The WSM Cartridges: Ranked Worst to Best

[@mikehass2229]

I've had my 7mm wsm for 16 years and I can't say enough about it. Performance on game with 140 grain ballistic tips and 160 grain accubonds has been excellent. I have several other rifle cartridges but the 7mm wsm is my favorite.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

There is a possibility I will be featuring a 7mm WSM on the channel in the coming month

[@lewisgeer1994]

@@ReloadingWeatherby Please do. I am thinking about getting one because i want a 7mm, but it dont want to get a 7mm PRC or 7mm Rem Mag.

[@Accuracy1st]

@@lewisgeer1994 I recommend you take a long hard look at a 280AI. I REALLY regret not building one 20 years ago. I had an excellent 280 Rem at the time and still have it. At that time I convinced myself I just didn't want or need it because of the 280 Rem and 7RemMag I have both built within a year of each other. I decided to take the plunge in 2023 and built two 280AIs. Incredible cartridge and everything I heard and read is true. Only 30-60 fps slower than a 7RemMag and what a few rifle builders told me is basically true, that the 7RemMag is quite inefficient. But I still love mine and now have 4.

[@outbackjack46270]

I bought a Winchester Featherweight when the 7 WSM came out and love it. So much so I've bought several different rifles in 7WSM. My groups are always Sub Moa. I look nearly everyday for 7WSM rifles on the net for sale and usually buy them up. I always seem to buy things that are different and I have never been dissatisfied with this purchase.

[@Accuracy1st]

@@outbackjack46270 I considered looking for a 7WSM for the past 5 years. But it would a rare find because it would have to be left handed. Now that I know the costs involved I may build one for Ss and Gs but it would be modified. I'd make a dummy round with a couple bullets like a Berger 180 VLD and 160 Nosler AB, send them to JGS and get a new reamer made because the bullets would be seated long such that it would require a long action. That's what I did with my 300WSMs and it worked. Never got any WSM when they first came out and I really considered it but just couldn't accept all that case capacity occupied by bullet vs powder all in the name of the single "advantage" of being in a short action, thus, lighter rifle. I learned a long time ago, the lighter the rifle, the more recoil. I hate recoil. Prefer to hike hours at a time with a few more ounces and a bit more power. Just my thing

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

My favorite of them all in the 300 WSM reigns Supreme! 😎🇺🇸🦌🐻

[@ralphyoung9296]

I have the 270wsm and the 300wsm. Put a Nikon Buckmaster scope on the both of them, had a stroke and they've never had a cartridge in either of them.. bought a 6.8 Western that is also NIB.. now I have to have a babysitter when I go hunting.. at least I'm alive.

[@mikehobbs7421]

Keep on trucking brother! Every day above ground is a good day👊🏻

[@rosalindstewart7013]

At least you got someone to carry your gear for you bro, get amongst it and get the minder working for you mate, take care and all the best, cheers Yogi 🤙✌️

[@ralphyoung9296]

@@rosalindstewart7013 and I don't have to drag my deer.. 😁

[@ScottH-hl3zv]

Best laid plans... Sorry to hear about your medical issues. Best wishes for you.

[@ralphyoung9296]

@ScottH-hl3zv .. Thank you.! I had plans for going west to do a little elk and mule deer hunting when I retired. Not gonna happen for me. I tell my sons to go enjoy hunting while you have your health. Take a trip every year or two.. At least my sons (4) will not have to worry about a rifle that will do the job.

[@dansta6316]

7wsm is definitely one of the most underrated cartridges around

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I might be getting one soon...

[@andyeighttre]

The new fade is long throated WSM’s. Lots of promise. If only they would feed as good as the SAUM and RCM.

[@JL-xn3zy]

Huge fan of the 300 WSM! With the 200 Terminal Ascent (amazingly accurate out of my rifle), it can do anything, minus the big five, from little deer to brown bear. And with a 24-inch barrel vs a 26.

[@Accuracy1st]

I'm right there with you. Love my 300WSMs

[@dalebenson6859]

I Guided AK brown bears hunts for 30 years so I can say by experience anyone who thinks a deer and Elk rifle 30 cal rifle of any size is a Brown bear guns then it is like going after Marlin and a Great white shark fishing with a trout rod. It really is a very stupid thing to do because the 30 cal rifles won't ever put the lights out or a brown bear on the stop, it's going to take multipole bullets and even go looking for the bear making a serious danger to you. Guiding clients all the bears we lost had been shot by 300 win and 300 Weatherby mags and no further than 50 yards and we can see the bullets hit knowing that bear is dead sooner of latter, but we fallowed massive blood and body parts coming out of the bear and even using a super cub plane we never found either of the 2 bears. Then were times me and the client are in woven together brush so think we are bent over crawling through the brush looking at blood all over the ground and on the brush and at one point a bear was growling and snaping its teeth at us some 50 feet from us and can't see anything. We found where the bear was and by the tracks, we found this was a sow and her older cub threatening us. There were times if we had been charged in the brush, I wouldn't give us much of a chance to get out of the way and shoot one of us would have been jumped. The client did come back the next year and did get his brown bear using a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 Mauser because he was so impressed with my own CZ 550 in 9.3x62 he bought one. I loaded his 9.3x62 ammo and got it off to him in Pennsylvania by Fed X. The minimum for Alaska is a 338 magnum or any kind. My 9.3x63 ammo I load it to near 375 H&H magnum commercial loads using a Barns TSX 286 grain bullet using 70 grains of H-414 powder

[@anonymousf454]

​@@dalebenson6859I always heard 338, while offering heavy bullets with great SD and BC, was not a big enough step up from 30, and had checkered performance in one or two shot stops on big bears. 358 and up was said to perform much better. Funny how just .020 supposedly makes much of a difference...but idk. I like the Idea of the .358 caliber being very versatile and economical. I read its also the starting point where cast bullets are viable for game. Load it with pistol bullets, real slow for small game, real fast for varmints, or somewhere in between for deer sized game. Comes in 300+ grainr's that will shoot from Stern to Stem through an Elk or anything else unlucky enough. Probably even make lead round balls work for small game or plinking too. Wish they just made more offerings in this caliber though.

