300 WSM vs. .300 WIN MAG......

[Gunner66]

Need to pick a big caliber rifle and I have come down to the following options :

Rifle 1. 300 WSM - .74" Barrel contour - 1:11" Twist rate - 22 3/4" barrel length

Rifle 2. .300 WIN.MAG. - .86" Barrel contour FLUTED - 1:10" Twist rate - 26" barrel length

Same weight : 8 lbs. 4 Oz. Unscoped

Price will be about the same.

No Muzzle break !


Which one would you pick between these two, for long range hunting and occasional target shooting, and why ?

Given the same weight, to me the advantage of Rifle 1 is the shorter length (-2.75"), while Rifle 2 seems more capable to reach out further, especially while employing the heavy's (208 A-MAX and so...) with its bigger "boiler room" and better twist rate...

Some additional questions :

- does the 300 WSM perform well enough with THAT shorter barrel ?
- Would there be a substantial difference in barrel wear between the two ?

Looking forward to hear your thoughts.

Thanks a bunch !
G66

 

[dkhunt14]

I can't see them being the same weight. Barrel one is shorter and thinner. I can't see fluting making barrel 2 as light. I think barrel one is too short for me.

As far as twists I would rather have a 10 for hunting but 11 will stabilize 210 Berger VLD's.

The 300 WSM throats don't move near as quick as the 300 Win. In my match guns it is about a third as much.

If you throat the 300 WSM out to where it should be it will run right with a 300 WIN.

Accuracy is great with a 300 WSM. Made the 300 WIN disappear from 1000 yard BR. I believe the WSM is easier to tune, and has better brass, no Belt.

I would want a brake to help with recoil and spotting shots.

Matt

 

[nastynatesfish]

I'd stick with the win mag. Easier to find, cheaper brass. Same bullet selection. If your wanted to rechamber your not stuck with the wan bolt and action to follow. If your not a reloader lol at Ammo availability and prices. I'm not in the shorter is better kick for accuracy(whether it is or not). If your not a bench/ target shooter I wouldn't worry about one over the other. Yes the win mag purina more powder, and? My opinion

 

[Gunner66]

I can't see them being the same weight. Barrel one is shorter and thinner. I can't see fluting making barrel 2 as light. I think barrel one is too short for me.

Matt

Believe me ! I have checked the figures. The difference between the two is 0.35 Oz.
The Thicker one has long flutes that run from 4" behind the muzzle, all the way back almost close to the chamber....

G66

 

[Gunner66]

I'd stick with the win mag. Easier to find, cheaper brass. Same bullet selection. If your wanted to rechamber your not stuck with the wan bolt and action to follow. If your not a reloader lol at Ammo availability and prices. I'm not in the shorter is better kick for accuracy(whether it is or not). If your not a bench/ target shooter I wouldn't worry about one over the other. Yes the win mag purina more powder, and? My opinion

I do reload, so there's no problem there.... ;-)
Also, the gun "port" is the same for both, as it is the same platform...

The "more powder" was intended as more horsepower (hence in a "positive" way, not a drawback), if needed... ;-)

G66

 

[bheadboy]

my only concern re your spec, the bbl length for the WSM, I do not think you will get the equivalent energy performance from it as the wm with the longer bbl. my choice was the wm and I never looked back,

Bob

 

[Larryh128]

I load for both and the Win mag uses a lot more powder for no gain. I have had 3 WSM's & currently have 1 that is my "main" rifle for hunting. Both are accurate but in my opinion the wsm is more shootable from a recoil stand point. Critters are equally dead.

 

[Larryh128]

RL-17 powder is a game changer for either round.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Used both on the line, although 1-10 twist 300 WSM.. I think I only wasted time and money on the 300 WM, WSM is that good..Factory ammo, factory gun in a general hunting rig, buy what makes you happy..


Ray

 

[Joe Salt]

300 WSM with 1-10 twist but longer barrel say at least 28" you will be a lot happier! Lot easier to tune. And no belt.

Joe Salt

 

[shoot4fun]

Take the rifle you like the best. Can you handle both? If so, just "get a feel" for which suits you best. In my experience, you will love the WSM for lighter bullets and the 300WM if you want to send the 230 grain Bergers. Brass can be just as difficult to get for one as the other. Only thing, IMHO, is I would think 300WM ammo would be easier to get (if needed) on a CO or MT back road.

 

[dkhunt14]

Take the rifle you like the best. Can you handle both? If so, just "get a feel" for which suits you best. In my experience, you will love the WSM for lighter bullets and the 300WM if you want to send the 230 grain Bergers. Brass can be just as difficult to get for one as the other. Only thing, IMHO, is I would think 300WM ammo would be easier to get (if needed) on a CO or MT back road.

You can get 3000 FPS with a 230 Berger with .280 freebore. I couldn't get that with a 300 Weatherby because the brass wouldn't take it.

I know if I was planning on going on a hunting trip, especially if it was traveling out west. I would have plenty of ammo. I take a 100 rounds with just for hunting close to home. They are stored in a Pelican case, each surrounded by pick and pluck foam and it floats. Matt

 

[Gunner66]

Thanks Guys for your replies....

