Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Anyone using WSM's for long range hunting?

question was asked by a few of my compadres.

I'm a meat and potato type of guy (30-06, 300 WM) so I've no experience in their use and long range accuracy/consistency.

Long being defined herein as >400 but probably less than 800.



*the consensus was they weren't really popular for that type of hunting...

a 300 saum or wsm shooting 180 accubonds does quite well on the longest range i've shot it - 600 yds

Here's a great article on a 7mm WSM used for long range hunting:

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek064.html

And yes, I have a .300 WSM for longish range hunting myself.

............In the field, on any of the same game, and given the same distances, a 300 WSM will do anything a 300 Win Mag can do. Did own and reloaded for a 300 Win for 35+ years, so I know this round as well as anyone can. Own a 300 WSM for the past 3+ years.

In the 49th Edition Lyman manual under the 300 WSM, Lyman states (paraphrasing), that the 300 WSM runs on average, only 30 to 50 fps behind the 300 Win (24" barrels) according to their test results, while using around 8% to 10% less in powder in the process.

After the 300 WSM was first intro`d about 8 or 9 years ago, a general opinion formed by a few writers, was that when using bullets heavier than 180 gr, there would be more or a substantial velocity loss vs the full length 300 Win.........That is absolute BS, bunk, horsecrap, or whichever term you prefer to use.

A shorter action 300 WSM rifle, allows for less scope tube length when mounting a scope, allowing for a more compact scope option should one choose that route. Also, lighter rifles are becoming more the trend (easier in the field) these days, of which the 300 WSM rifles are generally lighter than are the 300 Win rifles.

So your compadres can feel just as confident with a 300 WSM in bringing home the bacon, elk meat, moose meat, bear meat or whatever meat they happen to be going after.

RWE,
I see the 300WM being almost as good as the WSM esp. if your are into traditional stuff, eh?.
Yes that is a dig.
Having said that I have no need for either 300's so I bought a used New Haven .270WSM from a fellow who just bought a new FN .270WSM.. I have handled both and I like the Ultimate Shadow stock better..

I have a 300 Rem SAUM, 7 Rem SAUM and a 300 WSM. All things being equal, it seems that the SAUMs are more accurate, and these are with standard model 7s versus a full custom. I would not hesitate to shoot out to 600 yards with mine, and thats a looooong way for me.

I'm using a 7WSM very similar to the one in the 6mmbr article. It's so close to the 7RM ballistically that the difference isn't worth mentioning. It has plenty of power for both elk and deer out beyond where most people can hit anything. I've never been able to figure out why the 270WSM did better than the 7WSM. The 300WSM doing better makes a fair amount of sense because Americans love their 300's but the high BC bullets available for the 7WSM really make it shine beyond the 270WSM at extended ranges. My 2 cents.

quite enlightening.

I guess brass is the limiting factor if I guy wanted to fire one up. Plenty of 30 cal and 7mm bullets to choose from.

What tapers are you guys using on your wissums for LR?

No, it isn't.

Norma makes great WSM brass. I use their 300wsm brass for my 7mmWSM and 300wsm's

I have 26" heavy magnum contours on both of my 300wsm's. The 7mmWSM has a 28" Varmint contour with an 8" twist for 180g VLD's and 200g Wildcats.

GG are you using factory tubes?

Every 300 wsm I have had was a good 100-150 fps behind the 300 win mag.If I where choosing between the two it would definitely be the 300 win mag.There are quite a few guys running 7mm wsm's at long range but it just doesn't have the power I like way out there.

No, all my actions are small shank, long action Savages.

26" #5 Contour Hart in 300wsm

26" Heavy Magnum Krieger in 300wsm

28" Savage Varmint Shilen in 7mmWSM

RWE,
Used a 7WSM with 162 A-Max to take buck antelope beyond 800 yards.
E

Me either. With the available bullets, the 7 is so much more versatile.

7mm WSM

Thanks, but I didn't mean that literally. I just meant I personally prefer the 7.

Cross, what bullets/loads are you using?

My 7 Saum is very accurate with a 162Amax, and I target shoot with it at >400 on a regular basis. I would not hesitate to take a shot at deer between 4-600 yards, if the opportunity presents itself. Also, you get 3 in the belly with a Saum.

i am running a 300wsm in a custom winchester l/a push feed.
3 groove lilja barrel and an awesome walnut thumbhole stock.
it's wearing a 6-18 with varmint dots, and is right on the money.
with 165 grain sierra's, it'll eat a ragged hole.

shot a 6x6 bull in colorado a few years ago with my other 300 wsm at 402 yards. the 150 tsx blew right thru him.

i like the wsm's, and would do a 7mm or a 6.5 if i were to build another rifle.

it now wears d.d.'s

You're right about that stock... Terrific!