[@drakeslocum2564]

@@dalebenson6859how would a 35 Whelen do?

[@CodyHill-xb3lm]

35 Sambar ! (358 WSM) It's got good velocity with the 200gr all coppers & 225gr bonded bullets... Plus it's got the frontal diameter too. I know it's a wildcat but still 3000 fps with an all copper 0.358" bullet 2900 fps with a 225gr Accubond All in a 22"-23" barreled 6lb rifle. It's ready too tackle anything including the big bears

[@Paul-q3m7k]

I want one bad . I love my 35 whelen but that sambar is unreal !

[@ryanpfeiffer7429]

I have owned both 325wsm and 270wsm. Both were fantastic and easy to reload accurately.

[@cw2a]

Good video! I always fancied that 325 WSM. No need here, But my first "deer rifle" was a 8mm Mauser and well it holds a sweet memory. ❤❤

[@dalebenson6859]

If you should one day want yourself an AR 10 on 325 WSM I do them for sale with all of the WSM chamberings even a 375 -300 WSM I hunt with

[@stevenboggs5076]

​@@dalebenson6859!where do I sign up!

[@michaelwilson9986]

I liked it the best of all 4.

[@andrewcleveland]

I was drawn to the 325 wsm myself. I like the odd calibers anyway. I always thought the 8mm rem mag was a contender for greatest elk cartridge ever made, bullet selection just handicapped it for years due to most loading bullets designed for 8mm mauser speeds. Europe has plenty of great bullets in 8mm though.

[@dalebenson6859]

@@andrewcleveland As an owner of a custom rifle in 8mm-378 Wby magnum and have owned an 8mm-06 then built and sold AR 10 uppers in the 325 WSM I can tell you the 8mm isn't lacking in bullet weights. I can buy 8mm bullets in weights from 124 gr - 139 gr - 150 gr - 165 Grain Barns TTSX - 170 grain - 185 grain TSX & Nosler Ballistic tip - different types of 198 grain bullets 200 and 220 grain bullets which I have both weights in Barns TSX bullets so what more could you want? PPU has a great offering in 8mm for low priced shooting bullets. In 8mm bullets for the AR 15 uppers I build and sell in 7,92x33 Kurz it uses the 124 grain 8 mm Bullet from PPU and Lapua. I have built and sold 1 AR 10 upper in 8mm-08 to a man in the Midwest.

[@ZAKish-cy9xu]

Well, I just ventured in to 6.8 Western land. I hope it sticks around for a bit. I met with hunters and guides in Idaho, who all claimed the 6.8 Western is a fantastic cartridge. As for the 7WSM, it’s sad to see its decline, it’s a better cartridge than the 7RM.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Hope you like it!

[@tythomps]

I bought my very first rifle in 2003...a Rem Model Seven in 300 SAUM.... Got into handloading because of it. Still love that gun and round, and have a lot of appreciation for the 300 WSM because of it. I'd recommend the 300 WSM to anyone looking to hammer deer and elk. Such a sweet spot of a round.

[@nathanadams8207]

325 WSM is close to a 338WM, but a hell of a lot less recoil. And less weight to carry around.

[@Looscannon94]

I'm deciding between 300 WSM and 7 PRC for my next rifle. I'm leaning towards 300 WSM but the 7 PRC is still enticing. I would consider 6.8 Western as well but I am personally not a huge fan of the budget rifle options available. I hope that more manufacturers pick it up.

[@Accuracy1st]

I have both 300WSM and 7PRC. Beyond 600 yards, the 7PRC wins, generally speaking, in drop and drift. Inside 600, flip a coin. Currently you can get ADG and Peterson brass in 7PRC. in 300WSM, there's Nosler and Norma but now Lapua is making it. I'm hoping to get some. I'm also hoping by this time next year Lapua will make 7PRC brass but I'm quite satisfied with my ADG as it seems to perform just as good. I have yet to even unbox the Peterson brass

[@padna7946]

Fierce and Christensen are both chambering 6.8 Western. Maybe build a custom if you want??? I own a 6.8 and two 300 wsm’s….Love them all!!!

[@Looscannon94]

@@padna7946 yeah neither of those are even close to budget options and same with a custom build lol. One day I'll be able to afford something like that but not at the moment.

[@edwardabrams4972]

In my short 60+ years of rifle collecting and reloading and hunting and owning about somewhere in the Nabor hood of 2,500 over that period of time in just about every cartridge ever made and have hunted with many many of them I hunt with the 300wsm in my Sako’s if I am going to be using a WSM cartridge! I also love the oldie but goods like the 270, 30-06 and the 7 rem mag along with the 308 because those are the most reliable from my many years of hunting and produce the best results but what does an old man like me know

[@RT-gv6us]

Great video. Please comment on the Rick Jameison lawsuit. I was under the impression that his suit ONLY applied to the 270 WSM (at least that is what Ron Spomer seemed to say). From what you are saying it sounds like it applies to all of the WSMs. Probably the saddest story is the 7mm WSM. It truly is a great cartridge. Great accuracy. Easier to find an accuracy node than the 7mm Rem mag. Has no belt. Matches velocity of the 7mm Rem mag with a little bit less powder. Lots weep about over the death of the 7mm WSM. I am still considering picking one up when I find a good deal.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I'll have to look into that. Hopefully I didn't misspoke on the subject.

[@dalebenson6859]

Accuracy isn't made by a type of cartridges and accuracy comes from good quality barrels and actions and the machining to build the gun. The 7.62x39 all the idiot Parrot mouth talkers from KZbin claim the 7.62x39 is a poor accurate cartridge but when fired from some US made bolt rifles the cartridge can prove to me extreme for accuracy proving my point.

[@RT-gv6us]

@@dalebenson6859 We will have to disagree on this one. While you are correct that good quality barrels and actions are a critical part of a build, there are some cartridges that are just more inheriently easy to find an accuracy node than others. For example, the 260 Rem has long had a reputation of being easy to reload for. I own one and there are several powders and projectiles that all work great. I can find accuracy in at minimum pressures, but I also find great accuracy up toward maximum pressures. The 260 is a very forgiving cartridge to load for. On the other hand the 7mm STW is a great round but can be a challenge to find a load that it likes. Once you find it, the STW is crazy good, but you will likely spend more powder and bullets trying than the 260. I could give other examples.

