7mm vs 300 WSM

[xtremetj]

Thanks guys! I still haven't figured it out. I'll let you know what I decide.

Greg.

[seattlesetters]

ORIGINAL: driftrider

I've noticed at all my local gun dealers that they keep very few new 300 Win Mags in stock anymore and those collect dust, but the 300 WSM are plentiful and the guns fly off the shelves. Maybe the 300 Win Mag is slowly on the way out?

Mike

I've seen the same thing in WA, OR and CA. My brother lives down in NM and he tells me the .300 WSM is the most popular cartridge by a wide margin (for 300 mags). I don't know if the .300 Win Mag is on its way out...it still makes most top seller lists...but I can guarantee you its sales have taken a hit and the .300 WSM is here to stay.

That being said, I always look to the biggest variable of all when I'm comparing cartridges: Recoil. If two cartridges generally carry the same performance, I always go with the one that has the lighter recoil. It will be easier to shoot, more pleasant to practice with and will enable you to get to where you're good enough with itto take that 500 yard shot sooner than the heavier recoling cartridge. That alone would make the decision easy for me, as the 7mm WSM is for all intents and purposes the equal of the .300 WSM on game.

However, if you go with the 7mm WSM, then a very logical progression of thought would have to consider the .270 WSM. It recoils slightly less than the 7mm, its performance is the equal of the 7mm on game, and ammo is more widely available.

If you're dead set on a shorty in either the .300 or 7mm, I'd go 7mm. If you still have an open mind after that, I'd go .270 WSM.

[xtremetj]

I think everyone is thinking that I'm looking at a 7mm WSM. I have narrowed it down to the 7mm Remington Mag or the 300 WSM.

I may have to look in to the 270 WSM.

[Todd1700]

I have narrowed it down to the 7mm Remington Mag or the 300 WSM.

Well between those two it's really jus a matter of personal preferrence. A 7mm mag loaded with a 160gr nosler partition will thump any animal that you listed. If you are gonna go with the 300 wsm then you need to step up to at least a 180gr bullet or you are really gaining nothing by just going up in caliber. There are probably more choices of factory ammo out there for the 7 mag.Also I cannot speak for other areas of the country but in my neck of the woods theshort mag fad seems tobe on the way out. The only WSMguns you see in stores at all is the 300 WSM. The rifles and ammo in all the other short mag calibers have virtually disappeared and the options for guns and ammo in 300 WSM are much less than they used to be as well. Just something to consider.

[Worc]

OK, I asked my ballistic calculator for the flattest factory loads for the 7mm Rem Mag and the .300 WSM. With BC"™s, SD"™s, and gr"™s aside, it gives the best performance based of flatness. I can also ask for less drift or most energy as well. The calculator has no emotions or personal preferences on the matter.

Not sure where the guy you work with gets his info because it"™s not for factory loads. Notice again they both are very close in their amount of drop and the .300WSM again has more KE. I also only ran this one out to 600 yards instead of the default of 1200 yards so you can see them a little better.


[/align][/align]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/Worc/7rm3wsm.jpg[/align]


With the 7mm Rem Mag compared to the .300 WSM instead of the 7 mm WSM. The guns will be different as the 7mm Rem Mag is a long action compared the WSM"™s short action length. This may be a bigger difference that the performance of these to calibers.

[700xcr]

ORIGINAL: xtremetj

I think everyone is thinking that I'm looking at a 7mm WSM. I have narrowed it down to the 7mm Remington Mag or the 300 WSM.

I may have to look in to the 270 WSM.

Either one will suite you well. The 270wsm is ballistically the same as the 7mm remington with the 140gr to 150gr. bullets. I shoot the 270wsm and has been very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. Every animal that iI have pulled the trigger on using it has fallen. I would use it on anything in North America except thebig bears.

[Wolf killer]

My vote is for either of the standard magnums;the 7mm Remington mag or a 300-Winchester magnum.

IMHO TheWSM's just do not bring enough improvement to the table to justify the added cost of the WSM ammo.

[Summitsitter]

300 WSM for me! Recoil is only very similar to the 7mm rem mag and I've often read .30 cal is preferred for elk. (although 7mm will certainly get the job done)

I'd hunting anything with the .300 WSM including big bears

[700xcr]

ORIGINAL: Wolf killer

My vote is for either of the standard magnums;the 7mm Remington mag or a 300-Winchester magnum.

IMHO TheWSM's just do not bring enough improvement to the table to justify the added cost of the WSM ammo.

In actuallity the WSM's does not cost any different then the standard magnums in my area.

[xtremetj]

I think I've decided to go ahead and get the 300 WSM. Should be fun to shoot.


Greg.