You can get Norma brass in the 300 and it's good brass. I have some. You can't get it in the 7. The 7 has alittle more case capacity, but IMO, the Norma brass is worth going that route. Some guys who build 7 WSM's build off the 300 Norma brass for that very reason.
Longer barrel life.
Good choice of bullets. The 7 and 6.5 alos have a good choice of bullets but the 300 isn't handicapped by choice of bullets.
I Have both a 6.5 WSM and 300 WSM and if I had to have just one rifle and those were my 2 choices, it would definitely be the 300.
Any WSM you choose, build it on a long action to maximize the cartridges capabilities and flexibility.
Reasons,
If your a one gun kinda guy best to have the 300. If you ad to your WSM collection, IMO it's best to start big and work down. And for one gun only, it's best to be over gunned than under gunned.... and there is no such thing as over gunned.
You can get Norma brass in the 300 and it's good brass. I have some. You can't get it in the 7. The 7 has alittle more case capacity, but IMO, the Norma brass is worth going that route. Some guys who build 7 WSM's build off the 300 Norma brass for that very reason.
Longer barrel life.
Good choice of bullets. The 7 and 6.5 alos have a good choice of bullets but the 300 isn't handicapped by choice of bullets.
I Have both a 6.5 WSM and 300 WSM and if I had to have just one rifle and those were my 2 choices, it would definitely be the 300.
Any WSM you choose, build it on a long action to maximize the cartridges capabilities and flexibility.
Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
Mark makes some sound points as well as JE that i'd like to expound on.
Powder capacity. In a short action, magazine fed rifle, I'm not sure I believe the added capacity of the 7wsm is of any use (using 168s & 180s). Magazine length is the limiting factor here unless taking Mark's advise & running a Long action; then again, if thats the case I vote 300wm
Lots 'o' ways to skin this cat. I'd personally like to see how long a 270wsm barrel will last running nothing by the heavy Matrix pills. Albeit, i'm willing to bet it still won't touch the life of the 300.
Being a one gun guy instills a barrel life handicapp (IMHO). A 6.5wsm will be dead in a year or two of solid (& mindful) shooting. The 270 will most likely (swag) be next followed by the 7mm then the 300 if all are treated equal.
It's up to the individual in the end.
t
Powder capacity. In a short action, magazine fed rifle, I'm not sure I believe the added capacity of the 7wsm is of any use (using 168s & 180s). Magazine length is the limiting factor here unless taking Mark's advise & running a Long action; then again, if thats the case I vote 300wm
Lots 'o' ways to skin this cat. I'd personally like to see how long a 270wsm barrel will last running nothing by the heavy Matrix pills. Albeit, i'm willing to bet it still won't touch the life of the 300.
Being a one gun guy instills a barrel life handicapp (IMHO). A 6.5wsm will be dead in a year or two of solid (& mindful) shooting. The 270 will most likely (swag) be next followed by the 7mm then the 300 if all are treated equal.
It's up to the individual in the end.
t
wilkup
Well-Known Member
Could you elaborate on your push for the 325WSM? In my research I've stumbled across this round and am now adding it to the options.
wilkup
Well-Known Member
I think I've narrowed this selection down to 2 calibers now; 325WSM and 300WSM.
I don't know which one to pick but have run ballistics (Nosler ABLR 190gr & Nosler AB 200gr) and read as many reviews as possible on the two rounds. I think either would do an excellent job taking down big game out to 700 yards. After running the ballistics on paper, I found the 300 overtakes the 325 after 200 yards and really widens the gap as the distance increases.
If I did my calculations correctly, the 325 is limited to ~700 yards, which is the furthest I plan to be shooting. At this distance, the 300 has significantly higher energy (~400FT-LBS). Is there any advantage/disadvantage to hitting my targets with the heavier and larger diameter bullets of the 325?
I'm not terribly worried about cost of ammunition because I plan to reload for whichever one I decide on. I've greatly appreciated all the help that's been offered on this. Hopefully everyone had a very Merry Christmas.
I don't know which one to pick but have run ballistics (Nosler ABLR 190gr & Nosler AB 200gr) and read as many reviews as possible on the two rounds. I think either would do an excellent job taking down big game out to 700 yards. After running the ballistics on paper, I found the 300 overtakes the 325 after 200 yards and really widens the gap as the distance increases.
If I did my calculations correctly, the 325 is limited to ~700 yards, which is the furthest I plan to be shooting. At this distance, the 300 has significantly higher energy (~400FT-LBS). Is there any advantage/disadvantage to hitting my targets with the heavier and larger diameter bullets of the 325?
I'm not terribly worried about cost of ammunition because I plan to reload for whichever one I decide on. I've greatly appreciated all the help that's been offered on this. Hopefully everyone had a very Merry Christmas.
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
The 325 WSM was dead before it was born, had they built a 338 WSM they would have had something.
Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
Personally, I like the 325 then again, i'm into the oddball cartridges. What info did you use for the 190 ABLR? I'd recommend utilizing a bullet with a proven BC for your comparison.
You'll have more choices for brass with the 300 & probably lower recoil to boot. I don't know what the external ballistics are for the 325, it very well may be that much lower than the 300 although I find it hard to believe. Internal ballistics are a different matter, bigger bullets kill better (within their effective range). The added cross sectional area of the 325 should add some muscle to the "kill factor"; whether or not it's enough to actually show in the real world is a matter of testing I have yet to read about or undertake.
In all reality, as much as I like the 325, I would probably have to vote for the 300 here.
t
MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
My vote is for the 300. There are simply no good high BC LR bullets available for the 325 unless you get some customs made by Cutting Edge.
The ABLRs are very frangible bullets and I would not shoot anything less than the 210 in 30 cal. Personally, I would go with the 215 Berger hybrid over the ABLR as the 215 has a much better BC. A 180 CEB would be another choice.