[@dalebenson6859]

@@RT-gv6us So you being all of 13 years old and reading shit in gun magazines and reading crap in these guns' comments just for a few years you believe the 260 cartridge itself is so accurate it can be fired through a gun with even smoot bore and win 1000-yard matches. I would be a banks load of cash you believe also the 7.62x54R fired from a garbage rod Mosin is so accurate a child can shoot coins at 2 miles away

[@RT-gv6us]

@@dalebenson6859 This will be my last communication with you on this. You say I am 13 years old. Uhhh, I might of started shooting when I was 10 years old, but I will turn 61 later this summer. I have spent most of my life shooting. I own a 260 Rem and reload for it along with a bunch of other cartridges. Just like you, I have a safe full of guns. While I do not consider myself an expert I have put in a LOT of hours on the reloading bench and sent a LOT of shots downrange over the last few decades. Dale, it is a well known fact among reloaders that some cartridges are more easy to find accuracy loads that others. I agreed with you that the quality of the barrel, and action is VERY important when it comes to repeatable accuracy. That is NOT at question. What I am saying is that even with a quality barrel and action some cartridges are still going to be easier to find an accuracy load than others. This is a well known and widely accepted fact among people who reload for accuracy. For you to dispute that fact just makes me shake my head.

[@thevoyageur2152]

I’ve owned 3 WSM rifles and only have 1 wildcat left that stared out as a 300 and is now a 416. The case should have been 48-50mm long and the shoulder pushed back to handle longer bullets like the Creedmore and tighter twist rates. I realized this early on reloading the 270WSM and dealt 2 rifles. Hopefully the 6.8mm Western will revive the WSM Case. Which really are SAUM cases when shortened. Happy Huntin.

[@ratdaddy7774]

In Australia they took the 300 WSM and necked it up to 35 caliber it's called 35 SAMBAR, ITS A BEAST

[@rosalindstewart7013]

I never new about that mate, thanks for the info, cheers Yogi 🤙✌️

[@timbjork2098]

i been kicking around making this riffle in Iowa we can hunt with .35+ bullets for deer but its much easier finding ammo in .358 win and less kick.

[@drakeslocum2564]

@@timbjork2098thought about 35 Whelen

[@glenp161]

I have a browning A bolt in 325 .It is extremely accurate. I use old school 200 grn nosler partitions, hits like a sledge hammer. I would like to try the 220 grn .l believe the larger 8mm bullets help solve the issue of losing powder capacity the 300 wsm suffers from. Did I mention its accurate?

[@jonjon8482]

I have been hunting with a .358 WSM for 6 years now. my best friend developed it for Indiana deer.

[@Paul-q3m7k]

I’ve got a custom 325 wsm in a browning blr . I love it for the Timbers as it’s a small handy rifle that hits very hard . I can also reach out with it if need be . You’re right tho ..the 300 does the same thing and wayyyyy more bullet options. I run the 200 grain accubonds at around 2850

[@Hunter-pf8qm]

I've got a BLR Lightweight White Gold in .325, light weight beast of a gun. Had to learn to control the barrell jump when shooting.

[@Paul-q3m7k]

@@Hunter-pf8qmhaha yup ! I hate shooting it off the bench . It jumps like crazy but it’s manageable. I bought a chronograph and the factory Winchester expedition loaded with the 200 grain accubond ct bullet is averaging 2946 fps out of that rifle . It’s a hammer . I shot a 45 inch bull moose at 502 yards this year . The bullet drove through both shoulders and hung up on hide on the far side

[@rickywilson2983]

I have a 325 WSM great shooting rifle my brother has a 270 WSM both great hunting rounds

[@TedHall-k7v]

Love my 270 WSM since it first entered the market in the Tikka.... Antelope, Mule & Whietail deer, and Elk with 130 -140 grain. Bullet placement with common sense of capabilities of yardage works for me. Thanks for the vjdeo!

[@montaego]

Interested in a 270wsm/fast twist vs 6.8 western comparison. Not a fan of Browning/Winchester boom sticks or ammo, so curious about building a 270 wsm 1:8 twist throated to take the heavy bullets, or building a 6.8western on the same action. I assume they are a pretty similar ballistically, but which one will have components available in the future. I'm a 280ai fan, but the 6.8western, had it been marketed better, may have tipped the scales in it's favour.

[@TrapperScottyAlaskan]

In 2001 my Dad bought the concept of the 300 WSM for me because I wasn't paying much attention. It our only Winchester model 70. It was also the year the model 70 switched back to the pre 64 replica. Today I'm realizing the true value of that rifle. I've grown to like it. It has the common feed issue. It hasn't missed yet

[@luvtahandload7692]

You're only about 10 years off.😅

[@TrapperScottyAlaskan]

@@luvtahandload7692 on the year of the replica or what. I start with I wasn't paying attention. I'm all ears

[@TrapperScottyAlaskan]

I tell fish stories, full time

[@luvtahandload7692]

@@TrapperScottyAlaskan ya, when the Classic debuted. I have one, a 280 Rem that I bought in...wanna say 1991. Had it rebarreled in stainless by Bill Wiseman to the same round just in time for my Unlimited tag for bighorn sheep hunt in Montana in 1993.

[@bradcromwell9404]

Good evaluation of the wsm family. After reloading the 270wsm, i can say the short throat and twist rate is what really holds it back. I've found it really gets inefficient with the longer vld bullets. I found 150 grain flat base comes out 150 fps faster than 150 vld with the same powder load.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for watching and sharing with me

[@outbackjack46270]

I bought a Winchester Featherweight when the 7 WSM came out and love it. So much so I've bought several different rifles in 7WSM. My groups are always Sub Moa. I look nearly everyday for 7WSM rifles on the net for sale and usually buy them up. I always seem to buy things that are different and I have never been dissatisfied with this purchase.

