Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .300 WSM?

I have a chance to trade into a Winchester 70 Shadow in .300 WSM. I like the 70 action, just not sure how much I will like the cartridge. Seems like factory ammo is getting harder and harder to find for a lot of the WSM cartridges, and brass isn't exactly cheap. I know a friend of mine simply could not get very close to factory velocities loading in a .270 WSM, is it pretty much the same in the .300? I have plenty of LRM primers, 150gr Winchester PSP's, and several pounds of H414....is it worth trying out?

What's the point of this rifle for you (what's it going to be used for)?

Around here (MT) factory ammo is abundant.

The 300 WSM can easily be loaded to factory velocities with a number of powders.

WW 300 WSM brass can be had for around $37 (or less) per 50 pieces... not exactly expensive IMO.

300 WSM is my favorite all around 30 caliber cartridge.......factory ammo is everywhere in these parts, brass is reasonable

the M70 in WSM provides quite a bit of flexibility with cartridge overall length

I say go for it. Nosler brass can be speedy, but you can grab other brands. Midway has several in stock.

I have a Kimber Montana in 300 WSM that I am having a hard time convincing myself to sell. It has taken several elk and has never had any issues, what so ever.

I personally think the 300 WSM is too much for deer, and my elk hunting days are probably over, but I have many fond memories of that rifle.

I say go for it. Make some memories of your own.

donsm70

The 300WSM is a great round.The 30 cal bore allows you to burn the powder a little better and probably gives you a little more flexibility over the 270WSM as far as powders that will work well in it.Anything from 4064 to Reloader-22 should work in it.That H414 should work well for you.I use Winchester 760 in mine.It is the same powder as H414.I usually shoot 165gr bullets in mine.64.5grs will give me 3100fps.I tried a 150gr Hornady Interbond with 65.0grs of Winchester 760,3125fps and it gave me excellent groups.I could have gone higher with this load,but I haven't tested 150gr bullets any farther than that in mine.Reloader-17 gave me the highest velocities I have ever achieved.66.0grs gave me 3215fps with a 165gr bullet,but it just wasn't accurate in my rifle.

I am not home to check my notes but I want to say I settled on 66 or 67 gr of W760 for 150NP's and most recently the 155 Scenar in my 300WSM Montana. Both bullets are traveling right at 3200 fps with great accuracy and brass life. Handloaders can get damn near 300 WM velocity from a short action with usually great accuracy so it's a win/win in my book. Plenty of 300 WSM brass on shelves locally and it is popular enough I do not see that changing. The Win 70 action although not my favorite has more OAL leeway then most and would be a great choice in this caliber.

I love the 300 WSM round for all it offers. I do find it maybe a little big for deer but when lots of walking is on the menu it is the rifle I grab.

I am running three right now.

A long range setup built by Tactical Rifles

Sako Tecomate with 56mm Swarovski for stand hunting

HCR Harvester Model 70 FWT in a Hunter's Edge Stock for all around


All three rifles shoot very well.

The 300WSM is a cool little cartridge. I say go for it. If you like it, keep it. Like Brad said, brass is "not exactly expensive", and fairly abundant if you know where to look. Buy once fired if you have to. I tried the 300 and decided I like the 30-06 better and got rid of the 3 wsm's I had... YMMV...

I'm from the other side of the country and always hawk the factory ammo shelves just to look. I'd say the 300 WSM has plenty of options and brass isn't really anymore expensive than 300 Win. Also I never had much trouble matching factory numbers in my 300 WSM. If you like it, go for it.

300 WSM is great.

Load it down: 300 Savage/308 Winchester
Load it midrange: 30/06
Load it up: 300 Winchester

Life is good.

Tikka T3x 300 wsm

5 shots with 178 eldx at 3180 fps average.



Reloaded 50 at this charge, zeroed the dial and zero stop on the scope and the next shots were 3/3 at 560 yards and the 6/6 at 806 yards.

Fairly flat shooting for the cute little 300 WSM case with 178 grainer. Would like to run 212s but Tikka is dumb and decides to twist their 30 cals at 1:11

This.

I have a 70 classic in 270 WSM, I have never run a factory load through a chronograph, as I've never shot one, but I have no problem getting max book velocity out of it.

It's a good round out of all the WSM stuff I said that two would last would be the 300wsm due to the lighter weight package and 300 WM ballistics. I also thought he 270 would last cause it gets better velocity than the .270 in a lighter package the rest were pointless especially the wssm lineup

Thanks for the information!

I honestly have no real need for the rifle, but when has that ever mattered?

I'll probably pick it up, work up a decent 3100fps load with 150's, and use it as a rain/wet weather or loaner rifle. I have an extra Weaver fixed 6x that needs a home, should be perfect on the Winchester.

There's plenty of ammo for it available around here. It seems to be pretty much a standard offering in these parts.

So, why not down load it for deer?

I have gotten over 3400 fps with 150's in my 24" barrel. Those loads were accurate but I prefer +/- 3250 fps. Just saying it's a capable round.

I've shot the 300 WSM since 2006. I own 2 now. Ammo is easily available. I buy when it's on-sale and have over 700 loaded rounds now.