I am looking to buy a new rifle 300 caliber and I am undecided to either get the Win Mag version or the WSM. Any suggestions?

It's getting closer I agree.




However, do you use factory ammo or do you reload ?




IMO - I find nothing a short mag does SO MUCH better that I need to have one.






Except more barrel wear...........................

i have a 270 wsm and a 6.5 wsm, both nice but in the weatherby vanguard rifles there in they both have some feeding problems. its not all that bad but flawless functioning is something i like in a gun

The differences are so small as to be a non issue. I am a .300 Win mag guy from way back, owned a few, shot a bunch and probably will always have one.
With that said if I did not already have dies and volumes of loading data on the Win mag I would probably go with the WSM because I like a more compact hunting rifle...most of the time.

With factory ammo the performance is about the same. If you reload the 300 WM will outperform the WSM with its 10 grain larger case volume and the option for longer bullet seating lengths.

I would go with a controlled round feed system for the WSM to improve feeding with the short case and relatively sharp shoulders. Winchesters, some of the savages, and Kimber would fit the bill. It seems to me the 300 WSM is here to stay.

6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Flip a coin.

removed by RD

I've never owned a 300 Win Mag, but I did have a Tikka T3 Lite in 300 WSM for a while. I loved the rifle, except for the recoil, which was pretty stiff for my tastes. I loaded it with 180 grain Barnes TSX bullets, and it was easily sub-MOA. The T3 is a very good rifle, too, and I had absolutely no feeding problems with it (it's a push feed). I wonder if the single stack magazine of the T3 helped out in that regard, but it was always smooth and reliable. I sold it because I really didn't need a 300 magnum, and the recoil was more than I liked for as much as I like to shoot my rifles.

To answer the question, I'd probably pick the 300 WSM since I handload. The 300 WSM keeps up just fine with the Win Mag with 180 grain bullets, and the 180 grainers, if you make a wise bullet choice, is all you need to hunt moose and smaller. I wouldn't feel at all undergunned on an elk hunt even if the guy next to me had a 300 Win Mag that he could get to run 100 fps faster.

Mike

Thanks everyone, Sheridian it would be with factory ammo.

Go with the .300 Win Mag





http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/300wm.html



One more reason



http://www.chuckhawks.com/300Win_Mag.htm





Hope this helps