300 WSM or 7-300 WSM Advice

[nick338]

Recently the ability to shoot to a mile has been shut down indefinitely. In re-thinking the rifle I would like to build these 2 cartridges come to mind. Will be shooting mostly 300-1000 yards and want to keep the option to go to a mile if things change for the better in the future. My thoughts are the building a rifle off a Defiance XM action and running a 7-300 WSM with a 195 Berger or a straight 300 WSM and running a 208 ELD or 215 Berger.

Just want something fun to shoot and be able to spot impacts without building a designated ELR rifle or a long action.

Thanks.

 

[Steel head]

Build a 260/6.5 Creedmoor.
It will do everything stated.
A mile is totally doable with them.

That said I have a few mile+ spots now and I’m building a 7 SAUM.
Better ballistics than any of the short magnum 30’s from what I’ve found.

Between the 7/300 or 300 WSM I’d choose the 7/300.

You could also do a straight 7mm
WSM and use the extra case capacity to really push those 195’s.

Hmmm
Or a 300/ 7WSM?
The case capacity might be enough to push 225’s.

 

[b6graham]

any reasons not to do a 7SAUM/7SS or 300SS and stick with a short action?

 

[KevinU]

Recently the ability to shoot to a mile has been shut down indefinitely. In re-thinking the rifle I would like to build these 2 cartridges come to mind. Will be shooting mostly 300-1000 yards and want to keep the option to go to a mile if things change for the better in the future. My thoughts are the building a rifle off a Defiance XM action and running a 7-300 WSM with a 195 Berger or a straight 300 WSM and running a 208 ELD or 215 Berger.

Just want something fun to shoot and be able to spot impacts without building a designated ELR rifle or a long action.

Thanks.

Those are two calibers I consider as well. Both calibers perform well in 1000yd BR/F-Class. I'm a steel shooter, but pay attention to the proven calibers used in disciplines chasing accuracy. Going with a 7-300wsm on a long action, chamber throated for 180 Hybrids. Dies- Forster 7wsm micrometer seater, Forster 270wsm non bushing FL sizer. Forster opened/hone the neck to .308 for a loaded .310. As you probably know the 270wsm/300wsm bodies are the exact same dimension. Will neck down Winchester 300wsm brass, skim the necks.

I've shot out two 7saum barrels shooting 180 Hybrids. Going away from the 7saum because of brass. I'm out of the can't get Remington 7saum brass. Two friends have had horrible luck with Nosler/Norma 7saum brass.

 

[b6graham]

Those are two calibers I consider as well. Both calibers perform well in 1000yd BR/F-Class. I'm a steel shooter, but pay attention to the proven calibers used in disciplines chasing accuracy. Going with a 7-300wsm on a long action, chamber throated for 180 Hybrids. Dies- Forster 7wsm micrometer seater, Forster 270wsm non bushing FL sizer. Forster opened/hone the neck to .308 for a loaded .310. As you probably know the 270wsm/300wsm bodies are the exact same dimension. Will neck down Winchester 300wsm brass, skim the necks.

I've shot out two 7saum barrels shooting 180 Hybrids. Going away from the 7saum because of brass. I'm out of the can't get Remington 7saum brass. Two friends have had horrible luck with Nosler/Norma 7saum brass.

ADG. Bertram. RCC

 

[Steel head]

ADG. Bertram. RCC

I went the ADG route.

 

[nick338]

any reasons not to do a 7SAUM/7SS or 300SS and stick with a short action?

If I was building a hunting rifle and staying with medium weight bullets for caliber then a short mag would be fine to feed from magazine length but I want to take advantage of the case capacity and heavier bullets for this.

 

[generalzip]

I've owned both calibers. The 7-300WSM is a lot of work and will ultimately cost a LOT more to build when you factor in fireforming. You will burn out barrels way faster with the 7mm. The ballistics and recoil will be better with the 7mm. Is the juice worth the squeeze? I think probably not after my experience with both.

I think the XM action is not a good idea. You are limited to using their BDL which is expensive and makes your gun very niche and will probably be harder to sell. If you want more length def go with a long action. It gives you the flexibility to switch to a lot more calibers in the future and will increase resale. Are you really going to notice the minor difference in length?

