Short Magnum poll taken ...

[Kodiak]

A recent article in The Rifle Journal got my brain-cells burnin'!

It stated the Death of The Short Magnums, well, some of them.

So I asked around: polling over 40 local shooters that spend many hours/days in local hunting areas and the West. Hunters, men and women, that own and use short mags. to hunt medium to large game mostly with them.

Of the forty, 25% had sold their short mag. rifles because of out of spec. chambering, and feeding problems. The remaining folks owned either the .270, 7mm, .300 and one 25ssm. The rifles used were 4 Tikkas, 12 Winchesters and 14 Savages. I think all were factory chambered rifles.

Owners were Doctors, laborers, retired folks and office workers and five house-wives were in the group. Most shot reloads, and some using only factory ammo.

The most used caliber, the .270wsm. It was used in deer hunting by most, 8 had used it to take elk, bear and other game. All of these folks still use their other 30-06s, .270s, 243s, 22-250s etc. in standard chamberings.

My own .270wsm rifle has left the house, too many split-neck Winchester cases. I would still consider owning another wsm rifle, though.

Any comments about these offerings?

 

[Guy Miner]

Huh. My .300 WSM Model 70 Coyote (controlled round push feed action) has fed every time, flawlessly, and has produced 1/2 MOA groups even at 300 yards. I'm getting excellent brass life from the Norma cartridge cases too.

I like the cartridge. Am getting .300 Win mag ballistics coupled with very good results at the range. Haven't hunted with it much - mostly because I got all hung up on hunting with my .25-06 instead.

I think Nosler's 48 in .300 WSM is a particularly attractive package for the big game hunter.

FWIW, Guy

 

[DrMike]

I've owned six of the WSMs and shot many examples as I worked up loads of all the WSMs. I currently own four Winchester Featherweights chambered in 270 WSM, 7mm WSM, 300 WSM and 325 WSM. I owned two other Featherweights, chambered in 270 WSM and 300 WSM. My previous rifles shot very well and took multiples head of moose, elk, deer and black bear without a glitch. My current rifles have all been blooded (save for the 300 WSM, which is relatively new), taking moose, elk, mule deer, whitetail and black bear. I can't see me being without these rifles--they are that good. I've never had a split neck and each feeds very smoothly. Each delivers fine accuracy and hits game like the hammer of Thor. I do use quite a variety of the standard cartridges, and each is a joy to shoot; I don't, however, see myself divesting myself of my WSMs at this point.

 

[PJGunner]

I don't have much experience with the WSMs. I help a young man sight in his brand new M70 Classic (not the Featherweight) and I thougt it was a nice rifle.
Then my ex-son i law bought an M70 Featherweight and asked me to load up some rounds with a load one of his co-workers had suggested. I told him no, but that I would work up to that load to make sure it was safe. Then I later sat him down at the bench and made him load his ammo under my supervision. Now he does his own. 8)
My opinion based on two rifles while not statistically elevant is if I did not already own several rifles in .300 Win. mag., I probably would have bought one. As I don't really need one,I've passed on them. I guess if one was offered and the price was right, I might be sorely tempted though. :lol:
Paul B.

 

[russ808]

I have owned three 300 wsm's. Weatherby, H.S., and a Nosler. I sold the Weatherby to a friend that just had to have it. The Nosler is my go to gun. The H.S. is the stand-by for now. I have taken everything there is to be taken here with it with no problems.
Russ

 

[Elkman]

Whats a WSM ?

Actually, there are only two classes of people posting here: Model 70 owners and those who wish they had bought a "Remington".

 

[SJB358]

I've got three of the four WSM's, and someday may grab a 325 should the right one come around. The least loveable WSM is the 300. While a great cartridge, that does just about everything a 300 Win Mag does, it just doesn't trip my trigger like the 270&7mm does. Granted, I haven't really hunted the 300 yet, if I was going for another 300 today, it would likely be another 300 Win Mag. Had alot of good luck with that one, but the rifle was a tank. Should I find a Pre64 H&H or Win Mag, I'd probably part with my 300. The other two, well they aren't going anywhere.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I've always thought a built up 300WSM would make a sweet long range varmint gun1

 

[Teknys]

I have Sako 75 in a 270WSM - My goto gun.
Son has a Savage 16 in 300WSM - Excellent
I have a Savage 16 Bear Hunter 300WSM - Excellent
I have a Savage 12 Heavy in 300WSM - Excellent
I just ordered a BAR Oil Finish 300WSM - We will see?
I sold a Rem 700 SS in 300WSM - Good gun but ....

I like them as you can tell.... just need to get a 7mm WSM

 

[SJB358]

I do dig that little 7. Alot of performance in a small package.

 

[Guy Miner]

A fellow I know built a .375 WSM.

