I'm planning to get a new toy soon and I'm very interested in the 7 mm WSM. Recently I have read some things on the net(I know, heresay) that say the 7 mmWSM may not make it. I'm very intrigued by the short mags and would like to try one, especially the 7mm. I already have a couple 30-06's and a 30-30 so I want to try something different than a 30 caliber. What are your thoughts on this particular cartridge and its future?

The 300 WSM has developed a strong following and the 270 WSM is closing ground, but I don't think there is that much interest in the 7mm WSM. It really offers nothing new ballistically speaking, but then again niether does the 300 WSM. The 270 WSM is the only one that offers much of an advantage by falling in between the 270 Win and the 270 Weatherby Mag, which can be expensive. If there weren't already so many folks with 7mm Rem Mags then maybe it would have had a chance. Personally I don't have a use for any of the "short mags".

If any of them fail I think it will be the 7MM Short mags from both Win. and Rem. I think it will last but it has intense compitition. In reading the reloading manuals they almost all mention the fact that the 7mm Short mags suffer from lack of powder room for the heavier bullet. Of all the new short mags, the 7mm holds the least interest for me. They offer very little improvment over the 280 which I already have.

Check this site out, it also has forums apart from the informational side.
http://www.shortmags.org

day before yesterday our Beretta rep was in the store all day and showin us the new stuff (MAN I cant wait for the Extrema II). When I asked him about the new downsized production offering of my beloved TRG we started talking about the WSMs. I told him how abysmal the 7WSM sales had been and he showed me where Sako will add the 7WSM too their WSM lineup. I was like, "WHY?" but then realized the wide use of 7mms in European and African countries. What the 30 is too we Americans, anything 7mm (especially the 7Mauser) is too our buddies across the pond. (I still say if it werent for Jack O'Connor and the fact that the 7mag came about 30 years afterwards, the 270 would be a historical note. But facts is facts, its an American standard.)

As for the Remington Short Ultra Mags, they are DONE!!! Remington wont even offer them (except for a few old ones still in remaining inventory) in their 05 catalog. They have adopted the 270WSM and 300WSM. Yep they PURPOSEFULLY left out the 7WSM. And it was NOT because they fear its knocking their 7 for the crown.

Shame, its a GOOD caliber,
RA

The fellow that owns a gun shop near me told me last week that the 7WSM had not met "Market Expectations" and would soon be history. He said the same thing about all 3 Rem SAUMs. Gonna take a real horse to beat the popularity of the 7mmRemMag!

concerning the last few posts, all I can say is WOW.

That raises the question...does this help or hurt WSM in 300/270?

Lucky. I think they will do very well. The 7mm Short Mags have to compete with the old 7mm Rem Mag plus the 280, 7x57, 7mm-08, 7mm STW, 7MM Weatherby and the 7MM Ultra Mag. The 300 WSM has a lot of competition as well but the 30 caliber has long been one of the most respected calbers by American shooters. And fo good Reason. They are very versitile. With bullets from 100 grains to 250 grains, it hard to find a job that they won't do.