If you got short action mag bolt you can run 6.5 PRC, 7mm SAUM/WSM, or 300 WSM. If you want to reload the 7SS is one of the best rounds out there in my opinion, at least on paper. I think ultimately you need to decide short or long action. From your intention to shoot long range with heavy bullets I'd steer you toward a long action personally. If you're dead set against it and want a short action I'd look really hard at a 7SS or 7SAUM and the 180 hybrid. BC isn't everything. If you elect to go with a 8 twist for the 195 and it doesn't shoot well in your rifle then what? You have a crazy long freebore and fast twist. I'd suggest a 8.4 or 9 twist for 7mm with the 180 berger. They shoot extremely well and kill game.

Is this only a range gun? Or you hunting with it? If it's just a range gun there's literally no downside to a long action, IMO.

 

[nick338]

I've owned both calibers. The 7-300WSM is a lot of work and will ultimately cost a LOT more to build when you factor in fireforming. You will burn out barrels way faster with the 7mm. The ballistics and recoil will be better with the 7mm. Is the juice worth the squeeze? I think probably not after my experience with both.

I think the XM action is not a good idea. You are limited to using their BDL which is expensive and makes your gun very niche and will probably be harder to sell. If you want more length def go with a long action. It gives you the flexibility to switch to a lot more calibers in the future and will increase resale. Are you really going to notice the minor difference in length?

If you got short action mag bolt you can run 6.5 PRC, 7mm SAUM/WSM, or 300 WSM. If you want to reload the 7SS is one of the best rounds out there in my opinion, at least on paper. I think ultimately you need to decide short or long action. From your intention to shoot long range with heavy bullets I'd steer you toward a long action personally. If you're dead set against it and want a short action I'd look really hard at a 7SS or 7SAUM and the 180 hybrid. BC isn't everything. If you elect to go with a 8 twist for the 195 and it doesn't shoot well in your rifle then what? You have a crazy long freebore and fast twist. I'd suggest a 8.4 or 9 twist for 7mm with the 180 berger. They shoot extremely well and kill game.

Is this only a range gun? Or you hunting with it? If it's just a range gun there's literally no downside to a long action, IMO.

Range gun at this point but I always leave the option open.

I agree with you on everything and have taken into consideration the downside of the XM/bottom metal and really have no problem with it. And I already have a Manners stock being inletted for it.

75% of the shooting with this will be out to 1k and anything beyond still up in the air so I feel like the WSM case is more than adequate without having to move up to a long action.

 

[generalzip]

That's true, just looking out for versatility down the line. Who knows maybe you want a 28 nosler in the future? You'll need not only a new barrel but a new action as well. Sounds like you've already made the decision though. Does defiance make a bottom metal and mags for the XM?

If you're just plinking steel at the range my vote would be for barrel life of the 300 WSM. Factory brass, no fireforming. Both will hit 1K easily. I'd stick with the 215 berger for the task in a 10 or 9 twist. The 9 will let you try 230 hybrids or a-tips and get max BC out of them. I just built a 300 norma on a 8 twist for the 230 a-tip.

 

[SIDS01]

I shoot a 7/300wsm as my ELR practice gun.

Necking up Norma 270wsm brass from 0.277 to 0.284 barely qualifies as a wildcat.

I've tested the 195 class 7mm bullets. The 180s are more consistent and score better with an 8 twist.

QL suggests that moving from a max length with 180 grain bullets 7wsm to a 7/300wsm with the same bullets fit into an Accurate Mags AICS pattern magazine costs ~40 fps. You don't win the internet, but it isn't really a big deal on the range.

Figure about 1/3 less barrel life for the 7/300 compared to the 300wsm.

 

[nick338]

That's true, just looking out for dependability down the line. Who knows maybe you want a 28 nosler in the future? You'll need not only a new barrel but a new action as well. Sounds like you've already made the decision though. Does defiance make a bottom metal and mags for the XM?

If you're just plinking steel at the range my vote would be for barrel life of the 300 WSM. Factory brass, no fireforming. Both will hit 1K easily. I'd stick with the 215 berger for the task in a 10 or 9 twist. The 9 will let you try 230 hybrids or a-tips and get max BC out of them. I just built a 300 norma on a 8 twist for the 230 a-tip.

I was thinking 300 WSM all along but then that 195 Berger snuck into my head and started giving me insomnia so I had to ask.

Was originally thinking 208 ELD with a 9 twist but 215 Berger seems to attract far more attention without getting too heavy. Will most likely be keeping it at 24" or shorter so I think the 215 is where I will make the cutoff.

Would be nice to see a 210-215 A-TIP but probably only wishful thinking.