I have realized I did not make clear than the 2 "options" are fixed...no modifications are possible.
There is no longer barrel, faster twist rate and so on...
Those are the two possible choices I have, Rifle 1 or Rifle 2....EXACTLY the way they are.


G66

 

[effendude]

Oh Gunner,
Unless the barrels are welded on, you always have options. You have not been infected with the disease yet. Wait until you buy rifles, both new and used, only to take them apart or modify them so much they don't resemble the original. Then, you will move on to the full custom rifle part of the disease. Often the final part of the disease' progression is to revert back to 100+ year old rifle designs and cast bullets behind light charges just to make holes in paper

Scott

 

[Raythemanroe]

Oh Gunner,
Unless the barrels are welded on, you always have options. You have not been infected with the disease yet. Wait until you buy rifles, both new and used, only to take them apart or modify them so much they don't resemble the original. Then, you will move on to the full custom rifle part of the disease. Often the final part of the disease' progression is to revert back to 100+ year old rifle designs and cast bullets behind light charges just to make holes in paper

Scott

Ha ha, This is so true! He will think back to this post and see how the responding posts were oh-so right..lol


Ray

 

[nastynatesfish]

Your going to get to much of a biased opinion asking in here. I've never shot a wsm, no reason to. I get 300 wm brass for 65c each primed ready to load new brass locally. I had 2 300wm just to play with. I got rid of both in favor of my 7mag. I wouldn't want a short barreled(under26") rifle in a magnum regardless. I'd look around locally and see what components you have or from where ever you order. I did like the fact I could go to Walmart and buy 20 dollar 300wm Remington core lokt Ammo to do break in that actually shot decent in my 28" rifle.

 

[Drop Port]

Oh Gunner,
Unless the barrels are welded on, you always have options. You have not been infected with the disease yet. Wait until you buy rifles, both new and used, only to take them apart or modify them so much they don't resemble the original. Then, you will move on to the full custom rifle part of the disease. Often the final part of the disease' progression is to revert back to 100+ year old rifle designs and cast bullets behind light charges just to make holes in paper

Scott

Thanks for the free diagnosis, now can you recommend any 170 hard cast and a good sub sonic load for a 32 Win Spcl.

 

[effendude]

Thanks for the free diagnosis, now can you recommend any 170 hard cast and a good sub sonic load for a 32 Win Spcl.

Drop Port,
I have avoided the cast bullet loading so far. I have a friend who loads some 30-06 rounds for me to shoot in a 1920's vintage Win. 1895. You can just about hear the bullet hit the backer after you pull the trigger. He does the same for his 30-30 and now a 45-70. He owned a tire shop for 40 years and guess where the wheel weights went...

As for myself, I have all the symptoms of the affliction, from the beginning stages all the way to enjoying the cast bullets in old rifles with open sights. My latest project is a new custom .338 Lapua that just arrived. Awoke at 3am and couldn't sleep anymore due to excitement over the new rifle. Loaded up some break-in rounds and if the temps go above zero, I might sneak off to fire the first 6 rounds. We do have a wonderful hobby!

Scott

 

[th82457]

I have owned 3 WSM's & one Win Mag. If intended use is for hunting, I would opt for a 24" barrel WSM, in an action that will reliably feed the short fat sharp shouldered case - some do & some do not. I have had excellent accuracy using a 168gr. Barnes TSX on everything from coyotes to a very large Alaskan Moose. Never had to shoot more than once. Not really a varmint load - but coyote stepped out at the wrong time when I was chasing muley's. Sounds like you may be looking at Sako's with the 1:11 twist ? As stated by prior poster, I agree that the WSM is easier on the throat erosion and burns much less powder for similar results with 150 - 180 grains. If you want to shoot bullets heavier than 180 grains - then I would move to the 300 Win, as you will lose a lot of case capacity with the WSM. Just my two cents. Good Luck !

 

[Jesswil61]

I have owned 3 WSM's & one Win Mag. If intended use is for hunting, I would opt for a 24" barrel WSM, in an action that will reliably feed the short fat sharp shouldered case - some do & some do not. I have had excellent accuracy using a 168gr. Barnes TSX on everything from coyotes to a very large Alaskan Moose. Never had to shoot more than once. Not really a varmint load - but coyote stepped out at the wrong time when I was chasing muley's. Sounds like you may be looking at Sako's with the 1:11 twist ? As stated by prior poster, I agree that the WSM is easier on the throat erosion and burns much less powder for similar results with 150 - 180 grains. If you want to shoot bullets heavier than 180 grains - then I would move to the 300 Win, as you will lose a lot of case capacity with the WSM. Just my two cents. Good Luck !

I second th82457, you will get away with shooting the WSM with mimimal throat erosion over time compared to the WM. I have worked with the WM for some time and you will chase the lands for consistent results on a tuned load where the WSM erodes little. Shooting the WSM in competition I have never had more that .001 loss in throat after a season after 600-700 rounds. Current hunting rifle is a standard WSM chamber shooting the 168 Barnes TSX from a 22" barrel at it shoots less than 1" groups at 400 yards.