Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Anyone here using a 300wsm as their sole big game caliber?

or perhaps the the 300WSM doesnt have the recoil I thought it would. While im sure the 300wsm kicks harder than an 06, I was merely stating its not as bad some have made it out to be. Over the last week myself and some buddies were sighting in some rifles t the range. 6.5x55, 243, 338WM, 7MM, 45-70, 308 and 300WSM. Not all on the same day so I didnt do a side by side, shot to shot comparison but I can certainly say the perceived recoil, to me, was less than a 338. Less than or very similar to the 7mm but more than the 308, but not by whole lot. Not having fired a 300WSM before I could only go off others experience which seemed to say it beat them up. I was so surprised by how little recoil I felt I had my other buddy who hadnt shot one before shoot it and he said the same. The CDL is on the lighter side of rifles and had a factor pad on it. Maybe shooting the 338 a couple days prior helped as I fully anticipated similar recoil.

Felt recoil has a lot to do with the powder it's loaded with.Generally,less grains of a faster burning powder will give you less felt recoil than a large dose of slow burning powder.Here is an example.I tried 75.0grs of Magpro with a 165gr bullet.The felt recoil was easily equal to what I'd expect from my 300 Win Mag loaded to max.The velocity was a disappointing 3003fps.Another load was 64.0grs of Big Game.Felt recoil was rather mild in the 7mag range.The velocity was 3131fps.Which load would you rather shoot?Play with the powders,the felt recoil does change a lot sometimes.

Will do, but I doubt it's going anywhere soon.

I have a Sako Tecomate 300 WSM that is great rifle
not heavy 6 7/8 lbs recoil not bad to me but that
differs person to person.Very Accurate
I just need to settle on a scope for it!

Same. debating between a 4-12 Swaro, 2-12 VX6 or 3-18 VX6 or swaro.

also bullet weight.

faster powder /light for cal. mono-metal 'vs' higher volume slower powder/heavier cupcore
can convince some people to use a .300 that they would have otherwise avoided.

recoil impulse, recoil velocity and Free recoil energy, are all reduced.

For me to own a .300wsm, it would have to come in at 8lb loaded, preferably running a 150gn mono.
recoil calculated at about 23 ft/lb.

Also rifle weight, a 7 pound rifle will always kick you harder than a 9 pound rifle, ask any expert.

Well I should be ok then. The rifle I shot before buying mine after all is said and done will likely be less than 8oz difference.

I've shot my 338's more than any rifle in the last 25 years. But I still like the 30-06 and IF I were to go to one rifle (cartridge) it would probably be the 30-06. Hopefully one more trip to Africa where I'll take a 375 (H&H or Ruger yet to be determined) but for the lower 48 I'll be happy with my 30-06. 300WSM is too new a cartridge for me.

I have a 300 WSM that used to kill a cow Elk with last season, but I have dozens of rifles chambered for many different cartridges. Would it work for everything probably but what a boring drag that would be.

I get depressed thinking about having one rifle. I may have to go get another 7 mag. Only have 5 right now.

As far as it being boring, probably. I'll tell you what more boring, having lots of cool rifles in different calibers and watching them collect dust while I add more rifles and calibers. I could probably afford most of my huts by simply not buying more rifles and putting the funds towards hunting but I could definitely hunt a lot more if I sold all the rifles/optics/reloading gear minus a few favorites.

I buy new or different rifles and calibers all the time and have never shorted myself of hunting funds. I hunt every season I draw tags and over the counter when I don't.

Perhaps you have more funds than I. Or maybe you're not trying to hunt the places I am or the game. Some quick math tells me I'm spending about 1k a year....and that's without actually getting drawn. Truth is I could by a new rifle every year. most people that know me would put it closer to a new rifle every month (if last year is an indicator). I simply prefer to streamline things and use the funds elsewhere.

When I get the itch, I pick up something for one of my boys. They have a great m70 collection and don't even know it. Hell, I doubt either of them could hold one up yet. Aside from all that, I'll likely keep what I have, just not add to the pile going forward.

I'm a rifle loonie like so many others here. I don't sell the rifles I accumulate unless it is not accurate, don't fit me etc. It is fun to take two different manufacture's rifles chambered in the same cartridge to the range and see what load each likes. You know one on one. I also build many of my own rifles since I have been gunsmithing in my own business which I started in 1984. Plus I have access to rifles that come in from estates, so I pick and choose to keep or sell on the racks.

I'm also an avid M1 Garand collector with 77 in my collection. Hell even the license plate on truck says CAL30M1.

I did for a while. Ran 180 accubonds only as it liked them and at .5 grain below max. It was a Tikka T3 stainless. Nothing wrong with it but it got boring. Not a bad choice if you can only have one.

300SAUM...I have shot a lot of animals with it, not my only rifle but pretty darn good...

I have a option to buy an X bolt speed 300wsm for a good price. As Mule deer and black bear will be my primary quarry what would be a good bullet to use if shots are close and I don't want a lot of blood shot meat?

Load 165 Barnes, I use them in 300H&H, 300win, and in 300 WSM

Or 168's. I shoot 168 TTSX out of my 300saum and they work great.