[@jessdurfee3817]

I have a .270WSM and absolutely love it. I have a load worked up for it with 130 Nosler Etip that runs at 3408fps. That load will shoot a one hole group at 100 yards provided the nut behind the rifle does his job, also cloverleafs at 200 yards. It chambers nice and is a joy to shoot, something about the WSM case that reduces recoil or something.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for sharing

[@darinjarvis580]

I have 270 wsm competes with 270 weatherby excellent longe range rifle with 130 ballistic tips holes touch each other consistently at 100yds im my opinion excellent deer and antelope cartridge

[@matthewbutcher203]

I couldn't agree more with your assessment. The best thing that spawned from the 325 wsm was the 200gr nosler accubond that works beautifully in my 8mm Rem Mag

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for watching

[@donaldheine6243]

The newer rifles come magazines that also work with 6.5 prc. The overrall length of the prc compatable magazine have a length of 2.955. This alows you to stretch the wsm a bit longer.

[@galenhisler396]

I have a 300wsm and 270wsm great caliber. Now I hunt moose with my 300wsm mostly because it's a remington 700xcr and I have it . 3 bulls down with it. But my 270 win is my deer rifle and I would should moose too,but again I have my 300wsm got to share the fun.

[@dalebenson6859]

Do you understand Moose aren't all the same spices? and size vary greatly like the Yukon Moose is the largest with adults at 1500 Pounds and a Shiras moose at best is 1000 pounds

[@johnkaraphillis754]

If your considering a 7WSM, obtaining quality brass will be extremely difficult. I considered a 7WSM but ultimately purchased a 7RSAUM due to the quality of brass available. It will not achieve the fps of the WSM, but still has impressive ballistics and versatility.

[@ScottH-hl3zv]

Quality brass? I have necked down 300 wsm and it fire forms the shoulder forward fine. Have picked up here and there, over 300 1x 7mm wsm, 150 new.

[@stephenkennedy3145]

Never understood why the 325 wsm never did well,great big game, and brown bear cartridge

[@texpatriot8462]

165g Accubond LR at 3,000fps from a short action is winning. 6.8W is coming on.

[@trevorkolmatycki4042]

The death of the 7WSM baffles me. I chose the 300WSM to replace my 300WM back in the 2000’s. Back then my attitude was If I’m going to endure magnum recoil, why should I settle for less in a 7RM or 7WSM? I basically lumped all magnum recoil together as similar enough to be considered the same issue to contend with. Today me laughs at how ignorant that is… but… It turns out I made the right choice. If all my gear got destroyed and I had to replace my Moose/Elk/Bear rifle, the only two cartridges I would consider would be the 300WSM and the 7PRC. Cheers!

[@stovepipe9er]

My x bolt in 7 wsm recoils significantly less than buddies heavier rifle in 300wsm. Ammo could have been a factor.

[@BertShackleford]

*_6.8 Western_* is _thee_ best 'do-all' cartridge to hit the market. The 6.8 Western is what happens when the 270 WSM receives a proper ivy league education. And more importantly, it shows the possibilities of a new cartridge as long as it/we stay away from Hornady and their bloated marketing budget. FWIW, I am sick of hearing/seeing/talking about the PRC line. Hornady has become the new 'Me Too' company, IMHO. Although, what they [Hornady] seem to forget is that they keep making magnum size offerings when we prefer short-action instead. What _We The People_ truly desire are update cartridges to the WSM lineup while still maintaining that short-action. The 6.8 Western proved this by becoming the successor to the 270 WSM. Now all we need is a new and improved 300 & 325 WSM. _WITHOUT_ the interference of Hornady. Nevertheless, this was a concise comparison of these ubiquitous (and somewhat lucrative) cartridges. Stay classy my friend.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for watching

[@TrapperScottyAlaskan]

The concept of WSM was to create a lighter rifle which in turn, kicks harder. My light model 70 300 wsm kicks harder than my Sako 300 win mag, which is 3 lbs heavier

[@trevorkolmatycki4042]

Haha… you have a point. But my 300WSM sako A7 rifle is heavier than my 300WM Savage 111 rifle, and is waaay better, so there’s that. I agree with you that ultra light magnums are annoying. Cheers!

[@TrapperScottyAlaskan]

@@trevorkolmatycki4042 that's funny same concept you should be rid of the savsge

[@texpatriot8462]

I fired my 6.8W for the first time yesterday. I had taken of the muzzle brake. It kicked like a mule in my 6.2lb rifle (plus scope). Not fun at all. Muzzle brake reinstalled.

[@MilwaukeeDillPickles]

The laws of physics aren’t unique to the WSMs

[@donaldbougie694]

Thank,s for your video,for me i test some wsm and the best is the 300wsm,very,very accurate and it,s not difficult to reload he take many kinds of bullets and powder!

[@ronlowney4700]

🕵️‍♂️ The Simple Minded Fella Chopped His 6.8 Western Barrel Down To 18 1/2" (His Friend Has a 20" Barrel) and Showed That Velocity Losses Were Minimal! The 20" Barrel is Optimal and Only Lost 43 ft/s From the Origional 26" Barrel! 🤯👍GIve Me That Performance in a 308 Western!!! 😱

[@ScottH-hl3zv]

I don't believe your numbers. Law of physics....

[@brianklamer3328]

Have a Kimber Montana in .270 WSM and Browning A-Bolt II in .300 WSM, prefer the .270 version. Thanks for the video.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Nice

[@Davis18361]

How about 300 WSM vs 7 SAUM? Looking at a new elk gun build and I just feel like there is no replacement for displacement but is 7 saum more accurate?

[@moonray1276]

Curious if the 223 WSSM doesn't fit in this family? Is it a necked down 300wsm?

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

It is not a necked down 300 WSM. I probably should have included the WSSM family...

