I like the rifle because it has a 22" bbl. on a short action. But, I'm not crazy about the caliber. Can the 300 wsm be loaded down to .308 or .30-06 levels for this rifle ? I don't need a short magnum, just a blr with a 22"bbl in .308. What wouold be the cost to rebarrel an old steel reciever model and who would you reccommend to do the job ? I hate to buy a rifle then have it rebarreled due to the expence.
But this might be the way to go unless I can find some light loads for the 300 wsm. Imput appreciated.

Don't have a clue on the rebarrel. I do know it would normally be higher than a bolt action.

There is no reason you couldn't load it down to at least 30-06 and probably 308 Levels. My old speer book shows loads for a 300wmag down to 2000fps for a 165gr.

The 300WSM isn't loaded (factory) much above 30-06 levels to begin with. (~100fps in comparable factory loadings)

Factory loads for the 300WSM are about even with top level handloads in the 30-06 and ~100fps slower than factory loads in the 300WinMag.

Thus my contention that WSM stands for "Winchester Suckers Many" and that the 300WSM is simply a 30-06 with more expensive dietary habits.

you can of course load it "down" further, though I doubt that this can properly be done to 308levels...

and none of this should be taken to mean that the rifles so chambered are in any way inferior, I might take one if I got a super deal... but I'm not suffering under any dilusions about it's supposed superiority based on the advertising hyperbole of a now defunct company.

AllanD

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
The 300WSM isn't loaded (factory) much above 30-06 levels to begin with. (~100fps in comparable factory loadings)

Factory loads for the 300WSM are about even with top level handloads in the 30-06 and ~100fps slower than factory loads in the 300WinMag.

Thus my contention that WSM stands for "Winchester Suckers Many" and that the 300WSM is simply a 30-06 with more expensive dietary habits.


AllanD

It has been my experience that the factory WSM rounds are loaded "HOT". They are ceratainly not compairable the the 30-06. My 300WSMs loaded with 180gr bullet will produce a velocity in the 3000fps range. My 30-06 if loaded safely can't even come close. To call the 300WSM a "30-06 with more expensive dietary habits." is nonsence.

The 300WSM is a fine caliber and an accurate one to boot. Load up some starting loads and see if your BLR likes the slower rounds. My 300WSM's shoots much better with Max or close to Max rounds. Your mileage my variy.

I used to have a BLR in .308, and liked the rifle very much. It had the straight stock.

One thought: the stocks are (were) set up for iron sights and the comb is low for scope use. I had to raise my head off the comb even with low rings, and that accentuated the recoil somewhat. I was planning on removing the scope and just using the iron sights, or else I was going to get one of those leather lace-on pads to raise the comb a bit. Also, the trigger is not of bolt-action quality.

That out of the way, I otherwise really like the rifle and would encourage anyone to get one, if he liked it. Check out the low stock and the trigger pull before you buy, but I thought mine was a great rifle with a couple of quirks.

analog_peninsula

I was thinking of one of the new ones with a pistol grip. The comb is definately straighter

Do you think these short mags are just a fad that might go away in a few years like the .260 rem and others ?

hard luck,
There are 2 308 BLR list today on Gunsamerica

quote:

Originally posted by hard luck:
Do you think these short mags are just a fad that might go away in a few years like the .260 rem and others ?

Winchester is essentially gone.
Browning seems to be reducing the chambering by attrition.

ruger has dropped the WSM's

Remington's competetive SAUM family is being phased out...

Tell me what conclusions you would draw from that?

And in response to steve4102 I didn't say the 300WSM was not a "functional" cartridge, it may be a "fine" cartridge, but it isn't a "Great" cartridge and never will be.

the 300WSM may be factory loaded "hot" relative
to it's capacity, but conversely the factory 30-06 loads are somewhat downloaded and even so there is only about a 150fps advantage to the 300WSM over the '06 handloading the '06 to it's potential in a modern rifle reduces that gap considerably, but the WSM cannot be loaded up AT ALL unless you want to aquire a new nickname like "lefty" or "Blinky" or "Pirate Bob".

And as factory loaded the 300WSM is still ~100fps short of 300WinMag loadings and the 300win mag CAN be pushed a bit harder....
though granted not by much.

To me the 300WSM is like a rental car, if it gets me from the airport to the hotel and back
and I don't bang my knees against the dash who gives a shit what make/model it is?

the 300WSM? it works, but it's not going to have a cult following the way many other
cartridges have.

Do I think the 300WSM is going to disappear or fade away? probably not.
I don't have sales figuires in front of me, but I'd be willing to bet that somewhat more than half of the WSM rifles made were made in 300WSM

So of all the WSM's the 300 is probably the only one that'll stick around.

the 325WSM? the 25WSSM? not a chance in hell that you'lll be able to walk into ANY gunstore and find ammo for either on the shelf 10 years from now.

The 270WSM... mabey...

If you ran out to buy one of the first WSM's that came out you were the sucker that winchester was aiming for.

If you bought a WSM CHEAP later on you are a shrewd opportunistic gun buyer.

It's the "early adopters" out there that I'm poking fun at... those are the people that just MUST HAVE the "new thing" and they are the poster child for the old saying: "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"

they are the people who had to have the first
of any new thing instead of waiting a few months for the prices to drop or "improved" models to arrive on the market...
Tell me what exactly does the 300WSM do BETTER
than any other 30caliber hunting cartridge?

the 300WSM is just a cartridge and most do their intended job, but in the greater scheme of things they just ain't all that different....

I'm sorry for picking at the scab on your dilusion, but that's as far as I'll go....

AllanD

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:


Winchester is essentially gone.
Browning seems to be reducing the chambering by attrition.

ruger has dropped the WSM's

Remington's competetive SAUM family is being phased out...

Tell me what conclusions you would draw from that?

I can draw no conclusions from that. I do know that Savage, Browning, Sako, Tikka,Remington anf Kimber are all producing WSM rifles. Seems that the only one to drop the WSM calibers was Ruger.

What conclusions can you draw from that?

Steve,

Lets check back in six months or a year and see...

Until then

AllanD

quote:

Originally posted by hard luck:
Do you think these short mags are just a fad that might go away in a few years like the .260 rem and others ?

I cant say about the short mags, but the 260 rem is no dying fad for me. Im building them on M-48 actions and selling them faster than I can make um.. Fantastic deer caliber..