Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters The short magnums confusion

So I'm talking to guys at the gun store regarding a new SAKO Finnlight or Bavarian for a Newfoundland Moose hunt and all dissuade me from all short mags.

I'm confused since I read a lot of happy SM owners on this site.

Enlighten me!!!

1) They are idiots.

2) They are Yankees (I know, redundant)

It's your money,buy what you want.

or

1) They are brilliant and steering you away from a SAKO and not the cartridge


2) I can't change the Yankee part.

Who you gonna trust?

People behind a counter who may have had zero first hand experience or real hunters who shoot real animals (at least most on here are and do) and bring back first hand stories?

I personally like the WSMs, have owned at least one since 2004, but I'm a short action geek.

The short magnum isn't the answer today that it was a decade ago. It seems it went it's course and the industry has moved on. You would be better suited with a 6.5 Creed if you want to be current.

If you just want what you want, get it and don't worry about guys behind the gun counter. If they knew anything at all, they would be somewhere else.

^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^

Like Llewelyn Moss said the Carla Jean in "No Country For Old Men", "You're free white and 21, so I reckon you can do whatever you want.". Pretty good universal advise.

Lol, great comments and all have a point.

I'm also checking out the 7x64 as well. I want to make sure I can get ammo since I don't intend to reload.

I'm a fan of the 7mm magnum and the LL Bean rep made a good point shooting it in a Sako Finnlight and The new stock is pretty absorbent and I would shooting from a tripod, leaning against a tree or a position other than free hand.

One thing that can't be disputed is that factory ammo and/or components for the well established 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag can be found nearly everywhere that people hunt game for sport. I doubt that any of the RSAUMs or WSMs have anywhere near the distribution width of factory ammo and/or components.

I still own the best of the Short Magnums the 270 WSM.

300 WSM ammo is pretty much everywhere.......

If I owned a gun store, one of the first rules I would have is to let the customer buy what he wants.

Unless he asks for your opinion, it's not a counterperson's place to decide what a customer wants.

Otherwise, I'm sure See-Through mounts would make a huge leap in sales.....

Kindly GFY.

I shoot a 270 WSM

Dan

abbydog,

I've owned rifles of various makes in .270 WSM, 7mm SAUM and .300 WSM, and killed a bunch of big game animals with them from pronghorn to big bull elk. If you're not going to handload I'd look at the .270 and .300 WSM, since those are by far the most popular.

The "guys at the gun store" are evidently nitwits, but then being in a gun store doesn't mean anybody's smart. In fact I am starting to suspect, after decades of experience, that entering a gun store automatically drops IQ by several points, especially for real rifle loonies.

I own a 7mm WSM and regret buying it. The problem is you can't find brass unless you want to pay a fortune on Gunbroker or such. I keep hearing rumors that Winchester is going to make another batch, and even a few where the brass showed up in Cabala's or Sportsman's Warehouse, but I haven't seen it. Until it does, the rifle will be buried in the back of the safe. If you do decide to get a WSM, don't get a 7mm.

Pretty sound advice there.

I really never saw the need for the WSMs. Despite being a Yankee I still have the strength to carry the few more ounces of a long action rifle. A trait apparently not shared by all my fellow Alaskans.

All foolishness aside, the 300 WSM is a good round and certainly more available than a 7x64. I cannot remember the last time I saw a box of factory 7x64 ammo.

I quit listening to gun counter employees a few decades ago. Buy what you want and enjoy your moose hunt.

AB,

If you just wanted one load to kill everything smaller then a Cape Buffalo, a guy could do a lot worse then a 300 WSM and a 180gr NBT.

Wrap which ever gun you like around it, mount it with good glass, and go kill stuff.

I have absolutely no problem taking a short mag moose hunting and certainly no problem with a Sako. Killed my last moose with a 300 SAUM and a Core-lokt :o) ! My Kimber 300 WSM will be going moose hunting with me this fall, loaded with 165 TTSX's. Lots a great factory ammo available, brass availability can be cyclical ie. feast and famine when they do runs of it. Don't let that scare you, take what YOU want.

My goal was a lighter weight gun.
Is the Sako Finnlight "to light" for the 300wsm or 7 mm rem Mag ?

I like the Sako Bavarian ascwell

abbydog

Gotta say I've hunted Newfoundland moose and found the 300WSM Kimber Montana I carried plenty adequate. The 300WSM is a great cartridge for that long legged beast. I have had mine loaded with 180 TSX and they blew on through each time. Even diagonally breaking major bone on the way through. I have become convinced that the 165TTSX could be a touch better bullet for me.

I wonder how many moose the guy behind the counter has shot?

You may just find that there may be more than one gun store in Ct. I agree with the previous suggestion that you buy the gun that you want and confidently enjoy the hunt.

Field artillery is not needed to kill the moose. In fact if you own a 30-06 or .270 Win. they will do the job just fine.

Best to you
Jim