Winchester 300wsm

[ldg397]

Drmike I saw on old thread and you have a fn winchester in 300wsm?? Is it the featherweight or extreme weather?? How do you like it as far as feeding and ease of reloading vs 300 win. I have the winchester sporter in 300 win and loved it, but ever since I got the new 270 win in the stainless featherweight the 300 sporter just feels like carrying an 8' 2x4. I have been thinking of upgrading to the extreme in 300wsm.

ps - I was just starting to value your opinion and respect you as a person when you go and tell me you went to that school in Austin. :wink: Small world I went to Texas A&M. :lol:

 

[BK]

I have a .300 WSM EW. I haven't even put a scope on it yet (note to self, need to get some Talleys for an M70), but next time I'm home I'm gonna give it a workout. So I'll let you know what I think then.

 

[DrMike]

Actually, though I was accepted at Austin, I opted to conduct graduate studies at UTHSCD (University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas).

I have had two Featherweights. I don't believe you will find any better ballistics than you already enjoy in your 300 WM. I like the looks of the Featherweight, and the balance is excellent. Fit and finish on the newer model is excellent. Both my older FWT and the new one, have proven very accurate. The first one, one of the first off the line from New Haven, had a tight chamber. However, the newer edition, one of the 2008 models from SC, is very near perfect. Feeding has never been a problem for me. I believe I can highly recommend the newer rifles built in SC. The various other iterations I've handled and shot functioned as well as those I have. I trust this will be helpful to you.

 

[Guy Miner]

"How do you like it as far as feeding and ease of reloading vs 300 win."

I find one about as easy to load as the other. No pesky belt on the WSM of course, not that the belt is a big deal anyway.

The WSM loads like any other bottle neck rifle cartridge and performs very well with H4350 and 180 - 200 gr bullets. Typically a very accurate cartridge. Doesn't seem to churn up quite the velocity I've seen with .300 Win mag handloads in the past, but not too far behind.

 

[highcotton]

However, the newer edition, one of the 2008 models from SC, is very near perfect.

Dr. Mike-- Would you have expected anything less out of SC?

 

[DrMike]

Would you have expected anything less out of SC?

There you go, an unbiased opinion! :mrgreen: Seriously, FN has done a superb job on these newer Winchesters. I trust they will continue to do so. Perhaps that is one reason Boeing wants to build their new jet liners in SC.

 

[velvetant]

My buddy just picked up a Featherweight in 300WSM and we started doing load testing last weekend.
So far Re19/180NAB has been consistently around an inch. Not bad for it's first time out.
I load for a 300 Win Mag and the 300WSM seems to be just as easy to load for, We load at the range for testing.
At first feeding was a little stiff, doesn't seem to go under the extractor smoothly but as we shot it loosened up.
I had the same problem with my 270WSM at first but after several hundred rounds it now feeds very nice.
I have 2 Featherweights, 243 and 270WSM. Everything else in my safe now feels wrong.

Randy

 

[DrMike]

Everything else in my safe now feels wrong.

Well, of course! :mrgreen: They do balance nicely, don't they, Randy?

 

[DrMike]

ldg397 (or should I refer to you as Aggie), :lol:

I almost conducted post-doctoral studies at the Galveston Medical school conducting immunological studies, but wound up in San Francisco working in obstetrics and gynecology instead. It is true that I did return to Texas to continue post-graduate studies in internal medicine at the VA hospital in Dallas and later in biofeedback and cellular regulatory mechanisms at the medical school in Dallas.

I thought I'd expand on feeding in the Featherweights. I have (or have previously owned) various chamberings from the New Haven factory (270 WSM, 7X57, 280, 7mm WSM, 7mm RM, 300 WSM and 325 WSM). I have (or have previously owned) several chamberings from the Florence factory (270 WSM, 30-06 and 300 WSM, plus a 243 and a 30-06 that are being rechambered to 338 Federal and 9.3X64). I can say that whilst it was true that the first models to hit the showroom had some problems feeding (though I personally did not own a rifle that gave me such grief), the newer models I have all feed very well. I believe MOA or near-MOA accuracy out of the box is common. With appropriate handloads, all my rifles have yielded accuracy far superior to this, and some are enviable. I've now loaded for a variety of WSMs in Kimbers, Sakos, Tikkas, Brownings, Remingtons, Winchesters and custom rifles built on Borden and Montana actions. I have not found the WSMs to be any more problematic to load than any other cartridge, and perhaps easier than some. They are efficient, and thus a pleasure to shoot in general. Man, I would hope you try one out. Perhaps someone at the range would permit you to pull the trigger on one. Let us know what you decide.

 

[ldg397]

DrMike - I will answer to aggie. I live in Frisco which is a suburb of Dallas just right north of Plano which you probably have heard of. I work for a very large commercial construction firm and when I first started with them in 98 we were just finishing a big expansion to the Dallas VA and I also lived in Galveston in 2003 thru 2007 building an animal research building for UTMB and then some condos out on the west end of the island. My wife worked for UTMB the whole time in their budgeting and planning department. We really enjoyed the island life there for awhile.

Both of the winchester rifles I have are the SC variety. My 300win sporter was a very early run after the limited edition year so I did have a problem with the trigger not going down under 4 lbs even with screw removed and the safety was very very stiff. I sent it back and they corrected both immediately and returned it to me quickly. The inletting on the stock was a little large on one side but the accuracy has shown some real promise with 165 accubonds after I did a 50 round break in.

I purchased another fn about a month ago 270 stainless featherweight and the fit and finish on it is PERFECT as is the balance. I haven't shot is yet because I have been waiting on rings/bases to mount the swarovski z3 I bought for it. I am so excited about this rifle.

