Why so few rifles offered in 300 WSM?

[Alexander-M]

Seven years ago I bought a Tikka T3-Lite 300 WSM for hunting and was pleasantly surprised by its accuracy with commercial ammunition. The light weight (6.5 lb) of this particular model combined with the inherent heavy recoil of the cartridge makes this rifle not particularly pleasant to shoot for more than a handful of rounds, but considering the number of rounds fired for its intended purpose; i.e., hunting, the rifle is A+ OK.

Several of my friends (hunters) also like the 300 WSM even for game as small as whitetail deer, and larger. And at the range about a month ago, I met two guys who were practicing for their upcoming elk hunt (lucky guys), and their preferred cartridge was the 300 WSM.

For competition, such as F-Class, where the rifles are heavier, I suspect that the recoil is more manageable, and from what I have read in this forum, the 300 WSM is one of the preferred cartridges for the longer distances.

Why then are there so relatively few 300 WSM rifles offered by the major rifle manufacturers?

Your thoughts?

Nando

 

[cocopuff]

as you said yourself...Recoil.....I have a Vanguard in 3wsm love it..

 

[vtmarmot]

I think that everyone that wanted one bought one quite a while ago. I shot a caribou with mine and then it went in the safe, never to come out. If I ever go for Elk, I'll take it. Mine gets an honest 3300 with factory 150s and 3000 with factory 180s. Nice, but I don't really need it for deer.

 

[jonbearman]

It started out as a proprietary cartridge like all the super shorts and short magnums from Winchester and like everyone else ever invented it became mainstream when Winchester went belly up. IMHO.

 

[Rustystud]

The primary reason so few manufactures make the 300 WSM is that Rick Jameson holds a patent on the WSM cartridges. He sued several fire arms manufactures for violating his patents. If they want to manufacture the WSM cartridges they have to pay him a royalty.
Several manufactures said screw him and discontinued the WSM line of cartridges.
Nat Lambeth

 

[jonbearman]

Nat now that you mention it,I forgot about the great rick Jamison. He is a legend in his own mind.

 

[dkhunt14]

I believe Winchester gave him a gun to test. He tests it and liked it and checked and Winchester never patented it. He patented it for him. He even got commission off the brass. It is the one thing that held this cartridge back. Some companies refused to pay it. Matt

 

[Alexander-M]

Patented!
That is very interesting, and makes sense that companies would not want to pay royalties.

I searched the patent office for various combination of criteria, and this is what I found:

6,678,983 (2003) Ultra-short-action firearm for high-power firearm cartridge

6,675,717 (2003) Ultra-short high-power firearm cartridge

6,550,174 (2001) Short-action firearm for high-power firearm cartridge

5,970,879 (1998) High-power firearm cartridge for short-action chamber and bolt assembly

All of which have the inventor as Jamison, John R. (Eugene, OR)

Is that the Jamison to whom you are referring?

Thanks for your replies - now I understand.

Nando

 

[dkhunt14]

I would think that the R stands for RICK, I refuse to read anything he writes. I think it was mighty low what he did. Matt

 

[Alexander-M]

If a shooter buys the action, barrel, stock, trigger, etc., and contracts a gunsmith to build a 300 WSM rifle, would royalties be expected to be paid?

Thx

Nando

 

[John from MN]

I think P O Ackley wrote in one of his books "There is very little to be gained from antagonizing the competition". I may not have the quote exactly right, but it seems to fit.