Talk me out of 300 WSM

[Sled]

I don't use stability calculators, I shoot to a mile and beyond. If they weren't stable I'd know real quick.

they might be good to go with your conditions. i tend to shoot in the cold and at altitude which make slower twists marginally stable with standard for caliber projectile weights.

 

[WeiserBucks]

they might be good to go with your conditions. i tend to shoot in the cold and at altitude which make slower twists marginally stable with standard for caliber projectile weights.

I hear you on that, it's all numbers and theory until we go out and prove it in our own conditions.

 

[Sled]

Ok, I think I'm sold. Now talk me out of a Tikka that I'll rebarrel to 1:10@22"

i think i missed something. were you saying you wanted a tikka 300wsm in a 10 twist? if you're happy there then just cut the factory barrel down to 22" and call it good. they already come in a 1:10 from the mfg

 

[honestcomrade]

i think i missed something. were you saying you wanted a tikka 300wsm in a 10 twist? if you're happy there then just cut the factory barrel down to 22" and call it good. they already come in a 1:10 from the mfg

looks like the Tikka T3x in 300WSM comes in 24" 1:11 twist, only. According to the tikka website.

 

[UpSideDown]

I just went through this exercise. I had a 6.5cm Tikka CTR and was going to do barrel swaps and a lightweight stock and have .223Rem and .300WSM barrels. After looking through all the options and funkiness I decided to sell my Tikka and buy an Origin action, plop it in a Manners LRH stock and put the .223Rem and .300WSM barrels on it. I shoot factory ammo so I'm not dying to have long COAL's, a short action is fine for me.

As far as dead calibers to, you can buy tons of high quality 300WSM ammo right now. If you want 300PRC, 30 Nosler, 28 Nosler or 280ai, you have to find brass and handload.

 

[Stalker69]

Not sure why you want to be talked out of it. Sounds like there are more pros then cons, and should do what your asking of it. I say buy it, scratch that itch, you know you will "need" another rifle to fill another " need" any way.
A man can never have to many guns you know.

 

[Sled]

looks like the Tikka T3x in 300WSM comes in 24" 1:11 twist, only. According to the tikka website.

That might be the case. They updated the 300 win mag to the 10 twist and I assume the 300wsm is on the list to update too. Hopefully it's been done. The 300win I had from Tikka wouldn't even shoot 220 grain with the 11 twist.

 

[IDElkmagnet]

The only reason my 300wsm isn't a tikka is because it was only available 1 in 11.
I also wanted to shoot monos.
Hopefully sako and tikka can get with the times.

 

[Hthunter]

The only reason my 300wsm isn't a tikka is because it was only available 1 in 11.
I also wanted to shoot monos.
Hopefully sako and tikka can get with the times.

same here

 

[excaliber]

Buy a 300 Win Mag instead. If you want to shoot heavier , better BC bullets ditch the short case and go with the longer one. There's nothing the 300 wsm does better than it's big brother.

 

[honestcomrade]

Buy a 300 Win Mag instead. If you want to shoot heavier , better BC bullets ditch the short case and go with the longer one. There's nothing the 300 wsm does better than it's big brother.

Don't want to shoot heavier, better BC bullets. Rifle will strictly be used for hunting, mostly Idaho Elk out to 500 yards, plus anything smaller at those same ranges. The only reason I'm still on the fence is that some of that hunting will be in coastal areas at lower elevation requiring lead free bullets. However I think that in those cases a smaller shorter projectile should do and a lower twist (looking at 1:11 Tikka to start, with plans to rebarrel+brake) will still stabilize.

 

[tdhanses]

Buy a 300 Win Mag instead. If you want to shoot heavier , better BC bullets ditch the short case and go with the longer one. There's nothing the 300 wsm does better than it's big brother.

What do you mean, is a 300wm really slinging 215 bergers faster then 2963fps? With todays powders the gap is tiny between the 300wsm and other 300’s.

