.300 WSM or .300 Win Mag

[smchop]

I still like the new heavy 30’s, there like watching a C-130 fly. It’s gonna get there, hit hard when it does, but it looks like it’s gonna fall out of the sky the whole time it’s flying! I like short barreled heavy guns, and the 30’s tend to work well in them. But I’m game for new stuff to. The last 7mm I had I was loading with the 162 amax, seemed like you could go prairie dogging with that gun at 500 meters and it would be like shooting a 22 at 100. I didn’t know they were even running 190’s in 7mm.

[C Ward]

Short barreled anything in a magnum caliber is going to be a compromise , to get the heavy for caliber bullets to perform takes velocity and barrel length is part of that equation . I wouldn't build a magnum caliber rifle for long range with shorter than 26 and most likely would end up at 28 .

A hunting gun used at reasonable hunting ranges is a different critter .

[smchop]

Totally agree with that, not sure where I am going to compromise and how much till I decide on the caliber first. I may be better off building a switch barrel and swap the barrel out once a year during hunting season and switching back after its over on something like a Surgeon action. Develop a load for both barrels and run it that way. Which leads me back to my original problem of picking a caliber!

[C Ward]

Switch barrel opens up more options because you could use different calibers in the same bolt face , cartridge length .

[XC700116]

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.

[bobbyfairbanks]

If you plan on shooting 230 grain 30 cal then it’s time to pull your head out of forth point of contact and just build a 338 something

[smchop]

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.

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.

If you plan on shooting 230 grain 30 cal then it’s time to pull your head out of forth point of contact and just build a 338 something

Why not build a .338 Win Mag that shoots the heavies that can mimic the lighter rounds of a .338 Lapua? I don't have the expense of a Lapua, a specific can for a Lapua, an action dedicated to a Lapua, but can mimic the ballistics. I agree the Lapua is a great round, I had one.

[C Ward]

Can't get the velocity with a 338 WM to take advantage of the BC on heavy 338s , even with 250s a WM is at 2550 ish .

With a WM based cartridge a 7 with the .8 BC heavies lays waste to pretty much all else .

[smchop]

Can't get the velocity with a 338 WM to take advantage of the BC on heavy 338s , even with 250s a WM is at 2550 ish .

With a WM based cartridge a 7 with the .8 BC heavies lays waste to pretty much all else .

Sorry, I actually meant a .300 Win Mag, not the .338 Win mag.

[smchop]

So, can a 7mm WSM be built on a short action to shoot the 180's or would it need a LA and LA mags?