.300 WSM - a sweet spot?

Justabirdwatcher

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Late to the party, I know, but the .300 WSM I picked up last Christmas is proving to be one of my favorite rifles of all time. Stupid accurate and consistent, and recoil that is very manageable from a 7 lb. rig, especially considering it pushes a 168 grain TTSX @ 3065 fps.

Why is this cartridge not more popular?
 
A lot of people have and use 300 WSMs. I have one. Lapua recently started making brass for it. I don’t think that is a sign that it is a dying cartridge.
 
It’s a really good cartridge. Very versatile and effective. My brother has one (tikka) and it’s a shooter.

IMO picking a best or extolling nuanced virtues of one bs another is highly personal for deer and elk hunting applications.

I really like 7RMs.

Shoot the barrel out and have fun.
 
@p_ham just put one together for me. It gets its first cow hunt in a few weeks. My 22 YO wants to use it on his youth hunt. Great gun and great round.
 
I have a Christensen Ridgeline in 300 WSM I bought about 5 years ago. It has plenty of marks, dings, and scrapes in the stock by now. 174gr Hammers at 3090 FPS get it done.
 
I’ve shot a heck of a lot of different big game species wirh just one shot each through my 300 WSM. The only complaint I have is the cost and availability of shells (at times).

My go-to recently has been my 300 win. The shells are cheaper and always available. I put a muzzy break on mine and it kicks about like a 243!

As far as I’m concerned the tried and true 30 cals are the way to go for just about every species in North America. You can have your smaller PRC’s and Creedmores!
 
I've been preaching it as a sweet spot for a long time. I switched my BIL from 300wm to one of my 300wsms. The wsm runs right with the WM with significantly less powder and the Hammers I load. It works really good in a relatively short barrel too, tough to beat. Its a great 'only one' rifle for people that regularly hunt elk in addition to other game.
 
I had a 300 wsm for awhile. It was a solid rifle, I just decided I don't like shooting magnums very much.
With a full load behind 168's, I'm good for 4-5 shots off the bench (in a t-shirt) and then I have to set it aside for a bit. Granted, this is a 7 lb. 4 oz. rifle, all-in, without a brake or suppressor. When I send the barrel off to get it spiral fluted this winter, it should come in well under 7 lbs. all-in and that will really get my attention. LOL But I had an '06 Tikka with a factory recoil pad (puck!) that seemed to kick just as hard with 165's. I really can't tell much difference between this .300 WSM and any '06 I ever had.
 
With a full load behind 168's, I'm good for 4-5 shots off the bench (in a t-shirt) and then I have to set it aside for a bit. Granted, this is a 7 lb. 4 oz. rifle, all-in, without a brake or suppressor. When I send the barrel off to get it spiral fluted this winter, it should come in well under 7 lbs. all-in and that will really get my attention. LOL But I had an '06 Tikka with a factory recoil pad (puck!) that seemed to kick just as hard with 165's. I really can't tell much difference between this .300 WSM and any '06 I ever had.
Thread it and run a can on it. With my Thunder Beast Ultra 7 mine is a baby. My 11 year old handles it like a pro.
 
Winchester stainless in 300wsm with a can, shooting 200 grain bullets. It is a little heavy but comfortable to shoot and very accurate.
If I was to build, I would likely go 300wsm but cut back to 20 with the can and go lighter. 168 Ttsx or 175 lrx would be my preference.
 
The performance was no better than the old Win mag so the best advantage was the short action took a tad off the weight of a rifle for those looking for a slim version. I have one in a Sako Finlite. Also have the bastard child 7WSM that is real hard to find ammo and brass for.
 
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