.300 WSM vs .300 Win Mag - Is one trully better?

I currently shoot a .300 Win Mag, have been for years and absolutely love it. I'm looking at buying a Tikka T3 Lite also in a .300 Win Mag. After telling a few buddies about my upcoming purchase they all said I should get the .300 WSM instead of the Win Mag. When I asked why, all they could tell me was "Cause it has better ballistics and quicker reloads with the shorter cartridge. The WSM was made to replace the Win Mag" I'm no ballistics expert, but I've done my fair share of research between the two rounds and I can't find anything to say one is better than the other. And do you really benefit more from the shorter WSM round? Your talking less than 1/2" (4.88"/12.4mm to be exact). I don't see someone really benefiting from that unless they were trying to set the world record in speed shooting or something. And another thing I've noticed is the WSM rounds are much more expensive than the Win Mag and they are a lot less available at most places.

Could someone explain to me the advantages of the WSM over the Win Mag? If the WSM really does have more advantages over the Win Mag then I'd want the WSM. But right now I kind of feel like the WSM was an easy way for someone to get rich quick.

.300 WSM http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/ballistics.aspx">http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/ballistics.aspx

.300 Win Mag http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/ballistics.aspx">http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/ballistics.aspx


.300 Win Mag
Bullet diameter .308 in (7.8 mm)
Neck diameter .339 in (8.6 mm)
Shoulder diameter .489 in (12.4 mm)
Base diameter .513 in (13.0 mm)
Rim diameter .532 in (13.5 mm)
Rim thickness .049 in (1.2 mm)
Case length 2.62 in (67 mm)
Overall length 3.34 in (85 mm)

.300 WSM
Bullet diameter .308 in (7.8 mm)
Neck diameter .344 in (8.7 mm)
Shoulder diameter .538 in (13.7 mm)
Base diameter .555 in (14.1 mm)
Rim diameter .535 in (13.6 mm)
Case length 2.100 in (53.3 mm)
Overall length 2.860 in (72.6 mm)
48,969
Springville Shooter
Well, a couple things. First, a 1/2" in the world of ballistics is huge. Second, you are absolutely right about the two being the same. The short case of the 300WSM is slightly more efficient meaning you get the performance with a little less powder. The larger case capacity gives the 300Win a slight velocity advantage especially with larger bullets. The length of the WSM does allow it to be chambered in smaller, light weight rifles, which, when combined with recoil is a give/take. Bottom line is that you can't go wrong with either cartridge and both will kill anything you can connect with.-------SS
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southwind
SS, pretty well covered it. I have both and it is pretty much splitting hairs but for some time now my 300 wsm has been my go-to rifle really probably more because platform suits me well.
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Default Avatar
I've always wanted a 300 WSM for as long as I can remember.. Is it any better than the normal 300 WM? Probably not or at least not by much. I think either one is a great caliber.
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dahlmer
I shoot the 300 wsm. There really is no ballistic advantage to it over the 300. It can be a little lighter, but as SS said that may be offset with additional recoil. The shorter action can result in jams as well in some models so that may be a consideration as well. If you don't reload the cost of the wsm ammunition vs the 300 may be an important consideration.
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spoofman
Springville Shooter covered the bases well. look at cost of the ammo unless you reload. As for me 300 WM is jsut fine.
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Tonoonyi
"Springville Shooter" wrote:Well, a couple things. First, a 1/2" in the world of ballistics is huge. Second, you are absolutely right about the two being the same. The short case of the 300WSM is slightly more efficient meaning you get the performance with a little less powder. The larger case capacity gives the 300Win a slight velocity advantage especially with larger bullets. The length of the WSM does allow it to be chambered in smaller, light weight rifles, which, when combined with recoil is a give/take. Bottom line is that you can't go wrong with either cartridge and both will kill anything you can connect with.-------SS
 I second SS's comment, nothing on the receiving end of either cartridge will ever be able to tell the difference. Unless you are a dyed in the wool cartridge re-loader and or maybe shooting competitively you will not be able to tell either. They are both excellent choices.
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Default Avatar
I like the .300 WSM because Im a reloader.

Getting the same performance with 12% less powder is huge to me.
Also cutting 1LB. off the wt is big when you are packing that thing around.
I shoot the 168 gr Barnes TTSX
I bought my wife a Remington Mod 7 and put a muzzle brake on it and it recoils like a .243! She has killed 3 bears, Bison, Elk, Moose, Caribou with it.

It is a super accurate round and I love it.
I have a Win. Mod 70

FYI- My 300 Win Mag used to be my go to rifle but when I won my Mod. 70 at a SCI dinner I fell in love!
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