Hunting rifle decision.

[WhiteA87]

I am trying to decide which rifle to purchase for my "Do all, hunt anywhere rifle". I have decide I want either a 300WM or 300WSM. I mostly hunt whitetail living in south Louisiana, but I want to book a western hunting rifle in the next few years. I am trying to stay around the 1000-1400 dollar range and 20"- 24" barrel length. Mainly going to shoot store bought ammo and suppressed from time to time. Thanks.
a couple of rifles that are on the list.

• Bergara wilderness sierra
• Savage 110 high country
• Tikka T3X roughtech superlight
• Sako S20

 

[Soj51hopeful]

The wsm would be the way I go with the shorter barrel you are planning.

 

[Slick8]

All great rifle options so it could come down to price and preference.

If you're set on shooting factory ammo, I'd go with a 300WM due to the much greater selection / availability of ammo. OR, buy custom loaded ammo and the skies the limit.

 

[Weldor]

Love the 300 WM, Kills out of the front and cripples out the back. Humor. A buddy of mine from Louisiana shot a Texas whitetail a little far back with a 300, we didn't have to gut it. Like Slick8 said ammo everywhere.

 

[Choupique]

Man this place is infested with coonasses

I'm a win mag fan. The wsm is "better" on paper for a lot of reasons, but .300 win mag ammo and components will always be widely available and affordable.

 

[TaperPin]

Recoil will be brisk with a lightweight 300 mag - I always recommend someone shoot a borrowed rifle before stepping way up in recoil. If you have shot a light 300 mag and just want one for yourself, there’s no bad choice in your list.

 

[Article 4]

Not a bad choice in the list - might lean slightly to the Sako but that is just me.

If you plan to shoot suppressed, a 24" bbl will max out your FPS and you may want to think about a thicker contour. I know you wanna go light but I agree with some here, they are both magnums but the WM will hold more powder and recoil a bit more.