WSM
 

What do you guys all think of the wsm. I was thinking about getting a 7mm WSM. The ballistics are just a little bit better and the bullet flies flatter. Anyways, my question is what are the advantages of the wsm? Also are they growing in popularity? Could I easily get a box of shells for it 10 years down the road?

Thanks

RE: WSM
 

Its hard to predict anything 10 years but Id bet that itll be no prob to get ammo for the 300 7mm and 270 WSMs. I have the 270 WSM and love it. The short action round has a couple of fundamental advantages over long action because of a stiffer bolt and more consistant powder burn. So its usually the more accurate caliber compared to the same in the long action round. I especially like the 270 because there is a void in any 270 magnums(other then Weatherby) compared to the other 2.

RE: WSM
 

The numbers DONT lie, the WSMs are THE biggest thing to hit the rifle world in several decades. NEVER BEFORE have so many mfgrs scrambled to chamber then guns in a relatively "new" class of calibers. I can't count the number of WSMs I have sold the last few years and that offering (both guns and ammo) grow almost daily.

There is ALOT to like about the WSMs. You can have a little bit smaller, lighter rifle without giving up any power or ballistic performance. Those two attributes are their biggest sellers IMHO. For the 1 or 2 gun owner I can't think of a better caliber than either the 300 or 270 WSM. For some unexplainable reason, the 7WSM is essentially DEAD! It is an abortion that is DOA! I don't understand it and neither do the mfgrs and reps I talk with about it. EVERYONE had high expectations for it but it has taken off like the Spruce Goose. Beretta even added it lastyear too the their Sako/Tika lines in expectations of it becoming a hit in Europe (America is solidly a 270 and 30 cal market, Europe is big on metric calibers especially the 7mm and 8mm varieties). But my Beretta rep told me 2 weeks ago that they are already considering pulling the plug on the 7WSM offerings. So if you want a 7WSM Sako or Tika you better rush out and buy them. They wont be around this time nextyear!

If you already have a 7mag Rem, 300Win (or even eithers Weatherby counterpart) then sure you don't need the WSM. BUT if you are like me and just are consumed with rifles and amassing an "arsenal" then why not? They are sweet guns, carry like a breeze and typically shoot VERY well. Ammo selection is growing daily and within the next few years EVERY momNpop that carries ammo will have a selection of WSMs. They simply have to because so many rifles are coming into the market and being sold. Ol Joes Gunshop in Podunk, CO may not have WSM ammo yet (I bet he does tho!) but you can rest assured within a year or two he will if he wants to survive.

The WSSMs are another story, they may or may not make it. Based on the market I have seen for them here in west TN they will be nothing more than a novelty. But the .270 and .300WSM are solid players in the market and the number of customers asking for them is growing daily. Almost too the point that for us, we don't even stock the 300WinMag anymore and our 7RemMag inventory is lower than it has ever been. We just get that many more requests for either of the two WSMs I mentioned.

Good luck and enjoy whatever you get. I wouldn't hestitat getting one and you will be glad you did! In the hundreds I have sold, I have NEVER had a customer complain about or regret their purchase of a WSM!!! ;)
RA

RE: WSM
 

I agree that the 270 and 300 WSM's are here to stay. I don't look for the 7MM WSM to fly very far. Sales of that one where I live are right next to Nil. As far a any big advantage of the WSM's I don't see any. The performance edge really isn't there and how much weight difference do you really get? Not much. Any weight you gain, you will gain back in felt recoil. While they are good rifles, the hype given them by Winchester is a lot of the reason they are selling well. Hype which in a large part is just not fact. Winchester is promising the old free lunch ploy and you don't get many of them. I would not discourage anyone from buying one but if you have used the 300 Win Mag and think that buying the 300WSM will improve your hunting performance, you will be disappointed.

RE: WSM
 

The wsm cartridges are very good performers,but contrary to browning and winchester advertising, they do not offer performance advantages over the standard mags.The advertising skewed the ballistics by using very mild loads and bullets with lesser ballistic co-efficients for the standard mags,to make it look as though the wsms provided more velocity and a flatter trajectory.I have done a few chronograph comparisons of the 7mmremmag and 7mmwsm and the 300wsm and 300wsm and in fact the 7mm remmag and 300winmag provide slightly more velocity.The 300wsm is selling quite well in my area,with the 270wsm selling not nearly as well,but the 7mmwsm is suffering badly in sales for some reason.Unless sales increase the 7mmwsm may not survive long.

RE: WSM
 

So are we betting the new 325 WSM is here to stay or will it have the same success as the 7mm? I'm in the market for a new rifle and strongly considering the 325, before I was sold on buying a 300 Win Mag.

I noticed that almost all rifles on sale this fall were WSM's, probably to give those purchasers on the fence that little push over.

I'm not 100% sold yet on them?

340

RE: WSM
 

On the 7 mm WSM, wasn’t there something in a flaw in the design of the case from Winchester in that the 7 mm WSM could be loaded into a 270 WSM or vise versa and that’s why they had a delay on the production of rifles and ammo? Winchester had to redesign the case to eliminate this problem and that’s why the 7 mm WSM market has been playing catch up ever since then !!!

RE: WSM
 

I can find no reason for the WSMs....if folks are buying them then that's good.....but for me they're more redundancy that we really didn't need.

