Vote: .300 Win Mag or .300 WSM?

They are ballistically identical in 24" barrels; however, the WSM comes in a short action and the rifles weigh about a pound less. I disagree with the comments about less recoil. Same caliber, same bullet, same velocity in a lighter rifle means more. Put one of those new soft pads on a WM and you'll see. I went to the range with a friend who had a 7WSM and we shot my 7mmRM and compared. The recoil, with 150gr NBT @ 3100 in both, was much faster in the WSM. We both agreed the RM was more comfortable to shoot.

The 300 WM has a reputation for accuracy that spans almost 50 years. The big difference, to me, is the cost of the brass. The 2.5" Magnum case is much less expensive than the Marketing Magnums. Factory ammo? Ridiculous.
 
Honestly if the intended use is hunting there isn't enough difference in performance to choose one over the other. So I'd buy the rifle that you like the best in the chambering that is available. So really it will boil down to the rifle with the most features you are looking for it would be the one I'd buy.

You can get started reloading for far less than $500 to start. You can pick up a decent reloading set up for less than half that if you look around. Plenty of these forums have tons of quality used equipment around if you look.

From a reloaders stand point I think the WSM has the advantage. Belted cases like the .300 WM will eventually seperate infront of the belt if you aren't careful. I think the you'll get longer case life from the WSM cartridge.

That said I don't shoot or own either, I've got their grand daddy the .300 H&H. I use it for the cool points! ;)
 
I prefer the WSM cases in general when it comes to handloading. They just seem to be easier to find an accurate bullet/powder combination compared to the long belted mags like 300 Win Mag or 7 mm mag. Other than that, there's not much difference when it comes to performance.
 
I have a M70 300WM and love that rifle. I have done some custom work to it but still the cartridge is great. I have never fired the shorty's so can't speak of them. I have a couple of differnt oads that I use but the favs are a 180 grain boat and a 200 grain for just a little further out. I have no trouble holding 2 inch groups at 800 with it and last time I shot 1000 was able to keep them around 2.5 to 3. The recoil can be murder on the shoulder yes but that goes away after enough time in the shoulder. As far as weight goes it beats the crap out of a 338 or Barret. Both of which I have carried.
My M70 is 9.78 lbs and it does get heavey but that weight helps with the recoil.
 
Read this
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...oots-2-815-record-at-1000-yards-with-300-wsm/

I've never shot factory ammo in the 300WSM or 300mag or do I get into comparing calibers as some will overlap.

I've shot two factory 300WSM back when they first came out then I had one build and my latest has a 26" long Kreiger 5r barrel in 1/11.25 twist and I get good accuracy/velocity. I think with some of the longer bullets capacity is a concern and throating with the WSM case. If you used a long action be better.

I've had couple 300mag build and on a long action and I've had them throated alittle longer for some of the heavier type bullets.

When you build something you pick all the part hoping you get the right barrel twist,length etc. I found with the latest 300WSM not only got good accuracy but good gain in velocity as I'm 2/3gr under max loads with max velocity.
 
It sounds like both calibers would wear barrels roughly the same; is that a valid assumption, or would one of the two be easier on the barrel?
 
I shoot a rem 700 sendero in 300 win mag. Groups around .5 with hornady 168 a max. Mild recoil, it's not painful to shoot 50 rounds at the bench. The deer wish I would sell it.
 
I'd go with the .300 Win Mag since ammo is so much more sensibly priced. And also more available. If you handload it's a wash.

I love my Ruger 77 Mk II all-weather .300 Win Mag.
 
I've owned both. From a purely technical standpoint the WSM is the better round. If It had come out first the 300 Win mag would have never been invented. The Win mag does have 2 slight advantages. It is cheaper to feed, and with heavy bullets (greater than 180 gr.) it does offer slightly better velocity.

From my perspective either is too expensive for me to not reload for so that becomes a wash.

If I need a bullet heavier than 180 gr. I need something larger than .30 cal.

I cannot think of a logical reason why, but the 300 WSM rifles I've shot do seem to have less recoil than the 300 Win Mags I've owned. I can't explain it, but I have to really think about it to notice the difference in recoil between my 30-06 and 300 WSM. When I fired the Win mag rifles I've owned, I noticed the difference.

If I owned either, I wouldn't sell it to buy the other.
 
Niether.....I own a pre 64 Winny in 300 H&H. I can attest the 300 WM shoots well as I've shot one at 1k at Camp Perry. If I did my part, the rifle got the bullet there.
 
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