.300 WSM….Is it a Dead Cartridge Commercially?

[gerry]

I'm in BC also and I've noticed retailers are stocking brass and various factory cartridge offerings these days. I was looking into the 300 wsm a few years ago and the story wasn't the same - hard to find brass for sure.

I'm thinking about getting a 300 wsm Tikka T3X in 2025 once their new lite models all come threaded, which was the rumor out of Shot Show in January. I think the 300 wsm is a well-balanced cartridge and I'd plan on loading 180-200 gr projectiles which would be a step up from my 308 win.

Welcome, always nice to have another BC boy here. The Tikka's are pretty popular around here. They are also updating the twist rate from a 1 in 11 to 1 in 10. I've read some of the updated rifles are already making it out. I would imagine that the ones with the threaded muzzles would also be the 10 twist.

Pretty tough to beat the versatility of the 300 WSM, it can handle a wide variety of bullets and powders and shoot well. On the Vortex channel on YouTube they have done some cool experiments using the 300 WSM you might have seen.

 

[salmonchaser]

...and more deadly.

Way cooler and I bet the 300wsm never has and never will kill an elephant rhino and hippo.

 

[superdrupal]

Welcome, always nice to have another BC boy here. The Tikka's are pretty popular around here. They are also updating the twist rate from a 1 in 11 to 1 in 10. I've read some of the updated rifles are already making it out. I would imagine that the ones with the threaded muzzles would also be the 10 twist.

Pretty tough to beat the versatility of the 300 WSM, it can handle a wide variety of bullets and powders and shoot well. On the Vortex channel on YouTube they have done some cool experiments using the 300 WSM you might have seen.

Good to know Gerry, I'll keep a look out. I noticed Tikka updated their twist rates the last few years, as you've mentioned - the 30s are 1 in 10" and the 7s are 1 in 9" now. A threaded barrel isn't a must have for me but I like the option of putting on a brake for load development. I don't hunt with them though.

I did see the "Super WSM" video by Vortex. Prety cool. I may do something kinda similar with the factory Tikka barrel - change out the bolt stop and run a LA magazine. Assuming I can seat the 212gr or even the 220gr ELDX, that would be sweet. I'd probably hunt with the 180gr or 200gr AB or PT.

 

[NYDAN]

I have noticed recently that the sporting goods stores here don’t offer the ammo anything like they used to. Is it strictly a hand loader cartridge now?

I think it is still alive and well. I was able to buy some brass last year. I haven't looked for brass this year. It is one of my favorite cartridges. I much prefer my 300 WSM over my 300 WM.

 

[300WSM]

I have noticed recently that the sporting goods stores here don’t offer the ammo anything like they used to. Is it strictly a hand loader cartridge now?

I've said this before and will say it again.
The shooting, hunting and outdoor trade market is by far the most trendy driven industry in the hobby and extracurricular segment. Without question far and away number one.

Think about this...this is a two part ordeal...
From approximately the 50/60's to the new millennium very little had changed. Caliber types, ammo types, even packaging saw minor alterations over half a century.
The 80's seen some funky shotshell loads like Remington duplex...but that wasn't really earth shattering.

Then...oh then...in a short window of a couple years we got to see the 17 HMR, 17 mach2, the Winchester Short Mags, Remimgton Ultra mags(short and long) the WSSM's, the .460 and 500 S&W,
every Tom, Dick and Harry started making 1911's and AR-15's, and ammo.
Corbon, Blackhills, anything black, magsafe,mag tech, mag, mag, mag,
A million scope sku's...
A million new bases and rings with QD capabilities

Powders that shoot in a blizzard. How did we ever shoot IMR4350 before when the weather was bad...

Moons ago people relied on the gun rags. Shooting Times, Guns and Ammo, etc...

In the middle 90's it was the internet.

So now the industry is as trendy as ever but it's in and out much quicker now.

So the WSM got a little pause because now it's creedmoor everything.

