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.

 

[simplepeddler]

I am one of dem coonasses, an I like the WSM for an “all in with one” rifle.

But around home, it’s a little much.

 

[Kyguy]

Nothing wrong with the 300 magnums, but I'll be the one to say buy something else that has lighter recoil and cheaper ammo.... hello .308 Winchester. You'll shoot it a lot more, which will make you a better shooter, and it's still going to kill anything you point it at. I know several guys who bought .300's for mostly whitetail hunting because "they're going to go out west sometime"... they bought those rifles 30 years ago and they haven't hunted ANYTHING west of their town in KY (actually never anything other than local hunting), much less actually going out west. They don't shoot them much because they "kick like a mule" and "the dang ammo is so expensive." Get something that covers the 95% of what you actually do and then worry about making it work out west when the time comes.

 

[JAC8504]

given your parameters I’d do 300 due to availability of ammo. More stores will have factory ammo

 

[Mish-pop]

Nothing wrong with the 300 magnums, but I'll be the one to say buy something else that has lighter recoil and cheaper ammo.... hello .308 Winchester. You'll shoot it a lot more, which will make you a better shooter, and it's still going to kill anything you point it at. I know several guys who bought .300's for mostly whitetail hunting because "they're going to go out west sometime"... they bought those rifles 30 years ago and they haven't hunted ANYTHING west of their town in KY (actually never anything other than local hunting), much less actually going out west. They don't shoot them much because they "kick like a mule" and "the dang ammo is so expensive." Get something that covers the 95% of what you actually do and then worry about making it work out west when the time comes.

I would be in this camp as well. However, between those two calibers I would go with 300WM for ammo availability and either the Sako or Tikka. Any of those brands will shoot good though

 

[Speaks]

My 300wm actually kicks less than my 270, its not really heavier, something in the stock fit im sure. Whichever one you pick put an airtech on it.

 

[greyghostnw]

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.

Or just put a ti pro 5 brake on and continue on. Makes that magnum a kitten.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Nothing wrong with the 300 magnums, but I'll be the one to say buy something else that has lighter recoil and cheaper ammo.... hello .308 Winchester. You'll shoot it a lot more, which will make you a better shooter, and it's still going to kill anything you point it at. I know several guys who bought .300's for mostly whitetail hunting because "they're going to go out west sometime"... they bought those rifles 30 years ago and they haven't hunted ANYTHING west of their town in KY (actually never anything other than local hunting), much less actually going out west. They don't shoot them much because they "kick like a mule" and "the dang ammo is so expensive." Get something that covers the 95% of what you actually do and then worry about making it work out west when the time comes.

I agree with this, however I will add that a 308 will cover everything "out west" too. Especially considering most Eastern hunters don't have anywhere where they can practice long shots in the wind, so 500-600 yards is about as far as they will be able to effectively shoot. The 308 works wonderfully with those parameters.

 

[Kyguy]

I agree with this, however I will add that a 308 will cover everything "out west" too. Especially considering most Eastern hunters don't have anywhere where they can practice long shots in the wind, so 500-600 yards is about as far as they will be able to effectively shoot. The 308 works wonderfully with those parameters.

That's what I meant when I said worry about it when the time comes. It'll get it done, preparation is everything.

 

[WhiteA87]

I ended up ordering the Tikka T3X lite roughtech 300WSM on Euro Optics. I chose the Tikka for the aftermarket support because I tend to never leave anything stock for to long. Reloading 300WSM isn't out of the picture, I'm currently just set up for 308 reloading. Thanks for the suggestion fellas this is my first Tikka. Currently I am hunting with a 350 legend AR build. I have a trued 700 sitting in a Mcmillan A5 weighs 14lbs with optic. This Tikka setup is going to be much nicer to hunt with.

 

[The Harbor Master]

Good choice. What scope are you planning on?

 

[WhiteA87]

Good choice. What scope are you planning on?

Either the Vortex Viper HD 3-15x44, Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15x50. Not sure if the Razor is worth double the price or not. I have yet to hold anyone of them in person.