Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 300wsm VS 300saum

I hope this topic hasn't been beaten to death, but I didn't see anything in the old posts.

I'm looking for an Elk/Moose cartridge capable of shooting 180gr/200gr bullets out to 300-350yrds. I have a 30-06 which I like, but I would like another rifle in 30cal so I can use the same bullets for reloading. I like the idea of a SA rifle to help cut down on the weight and the magnum for the reach out and touch yah factor.

Which of these cartridges is better for the aforementioned purpose?
Is there another SA 30cal cartridge that I am over looking?
Which will most likely be around in 10yrs? (Given the current situation w/ Winchester)

Thanks,
O.

Thw Winchester ammo factory is just fine. It was only the plant where M-70s, M-94s, and 1300s were made that has closed. However, the parent corporation (FN?) will probably start producing at least the M-70 and M-94 at a new plant in a couple years....something about a labor contract preventing them from just moving operations overseas and starting right up again.

The 270 and 300 WSM are very popular and should be around for a while. I just got my new 1000 yd BR rifle and I had it chambered in 300 WSM. My newest hunting rifle (just got it too) is a Rem SS SPS in 270 WSM.

I am not sure how popular SAUMs will be, but if a guy bought a rifle and 1000 rounds of brass, maybe even 500 rounds, he's be set for a very long time.

However, there is not a lot of difference between the 300 WSM and the 300 SAUM ballistically. The WSM has a slight case capacity advantage. Regardless, either chambering, as well as the 30-06, will have no problem being lethal on elk/moose with 180 - 200 grain bullets at 350 yds and beyond.

Ohno, my only two big game rifles are a 30-06 and 300 WSM. 168 TSX and H4350 work great in both rifles. The 300 WSM runs a touch faster than the SAUM, but not enough to mean anything. Around here, if you're into factory ammo, there's a lot more 300 WSM available the 300 SAUM. As Blaine said, Olin, which developed the WSM's is in fine shape. They lease the Winchester name to USRAC, but that's it.

I'd get the 300 WSM unless you find a rifle you love and it's in 300 SAUM.

When I bought my Model 7 in 300SAUM it was because I liked the rifle and that was the cartridge it was offered in. NOW, you can choose either the WSM or the SAUM in that same rifle. I bought a hundred pieces of brass every month for a few months, plus the 2 boxes of factory ammo to start, and I fell pretty well stocked, even if Big Green discontinues the caliber as the rumer mill has been going.
My dad has a Kimber in 300 WSM, and both rifles seem to perform equally on the chrony and accuracy wise.

I purchased one of the Ruger MKII's in 300 SAUM for $350. that are being sold on Gunbroker.com.

I am going to buy between 500 and 1000 pieces of brass so that I will not have to worry about it if they discontinue the round in the near future.

I primarily bought it for an Elk and Moose gun. I am going to load it with 165 grain Hornady Interbonds and that will take care of anything on this continent.

WSM is probably going to be around alot longer than the RSAUM. I have a 300 WSM, I like it very much, I also shoot 168 gr TSX's and H4350, accurate and hits hard.

I own one of each of these fine rounds. The SAUM tends to feed a little better and is a little more accurate, but the WSM is a tad (5%) faster and there is a bigger variety of factory ammo around. Up until two months ago, I would have bet that the WSM would have been around a lot longer; now I don't know. I don't care how long Olin is in business, if some major manufacturer is not building/selling a reasonable number of rifles in that particular caliber; the factory ammo will cease to be produced. Remington had a beautiful round in the SAUM's, but absolutely rolled over on their totally inadequate marketing campaign. However, if I was primarily interested in the long range hunting you described, I would have to look hard at the 300 Ultra Mag or in particular the 7mm Ultra Mag.

The accuracy difference between the SAUM and the WSM will be due to the rifle, not the chambering.

I agree. I didn't mean to infer that the SAUM was generically more accurate than the WSM. Its just that my 700 BDL in 300 SAUM is more accurate than my Model 70 Featherweight in 300 WSM. Just the difference in the accuracy of those two individual rifles. Both are great rounds, but I feel the entire short action magnum family is in doubt at this point for the long haul. Hopefully, they will survive for a long time.

Rumour is that the SAUM offers a slightly better case design that feeds more smoothly, due to a bit more body taper. I pass this on as rumour/belief only, as I'm not aware of any proof, nor am I an engineer.

My BDL 300 SAUM feeds so smooth, compared to my M70 .270 Win that I find myself checking often to make sure a round chambered, it always has. I am really beginning to love the M700, and 300 SAUM, it is quickly becoming my favorite firearm. So much so that I may end up selling the .270 to my brother, he has been after it for awhile now. I have read of people having problems with the WSMs feeding properly, but I don't know anyone that has one to verify.

Knight