[@stovepipe9er]

It baffles me why the 7 wsm didn’t take off, it does everything a 7rm does with less recoil, no belt and short action. I hope they have a resurgence in popularity one day. Wish I’d have bought more ammo for mine when it was available

[@greatlakespowerstrokefx4]

These are hunting cartridges and for thin skin game all you need is a lead soft point. For big boned game (africa, moose, big bears) a bonded lead bullet is all you need. You dont need high bc or extremely heavy for caliber bullets. For that reason i personally put 325 at one of the best. To have a large bore magnum that can be put in a 20 or 22 inch light weight rifle and hunted on large game, thats a great combination. You can get partition and a lead soft point in 8mm and thats all you need. Its too bad the production of brass and ammo has declined for all of them. Short magnums are super effective for the back country hunter. Its honestly a travesty 27 nosler didnt catch in, thats a sweet cartridge. The 6.8 modernized the 270 wsm and allows for high bc target bullets to be ran for target shooters but the hunter is going to want hunting bullets for hunting game and the twist rate isnt needed. I hope it sticks around, the 6.8 western is a good cartridge too and is helping to re popularize short magnums. Along with 6.5 prc and 300wsm resurgence. We should crowd fun a ammo/ brass company made specifically to keep cartridges alive. Like a membership society reloaders can join and be part owners of like a credit union.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for commenting

[@stephenferguson6363]

Huge fan of the 300 wsm....shot a 270 wsm for years but rebarreled it into a 6.5 prc.

[@tonydentonarms4112]

I was hoping you would have talked about the wssm ( 223 )

[@johnwilburn8319]

The only competition for the .220 Swift!

[@dgoodman1484]

Bought a plastic stock stainless 270wsm because it was cheaper than I could get just the action. Intended to make a custom 7mmwsm but once I put a quality trigger and bedded stock, the damn thing shot so well I couldn’t make myself pull the barrel. Now a have a pencil barreled action sitting around in an expensive stock sitting around doing nothing other than getting taken along as a backup hunting rifle that shoots better than my primary! lol

[@Yelladog78]

If going off the cost ammo then 300 wsm is the only one the public really likes. I can get 300 was for $30 a box, the rest start at $60 a box up to $90 a box in my area

[@RoxVrod]

What data are you using to measure a cartridge in terms of "active", "popular", "dead", and so on? Data for factory ammo and rifle manufacturers in each caliber sold by year would be two empirical datasets. Not sure how to account for the reloading community data per caliber per year. My buddy has a 20 year old 300 WSM and it has killed a lot of game including one black bear. He plans on taking his 6.5 Creedmoor elk hunting. I would take the 300 WSM over the 6.5 Creedmoor for an elk hunt. Not sure why Winchester calibers like the 300 WSM and 6.8 Western do not take off more, especially the 6.8 Western with more modern hight BC bullets and the case that does not require deep seating into the powder and rifles with modern faster twist rates. Enjoyed your video. Looks like you are having fun.

[@stovepipe9er]

I’d say dead is accurate for 7wsm, almost can’t buy factory rounds anymore.

[@falba1492]

Few people know this, but the loading for the 300 WSM and the 300 H&H is interchangeable. You very astutely noticed you can obtainable the same velocities with the 300 WSM, as with the 300 Win Mag with 5 to 8 grains less powder. Same is true for the 300 H&H, which will continue outperforming the 300 Win Mag and shoot a 350 grain bullet even faster. I have no idea why someone would pick a 300 Win Mag, over the 300 WSM. It’s a more efficient AND accurate cartridge. Because of how smoothly it chambers, efficiency and accuracy, I hunt with the 300 H&H.

[@jjmckay6man1]

the only reason you would choose the larger cases is for high BC bullets heavier than 200 gr. I have a great load for the 190gr hpbt sierras in 300wsm. hits like a sledge hammer.

[@falba1492]

@@jjmckay6man1 This is true about the 300 WSM, but not with the 300 H&H. If I was not totally vested in the 300 H&H, the 300 WSM would be my pick for multiple reasons. The 300 Win Mag was a step backwards in my opinion.

[@jjmckay6man1]

@@falba1492 yeah the 300 Norma magnum is a better pick for the bigger bullets like the 230 to 250 grain bullets. In my opinion anyways. 300 H&H is a good one also. Those cases are spendy though lol. I see why you don't want to change you have a lot invested. But for where I am the 300wsm suits my needs and I am glad I got that when I did and I Reload for it. I have had it for 20 years and really like it.

[@falba1492]

@@jjmckay6man1 The 300 Norma is really a military round for snipers, not something I would hunt with. That’s way too much recoil and muzzle blast for a lowly 30 cal. Also, I don’t hunt much past 400 yards. For anything more than 215 grains, I step up to my 338 Win Mag. The sweet spot there is 225 to 235 grains. I’ve been tempted to buy a 300 WSM, but I need another 30 cal. rifle like I need another hole in my head. Best of luck, and good hunting.

[@klink708]

I got a 300wsm and love it. I bought a like new H.S. Precision super light hunting rifle. It really doesn't kick no break. I wonder if it has the mercury tube in the stock or its just the stock that makes it not kick. I paid $2100 but a new one can cast over $4500. The only problem I have is finding ammo in stores.

[@parevolverguy4654]

I agree, most cartridges that are necked up don't succeed. However, I would consider the 416 Rem Mag very successful and it was necked up from the 8mm Rem Mag. I would also agree that the 300wsm can do most of what the 325 can do except maybe for those who do not reload. At least that was the case initially. The 300wsm had only 180 grain and lighter bullets available so the 325 covered the 200 and 220 grain space and overlapped with the 180s. Times have changed and now you can get the 200 grain terminal ascent in 300wsm but I don't believe there are 220 grain factory loadings available. Not a reason to buy a 325wsm but a difference nonetheless Last, the 325wsm was an important creation as far as the 8mm caliber is concerned. Prior to, bullet selection was really thin. While it is still thin relative to the 30 and 338 calibers, the 8mm has come a long way. Examples would include the 160, 175, 180 and 200 grain barnes tsx. 170 grain SSTs. 180 grain ballistic Silvertips. 200 grain partitions. 200 grain accubonds. 220 grain northfork SS bullets to name a few more premium types. Not terribly high BCs comparatively but more than sufficient for most hunters at reasonable hunting ranges. Well done video. Thank you for putting out good content.

