300 win. mag. or 300 wsm.

leftmehangin · 02-08-2005, 09:38 AM

I'm going to buy a new rifle and I want something with available ammo and these are the best choices I can find. Will be used for whitetails and black bear maybe elk.

idahoelkinstructor · 02-08-2005, 10:45 AM

The 300 Win Mag would be my choice, it can do all that a .300WSM can plus if you reload you can hop it up a bit to better factory loads and the WSM. The .300WSM factory loads are at max, and about equal a factory .300 WinMag, compareing apples to apples of course.

300winnie · 02-08-2005, 11:06 AM

I would choose the time proven .300 Winchester Long Magnum. It can do everything the new fat cartridge can do and more. If you are a handloader you can easily improve on the factory ballistics of the long magnum, but you will be hard pressed to improve the short magnum.

FWIW

BareBack Jack · 02-08-2005, 11:21 AM

I like the 300 WSM it is a good shooting round,the recoil was felt less than my 300 Winnie in my Ruger.
Both are more than capable and as metioned befor the reloader has a avantage with the longer 300.
BBJ

manwithgreenjeans · 02-08-2005, 02:25 PM

i would get the 300 winchester mag not the short pecker its not as prooven yet. and i dont like the way it looks short and fat vs long and skinny i guess there aint much a difference

handloader1 · 02-08-2005, 11:39 PM

.300 Win. Mag. would be my choice. Good luck.

brother hal · 02-09-2005, 11:02 AM

I've had both and saw no significant difference on deer or elk. Each will do what the other is capable of. Since the majority of folks don't reload, and ammo is widely available for both now (the 300wsm is the most popular factory short mag out there) , you could pick either one and be perfectly happy. good hunting!

oldelkhunter · 02-09-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

I would choose the time proven .300 Winchester Long Magnum. It can do everything the new fat cartridge can do and more. If you are a handloader you can easily improve on the factory ballistics of the long magnum, but you will be hard pressed to improve the short magnum.

Thats pretty funny what makes a cartridge proven..is not a chronograph enough proof?

dkhamner · 02-10-2005, 07:05 PM

skies the limit on the ammo for the .300 winmag. the wsm is on the bottom of the picking list for ammo. i heard the .300winmag is a dream for handloaders. the wsm i had kicked a lot harder than my winmag.

spd522 · 02-13-2005, 03:09 PM

I have a 300 WM but the 300 WSM wasn't around in 1992 when I bought it. I really like it and for the past several years, have handloaded my ammo. Nothing wrong with the factory stuff but I can really tune my loads for the game.

My elk load is a 180 gr Barnes X at 2960 fps. Not that fast for a 180 but Barnes bullets don't usually allow for as much velocity due to longer length and pressure. But that is fast enough expecially with an X bullet, and accuracy is the kicker. These shoot 5/8" groups at 200 yards.

My deer/antelope load is a 150 Nosler Ballistic Tip at 3370 fps. These shoot 1/2 MOA and have accounted for whitetails, mulies, and antelope at over 500 yards.

For the over the counter ammo buyer, the 300 WSM is great. If you really want to experiment and roll your own, the 300 WM will git-er-done and is a better route if you want to try 200 gr and up bullets.

I don't think you will make a bad choice with either. If you get a Browning, get one with a BOSS and shoot more accurate than you ever thought you could.