Need some help with making the right choice

[slad68]

Ok this has been in my mind for quit some time now.
Since DJ has been shooting the 7x57 that I have hunted with for the past 13years I thought to finally pass it on to him and add a new calibre to the family.

I have two calibres in mind but I am stuck on one. What would it be?
300WSM or 7mm Rem Mag

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I've heard it said and/or read that the WSM's with their shorter/fatter cartridges sometimes have feeding issues. Internet lore? Perhaps. If in fact true, it may have more to do with the rifle than the cartridge design.

Beyond that, as much as I love my 7mm, the .300's offer a bit more versatility in bullet selection. But a 160gr A-Frame, North Fork or any of the other high weight retaining mono-metals would work quite well on anything not DG I'd think.

 

[thriller]

If your going to do a 300 I would say do a regular 300 win mag. As for the 7mm mag I'm not a fan of it so I cant give you a clear opinion as to its performance.

 

[lcq]

I have both. The 300wsm is very easy to reload for and it is hard to get a load that shoots over 1 1/2" in my Tikka most are 0.6-0.75". Feeding isn't as smooth as my 7mm mag and brass and loaded ammo are much more expensive than 300 mag. The 7mm is a bastard to load for but is very accurate when you finally find the right bullet and load. Ammo is cheap and readily available.

If you want a 300 I would just get the regular 300 mag, you will always find ammo in Africa

 

[brandondd24]

I own both, the 7mm is Remington bdl, 300 is Winchester m70. I shoot the 7mm better then the 300. Maybe the difference in recoil? I took the 7mm to Africa and collected a kudu blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, mountain zebra and 2 gemsbok. It was plenty gun.

 

[Rob404]

I have a 7MM Rem Mag and it shoots very Flat,I think it will be in my Gun case next trip to Africa, I would think a 300 RUM or a 300 Win should do the trick, or even a 300 Weatherby if you want a Classic

 

[Bhfs300]

Just for the fun I also have both a 7mm Mag and a 300 WM both are Rugers. The 300 WM is a Ruger#1 and I got it to take to SA. I took six shots and killed five animals. Impala, Warthog, Nyala, Red Hartebeest and Gemsbok.
The only one that I took two shots on was the Warthog since we saw it at about 50 yards after the first shot he wouldn't have lasted long but the PH was concerned it might go down a hole.
Both are flat shooting but the 300 WM will shoot a heavier bullet if you want.

 

[Spooksar]

I would go with the 300 WSM just because of been able to use heavier bullets. I'm a firm believer in heavy for caliber bullets.

 

[Wheels]

300 WSM = shorter action = shorter rifle = less weight. The older I get the more I appreciate less weight.

If I was young and starting all over again I would probably go the way @PHOENIX PHIL has gone with the 458 B&M as my main African rifle. 450g- 500g bullets for DG and 225g bullets at 2500+ fps for PG all in a 6lb rifle. Got to love those short actions you can get these days. (I realize this isn't what you are asking Bossie, just a way of saying I like short actions more the older I get)

 

[jduckhunter]

I would think about splitting the difference and buy a 30-06. Then you would never have to worry about finding ammo, you can load it up or down, it's cheaper to shoot and the recoil is easy to handle.

 

[Royal27]

My next left handed rifle will very likely be a .300 wsm. And for the reasons wheels brings up. I want a light rifle to carry in the mountains here for elk, but that I can use for anything and the 300 wsm fits the bill.

I keep thinking about just getting another .30/06, but then just keep coming back to the wsm....

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Had a guy at the range ask me to his .300WSM to chrono his loads, as he saw my chrony. Must say the recoil was pleasant, more so than my 7mm.

 

[jduckhunter]

My son recently bought a left handed Ruger American rifle in 30-06 and had the barrel cut down to 20". Now she's light and pretty fast handling.

 

[Royal27]

My son recently bought a left handed Ruger American rifle in 30-06 and had the barrel cut down to 20". Now she's light and pretty fast handling.

As much as I'd like to get a left handed M70 the weight keeps me from it.

I will probably end up with a browning xbolt or a Tikka. Leaning towards the browning.

 

[JimP]

I always like it when someone mentions that the shorter action like the 300 WSM weighs less than its counter part the 300 WM. If you look at the factory specs on both rifles in the two calibers you won't find enough difference to worry about if you find any.

My preference would be the 7mm Rem mag. You can find ammo anywhere just like the old 06 and it is a flat shooter. I had killed over 20 elk with mine before I retired it a few years ago at ranges from 20 yards out to 600, and never lost a single one.

 

[Royal27]

I always like it when someone mentions that the shorter action like the 300 WSM weighs less than its counter part the 300 WM. If you look at the factory specs on both rifles in the two calibers you won't find enough difference to worry about if you find any.

Five ounces and three inches in barrel length is enough of a difference for me. That's the browning factory spec difference between wm and wsm.

 

[CAustin]

7mm is a great round

 

[LivingTheDream]

I'm a big fan of the 300WSM. I have killed a lot of deer with one and it hits like a hammer. I know a bunch of guys that have had great success with them on Elk. I am actually playing with mine to see how it like 180 gr bullets so I can use that for elk/moose.

 

[gizmo]

I have both but prefer the 300sm for the short action.

 

[Wheels]

I always like it when someone mentions that the shorter action like the 300 WSM weighs less than its counter part the 300 WM. If you look at the factory specs on both rifles in the two calibers you won't find enough difference to worry about if you find any.

My preference would be the 7mm Rem mag. You can find ammo anywhere just like the old 06 and it is a flat shooter. I had killed over 20 elk with mine before I retired it a few years ago at ranges from 20 yards out to 600, and never lost a single one.

Jim,

You live at elevation. You are probably also in better shape than me. A 6.5% difference in weight does make a difference to an old fat boy like me. Especially when I go to elevation for a week or so.

7mm is also a great round. I have one and it works great. I also have a 300wm. It works great and is my go to rifle in the states. I don't have a 300wsm. All three are very similar. If I was starting from scratch, I would get the 300wsm for weight factor only.

All the best.




The Model 70 Sporter is pure and traditional — the essence of a bolt-action rifle for the serious sportsman. The Sporter’s raised cheekpeice puts your eye in perfect alignment behind a scope.

Item # Caliber Magazine
Capacity Barrel
Length Overall
Length Length
of Pull Drop
at Comb Drop
at Heel Nom.
Weight Rate of Twist MSRP

535202225 25-06 Rem 3 24" 44 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 4 oz 10" $939.99
535202226 270 Win 5 24" 44 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 4 oz 10" $939.99
535202228 30-06 Spfld 5 24" 44 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 4 oz 10" $939.99
535202229 264 Win Mag 5 26" 46 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 12 oz 9" $979.99
535202230 7mm Rem Mag 5 26" 46 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 12 oz 9 1/2" $979.99
535202233 300 Win Mag 5 26" 46 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 12 oz 10" $979.99
535202236 338 Win Mag 5 26" 46 3/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 12 oz 10" $979.99
535202255 300 WSM 3 24" 44 1/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 4 oz 10" $979.99
535202264 270 WSM 3 24" 44 1/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 4 oz 10" $979.99
535202277 325 WSM 3 24" 44 1/4" 13 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 7 lbs 4 oz 10" $979.99

Weights listed are approximate. Drop at comb and heel are measured from centerline of bore.