[@drdes9609]

I think you nailed it. I think the 8mm was a very odd choice I like 8mm but the wsm doesn’t really allow it to succeed. That being said I don’t think an 8mm will ever be popular. I wish 300 brass was more available.

[@cw2a]

I also always hopped for the 358 WSM. But the 35's just dont hold well with shooters here in the USA. 😢😢

[@dalebenson6859]

One of my offerings for sale in the AR 10 uppers is a 375 WSM and I can build the 358 WSM on order.

[@marcmoore4115]

I feel like a 6.5 WSM and .338 WSM would have been great cartridges, especially before the 6.5 PRC came out, the 6.5 WSM is a pretty popular wildcat. People who've experimented with the .375 and .416 WSM, even .458 WSM say that the bigger the bullet, the better the WSM seems to do. Quite interesting. Big shame about the 7 WSM being so dead and slightly different dimensions to the others. I was looking at it recently and it'll push a 180gr at about 3000fps... similar to the 7 PRC but slightly slower. Personally, me being me, I've caught an eye for a .300-7 PRC... yep lol. I'll likely never build one, but it's interesting. I ran it through Gordons Reloading Tool - it's only 1 or 2gr more H20 than a .300 WSM, yet with a 225gr it beats it quite convincingly and it's only 100fps slower than the .300 PRC with 10gr less powder. Sounds pretty interesting to me lol.

[@falba1492]

Winchester tried the 338 WSM, it fell short of the 338 Win Mag performance, and was not commercialized. That is why they went with the 325.

[@Backin_Theday]

The problem with the WSM's was that rifle manufacturers tried to simply convert their short actions to feed those fat cases. The feed angles weren't right, and they never fed as well as their longer counterparts with less steep feed angles from the magazine. I sat near a shooter at the range who had the same Ruger M77 as I only his was 300 WSM and mine a 300 win mag. Every couple shots or so, he'd be playing with his rifle, unsticking a round, and you could see the angle and hop up was just to steep for slow bench rest feeding from the mag. It took a quick cycling to avoid the issue. Possibly, a push feed acrion would be more forgiving than the M77 was. They were also pretty much loaded to max capacity, and handloading didn't get you much further. The WSM theory really only works in a narrow band, which is why they never went beyond 8mm. Towards the end of the WSM craze, Browning couldn't hardly give away their 325's. I remember looking at one in Sportsmams Warehouse around 2008, that they were clearnacing a Gold Medalion for $549. The counter guy talked it up, and I simply said it's a nice rifle, but it's a 325. To which he replied, "Yes, there is that." Probably another factor besides the law suite you mention Winchester shut it New Haven factory down in 2006 and for years prior to that and after they were on shaky financial ground and that always causes turmoil Since FN Herstal purchased Winchester in 1989, they had been losing money. The WSM was supposed to help pull Winchester out of the financial nose dive but didn't really accomplish that. I remember people scrambling to get the last of the American made lever guns before production was moved over seas.

[@jjmckay6man1]

not a single issue with my savage 16fss in 300wsm. have had it 20 years and have DRT 22 deer with it with the 150gr.winchester ballistic silver tips. from 5 yards to 300.

[@barrymantei7795]

My Winchester model 70 300 WSM feeds ammo super smooth.

[@jjmckay6man1]

@@barrymantei7795 yeah my Savage 16FSS feeds just fine also.

[@BeaterJeep]

Not to be a broken record…… Hunters/reloaders missed the boat with the 7mm WSM. 139-160 grain efficient rockets… or 7mm08 velocities … Neck length was invoked as an inaccuracy contributor but lots of evidence that the 7 can be accurate. I may jump on the 300 WSM and 7 PRC bandwagons… really been interested in the 300 with heavy bullets.

[@nickb8618]

Make the 7mm wsm great again! 7mm wsm 162gr eldx 2000 fps and 1439 ftlbs @ 700 yards with 3” less drop than the 6.8 western and dead even to the 7mm prc 7mm prc 162 gr eldx 2039 fps and 1496 ftlbs @700 yrds identical drop to the 7mm wsm. 6.8 western 165 gr accubond long range 1961 fps 1408ftlbs @ 700 yards 3” more drop

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I have a 7mm WSM. I really like it

[@shaylneoozeva6260]

What happened to the 223 and 243s

[@TrapperScottyAlaskan]

I'm thinking the 270 wsm out performs the 300 wsm but I'm into 30 cal minimum

[@dougrybarczyk4449]

Is the neck length of the 300WSM a problem?

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

No

[@ronlowney4700]

🕵️‍♂️ It Seems To Me That If The 6.8 Western is As Good As Advertised, Then It Would Only Make Sense to Neck It Up to 30 Caliber? It Appears to Be a Better Cartridge Than The 300 wsm to Handle The Heavier 30 Caliber Bullets? Your Thoughts Austin? Has Anyone Done This Yet? 🤔

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Necking up a cartridge almost always fails. Name me one that has been a massive hit. The 6.8 Western has a smaller case than the 300 WSM. And let's say you put a 1in8 twist on the 30 Western... it's going too slow with a 230 gr and bigger bullet.

[@falba1492]

@@ReloadingWeatherby35 Whelen 😊 The 338 Federal was also good, but dead now that Sako and Tikka no longer support it.

[@davidh6818]

Putting the 270 wsm behind the 7mm wsm is a head scratcher,to say the least.The 7 wsm is a dead cartridge that is very difficult to find ammo or brass to reload(in your own words)while the 270 wsm outperforms the .270 and finding ammo or brass is relatively easy,unlike the 7 wsm.

[@mayamachine]

omg I've got that same rifle in 300WSM thank you for this video. I really have a hard time finding 300WSM info.. please do a deep dive on bullet options. I am a conservative shooter, I took a chance on 300WSM in 08, wanted 308, was accustomed to 308, but my 300WSM is friking amazing.. I want to hunt smaller game like 60# if that's possible, just so it's more versatile, thank you.

[@ronbeckybeasley3566]

The 6.8 Western is what the 270 WSM should have been from the start. It is a great round.

