300 WSM: Your experience with this caliber?

[ruuns]

Thanks

[DS]

The 300 wsm as a general 30 cal in SA does not make sense, since factory ammo will only be avail here and there, and not locally made.

But the 300 wsm as a pure 30 cal hunting rilfe makes more sense than all the rest, it's lacks the badges since it's the new kid on the block, it was however designed to be the best 30 cal hunting rifle available.
It's short, such as the name suggests, meaning you will get away with a short action, yet the short powder column may be it's greatest advantage. The 300 wsm was the first rifle to make a 10 shot sub 3" group at 1000 yards, and that is scary accurate. Also worth mentioning is the fact that the record was shot with 210gr bullets, when the uninformed claims the 300 wsm does not shoot good above 180gr.

It replicates the speeds of the 300winmag and the 300 H&H, and because of their worldwide success bullets are just about avail everywhere. Which then leaves only two components, doppies and dies.
Which lets face it, are once off buys, S&O stocks a lot of them these days:
http://www.safariandoutdoor.co.za/su...ry/die_300_wsm

Even though we only have one powder manufacturer in SA Somchem does have reloading data for it :
http://www.somchemreload.com/search?c=All&f=335

In the end the choice will come done to rifle manufacturer and specific model preference, the rest are mere academic, the numbers speak for themselves.

Solid info, thanks, down to the point on wakes it special.

I checked - brass is available, bullets are obviously not a problem.

[Maroelas]

Khumba, out of interest sake, what will you use this rifle for?

[SamVimes]

I've been researching this rifle for a bit as well. I really like what I've read so far. As long as you're willing to reload, I don't really see any problems with it. Seems to be a nice 'all-purpose' rifle, anything from Springbuck up to Kudu/Gemsbuck with out to much difficulty - or am I wrong?

[DS]

Khumba, out of interest sake, what will you use this rifle for?

I have a 9,3x62 and a 308 with a 20" barrel.

I want to use it for longer distance hunting (let's say 300 +) and like the inherent accuracy of the 308 bullet and it's availability and spread of bullet weights.

[Maroelas]

I have a 9,3x62 and a 308 with a 20" barrel.I want to use it for longer distance hunting (let's say 300 +) and like the inherent accuracy of the 308 bullet and it's availability and spread of bullet weights.

Oh okay! Don't see you around the hunting section much, never knew you hunted!

[DS]

Did quite a bit of hunting, less now. I like Kalahari visits and hunting so I have a bucket list caliber to fit that need .

[DLRX]

Mine is not accurate enough for long range use. Is doing roughly 1 1/2" at 100 m. Iam working to get the group smaller.

[ruuns]

Which make and model?

[TStone]

My personal experience of the .300 wsm consist of exactly one shot, I killed a springbok at 280 meters, the rifle was zeroed at 200 m, I held on the shoulder, level with the back and dropped it in its tracks.

If you do get a .300 wsm consider getting it in a long action, like the Tikka, short actions limit your oal making it less effective with the 200 - 220 gr bullets. Excellent caliber, but then most of the .308 cal magnums are.