Win Mag vs. WSM

[skeeter 7MM]

I load for both, both seem pretty easy to get shooting. Both have worked well to kill upto and including moose.

New vs old

Action preference short or long (not talking perceived here - aka faster follow ups due to the shorter throw - this to mean = squat in real life situations)

Recoil - is moot have shot enough to form this opinion. You want the lighter/small frame you get recoil, plain and simple. Don't buy a 300 mag and expect it to shoot like a 243 cuz it ain't happening.

If your planning to shoot 180 and under the 300wsm is a good choice
If you plan to ever need or want 180+ the winmag is the better option.

The win mag has an advantage in selection and price here for the OTC ammo user. Though both are readily available now due to its popularity.

As a reloader while it opens up more for the wsm user, I still have to give the nod to wm for its ability to accomidiate the .308 bullets available due to its case.

IMO both carts will be a round for a long time so I wouldn't worry about ammo or components with either.

[Ken Heilbrun Jr.]

I would perfer a 300 WSM or a 7mm WSM. For long distances they pack a pounch and the animal like a elk will not go far. Or even the 325 WSM which is lowered down from a 338 win mag, would be good too.

[HEAD0001]

Both are great cartridges. I own both, and have had several in 300 WM and 3 WSM's.

I prefer the WSM.

I like the shorter action, IMO a short action is more accurate than a long action-all other things being equal.

The 300 WM can be very accurate, however I have found the WSM's that I have shot to be slightly more accurate, and easier to reload for.

If you are shooting factory ammo then the 300 WM will be a little cheaper than the WSM.

Do not believe the fact that the WSM will not shoot the heavies. I shoot the 208 A-Max in one of mine. And I am rebarreling one right now in 300WSM for the 208 A-Max and a 1in10 twist. You really need the 1in10 for the heavies in the 30's.

It really is a "pick em" decision, however I do prefer the WSM. Tom.

[heinz57]

i have a 300wsm ..browning stainles stalker with boss ...the boss realy cuts down the recoil ...but the noise is unbearable i hunt with ear plugs ..also the recoil pad is horrible on my 300wsm more like a hockey puck ...so i got a limbsaver recoil pad and now the recoil is MILD ....i use the winchester supreme accubond 180 gr. and have shot 3 moose and 6 caribou all dropped on the spot ..[too old to run after them]

[spaniel]

Sure, you can shoot 180-200gr bullets in a WSM, but you're not going to reach the potential of the cartridge as you'll need to eat up case space to fit the round in the magazine...and depending on your chamber you may need to despite the magazine.

In factory ammo, I've been told (but don't know for sure) that they have been under-loading the 300WM to make the new 300WSM look better.

If you reload, the old 300WM can be taken further. But if you're not shooting 200gr bullets or not trying to push up to 3000 fps, it's an either-or decision.

[PHA]

I have a Rem 700 300 WM that is a 1/2 inch gun. I had a Vanguard in 300 WSM that I couldn't get to consistently group close to an inch. I toyed around with a friend's Tikka T3 300 WSM and after 150 rounds got it to shoot under an inch with one load. Based on my limited results, I will stick to the 300 WM.

[heinz57]

do you realy think that there is any difference if u use a 300 WSM or a 300WIN .MAG on a bear ..

[Mojotex]

I have owned both. I found essentially no difference in trajectory using either. I shot both probalby 200-250 rounds at a range from 100 yards out to 500 yards.

The 300 WSM I had was a Winchester Classic SS. It shot fine. Always around 1.25-1.50 MOA. The 300 Win. Mag. is a Rem. 700 that I put through a custom shot back in the mid-1970's in anticipation of the elk hunt that has yet escaped me. It is drop dead accurate.

Both handled several factory loads just fine as far as grouping. I didn't shoot either much, but if I had the cost of factory ammo would have lead me to the 300 Win. Mag.

[snuffynra]

there both basically the same,as far as a 50 to 100 fps difference only if you ran them past a chronograph would you see the microscopic difference .however the short mags do make scoping easier sometimes. it all boils down to your personal preference.and not all the info on here is inaccurate,some are very good at one thing and KILL it with technical mumbo jumbo...here is the 150 gr for both just for comparison Remington.com - Products - Ammunition - Ballistics

[Frank in the Laurel]

Most of the responders are correct.. the difference isn't worth talking about, either will kill anything you choose to plug, one shot-one kill..good ole' .30 cal holes do the trick in a hurry.. the only difference is action length and factory shell availablility in out of the reach places.. myself, I'd go with the time tested win-mag..long version.