WSM "Inherent Accuracy"?
#1
Over the past several years reading about the inherent accuracy of the WSMs I was a bit skeptical. That was until I brought my new Browning Micro Hunter 325WSM home. I've had the rifle about 3 weeks now and without counting the 20 rounds to break it in, I have run 90 other rounds through it with various loads, bullets and powders. The smallest group to date is just under 1/2" and the largest just a tad over 1.1". The average group size for this rifle/cartridge combo from 15 groups is 0.749". I'm still working on a load for this combo but RL-19 powder and Nosler Accubond 200 grainers are looking very promising. Barnes TSX bullets were doing fine at moderate loads but when pushed to max, they started to be consistantly erratic.
#2
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,667
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From: fort mcmurray alberta canada
I have owned many rifles in non wsm cartridges that were as accurate or more accurate.Accuracy has much more to do with the particular gun and finding a load that it likes than the actual cartridge.
#3
i agree stubble. But if you read my post, it didn't seem to matter too much what I stuffed the cases with. I used 3 different powders, 4 different bullets (manf. and weights) and 2 different primers. Even then the largest group was just over 1". And these are 5 shot groups, not 3 and with a light weight barreled sporter. With this kind of accuracy and pushing a 200 gr bullet in excess of 2900 fps I am not complaining but I'm not putting down any other cartridges either. I too have other rifles that when I found a load they liked are extremely accurate if I do my part. I am just stating that imo there may be some truth to the accuracy of the WSM family of cartridges - or maybe I just got lucky.
#4
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,667
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From: fort mcmurray alberta canada
there may be some truth to the accuracy of the WSM family of cartridges - or maybe I just got lucky.
#5
I can't say for sure. Like Stubble I have had some tackdriver rifles that were long action as well. That said, my new 270 WSM Savage accu-trigger Varmit model is extremely accurate. The first load I tried was the Sierra 130 grain pro-hunters which it put in a group well under 3/4 inch. I don't know what it might do with other loads and I may not even try anything else. It will depend on their performance on Mulies this fall. I have always had good performance fro the Pro-Hunter bullets. Not so with the Game Kings however.
#6
Guest
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Bronk, I tell ya what. Alot of folks have just gotten lucky, cause I have yet to see a round like this that its hard to get them to shoot bad. At least the 300WSM I have worked on. I know of only one guy who has a 270WSM that it shoots pretty bad in a mod70 shadow.
#7
I believe the theory is that the short fat case of the WSM family allows for a more uniform ignition and powder burn providing more consistancy. Having a bunch of shooters in my safe including a 300 Win MagI didn't "need" a 325WSM. But now I'm happy I got it. Will I get a 300 WSM or 270WSM to replace my 300 Win Mag or .270 Win. No Way.
#9
Guest
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cma, thats what I always heard and believed, until I actually loaded for a few WSM's. Building a load was a dream. so consistent. You would start with a starting load, get big groups, go up and the groups got smaller and smaller and then started getting larger. Some 300win mags, RUM's, even 270 I have loaded for, you would come home with inconclusive results. Not always. But sometimes.
#10
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,667
Likes: 0
From: fort mcmurray alberta canada
I have had the most consistant load development with my custom rifles.With high quality barrels and precision chambering and bedding,they shoot well with most loads,although like all gunsthey do have favorites.The only real exception was the swift scirocco bullet that hasn't shot well for me in any cartridge,or any rifle.The most difficult to load for were some factory rifles that had bedding flaws or poor bolt lug contact.They were very fussy and small changes in loads produced large variations in accuracy.Again,I see thequality of the gun being far more important than the cartridge.


