300 WSM vs 300 Win Mag Comparison

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

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[@rtpickett]

I have a 300 WIN MAG and a 300 WSM and I love them both. Cant really tell a difference between them in accuracy or recoil myself. Would gladly carry either.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

100%!

[@deepwood4]

Then what's the point?

[@TurboTaco2JZ]

I appreciate the WSM can be used in the AR10 platform with very little modifications. Going for the longer COAL 200 grain offferings presents some challenges, but it's still amazing to have that kind of power and accuracy in a common semi auto platform.

[@Northspy49]

Dang it, you had to go off and say that. Now, I’ll have to build one ugh 😂

[@LSC2001]

300 WSM is going to start gaining traction again. Great calibre

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

100%!

[@troyclark100]

It certainly is! I really like it.

[@wxdave5448]

I acquired a Browning 300 WSM several years ago and very pleased. I’ve got a large selection of 185gr ammo for it pre-2020 shortage.

[@BornAgain2019]

I know you said a slightly modified 338 win mag case. Just so everyone knows wildcatters were necking down 338 win mag brass to 30 cal for years (30/338) before Winchester unveiled the 300 Win Mag. When they finally did, it was not merely a necked down 338 Win mag like everyone expected. They pushed the shoulder forward and greatly shortened the neck in an attempt to gain case capacity and higher velocities while keeping OAL for standard actions.

[@IronheadStakebreaker]

The short mags generally come with 2-inch shorter barrels and basically match the performance of belted mags within a couple%. I can't remember if you mentioned it or not. Basically, the WSM rifles have a shorter action aswell and are typically lighter and 3 inches shorter overall rifle lengths. My Q trash panda suppressor is just a hair over 6 inches long. So that makes a huge difference. With a WSM you end up with a suppressed magnum that is only 3 inches longer and the same weight or lighter since the trash panda is titanium AND roughly 308 recoil. Suppressors take out TONS of recoil.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

That's a good point with the fact that the 300 WSM can be in rifles with a shorter overall length, yet still very closely match the performance of the 300 Win Mag. My PHs in Africa use that exact same principle with the 375 Ruger vs the 375 H&H. Their Ruger is a Gun with a 20" barrel and has the exact same ballistics as the 375 H&H. Slap a suppressor on the end of the Guide Gun and the rifle is only a little bit longer than a 375 H&H, but still hits just as hard and has about 20% less recoil.

[@jarodchronister3522]

I shoot a Savage BA 110 300 win mag. I have a 18” target that I practice distance with. At 1000 yards I consistently get 8-9” group with hand loaded 175 Sierra bthp that chronos at 3300 fps at 10’ from the muzzle. I’ve tried closer than 10’ but the chrono malfunctions due to muzzle blast. I’ve only got out to 1450 yards with my 18” target because grouping more than doubles at 1500 yards. I’ve taken deer at 780 yards and elk at close to 600 and they both pretty much drop in their tracks. I chose the 300 WM specifically because price and availability of factory ammo, and because where I elk hunt in northern AZ 300+ yard shots are not uncommon.

[@mikeegan99]

I used my 300 Win Mag to take an elk with a 200 grain Nosler Partition. I used Federal's Terminal Ascent 200 grain cartridges on a variety of plains game and they were very effective on small game like impala and larger game like zebra and wildebeest.

[@RT-gv6us]

Very good analysis. One point to mention: If you reload, the 300 Win Mag has a belt and the 300 WSM does not. As a reloader I prefer head spacing off the shoulder rather than a belt so from a reloader's perspective there would be a slight edge to the WSM. But, with that said, I purchased the 300 Win mag because a GREAT deal presented itself to me and have been very happy. I have been able to load up some very accurate handloads.

[@dormanlong9619]

I have both. And 2 other belted magnums. None of mine headspace on the belt. Use the same technique as any bottleneck round. Simply adjust your sizing dies to not push the shoulder back, which is how you should do it for any bottleneck round. Belt is absolutely not an issue.

[@elkhunter6746]

I have one of each. I find my self using my wsm more often but I like my win mag as well. My 300 wsm is a Ruger M 77 so Ruger chambered them at one time. Great video

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Thanks! Ruger is funny sometimes: they'll offer a cartridge in a rifle for a year or two, then stop and switch it out with something else. While their current cartridge lineup may not be very big, it seems like they've offered their rifles in darn near everything at one point or another over the years.