[@kevindills7936]

@@ronbeckybeasley3566 hell the 270 wsm is a great round love it

[@ronbeckybeasley3566]

@ it is. But the 6.8 western is even better

[@kevindills7936]

@ I have a hard hitter too 300 WSM I’d like to get one of the 68 Western though

[@ronbeckybeasley3566]

@ I want a 300 wsm.

[@kevindills7936]

@@ronbeckybeasley3566 there awesome you would love it I have a browning a bolt had it for years and sheets just as good today as it did when I first got it

[@hullihenfamily829]

FYI, the Remington 8mm Magnum shoots the Nosler 200 grain Accubond 100 fps faster and has 260 ft-lb more energy at the barrel than the 8mm WSM. not that any Elk would ever know the difference but the 8RM is flatter shooting with more energy. and by the way the model 700's they came in run smooth as butter. I like all the WSM cartridges though. all great hunting cartridges. i would be happy to own and hunt with any of them any north American game. Like any cartridge, build the gun right, and find the right load with proper bullet that it likes is the most important. More important than the cartridge you select.

[@Portlycranium]

Everybody says they wish the 325 wsm would have been 338 but if you research it a little the 338 caused problems because bullet lengths intruded on powder capacity since the wsm is true saami short action length. They couldnt get it all to fit right. Hence it fell to the 8mm bullet. And mine is awesome. As is my 300 wsm. Winchester screwed everyone by not supporting gun buyers with ammo. Common problems with all new rifle cartridges. Reloading solves that problem for me.

[@greglawson8106]

Love my 270 wsm

[@jamespmullin21753]

325 WSM ( like 8mm Remmag ) should be resurrected with better loads and 8mm mag can be another 340 Weatherby. 325 needs more than one load and better pricing. Ammo prices can kill a caliber.

[@GeneralObeseus]

Review the 300 RCM!

[@jmgates09]

Ive got all the WSMs and a 25wssm the 7wsm is the best followed by the 300 then 270 then 325

[@terrancemathews-th6pd]

I have the 270wsm an it out performs the 6.5prc I love it the tika t3 light is a tack driver

[@lefty574]

I really wish a company would bring back the 7 wsm I'd love one in a ultra lite platform

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

There is a small possibility I will be getting a 7mm WSM.

[@lefty574]

@@ReloadingWeatherby I hope you can pull that off id love to see some content on that

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

@@lefty574 It seems likely now. Just got an update from the person sending me the rifle

[@lefty574]

@@ReloadingWeatherby perfect I look forward to a video on it

[@falba1492]

@@ReloadingWeatherbyIt’s a very good cartridge, but good brass is unubtanium.

[@michaelwilson9986]

You got it right the lawsuit killed them n WSSM n RSUM n a likely some others. The 325 was actually the top seller for a couple of years n sparked some new bullets. I still has niche following. It was my favorite of the 4. Had em all at one 1 time. Just no longer the need for n Life happens. Aghhh

[@anonymousf454]

Is there anything bigger like a 338 WSM, 358 WSM or a 375 WSM?

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

nope

[@anonymousf454]

@@ReloadingWeatherbyIm sure someone necked a WSM case up to fir those calibers. They are probably really efficient with that short powder column and large diameter opening. Probably perform great in a shorter barrel too.

[@DonaldRussell-g9t]

For deer i use a 150 GR bullet in my 300 wsm it's shooting 3400 FPS I've got a 7 mm wsm also i use a 140 GR bullet in it it's going 3300 FPS .

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for sharing

[@carlpreston1680]

You forgot to mention they generally use more medium burning powders and shorter barrels to achieve the same speed especially the larger caliber wsm's

[@LielNicodemus]

I have a 270wsm it’s accurate and deadly for critters.

[@dalebenson6859]

I build and sell AR 10 uppers in all of the WSM magnums, and I hunt with my AR 10 in 375 -300 WSM. I have an order now for an AR 10 upper in 300 WSM that when finished will go to a man in Wyoming.

[@jaybailleaux630]

The short fat case consept all started with 6PPC . A benchrest shooters darling. The claim to fame is a short powder collum aids powder combustion uniformity with low velocity deviation. How much or how is it quantified for greater accuracy I do not know. Accuracy has for more to do with the firearm itself, especially the quality of barrel and bullet. Shorter actions for short cartridges make for a more compact, lighter weight rifle. I've been satisfied with more traditional cartridges.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for watching!

[@blaserlongrange7616]

Strange that Winchester didn't make a 338wsm cartridge, glad that blaser solved that issue with 8,5x55blaser

[@dalebenson6859]

Look on KZbin for a company making AR 10s in 338WSM and in 458 WSM. I do AR 10 uppers for sale in all of the WSM magnums and a 375 WSM wildcat.

[@jrnbakken4348]

8,5x55 Blaser is an very good one, used for all my Scandinavian moose the past few years, with Barney’s TTSX. :)

[@dalebenson6859]

@@jrnbakken4348 That is interesting cartridge. I have a custom rifle in 8mm-378 Weatherby magnum

[@ronlowney4700]

🧐 The Truth is That John Lazzeroni's 308 Patriot - Released Back in the 1980's Started This Short Magnum Craze and Can Do Anything That The 300 wsm Can Do, But More Efficiently! Their is Nothing New Under The Sun Here Austin (Except Availability and Cost Reduction From Mass Production By a Bigger Company)!🌞

[@goranmalnar5172]

7 mm with 160-175 is one off the best cartridges ever made. Here in Europe 7x64,7x65R is one of the best cartridges in 7 mm. It is on pair with 270,and 280 rem,close to 7rem mag.You can shoot bullets from 120 to 175 grs. 175 is good for everithing that have four legs o my opinion. Sory on my english witening.😅

[@falba1492]

The reason the 7x64 is so good is because of its twist rate 1:220mm, or 1:8.66”. I love that cartilage.

[@kentkeller5211]

Why didn't you talk about the, smaller ones?,223wssm and,the 243wssm.

