.300 WSM or .300 Win Mag

[smchop]

Many years ago I ordered an action from Surgeon with a 223 and 308 bolt. I am *still* waiting on that 223 bolt. Its ok though, I sold the action once I started getting the runaround from those knuckleheads.

I can understand that. Thats what I tend to do also, start messing around and screwing me over and I'll just sell the shit and move on to someone else. I did it with Dodge on a diesel truck, they started screwing around with me so I just sold the truck, went across the street and bought a different truck! I haven't had that experience with Surgeon yet, and the bolt I just bought it from a private seller who had it in hand and brand new. On another note, if you do ever get that .223 bolt I could use it. HAHA! Just messing with you.

[C Ward]

8 twist will work just fine with the 180s . Both the cartridges work fine , the SAUM has slightly more case capacity than the WSM but brass availability is crap most of the time . Going to a 7/300 WSM takes care of the case capacity issue and brass is slightly more available .

Best I can say about Surgeon is it's not the same company now as it was when Preston was the owner and running the show . Defiance would be my first choice now .

[XC700116]

One thing I never understood was building a WSM or SAUM and having to use a long action. Whats the point? I mean I get it and why but you just cancelled out the whole reasons of the benefits of that cartridge. I agree on the Norma, but barrel life is still a concern for me.


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But you don't, you actualize the potential of the cartridge, which is greater than that of a win Mag or Rem Mag due to the efficiency of the case design (hence 180's at 3150 fps) that and not having to deal with belted brass.

Cramming the bullets into the case to fit in a short action is cutting it's nuts by a lot. Will it work, yes but it's not at it's best. .284 win is very similar, it works in a Short action but is at it's best in a long action. Also consider that the cartridges were designed around the lighter end of the weight for caliber bullets, which are a lot shorter and thereby don't suck up the case capacity like the big bullets do.

[smchop]

Build a 7 , the bullets available leave 30 cal in the dust and will kill anything in North America.

So along the way of this whole which 30 cal to build I ended up with a 7mm SAUM, thanks C Ward, and in the end I decided on a dedicated hunting rifle and will have Bugholes spin me up a barrel for my Surgeon switch barrel. The hunting rig is just about ready, few finishing touches, LRI handled all the real work though. I was able to buy out a guy that was getting out of the 7mm game and was able to get some Nosler brass, Redding Comp. dies, and some Berger 180's to get things rolling. Remember being young and swearing those new shoes you just got made you faster? I swear I look at this rifle and think there is no game animal safe this season if I have the tag for it! Thanks for everyones input, I still have a KMW Sentinel stock inlet for a long action with DBM and a Bartlein 1:8 twist .30 cal barrel to build a .30 something when I'm ready for that, been thinking Norma Mag. But who knows, for now I have a couple rifles to get loads developed for and data on to finish out this year. Heres a quick look at my 7mm SAUM hunting rig.

Remington 700
Proof CF 7mm finished at 22"
McMillan HTG w/PT&G DBM
Accurate SAUM Magazine
Harris 6-9 SBRM
Nightforce scope rail
Timney CE trigger
8.6 lbs as pictured

[C Ward]

You shoot that thing a while and you'll never want another 30 cal , need bigger go to 338 or 375

[Planner]

Like C Ward said, go 7mm. And if you go with a WSM case, do it on a long action.

Pro's for WM/RM cases is magazines are easier to find/deal with if you're running a AI type magazine. WSM's require using 338 Lapua mags in a Long action and are 5 round only, if that's an issue for you. If not it's a moot point.

WSM/Saum advantage is not dealing with a belted case. Disadvantage is brass availability, but it can be found without much problems.

If doing a WSM and going 7mm DO NOT do a 7WSM, go 7/300WSM as it's a simple neck down from 300 WSM brass. The original 7WSM has a longer shoulder length and brass is nearly unobtainable and thereby needs to be made and fire formed from 300 WSM (or 270 or 325) whereas the 7/300, you just neck it down.

WSM's throated for a long action don't give up any performance to the WinMag/RemMag cases.

For example I have 2 rifles chambered in 7/300 WSM, my hunting rifle has a 26" barrel and I run 162's out of it at 3100 fps and change without breaking a sweat (I've run them up to 3200 but it's at the pressure limits for sure. (this one is a short action)

My ELR rig is the same chambering on a long action and throated to run 180 class bullets at full case capacity. It has a 30" barrel and runs 180 ELDM's with no pressure issues at 3150 fps. At our elevation it delivers a 180 ELDM at 2229 fps and 1985 ft/lbs @ 1000 yards. It goes transonic at 2550 yards. The only thing in a 30 cal and a standard magnum action that comes close is a 30 Nosler and it's not quite there.

For ballistics and energy on target the big 7's are very tough to beat. That said a 300 Norma is pretty impressive as well, but you're playing with Lapua mag actions in that case.

Great post. I’ve got a 300 WSM and at some point, want to rebarrel with a 26 or 28” Proof.


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