[@Accuracy1st]

I bought a 300WM 35 years ago. Got it and a 7RemMag the same day. Ended up selling the 300WM simply because I didn't need it but wanted to try it. Kept the 7 then bought a 300RUM. Now I currently have 300WSM and 300WM. I kept reading for years and years how insanely accurate the 300WSM was/is so I bought it in a Tikka stainless. Not much later, found a big sale on an identical Tikka stainless in 300WM so I bought it but ONLY with the intent to convert it to a 7PRC. Couldn't stand not to shoot it so I bought Norma Bondstrike and Norma whitetail ammo and it shot so well I kept it as is. Discussed the 300WSM with my rifle builder and told him I wanted to convert it to the PRC concept where I can seat bullets out further. Turned out he has a reamer for just that purpose so he modified my chamber so I can seat bullets out. Switched out the bolt stop on the Tikka to accommodate the longer bullets so it's now a long action. Not quite satisfied with the attempts to add more powder so I got a new reamer made by JGS. I sent them a dummy round with a Berger 210 VLD seated long. I also told them I wanted the chamber 0.002 larger (fatter) than SAAMI spec, just like Alex Wheeler did with the 6.5PRC, 7PRC, and 7PRCW, which GREATLY improved these cartridges. I just received the reamer and will see how it does with the Tikka factory barrel as well as a spare I bought. But, I also have Brux and K&P cut rifled barrels on hand if the Tikka barrels don't work to my satisfaction. THEN, I found another smoking deal on another new Tikka Lite stainless 300WM identical to the first one so I bought it and told myself, DON"T SHOOT IT, because I wanted to convert it to the 7PRC. Go figure, I couldn't stand it so I shot that Norma ammo in it as well and of course, it duplicated the first 300WM punching 0.4 and smaller 3 shot groups. Regardless, I put a Proof prefit 24" carbon fiber barrel on it in 7PRC, added a Stocky's Stock and it's shooting 1/2" groups out of the gate with factory Federal 175 ELDX, Hornady ELDX, and Hornady ELDM ammo.

[@chadperry4021]

What velocities were you getting with what bullets in the 300 wsm long action?

[@BadKarma.-]

Really wanna see some 300wsm with 210gr, 212,215, and 220s for some of the bigger brown bear

[@desertpointkennel]

I have both and have reloaded and hunted with both. I shot my dad's 300 WM for the first time in 1972. They are both extremely accurate. I have the 300 WM in an old Remington 700 with the factory stainless barrel. No complaints. The 300 WSM is in an all stainless Sako a7, and again no complaints. I like the short bold and overall the Sako feels better. However don't think for a minute that the 300 WSM will get the velocities of the 300 WM. It won't happen. That said the 300 WSM will get the job done. Brass is very hard to find in the WSM, as is reloaded ammo. Meanwhile the 300 WM is still goung strong. I would not get a 300 WSM unless I was a very good hand loader.

[@Wheelchair-bear]

Very innovative of Winchester to come out with the 300, only 20 years after Roy Weatherby came out with his 270 mag and 19 years after his 300 Weatherby mag.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Are you just saying that? Or do you really not understand why the 300 Win Mag was an innovative design compared to the 300 Weatherby?

[@kbowen2251]

Great video! You got that edited very quickly too. Have you done any podcasts or videos discussing copper ammo yet? Is there a difference in availability in copper for these two? I know I was able to get the Hornady outfitter for my 300 win mag Ruger Hawkeye and it performed very well.

[@jmgates09]

300 wsm all day but im biased 300win is great but WSM is my favorite design n 7wsm is best of all and appreciate that box of 160gr TBT I got from you they are like gold got to take a whitetail with it was like a hammer of Thor

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Right on!

[@kevindills7936]

Got a 300 wsm 270 wsm and 7mm wsm love them sometimes ammo can be hard to find it’s has gotten better with the 300 and 270 wsm but the 7mm wsm it’s almost impossible to find ammo for it and when you do it’s very expensive my son killed a nice ten point buck with the 7mm wsm dropped dead in its tracks I’m a big fan of the wsm had them for years killed a lot of deer with them I haven’t seen anything. They have come out with any better.

[@galenhisler396]

I have both i like the 300wsm the most and have shot the moose with it. What i like about the 300 win.mag. is the ammo is cheaper and easier to find and more choices of ammo but again i prefer 300wsm.

[@jbradley500]

I like 300 win mag because it's got the coolest sounding name and old guys think it'll kill anything that walks without proper shot placement.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

You're 100% right about the coolest sounding name!

[@jimbiddle8646]

Took my REM 700 titanium Alaskan wilderness rifle in .300 WSM to Canada. It did the job.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Tell me more

[@Zigit994]

Humm… If you took the overall rifle length of a 300 win mag with lets say a 26” barrel, changed it to a 300 wsm with that light, short action, reduced the over length of that rifle by an inch 1/2- 2 inches, added that back onto the 300wsm barrel length, how would it perform compared to the 300 win… Kinda kick its ass and be cooler 😎

[@Jose-g2v3s]

Utilisateur depuis 17ans ,très satisfait surtout à grande distance jusqu'à 500m .grosse efficacité également aux distances habituelles de battues. Ça souffle quand même fort ,plus que ma 300wm déjà très efficace aussi . Seul souci en ce moment, trouver les bonnes munitions, mais ça le fait quand même. Je recommande.

