What to go with (300 saum or 300 wsm)

[brianc74]

Building a new longrange shooter - hunting rifle. Here are the build specs.
1. Northwest Precision target action. (Single shot)
2. Proof Research 26", 1-10 twist 5r, carbon barrel
3. Manners EH1 stock
4. Jewell trigger
What chamber should I do?
What round burns up barrels faster. The 300 wsm or the 300 saum
I will be shooting about 500 rounds a year.

Thanks for the advise
Brian

 

[jonbearman]

The 300 wsm is much hotter compared to the saum. I would pick the wsm as it is pretty darned accurate and less violent to shoot and especially nice to shoot with a decent brake which shouldn't hurt accuracy. Harrels has a really decent brake and they are cheap and don't have to be timed to install which makes it easier to install.

I made a mistake saying the wsm is milder than the saum however with a brake I could shoot one all day with the brake. My best friend has both a 300wsm and a wildcat 35wsm and I can shoot them with ease.

 

[XTR]

Oddly enough I've been pondering this same question.

For an Elk/Moose size game rifle, 300WM or 300WSM? This is not a white tail rifle, I have a 7-08 for that.


Though it's not as "efficient" doesn't the 300WM give you more bang? as in more MV for heavy bullets?

 

[jonbearman]

They are comparable but the wsm edges it out very little.

 

[asauer]

300 wsm much milder? Not sure what you're talking about.
I would take a long hard look at which one you think will be more likely to survive in the long run- I would put money on the WSM. It's splitting hairs as to theoretical superiority, but most seem to be leaning towards the WSM for builds. Perhaps I'm biased- I have one. Although I just looked at prices for Norma brass- the SAUM is $50 cheaper per 100. Makes no sense.

 

[Ringostar]

Jon, were you thinking RUM vs SAUM? The SAUM is a smaller case than the WSM.

 

[Erik Cortina]

The WSM is breaking BR records and winning big F-Class matches, so that's the one I would go with.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The WSM is breaking BR records and winning big F-Class matches, so that's the one I would go with.

What Erik said. I will be putting one together just like you are doing and it will be a WSM.

 

[Joe Salt]

WSM is the answer! 1-10 twist

Joe salt

 

[XTR]

What would be the velocity difference in similar rifles with hunting length barrels pushing 230 class bullets?

 

[Joe Salt]

XTR what are you going to us the 230 for?

Joe Salt

 

[XTR]

XTR what are you going to us the 230 for?

Joe Salt

I asked the question because the answers in the two posts above have nothing to do with the question as asked (regarding hunting not BR or F class). And the small difference in accuracy potential between a 300WM and the 300WSM isn't what concerns me. An accurate load with the terminal performance to shoot through the shoulder of a moose or an elk is more the point of the question.

To answer your question, I'd probably never shoot anything more than a 200 A frame or Accubond hunting bullet, and might even load as low as 175.

 

[dkhunt14]

If I was building a hunting rifle I would build the 300 WSM and shoot 230 Bergers. You can drive the 230 at 3000 feet per second with 7828 SSC. That is every bit as much as the 300 WIN will and the throat does not move near what a 300 Win does. The accuracy of the WSM is there and the WIN can be hard to get to shoot. They are a lot fussier. That is why they disappeared in the long range shooting games. Plus they don't have a belt. I would also build it on a long action so I could throat it out where it needs to be and still load and unload a shell. Matt

 

[XTR]

If I was building a hunting rifle I would build the 300 WSM and shoot 230 Bergers. You can drive the 230 at 3000 feet per second with 7828 SSC. That is every bit as much as the 300 WIN will and the throat does not move near what a 300 Win does. The accuracy of the WSM is there and the WIN can be hard to get to shoot. They are a lot fussier. That is why they disappeared in the long range shooting games. Plus they don't have a belt. I would also build it on a long action so I could throat it out where it needs to be and still load and unload a shell. Matt

That is more the information I was looking for. I'm considering rebarreling a factory 7mmRM into a magnum 30 of some flavor. I'm talking about nothing heavier than a #3, maybe a #4 contour as a hunting rifle. Something that can make a 400 yard shot on an elk if needed but not weigh a ton. Not a gun for shooting groups. (well no bigger than 2 or 3 shots)

I have a 7-08 built with a fluted 24" #4 and I think it's a pound or so heavy for a hunting rifle, but they are not deep flutes, and it's in a Rem laminate stock so if I was really worried about it I could shave a little.

 

[kerjo]

Kelbly's is building one for me using their new Atlas Tactical Repeater Action in a 300WSM as we speak.

 

[Chappy]

The 300 wsm is much milder compared to the saum. I would pick the wsm as it is pretty darned accurate and less violent to shoot and especially nice to shoot with a decent brake which should hurt accuracy. Harrels has a really decent brake and they are cheap and don't have to be timed to install which makes it easier to install.

Ummm....I think you have it switched. The SAUM holds less volume than the WSM? The SAUM might be going at higher pressures but from my experience, the WSM kicked harder (noticeably) than the SAUM did from similar weight rifles shooting similar loads. YMMV.

 

[kjcpoint]

300 wsm on a defiance XM action. Perfect action for the wsm family!

Kyle

 

[asauer]

XTR, I'd definitely go with one of the short mags like a wsm in a long action. I built mine on a win 70 long action. I'm 0.10" off the lands @ around 3.175" COL with a 208 a max (bearing surface barely out of the "donut" area) Tons of room for a max charge of H4831SC and plenty of room in the mag box for even heavier bullets if you wish to go that route. Gun was originally a 300 win mag and it feeds fine. As stated above, I feel the short mags (7mm/300s) would match the belted mags in performance on game, yet have flexibility to load bullets long to retain case capacity yet still feed from a magazine.

 

[jonbearman]

Yep I have mistaken it for rum.

 

[Chappy]

Yep I have mistaken it for rum.