So, for my next rifle these are my narrowed-down choices...I'd like to get others' opinions/suggestions on a few questions...

1. Is there an appreciable difference in " killing power" on a moose or eland -sized animal between .270 & .300 WSMs?

2. Re: recoil, what about the "felt effect" difference between .300 & .325 WSMs. (I own a .270 WSM in another type action and pretty much don't notice its recoil)

I'd ask about future availability of these rounds ( I choose not to
handload) , but who really knows? Also I know, and respect, that many of you have other favorite calibers, but please give feedback on the 3 I'm looking at. My sincere Thanks in advance!

As you don't give any idea of where you are or what you hunt, under which conditions, that's a pretty tough question to answer very precisely.

If I was not a handloader, I wouldn't even consider the .325 WSM. I have a suspicion factory ammo is going to be pretty difficult to find regularly in just a few years, if not already.

If you live in the wide open West or North, or anywhere else where "bean field" type shooting is going to be a regular thing, I'd go with the .300 WSM. I suspect ammo will be available for the chambering longer than for the other two of the three...because I think the .30 WSM has outsold the .270 WSM so far, and the .30 cartridges of whatever case size are generally more popular than equally good .270 cartridges.

For my own uses, I'd probably choose the .325 WSM, both because I have always been an 8m/m fan and because I have lots of 8m/m bullets on hand. In that instance, I'd buy the rifle and several hundred (300) cases the same time. (Of course, I've been handloading since 1943.)

And though the .270 WSM is a good cartridge for most NA uses, why spend more money to get something you already have?

The recoil is not a difficult thing to deal with regardless which one of the three you pick, assuming similar sectional density bullets are used.

JMO, but there is one response.

AC, thanks for the helpful info...I plan to use this rifle for US west, Canada, and, God willing, another Africa trip, or two.

Another question...I've used my .375 Ruger w/ solids on small critters ( javelina, civet cats) so as not to blow holes in the hide/ pelt...Can I find a factory load in .300WSM that won't "blow out" the off side of smaller game?

While the WSM are not my cup of tea I would opt for the 300Wsm. It will take anything you are talking about. Shoots plenty flat and I simply think it will be around longer.

I don't know of any factory solids for the 300. My best suggestion is something like the barnes and hope it won't open on small game.

IMO...the 270WSM will survive and all the rest will dwindle. The 270 is popular and a "hot" 270 appealing. I think the 325 WSM (I like this cartridge) should have a place but the US has never taken a liking to 8mm cartridges (as sane and useable as they are). The Winny makes the 300WSM redundant. (I have a 7 WSM but it does what other cartridges do and no better.) In the end the ammo/component manufacturers will decide it for all for us.

joester,

If you already own a 270 WSM and are looking to purchase a second WSM then I would recommend you go with the 325 WSM if you don't handload and with the 338 WSM if you do... Of course the 338 WSM needs to be housed in the M70 WSM action or you'll be restricted in the brand and weight of bullets used.

I've had 270WSM and 300WSWM build also reload for them and right now brass is hard to come by.

I don't get over in section that has factory ammo but I would think 300WSM would be best choice.

The 300 WSM has to be the most versatile & practical especially if you hand load. There are an insane amount of bullet types and weights available for just about any hunting situation.

I take my 270WSM moose and elk hunting all the time...I wouldn't take it eland hunting.

My money is on the .270 WSM.

The 270 has less recoil and is a really nice round. The 300 is probably one of the best rounds ever made. It can do just about anything you want it to. Either one of these is a great choice.

Since all the game listed have been taken with a well placed round from a 270 win, I would think that the 270 WSM would be more than adequate.

The recoil goes up with bullet weights and velocities but also deliver it on target. I cant tell the difference between my 270 shooting 150 grain bullets and my 06 shooting 150 grain bullets. They are both to similar to tell but I can feel a real difference with 180 grain bullets and so on. I think you know the 325 is going to hit your shoulder harder so it doesnt really matter what anyone else says about it. The question should be, does it kill the game any better/faster/cleaner/etc... and I think you already know the answer.

I stepped back down most small caliber magnums because nothing under 30 caliber really needs it. There really isnt anything out there that can't be killed with a 270 win. but I prefer to use the extra HP out of respect for the animal. The recoil is only noticed at the shooting range never in the field. All that being said, I would opt for the 325 WSM!

I owned all three calibers in Kimber Montanas at the same time. I ended up keeping the 325 and selling the other two. I love the round and have had great luck with it in the field, but I do agree with the earlier poster who stated it is really a reloader's round because it will probably become an orphan.

If you're including a trip to Africa with the rifle, then you want the 325 WSM over the other two.

But for factory ammo, you really want the 338 WinMag.

Sorry for mentioning a calibre not among your three. Frankly, the factory ammo question would lead to the following three substitutes: 270 Win, 300 WinMag or 30-06, and 338 WinMag. For WSM's you might want to take up handloading.

Some of the above is also affected by the rifle manufacturer. Tikka is inexpensive, accurate, and comes in all three of your WSM's and all of the calibres that I've mentioned above. Take your pick. If you want short action there is the 338 RCM, too, but only in Ruger, still available in their Compact right and left handed rifles online retailers, but going fast.

On the calibres themselves, some have already mentioned that you already have a 270 WSM and that the 270 Win can pretty efficiently come very close to the 270 WSM. Magnum-ish cases start to come into their calling at 30, 32, and 33 calibre. So get the 325 WSM and prepare to handload. The bullet does the work, the case is only a delivery device. Moose, elk, eland, and a rogue lion or buffalo, can all justify the larger, heavier bullet in any choice.

You can put crappy bullets in all three. I'd start there first. For me it'll be 300WSM with 155 Scenars and 168 TTSX. 150 ABLRS would be dynamite out of the 270WSM, as would 130 GMX.

