Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 300 saum or 300 win mag

From my guns (more than one each)
180's at what would appear similar pressure---
30-06 2750 - 2800fps
300short - 2900
300WM - 3050

A short action 700 will end up about 4-6 oz lighter and 5/8" shorter than a long action. I'm not good enough to know the difference....

Dave, that's my experience with these cartridges over the chronograph as well. I've had a couple of 300 Win. Mags. that would give 3100-3150 with 180s, but most of them produce 3050-3100 fps. with 180s........

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Winchester got it right with the .300 Win. Mag.. I certainly wouldn't replace one with a .300 WSM...

If they weren't so darn $$ hungry they would sell a heck of a lot more rifles, ammo and reloading equipment. Disagree, how much for either loaded ammo or 20 pieces of brass?

The ballistic difference is so minimal that it is not worth the extra $$ to operate it.

Here is a little hint ($2-3) per piece of brass? $100 for box of ammo? 1-888-492-7247

Yeah, if I can't afford to shoot a rifle a bunch, then I don't want to own it. No safe queens in my safe!

Besides, the only real reason to shoot an uber-magnum like that would be on the theory that it bought you a bunch of range. And if there's one thing that's mandatory for ANYONE who thinks they are a long-range rifleman, it's practice, practice, practice...

-jeff

Daveh, I think you are a little low at 2900 for the 300 short. I get 2983fps out of my 300 WSM without pushing it too hard. I've owned a 300 Win and I currently own a 300 WSM, with 180 grain bullets I would say they are about equal as far as velocity goes. The 300 WSM makes for a lighter rile and is way more accurate than the 300 Win however, so I'm not planning on going back to the 300 Win.

action -

If it was me I'd stick with the .300 Win unless the barrel is going south. In that case though, I'd get another .300 Win or rebarrel.

The .300 SAUM is destined for the trash heap of history.

+1 for what Coyote Hunter said.

I have both and like them both. If I wanted an ultra light I'd go with the shamu. If I wanted a sporter wieght or heavy I'd pick the Win. The saum will never come close ballisticly to the Winchester, but that might be ok with you. Think of it as a really hot 30-06 in a short action.

My full size 300 is more accurate than my saum, but a pound and a half heavier.

Yeah, that extra 100 - 150fps REALLLLLLLLY makes a big difference!!!

My saum shoots 168 TSX's into 3/4" groups all day long @ 3060fps.

Couple that with a rifle that goes under 7.5lbs all up.

The naysayers hunt different than I do, I'd expect. I've killed plenty of deer and elk with a 300 Wby mag, 300 winmag, 300 saum and .30-06.

Considering the WHOLE package AND how I hunt, the saum is damn tough to beat.

Why anyone is shooting a 180 out of their short mag is beyond me ...

I shoot 180 TSX's out of my .300WSM because the 168 grainers aren't as accurate in my rifle.
Like you alluded to an extra 100fps or so is meaningless.

BTW, what powder/how much are you using in your saum?

I'm getting 2950 fps with 165-gn Accubonds from my 30-06 FWIW...

Yeah, people get really hung up on the numbers. What's TRULY funny, when you first buy a chrono, is that you realize that there's legions of guys out there addicted to some number they THINK they are getting from their rifle, when in reality, they ain't! In reality, factory 30-06's shooting factory ammo are lucky to reach .308 speeds... factory .308's are lucky to reach 300 Savage speeds... etc.

-jeff

If my rifle of 2 weeks is any indication, that would be a real shame...

Muley,

Your 300 saum gets the same velocity of a 300 H&H and you will NEVER see anybody knock that round for not being up to snuff.

Know any 300 H&H's that are as light and compact as your rifle?

I think not.

Long live the 300 saum it will.

Well... I kinda like the short magnums, having a 325 WSM myself... and I don't really care one way or the other since I don't have a dog in the fight, but it sure seems to me that the 300 WSM has won the .30-cal short mag battle. Seems like even Remington is conceding that with the new Model 7 XCR available in WSM but not SAUM.

-jeff

Right on , Jeff. That's why ya handload!

Yeah, no kidding! It's why I bought 5 bags of brass for my .325 WSM... THERE'S one that's dead in the water!

-jeff

You think so? Don't have one, so I don't pay attention. Thought it was doing pretty good?

.325 WSM? Well... I'm the only guy I know who has one, while I know several people (personally I mean) with 300 WSM's... but I dunno, maybe it is doing well. I hope so! I like I said, I think it's the most useful of the bunch, really. 30-06 trajectory, short action, hits hard...

A couple guys I know also have 270 WSM's. That one seems OK.

The SAUM series, on the other hand, seems pretty dead to me.

-jeff