I have my 300wsm that is shooting 215’s at 2963fps while I also have a 300wm shooting 220 bergers at 2886fps (not willing to waste my 215’s on it), 300wm uses 71.8gr of powder while the 300wsm uses 68.2gr’s.

With how difficult powder is to get I’ll take a tiny velocity loss to save on powder.

300wm is the older brother but not necessarily the bigger brother.

In my view only thing 300wm has going for it is barrel life vs the 300wsm.

 

[BigNate]

What do you mean, is a 300wm really slinging 215 bergers faster then 2963fps? With todays powders the gap is tiny between the 300wsm and other 300’s.

I have my 300wsm that is shooting 215’s at 2963fps while I also have a 300wm shooting 220 bergers at 2886fps (not willing to waste my 215’s on it), 300wm uses 71.8gr of powder while the 300wsm uses 68.2gr’s.

With how difficult powder is to get I’ll take a tiny velocity loss to save on powder.

300wm is the older brother but not necessarily the bigger brother.

In my view only thing 300wm has going for it is barrel life vs the 300wsm.

And this is why the WSM as is isn't better.
The 300 PRC however is.

If you want to save gunpowder the 7-08 the OP has is capable. It will drift , but so will the bullets that are standard loadings in the WSM. Handloads are a solution to some extent. So is choosing something else.

 

[honestcomrade]

And this is why the WSM as is isn't better.
The 300 PRC however is.

If you want to save gunpowder the 7-08 the OP has is capable. It will drift , but so will the bullets that are standard loadings in the WSM. Handloads are a solution to some extent. So is choosing something else.

Already hand loading the 7mm08, and the best I can do so far is 140gr NBT at 2850 grouping pretty small. most calculators show terminal ballistics with that bullet only good to about 350 (and it's not bonded). My hunting partner wants something that will push a little farther with monos. Gonna try and get something heavier duty in the 7mm08 in the meantime and work it up, but 7mm premium hunting bullets have been very hard to find.

 

[Sled]

7mm premium hunting bullets have been very hard to find.

Try hammer bullets. Always in stock

 

[BigNate]

"most calculators show terminal ballistics with that bullet only good to about 350 (and it's not bonded). "

First 2850 and small groups is great, and most shots are within its capabilities.
Calculations are subjective much like statistical data. What goes into the calculations can skew results. Looking at how the bullet performs in ballistic gel will tell you far more.

If you're set on a 300wsm then get it, try it, etc. If you're truly planning to shoot game past 500 , it isn't exactly the cats pajamas. However, it can work.

Paying attention to the velocity requirements of your choice of bullets with dictate the max range it's good for. Your abilities are the rest.

Have you looked at the 300 PRC, Norma, RUM, or considered your options in 7mm? A 7mm-300 Norma AI is crazy good, a 7mm STW as a factory choice may be good if you can find the twist rate you want, 7mm LRM is another one.

You have lots of options. Why are you fixated on a WSM?

 

[madcalfe]

Shhhhh don’t listen to these guys, 300wsm is all ya need here mine 5lbs 2oz with a 20” tube. 178gr eldx doing 2925fps. That’s plenty to take elk out to 650yards and deer to 800yards if you go off the “recommended minimum amount of energy” per animal. And your using 10 less grains of powder than a 300wm, less recoil,less weight.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

My next barrel in the works is a 20" 300prc. It'll wear a 9" can. I could have went 300wsm but I already have 300prc components.

 

[madcalfe]

My next barrel in the works is a 20" 300prc. It'll wear a 9" can. I could have went 300wsm but I already have 300prc components.

20" tubes are where its at i love mine and don't think ill go back to a 24" unless its a dedicated long range rig. i know my limitations with having a 20" tube but built it for sheep hunting and don't plan on taking a poke at a sheep passed 700 anyways.

 

[archp625]

Ok, I think I'm sold. Now talk me out of a Tikka that I'll rebarrel to 1:10@22"

I just had a 300 WSM build off a tikka action. Turned out simply perfect. I