I've never been a WSM fan....ballistics "almost as good" as the cartridges they try to emulate, with an action 1/2" shorter...big deal. And the sacrifice is feeding reliability, unless set up very well.

The one exception is the 270 WSM. Is is significantly most powerful than the 270 Win, but then again we've had the 270 Wby, first used in 1948, for those that want more steam out of a .277 bore.

No stretch, no belt, no problem. Or so they say...

quote:

The one exception is the 270 WSM. Is is significantly most powerful than the 270 Win

I am not so sure... my 22" BDL 270 Win. shoots boringly consistent 3150s using Speer 130 GS and 60 grains of AA 3100, and the load cloverleafs at 100.

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:

quote:

The one exception is the 270 WSM. Is is significantly most powerful than the 270 Win

I am not so sure... my 22" BDL 270 Win. shoots boringly consistent 3150s using Speer 130 GS and 60 grains of AA 3100, and the load cloverleafs at 100.

+1

Look at the Barnes data for 110 grain TTSX. I'm not sure that 3450 fps in 270 Win is significantly less than 3550 fps in the 270 WSM. The 270 Win already carries a walloping punch for a .277" bore and extra capacity doesn't convert into much extra huntability, if at all. Where magnum capacities start to make themselves felt is in the medium bores.

A hunter needs to choose the bullet for the job, then a platform for delivering the bullet. I would have to say that the 270 Win does a great job in that task and O'Connor was right in being unimpressed with the 264 WM and 7mRM. The 264WM, 270WSM, and 7mRM are good calibres, but the 270 Win is functionally in the same class when it comes to hunting.

Just looking at factory numbers on 150gr NPT from Federal shows a difference of 270 FPS between the Winch and Wizzum.

Maybe irony for shits and giggles.....

quote:

Originally posted by 16Bore:
Just looking at factory numbers on 150gr NPT from Federal shows a difference of 270 FPS between the Winch and Wizzum.

Maybe irony for shits and giggles.....

Just put the factory loads on a chronograph, in similar rifles, and then with similar powders and pressures

Have at it...

I shoot four .270 WSM's and have tried every bullet and powder the books list. I can get 3450 fps with a 130 grain bullet, I think that is enough to say that the difference with the .270 Win is significant. 140 grainers at 3260 fps and 160 grainers at 2950 up to 3100 fps depending on the particular rifle. Me and my son and three of my grandsons have hunted with them for years and consider them ideal for Deer sized game and have taken several Elk with them. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by phurley5:
I shoot four .270 WSM's and have tried every bullet and powder the books list. I can get 3450 fps with a 130 grain bullet, I think that is enough to say that the difference with the .270 Win is significant. 140 grainers at 3260 fps and 160 grainers at 2950 up to 3100 fps depending on the particular rifle. Me and my son and three of my grandsons have hunted with them for years and consider them ideal for Deer sized game and have taken several Elk with them. Good shooting.

PHurley--that is a great load!
I would agree that 3450 fps for a .277" 130 grainer is a significant increase. If accurate, you've got loads for all of NorthAmerica. Congratulations.

Makes me wonder why my wife settled on a 270win when Tikka offered a 270WSM. Too late now, of course, so she has to be content with 3400fps and 110 grain TTSX or 3150 and 129 grain LRX. LIfe's choices can be tough sometimes. The big thing for us is finding something and somewhere to shoot.

110's @ 3400 will make your 270 think its a 7mmMag shooting 120's.

quote:

140 grainers at 3260 fps and 160 grainers at 2950 up to 3100 fps depending on the particular rifle.

Picked up a Kimber 7WSM cheap (as good as dead right now) and it will easily duplicate this performance. It just seems to me that many other cartridges will duplicate the performance of the 270or 300 WSM and especially the 7 WSM, with all the "super 7s".

I like my 325WSM. I fiddled around with the 338 06 and the Whelen and it just seems to have all of that ground covered. It also doesn't seem to be quite the "beast" that my old 8mm Mag was. This gun shoots very well which may have a lot to do with it. I have all the brass I will need for a lifetime. Kind of duplicates the 300WM as well and has good bullet selection from 150-220 gr. At that point, I'll hand the ball off to the 9.3X62. I do think that the 06 put all 8mms under the curse though, and expect it won't gain much traction either.

I really like the 325. It has never bothered me to carry a magnum sized rifle with a long barrel, I love the 300Wby. That said, after carrying the short action 325 WSM it is a pleasure. Bullet selection is limited, but look at what you can be accomplished with the few bullets available and with authority. Recoil is very manageable even in the smaller rifles. I think this round will also follow the WSSM out the door, but ammo should be available for years to come, buy it up and consider reloading. I would look long and hard at getting set up to re-load anyway...who knows what the future may hold!?

Hey
The 325 WSM is a great round.

See
Part 1
http://www.realguns.com/archives/138.htm
and Part 2
http://www.realguns.com/archives/139.htm
(but with a typo: the SD of a 200 grain .323" bullet is .274, not .313!)

The type of question you ask opens up a can of worms, as one guy likes one and another guy likes another and it will go on forever..but your questions has nothing to do with personal choice, it boils down to this.

The 325 is the most powerful, then the 300, then the 270. Its all about bullet weight and velocity..and they recoil accordingly..and in that order. Recoil is an individual thing, some can take more than others to a great degree. Only you can know your recoil tolerance.

All three work on the animals you listed. I would try to pick the one based on what other guns I had if thats possible, As to the recoil you should be able to adapt to any of them.

For Moose and especially Eland, my choice would be the .325 hands down, but I can handle its recoil with ease as I shoot a lot and have been shooting big bores for years.