[@MrHuntermikey]

Excellent editorial . A hunter would be well served with either cartridge . Myself I’m just more used to a 300 Win Mag

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Thanks, nothing wrong with the 300 WSM, but I'm a 300 Win Mag guy too.

[@carycary5824]

Hunting brown bears I would think about how smooth and quick the rifle chambers a round. A quick second shot can make the difference between a good hunt and a bad hunt.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Good point!

[@scottythebody0811]

Great review. 300 WSM will be my next purchase.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Good choice!

[@larrybassett5559]

I always get a chuckle when someone says the 300 WSM equals or exceeds the old .300 Winchester Magnum. I've handloaded the .300 H&H, Win mag, and WSM for many years. Point of fact, the WSM and the old H&H have practically identical powder capacity up to a reasonably conventional 180 grain bullet, anything heavier the H&H has a distinct advantage. Neither quite equal the Win mag. They aren't to far off, I don't think you'd ever notice a difference in the field, I haven't, but with the old Win mag it's no great trick to get 3,100 fps plus with a 180 grain bullet, try as I might, the WSM just couldn't quite get there for me. The old H&H came close though, at 3,080. The Win, mag was made to slightly better the old venerable H&H and split the difference between it and the .300 Weatherby, another cartridge I have loaded for decades. The real, and somewhat supposed advantage of the WSM's was a smaller, lighter rifle, which may or may not be advantageous at this level of power. My .300 Win mag, H&H and Weatherby remain, the WSM's went down the road. Personal preference, I like more weight in a Magnum rifle, and Winchester definitely overstated some of the ballistics on these early on. I've worked a lot with the .325 WSM as well. It's an all right cartridge in its own right, but Winchester definitely was blowing smoke with their advertising on that one, a .338 Winchester Magnum it will never be. Marketing at its best, much like we see currently with cartridges labeled PRC. We all have our preferences, use what you like and enjoy them for what they are, any of them are deadly effective when used correctly with good projectiles. Just don't fall for the Marketing. Be critical and test things for yourself.

[@BadKarma.-]

You can get nearly identical 3100fps out of a WSM with 180s

[@glundgren2097]

Do you compare the cost of the rifles available as well as the cost per round on average? How about availability?

[@LBrawn]

i don't think either recoil hard, the 300 RUM has some recoil, and the 338wm.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Opinions all over the place on this one. I'm with you in thinking neither one has bad recoil, but not everyone agrees with us. 🤷‍♂️ The individual rifle and shooter has a lot to do with perceived recoil though.

[@keithprinn720]

just look at the powder holding difference in these two, first question how few need this calibre anyway. Massive recoil unless the right build rifle.

[@cjamonwilliams]

Bro..who makes the silver bullet...I gotta try to reload it...artistry

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

You really like those silver bullets! That's a Trophy Bonded Tip from Federal. It's similar to the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw I've used in some of my 7mm videos.

[@jmgates09]

Tbt and Terminal Ascent are best bullets out there for hunting in my opinion

[@Lucysdad66]

As a reloader I will pick the 300wsm it uses less powder and the brass last longer.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Nothing wrong with that!

[@kennymurray9534]

I have two 300 win mag TikkaT3X&700 Rim mag

[@texteb]

Looking for Barnes 165gr. In 300wsm. Having a hard time finding this factory load? Any suggestions?

[@BAMBI243]

300 H&H ???

[@erich44magnum]

I approve this message…

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Haha, thanks!

[@ChrisEdling]

First! 👍🏼

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Second!

[@TechnikMeister2]

They are both nasty to shoot. Thats why they are the most unpopular 30 cals to shoot. For target shooting you are better off with the 6.5s or 7mm. For hunting you want a heavy bullet for weight, going slow enough to stay in the body of the animal at less than 300yds which now is the limit for ethical hunting. A 30-06 or 308 with a 180gn bullet at 2700fps is best. Of to witness why the 303 is still a winner, a 180gn round nose at 2400 fps. They drop where they stood. Probably the queen of 30 calibres is the 300 H&H. Its powder burn is slower so the recoil is more of a push. But it stops anything short of a 338.

[@OutsidetheEchochamber]

Modern butt pads, muzzle brakes, suppressors have made these into soft shooters. My browning speed in 300 wsm recoil is very mild.

[@gesheepistemology8050]

You can tell a hunter over LR or comp shooter. He does not talk about belted case reloading issues and case life, he does not talk about higher BC suitability with 300WSM and loading issues with longer projectiles. 300WM is a dead cartridge as 300PRC, 7PRC and maybe 6.5PRC have killed it... along with 300WSM as another better option.