.300 WSM as a precision caliber?

[REM]

hk51pdx,

Please don't let my comments discourage you. The reduced barrel life is part of the nature of the beast. While I don't own a .300 WSM, I do have a .300 Win Mag and used to own a 7mm Rem Mag. I would imagine the WSM would act just like the other mag cartridges. I have seen rifles in the various magnums exhibit major throat erosion, but still shoot to most acceptable accuracy standards.

If you have a burning desire to own the WSM, try handloading it down to a lower pressure level for most of the shooting. Record your scope dope in your data book and just make the adjustments to compensate for the different loads.

I think one of the keys to shooting the more powerful cartridges is to run the rounds over a chronograph at set times. I run my .308 over the chrono about every 300-400 rounds. In my experience this will show the wear on the barrel well before the accuracy begins to drop off.

Remember, the test I mentioned in my first post was performed by the AMU. They probably have much higher standards than the majority of us.

I have seen a lot of .308 rifles come through the sniper classes my agency puts on. Even though a lot of the rifles have high round counts (and pretty low velocities) they still perform to the level needed for the course. I think the .308 is one of the more forgiving rounds in this regard.


Hope this helps.

[zac4551]

I owned a 7mm WSM and nearly bought a FN in 300wsm but the barrel life and recoil made me go with the 308, because I can go and shoot a 100rds in a day at the range and that means I would be replacing the barrel in the WSM every couple of months.

[ra2bach]

a question on the barrel life of the 300WSM. has it been shown that it would be any worse than the .300 WinMag? it uses less powder so it should be easier on a barrel than that, right?

regarding the Mag vs. .308 discussion. the magnum provides a performance advantage over the .308 and sometimes you don't NEED that advantage but sometimes you do.

in that case, the decision to use one should not be made by comparison of barrel life but by the intended application, correct?

however, it is never wrong, IMO, to own a caliber (or firearm) simply because you want to.

[zac4551]

I would think that they would be close on barrel wear. I think the WSM will probably wear a little faster compared to the 300 mag.

[ra2bach]

I would think that they would be close on barrel wear. I think the WSM will probably wear a little faster compared to the 300 mag.

why would that be? the WSM uses less powder.

[yrac]

...in that case, the decision to use one should not be made by comparison of barrel life but by the intended application, correct?

Absolutely. I made an assumption (maybe incorrect) that the OP would be using the rifle for general recreational shooting as his only precision gun. In that case, the .308 might be a better choice. However, if there's a need for the enhanced performance of the mag round, if he's already got a .308 or if he just plain wants a .300 WSM, then fire away! Based on my assumption that he does not own many other precision guns, I thought it might be useful to know something about the differences in barrel life. For someone with a hunting rifle who only shoots a few boxes of ammo a year, it's no big deal. As you start getting more into precision shooting and go through a few hundred rounds in the course of a day of shooting, you start getting into potentially costly barrel replacements in relatively short order with the mags compared to the .308. (Of course, if you can afford the cost of that much good precision ammo these days, maybe the cost of a barrel replacement isn't such a big deal...)

...however, it is never wrong, IMO, to own a caliber (or firearm) simply because you want to.

Never wrong at all!

[zac4551]

With varget and a 168gr buller there is only a .5 grain difference in max load, the 300wsm has a faster velocity than the 300 wm.

[ra2bach]

With varget and a 168gr buller there is only a .5 grain difference in max load, the 300wsm has a faster velocity than the 300 wm.

interesting. I was never aware that the WSM was capable of greater velocity than the original WM.

and I never would have guessed Varget to be an efficient powder in any magnum. the .300Win Mag likes powders starting at 4350 and slower. Varget is somewhat faster than that.

[zac4551]

I liked 4381 in my 7mm WSM.

[ra2bach]

I liked 4381 in my 7mm WSM.

yep, seems like that would work. I like RL 19 in my .280 with bullets up to about 140 gr. and H4831SC with the 154 and 160 gr.

my 7MM Rem Mag loves the old H4831 but I understand I can get a few more fps with a couple of the newer powders. I don't do much with the newer powders as I tend to stick with something if my rifle likes it even if I give up some speed doing so.

My pistols love the Vihta Vouri powders, though...