Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Savage Model 16 in 300 WSM

Now that my tax refund is in the bank, a new rifle is in my radar, and I'd like to ask those who own the Savage Model 16 in 300 WSM, "How do like it? " Does it feed cartridges smoothly? Is it accurate with hand loads? Is the magazine length sufficient to allow seating the bullet close to touching the lands? How does the recoil compare to a 300 Win Mag? I plan to use the rifle for elk, black bear, and deer at longer ranges, say up to 500 yards.

Should be a good shooting outfit.

Working with a savage weather warrior in 300 mag with the accustock and accutriger(new purchase this summer) very impressed for a gun that costs less than $600 shoots 180 and 200 nab in less than moa, had it painted and added a pachmary recoil pad so now I have maybe $800 in it. 7 lb gun, it's embarring to say it shoots as good as a gun I spend a couple grand on. Great for a gun 2 beat around the mountains.
Anie

I can speak for the .300WSM it is my go to big game rifle and will do everything I ask and more.

I cant speak for it in a Savage 16 weather warrior. However a friend of mine has one in .308win. The only thing he as ever done to it is mount a Nikon Monarch 2.5x10 and it shoots every bit as good as (if not better) than my semi-custom bulit on a 700 action in .300WSM. His does not have the accu-stock but is a phemominal tack driver beyond 200 yds. If that rifle would have been around 8 years ago it would have saved me a chuck of change. As a matter of fact when before this fall Ill have one in .308 and and my .300 may end up on the wall with its trophies.

.............Can`t really offer anything regarding the Savage rifle, but do have a 300 WSM and did own a 300 Win for many years.

You may have to fully size your casings to avoid feeding issues, because the 35 degree shoulder casings hung up when I tried to chamber partially sized cases. After switching over to fully sizing all my cases, I`ve never had any feeding problems since. Very smooth!

As far as accuracy goes, no reason why the 300 WSM can`t be as accurate as any other 300 mag. The best accuracy with your handloads, will largely depend upon what particular components in bullets and powders your individual rifle likes.

My rifle`s magazine length is 2.900"..To determine best accuracy for any given "hunting" load, I started with the max COAL that the magazine could handle while still cycling the bolt effectively. Then I reduced the COAL by 10 or 15/1000ths to best determine what bullet jump my rifle liked for accuracy. This process should be done regardless of what bullet and/or bullet weight you use.

If you can handle a 300 Win, you should be able to handle the 300 WSM`s recoil as well.

For the game you list above, out to 500 yards is no problem for a 300 WSM. The 300 WSM according to Lyman, given the same barrel length, runs on average, about 30 to 50 fps behind a 300 Win. With heavier 200 gr bullets maybe 50 to 100 fps behind. There are no real meaningful killing difference on any game between these two.

I really don't like the finish Savage puts on thier stainless rifles, it looks like they hit it with a 180 grit belt sander and called it good. I much prefer a matte bead blasted finish on my stainless rifles.
That said, I own a Savage model 11 in 300 WSM. It feeds reliably and shoots groups betweeen 1/2" and 3/4" at a hundred yards. It's a great rifle.

Thanks, all, for the input regarding the 300 WSM. My Savage Model 16 should be ready early September, in time to work up an elk load. A gunsmith in eastern Idaho is going to accurize the action, clean up the trigger, and install a custom muzzle brake. I'll let you know how it shoots, and how it performs on elk, Lord willing.