[@hyregeg9730]

325wsm I've over 50 rifle S won't trade its the best hands down ìt eats scopes for dinner tho

[@jwdundon]

For any of these cartridges you have to be a hand loader to afford to shoot them. My Browning a bolt absolutely loves the 13o partition Max load IMR 4350. Sub MOA groups.

[@scottscheuerman8714]

I have two short magnum both are model 70 super grade models identical one is a 300 WSM and the other is a 270 WSM and the 300 WSM does have some kick the 270 WSM does handle heavy weight bullets little faster than the standard caliber

[@Xbolt1969]

I just love my 300wsm

[@fnkdtnk]

The 300 wsm is definitely, and by leaps and bounds, the king of wsm’s. Unfortunately for the 7wsm, despite Hornady’s shady box velocity practices, 7prc will be the final nail in its coffin, with the 280AI being a few extra screws for good measure.

[@bullgiraffe]

"7mm WSM is the most dead" Great, that's the one I have. Really, the only thing it gets you is BC. If you compare similar weight bullets between a 30-06 and a 7mm WSM, they are pretty close in velocity. So you are basically trading magazine capacity for ballistic coefficient. That said, I still like it. It might be that I like the rifle more so than the cartridge.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I'm getting a 7mm WSM soon. Looking forward to how well it performs

[@jrhunt414]

8mm bullets killed the 325. If only it was a 338 WSM, but 338 RCM was similar and it still failed even with a common bolt face and case head size. 8mm is a nice bullet but options and weights are very limited as well as never on the shelf. Maybe in Europe you could easily find 8mm bullets. The 8mm Mauser is permanently doomed in the US due to Sammi spec and all the different variants. If the 8 Mauser was specd as the JS load it would have done very well and so would the 325 WSM. The JS load I dare say is better than a 30-06. I remember when these were introduced and I wanted a 243 WSSM because it was the new hot thing and ammo was on the shelf. The only one I see now is 300 WSM.

[@ScottH-hl3zv]

I don't have much trouble finding good 8mm bullets to handload for my 325...

[@brianklamer3328]

Own two of the WSM rifles, Kimber Montana in 270 WSM and Browning A Bolt II in 300 WSM.Prefer the 270.

[@phild9813]

I like them all, but i think the 270 is the best WSM. It fits in a nice velocity gap in the .277 lineup.

[@jcarry5214]

My feeling is they skipped over the best one of them all, the 35 WSM. A great cartridge that never got made. They even could have nicknamed it the Whelen sport magnum.

[@WayStedYou]

6:40 I wouldn't call .308 vs .323 much bigger the gap is less than half 7mm>30 caliber .284 to .308

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Much bigger was the wrong word.

[@JonRangel87]

Not sure if you’ve done this but you should rank the worst to best hornady cartridges

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I have done that video

[@sinistersilverado965]

I like the 25 WSSM

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I forgot to include it

[@falba1492]

@@ReloadingWeatherbyThat are part of the WSSM family. Those are are all pretty much dead.

[@Xbolt1969]

Can get any 270wsm in Canada

[@stovepipe9er]

Should be able to.

[@NorthRiverGuide]

A guy i know picked up a 325wsm because he wanted to be unique, and his 30-06 wasnt enough to reliably kill whitetail deer. Now he has a rifle that he can't find ammo for, that he is less accurate with, but has confidence in it because the recoil.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Oh man

[@sugargoldy]

Denny Dennis. sporting goods in Fenton Missouri has plenty of 325 short magnum ammo It's $100 a box but it is out there.

[@NorthRiverGuide]

@sugargoldy there's around 3 loadings for factory ammo, which the power point load is the only one we can find up here in quebec, for $140/box. Not to mention this is the kinda guy that wants to pay at most $50/box for premium, and has resorted to asking around for people to reload for him to save money. He asked me, but didn't like my quote. Haha

[@Accuracy1st]

Tell that guy the easy fix. Buy any caliber barrel he wants, keep the action and stock and get it rebarreled into any other short mag he wants. I'd recommend 300WSM since Lapua is now making the brass. He can easily rebarrel the action with a 6.5PRC (have to pay attention to OAL), 270WSM, 300WSM, 7PRCW. Depending on what rifle brand it is there's a possibility it can convert to a long action. Tikka, for instance, is one length action. Thus, if you own, say a 270WSM, you can convert it to any long action magnum you want with a new barrel, new long bolt stop, and a cheap polymer mag in long action

[@NorthRiverGuide]

@derekmcmurry4263 his 325 is a BLR, I suggested he learn to shoot his 30-06, but after losing idk how many deer, his confidence in 30-06 being enough for deer is gone. Despite me showing him footage of the deer I've killed with cartridges as small as 223.

[@nicsu2128]

The .325 is only .017 larger in diameter than .300 WSM. That 17 one thousandths of an inch. Which makes me think you’re going to be pushing the same weight class if bullets as the 300, at similar velocity: 7mm has about the same problem.

[@phild9813]

Frontal area is about 10% larger in the 325. It’s incremental, but it makes a difference. Probably 150fps more in the 325 for the same weight bullet. The real advantage is probably with the heavier bullets, but there’s just not much out there in 8mm. I wouldn’t choose a 325 for availability alone.

[@diverhunter498]

You have a lot more choices that what’s shown as far as the 325/ 8mm goes

[@mikecampbell9863]

My 270 WSM works quite well with a 140 eld-x

[@trentsnaza3372]

Why does everyone dump on the 8mm?? Actually the Vortex nation people said the 8mm Remington magnum is a lead Ballon. They have no clue what they are talking about! My 8mm Remington Magnum I can get 3000+ velocity with every bullet weight!! 150, 170, 175, 180, 195, 196, and 200!! Haven't tried Sierra's 225's yet. And bullets are cheaper than .338 bullets!! And obviously bigger than .308!!!

[@dantep5570]

They mean that it never took off and it didn't. They're not trying to dump on the cartridge, just its popularity and availability

[@davidpearn4344]

I've shot 165 Accubonds in 270 WSM and it shot them fine with the 1 in 10 twist

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I shoot the 165 ABLR all the time in my 270 Win with a 1in10 twist