It's worked out real well for him!

 

[Oldtrader3]

WSM????? Actually, I had one, a .300 WSM in a Browning Medallion. Shot it quite a bit developing loads and then gave it to my son. It is the exact powder capacity and performance as the .300 H&H and I would rather have the classic H&H for smooth feeding. Plus, my son moved to Wyoming and needed an elk rifle.

 

[wildgene]

...I've got a .25 WSSM, .300 WSM, & .325 WSM, none of them are going anywhere, might even add a 7mm WSM if I find one I like @ the right price...

 

[big rifle man]

my Kimber Montana .300WSM has been with me for awhile now and won't be going anywhere in the future. Works extremely well on Elk, Deer and the occasional coyote. love it.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm.... I've been an exclusive user of the .300WSM for 8 years after getting a Nosler 48 chambered in the round. I was actually pretty ambivalent about the cartridge but loved the rifle and back then the 48 ONLY came in WSMs. I would have preferred another cartridge but I'm glad it wasn't available.

Despite all the poo slinging in the gun press about the supposed "Death of the WSM"....I still kill game every year. I love my .300WSM so much that I haven't hunted big game with anything else since I got it. Ammo has been easy to find and I find it to be very good quality and handloads are a breeze. In fact- during our recent (and still somewhat ongoing) ammo debacle, I couldn't find .308 or '06 ammo locally at any price.....300WSM was always on the shelf. That says little about its worth as a cartridge, I realize, but it means quite a lot to the hunter who isn't into stocking for doomsday or reloading.

I bought a backup rifle in .300WSM as well- a Tikka T3.

A lot of hunters here use the WSM with great results and it's more popular than most give it credit.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I owned a Remington Model 700 SPS in 270 WSM that shot really straight but the failure to eject the cases from the action upon extraction caused me to send it packing. I do have a friend who owns a Weatherby Vanguard in 270 WSM who loads it up to about standard 270 WCF ballistics for his wife loves it. And it shoots quite well.

My second and currently only WSM is my Winchester Model 70 (Browning) 300 WSM. It has had zero feeding problems, my only complaint is that once fired cases even after full-length resizing sometimes dont rechamber with any ease. These are simply sorted out and disposed of. I love this rifle; its recoil is very manageable for the weight of the rifle and it shoots very accurately. I have yet to get an elk down with it but that is on the list.

 

[BK]

I have a .270, two 7mms, a .300, and a .325. I have the most experience with one of the 7s and the .325. The 8mm is a Kimber Montana, and is pretty tame to shoot off of the bench. It's also killed an elk every time it has hunted (granted, it's only hunted once). The 7 is a stainless Howa in a purple McSwirley... I love that rifle, thinking it may get a Swaro to replace the Conquest that's on it... The only Zeiss that has really given me any trouble. The rest are various forms of M70.

If I could find some cheap M70 donors, I'd be looking at a few wildcats... .358 WSSM, .358WSM, 6.5WSM...

I guess I kinda like 'em.

 

[killdeernow]

Wow, a thread for me. The short mags were the reason I stopped going to gun shows! I bought two on impulse buys…and (wait for it) I LOVE THEM.

I probably own two of the most unpopular short mags ever created: 1) 223WSSM and 2) 300SAUM

My 223WSSM is my most used out of my 5 hunting rifles (just received my N48 Legacy the other day—I’ll post more on that at a later date)

Details are as follows (I apologize if you’ve seen these before because I think I posted it already—sometime ago):
1. Sent receiver (Mod 70) to Pac-Nor and had a 24 inch, #6 contour, 1:12 twist (plan on shooting 50-55 grainers) SS barrel installed
2. Received gun from Pac-Nor with new barrel (roughly 5 months)
3. Sent gun to Robar Industries to have it coated with Roguard Matte Finish and NP3 on the internals
4. Received gun from Robar and brought it to McMillan to have a stock custom fitted and installed
5. Received gun from McMillan (over a year)
6. Installed Williams metal trigger guard
7. Installed Timney trigger
8. Installed Talley Rings and Bases
9. Installed NightForce 5.5x22x50 with MOAR on it

Now for my 300SAUM:
1. Rem 700 action
2. Hart barrel
3. McMillan stock
4. Timney trigger
5. Vais muzzle brake

Don’t have a pic yet…

 

[SJB358]

Very cool pair of rifles!

 

[runtohunt]

I have a Sako 75 in 300 WSM. This rifle has accounted for 3 elk, one black tail, and one wild hog. She is a finicky girl--only likes 180 grain bullets. But, she loves the 180 AB. Have never had a split neck or failure to feed.
I have seriously contemplated a 7 WSM and a 325 WSM. If I could find a couple more Sako 75's, I would love to have both calibers.