I see no advantage in the .270 or .300 WSM over the .270 Winchester or the .30-06.

When I go to the stores here to buy ammo I don't see WSMs.....I see the old standbys. The old standbys will be there long after I'm gone.....the WSMs?....who knows???

RE: WSM
 

I love em. But I love Short actions and have this deep belief I can work up a faster more accurate load with a short action than any long action with all other things being equal.

I have loaded for a few WSM, and it was hard to get them to shoot bad. Very dynamic. When I say dynamic, I mean, you can vary the load by 2gr and not see a huge change in groups. Also, STD dev, and spreads in velocity are much lower with the WSM's than my RUM was. I can get spreads as low as 20fps with WSM, Never seen that with my win mags or anything.

I say go for it. People worry too much about a cartridge lasting or whatever. Thats what they make gunsmiths for.

RE: WSM
 

I have the 270 WSM and really enjoy shooting it. As for is it more accurate, has more velocity, more selection of bullets, that’s not a factor for me. My 270 WSM is not replacing anything I have so it’s a fresh start and I’m liking it and especially the short action. Wouldn’t mind getting a 300 WSM but it would be more of a want then a need.

RE: WSM
 

Just shoot and hunt with a 270WSM............you will really like it. I used 270 for years and a 7mm Mag for a couple..........enjoy the 270 WSM much more.

RE: WSM
 

I could see the accuracy advantage if there really is any, if you are benchrest shooting where a 1/32 of an inch difference in a group would make a difference.However if you are talking hunting rifles what would be the big deal about maybe a 3/8 inch group with the WSM or a 1/2 inch group with the Standard 300 Win Mag? The 300 Win Mag is capable of terrific accuracy. In fact its the norm rather that the exception. Again I have no problem with the WSM cartridges but as to any real advantage, to me it just is not there. I don't think the 325 is going to make a splash at all. A few people like I used to be, who have to try everything may give it a whirl but I can see no advantage that is would offer over the 338. Win Mag. I think it will go the way of the 8MM Rem mag. IMO.

RE: WSM
 

Let everyone believe in the advertised accuracy advantage.I have made some good pocket money by challenging people that were bragging about the supposedaccuracy advantage while at the shooting range.I have yet to lose a challenge after putting my 7mmstws and 300ultramags up against the 7mmwsm and 300wsm for a three shot group at 100 yards.The funny thing is that thecompetent shooters don't bragg about this accuracy advantage.

RE: WSM
 

I wouldn't dismiss the .325 yet either. It has just gotten started "out of the gate" and it is catching on with its intended market. That being those out west and those who buy new rifles to hunt out west. If you are a fan of the 180grn out of a 300mag look at what the 180s do from the 325! The 325 WILL do something that a .338 WONT and that is carry in a light, short overall rifle. We have a .325 at work in the Browning Hunter Field edition and let me tell you that thing feels GREAT. Points like lightening and is MUCH better feeling than ANY .338 I have ever picked up.

I am not saying they are ballistically superior to ANYOTHER like size mag (yeah I am sure that their advertising would like for you to believe otherwise, but realize that they ARE trying to sell you something!) I am just speaking from a comfort and ease of carry perspective. A half pound/full pound or 2" shorter barrel doesn't sound like much but after a week @ 10k feet I can assure you it DOES make a difference!!!

Short, lightweight magnum guns are NOT a new thing. I can remember a buddies old 18.5" barreled Weatherby Vanguard in 7RemMag. It carried like lightening but damn the thing would ROAST anything within 5ft of it from the flame it would throw when you fired it. Not to mention that it kicked like a mining company pack mule. That doesn't happen with a 20" barreled 300WSM that weighs 6#s. I aint sayin it doesn't kick, but it's not that bad and certainly more manageable.

Good luck,
RA

RE: WSM
 

how does the WSM's compare to...say...the Win. Mag in the recoil department?

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RE: WSM
 

I can see why they would keep the 270wsm because they are putting the magnum to it. Also it is short, light, and powerfull. I think the 7mm wsm would be a good rifle. It is flat shooting, light weight, and powerfull. I hope they keep it. If so I mightend up getting one depending on the popularity. The worse thing you can do is get a rifle then a few years down the road you needing to special order ammo off the internet.

RE: WSM
 

Or start reloading ;)

RE: WSM
 

You bet. Buy about 500 brass and your set.

RE: WSM
 

Just save the brass you shoot. As far as recoil goes the guns are usually lighter so felt recoil will be about the same as the full size magnum.

RE: WSM
 

OK, I'll throw my .02 into the fray....I don't think there's anyreason at all to replace an existingstandard caliber with a like WSM caliber. I have a .300 WinMag...there is no reason I could justify a .300 WSM or .300 RUM....diminishing returns considering the cost/effort of a new rifle and load workup. On the other hand, I have several nice (and heavy) rifles but no lightweight, good-for-most-anything (continental US)gun. When looking for my 'ultimate' lightweight gun, having nothing smaller than the mentioned .300 WinMag...the 7mm WSM did have appeal as a powerful cartridge available in a minimal weight gun.

I'm quite happy with my Browning Mountain Titanium 7mm WSM...sure it kicks, but so does the .375 H&H that I shot my last three deer with. As I get older, my guns seem to weigh more!! Contrary to some opinions, I find the lightweight easier to shoot offhand since so much of the weight is in the barrel.