I might be the only person that refuses to join the Creedmoor train.


The WSM is the best non extreme magnum to ever come out.
Not picky with powder. Inherently stiffer action, velocities that can exceed it's taller brother the original 300 win mag.
More accurate. Longer case life.

But....
Trendiness rules the day so for now it's creedmoor, prc, arc, xyz, 1,2, 3...whatever....

 

[xphunter]

Not for hunting, but the 300 WSM with 215 Berger's is still the magic sauce for a lot of 600 and 1000 yards Benchrest shooters

 

[Blkram]

While I currently own a 300WSM, I have owned a 300 Win Mag, and have shot 300 H&H and Wby rifles;
I have to say that I prefer the 300 WSM, and it is working very well for me (accuracy, performance, and slightly less felt recoil).

If I had to choose a different 300 today, from a personal preference based on past performance, I would most likely choose the H&H just for nostalgic and performance reasons (I like how smoothly it feeds, and its velocity and accuracy), and the fact that it is less common today. The trick is finding a LH option...would most likely have to go custom.

The 300 PRC brings a lot of new tech to the table and may be the better option, and there are riflemakers producing LH versions in this chambering...but it is more than I need or want (at least at this time! ).

 

[300WSM]

Not for hunting, but the 300 WSM with 215 Berger's is still the magic sauce for a lot of 600 and 1000 yards Benchrest shooters

I'd take the WSM 30 cal over any of the 30 cal for any application.
Especially if I can only have one cartridge to do everything...
Most definitely the 300wsm
If that round would have come out in the 60's it would be more revered than the 308, plusvwould've been the sniper round of choice for all these years.

 

[300WSM]

While I currently own a 300WSM, I have owned a 300 Win Mag, and have shot 300 H&H and Wby rifles;
I have to say that I prefer the 300 WSM, and it is working very well for me (accuracy, performance, and slightly less felt recoil).

If I had to choose a different 300 today, from a personal preference based on past performance, I would most likely choose the H&H just for nostalgic and performance reasons (I like how smoothly it feeds, and its velocity and accuracy), and the fact that it is less common today. The trick is finding a LH option...would most likely have to go custom.

The 300 PRC brings a lot of new tech to the table and may be the better option, and there are riflemakers producing LH versions in this chambering...but it is more than I need or want (at least at this time! ).

300WSM for the win brotha

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

I would like a long throated 300wsm. Still seem reasonably popular here is Australia, however the wssm cartridges are absolutely dead and buried.

 

[SJB358]

I like the 300 WSM myself. Like a few others I have the H&H in a P64 and the 300 WSM in a Kimber Montana. Both are neat rifles a guy could use for everything and with ADG brass out there for the WSM it sure makes a slick case for that cartridge. I have a pile of the old WW H&H brass which seems to be lasting just about forever as well.

 

[300WSM]

I would like a long throated 300wsm. Still seem reasonably popular here is Australia, however the wssm cartridges are absolutely dead and buried.

and it's wrong but it did happen.
It wasn't long after the WSSM's were introduced the United States Repeating Arms Company ....
Or being employed in the industry we called them ( YOU'S RACK)...
It wasn't long after the introduction of both WSM/WSSM cartridges you's rack sold their soul to FN herstal.

FN stuck with it a short stint but ultimately stopped making the WSSM.
Browning held out the longest but they stopped too.

Why?

Too many sku's.
Around the tone and whole slew of new cartridges hit like the pic's, the Creedmoor's, ARC's and so on...
You start cutting any outliers to machine the "new kids on the block"
Thus the WSSM had to go.

It also didn't help Olin was the only one at the time doing ammo and they were buried in military contracts and only making the absolute most popular sku's. 223/5.56, 243, 308/7 62x51, 300 WM/wsm, the new stuff like Creedmoor...

No production on WSSM's.

That doesn't help support rifle chamberings whatsoever when there's no ammo.