Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Advantages of a WSM?

In particular, a 300wsm over a 300win. Are there any, or is it just...something different? Out of all the short mags I do think the 300 is most likely to survive, and will be commonly chambered for years to come.

I'm most interested in ballistics, recoil, and feeding issues compared to a 300win.

There's a new 300 in my very near future and it will most likely be a "long mag", just wondering if I should be looking at the stubby version.

A lot of it depends on which rifle you will be getting it in.
A Remington standard action has a bolt throw long enough for 375 H&H, so their short action WSM makes a lot of sense. They also balance well and just feel handy.
But a model 70 short action does not feel much different from their standard action.
Some say they can't tell any difference in recoil but I can. Or at least my shoulder tells me that the WSM recoils exactly between a 7 rem mag and a 300 win mag., not as much as.
$.02

I have owned both, the 300 win mag seemed to recoil more but that could just be me. I have a 300 wsm now and I like it a lot but I do not load it that hot. If I had to do it all over again, for a general purpose hunting rifle, I would go with the 300 win mag as it is generally useful and a bit easier to find ammo if you lose yours in travel. that said, the 300 wsm can make for a handy rifle in a short action and performance is excellent with bullets up to 180 grains.

it's really a toss up but the 300 win mag has the edge if you are looking to use heavier bullets.

some points that has been said are, a short action is stiffer than a long action, and weight is less.

300wsm = 300 win mag in a better wrapper.......Flame suit firmly in place......Blake

The 300wsm just doesn't perform like the 300 win mag,Great round but not equal to the 300 win.

I concur...it's better...................

Advantages from the standpoint of rifle companies...
they sell alot of rifles that they normally wouldnt.
Advantages from the ammo companies...
they sell alot of ammo to people trying to get their scope zeroed at 300 yards when they cant quit flinching from recoil.
Advantages from the scope companies...
sell alot more scopes to people who figure they need more eye relief so they quit getting banged in the forehead.
Advantages from the hunters standpoint...
they get to strut around camp w/ their new WSM while everyone else is forced to hunt w/ rifles that have a 3/4" longer bolt throw.

Your addled prose reiterates some attributes,though I'm certain that weren't your thrust.....................

For me personally, in my gun of choice: sako finnlight ,it lead me to a lighter, handier package, thus it was not a performance issue rather the gun I wanted in some type of 300 mag. I would choose it again if to do over.

Anything that has the length of a 308 and shoots like a
300 H&H turns me on.

Ever hear of anybody knocking the ability of a 300 H&H or saying it just doesnt match up to the winnie? It stands on its own and so does the WSM.


Iron sights
700 saftey warts
belts on brass

All just a waste of metal and worthless to me.

It does everything the 300Winny does,more friendlier.

Losing the belt ain't a step backwards either..............

okey dokey....................why?

Tastes great,less filling...................

"more gooder" screams the brilliant masses.

That works.

I just bought a 300wm instead of the short mag,,, ease of ammo, casses seemed cheaper and easier to find, better with heavier bullets, tendancy for higher mag capacity, tons more relaoding dada out there. And my 7mm-08s take care of the lighter weight stuff.

WSM actions can save about 1/2 lb. of rifle weight, but the balance feels much better.
300 Winny has a slight velocity advantage, and some people think it is important that Lapaua makes brass for it?

Either round is absolutely great.

If it were me I would first choose the rifle for the purpose I wanted, then the cartridge choice will be more apparent.

+1 ,it puts you in an ideal compact package without having to sacrifice horsepower in going to a smaller standard cartridge.

It depends on how you hunt. If your legs are your primary means of accessing game, you don't need to ask the question, as you'll know the answer.

If you access game via 4 wheeler, or set yourself up in an elevated stand, the benefits will likely allude you.

I'd readily trade 1-2#'s for 100 fps. I've also been unable to fathom a single situation I'd use a 30 that a 165-168 @ 3100 fps would be wanting for another 100 fps. I can say for most of my hunting situations, lighter weight is always called for.