I am considering buying a rifle in this caliber however, I am very concerned about the short neck. Has anybody experienced any problems while reloading this cartridge like neck tension, concentricity, case life, sizing, bullet protrusion, etc.

Hey J
After reading an article by Sundra, (I think it was Sundra) in the Complete Rifleman, he has a custom 7WSM that has a long throat on it and has a long magazine so he can seat the bullets way out there. He was getting something around 3200 or 3300fps with 140gr with that long throat...IMHO, it makes the mediocre 7WSM into a real powerhouse. If you're after a 7WSM, consider doing a semi-custom job with a long throat and long magazine box. You'll be able to wring out some extra performance from that case. Just some things for you to ponder...hope it helps!

The magazine box on the Win M70 SA is 3.045" and the Kimber M8400 is 3.080".

Either would allow an O.A.L. of 3" (3.035" in the Kimber) with little more than a "throating job".

Kimber advised me that the throat on the M8400 is "long", but they would not elaborate. They did suggest that one could measure the throat (of the M8400) and seat bullets "long" accordingly.

The M70 I have in 7mm WSM will easily reach 3250 fps with 140 gr bullets. The magazine is longer than the throat for this weight of bullet. I have not loaded a bullet heavier than that for it.

The chamber on this 2002 SS Classic is .0019" out of round and requires that all cases be FL sized. Other than that and the throw away stock it came with it has as smooth a barrel and chamber as I have seen on any rifle. It shoots quite well.

I would not buy another Winchester in a WSM just now. Lets see how the barrel thread issue plays out with the WSSM's and WSM's.

Meanwhile I am shooting a Kimber WSM with no problems.

I've got a Browning A-Bolt in the 7WSM and like it fine. Max magazine OAL is 2.860" for this rifle and the neck is shorter than 28 caliber but mine has been accurate with most all my handloads. If you like 175grn bullets, the 7RM may be better. The short neck is not a problem with the accuracy. You may have to reload your ammo if this goes away in the future but I reload all mine anyway. Mostly use 139-140grn to 168grn bullets in mine. BM

Bill

My only complaint so far in reloading for my Kimber 8400 7 WSM is that none of my reloads have shot better than Federal 160gr Accubonds. They shoot 3 shots into less than an inch at 200yds when it's not too windy out. My reloads can about equal that but not better it......DJ

The short case neck is more of a theoretical than a practical problem . Someone set a new 1000 yard record with one a few months back which proves the point .
I load 140 gn Nosler BT's just off the lands on my model 70 and overall length is 2.985 inches . Maybe not all of them had short throats ?