I would like to have an extreme weather which comes in both the 300wsm and 300win. I think the balance is alot better on the 300wsm and either would be a decent upgrade from the 270. Although the 300win is alot more versatile and better over 180 grains.

 

[DrMike]

Oh, yes, I remember Frisco. FWIW, I've recently begun loading 200 grain Sierras in my 300 WSM. I'm getting 2850 fps and 0.5 inch groups at 100 yards. That isn't far behind the 300 WM. I haven't been able to get the same accuracy out of the AB yet, but I'm waiting for some to come in so I can work with them. My last ones went out the door for a 300 Wby. I would consider that the 300 WSM or the 300 WM would handle 95% of the hunting situations you would ever encounter in North America. If you have to have only one rifle, you could do a whole lot worse, that's for sure.

I worked as a pipe fitter on a construction job at Ethyl Corporation on the Ship Channel between school when moving from Einstein to UTHSCD. I work for Brown and Root at that time and earlier around Pampa and Borger I worked on the Lake Meredith Aqueduct with Fish Engineering. I spent a bit of time around the state. You are correct that it is a small world.

 

[ldg397]

Sorry dropped off the world the last week. I shot a friend of mine's x-bolt in 300 wsm with 150's and pleasantly suprised by the accuracy of that rifle and the relatively mild recoil. I know it will get worse as you move up in grains, but it seemed pretty mild mannered. I know what you mean when you are talking about everything in your safe fellings wrong.

I bought the 300wm sporter and fell in love with new winchesters, then bought a stainless featherweight in 270 and now even my other winchesters feel wrong.

The only one that is comparable is my m700 mtn lss in .260. Which JD has me itching to rebarrel to a 6.5 rem mag with a blind magazine in an edge for a true moutain rifle. Thanks buddy.

Sorry, back to the point. Let me ask this question. If you were looking for magnum performance rifle with a 24" barrel are there any other options. Such as going up in bullet diameter in a non magnum caliber. Like the 338-06 or 35 whelen, etc. which would be in a more compact setup. I think use would be deer, elk and an eventual trip to Africa for plains game.

My dilemna is I feel I am lugging the extra power and weight around for nothing because I don't typically shoot over 300 yards. It almost seems the 300wm is not a very efficient long range killer either so I am bearing the burden most of the time on normal hunting and then when I get to the shot that is whole reason I am carrying the rifle there are a lot more efficient rifles out there.

Saying all that to say I might buy an ew in the 30-06 that could be rebarreled to the 338-06, 35 or just go straight to 300wsm. It all boils down to needing a gun that is efficient in the bullet range from 150 grain to 220/250.

I have a .260 great from 100 to 130; .270 little more juice in the 130 to 150; then jump to the 45-70 guide gun and .458winmag which covers everything from 250 and up.

Another crazy thought would be to sell the .260 rebarrel the .270 to 6.5-06 and trade 300 win for 30-06 ew. Then add a long range heavy hitter between the 30-06 and 458.

 

[rjm158]

You might also look into a 325 WSM. Based on your parameters, it fits into that niche well.

Ron

 

[SJB358]

I bought the 300wm sporter and fell in love with new winchesters, then bought a stainless featherweight in 270 and now even my other winchesters feel wrong.

The only one that is comparable is my m700 mtn lss in .260. Which JD has me itching to rebarrel to a 6.5 rem mag with a blind magazine in an edge for a true moutain rifle. Thanks buddy.

Sorry, back to the point. Let me ask this question. If you were looking for magnum performance rifle with a 24" barrel are there any other options. Such as going up in bullet diameter in a non magnum caliber. Like the 338-06 or 35 whelen, etc. which would be in a more compact setup. I think use would be deer, elk and an eventual trip to Africa for plains game.

My dilemna is I feel I am lugging the extra power and weight around for nothing because I don't typically shoot over 300 yards. It almost seems the 300wm is not a very efficient long range killer either so I am bearing the burden most of the time on normal hunting and then when I get to the shot that is whole reason I am carrying the rifle there are a lot more efficient rifles out there.

Saying all that to say I might buy an ew in the 30-06 that could be rebarreled to the 338-06, 35 or just go straight to 300wsm. It all boils down to needing a gun that is efficient in the bullet range from 150 grain to 220/250.

I have a .260 great from 100 to 130; .270 little more juice in the 130 to 150; then jump to the 45-70 guide gun and .458winmag which covers everything from 250 and up.

Another crazy thought would be to sell the .260 rebarrel the .270 to 6.5-06 and trade 300 win for 30-06 ew. Then add a long range heavy hitter between the 30-06 and 458.

I don't think you would ever be disappointed in the Whelen if 300 yards is your max range, or at least the majority of your shooting. Love the Whelen and it is a hitter with 225's and 250's. Just a great round that really works well and utilizes that 06 case really well.

The 300WM is a great round, granted you probably don't need the extra trajectory it offers, but it does carry more energy than an 06, which is nice when hunting heavier animals such as elk. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

The term "magnum power" seems to indicate the need for speed. A fast 300 is always a good cartridge to include in your gun safe. Given the conditions you cite, I can't see it doing anything a 30-06 won't handle. I enjoy my 300 WSM; the primary advantage over the '06 is the fact that it handles heavier bullets a little better and gives somewhat more velocity. Do I believe a 338-06 or a 35 Whelen is called for? Every rifleman should shoot either or both of these cartridges at some time. Chances are that if they are a confirmed rifle crank, they'll "discover" that they have to have one (or both). Will it kill better than a 300 WSM? No, but it will allow the confirmed crank to load for another cartridge, and that will be gratifying for him. It'll make him a happy man, and that will mean that his wife is content with him.