Considering the WSMs, SAUMs and Ruger compact mags. Which ones are doing the best in sales? I prefer the ruger CMs although they're a little less potent.

Best selling I would say the WSM's.

But my favorite is one of the originals - .350 rem mag.

Its probably the WSMs. The RSAUMs are just about dead I think. Its too early to call it on the RCMs.

The only one that kinda sorta interests me is the .338 RCM

I think it is head and shoulders the WSM series as the best seller so far.

I'd like to have a 325 WSM . But not enough to buy one. Have too many rifles I don't use now.

If the WSM series had come out 15 years or more earlier, I'd probably have at least 3 right now, a 7 WSM, .300 WSM, and a 325 WSM. Now all they would do is duplicate rifles I already have, with new rifles in very slightly shorter actions.

AC,

I've owned three 300 WSM's (two Kimbers ,one model 70 SG)

two 270 WSM's (kimber classic, Winchester High Wall)

one 7WSM (Sako 75 Hunter)

two 325 WSM's (kimber, Nosler model 48)

I recently put another 270 WSM on lay away.

I've killed many more animals with the 300 WSM than the others, but I'd have to say the 325 WSM is my favorite followed by the 270 WSM.

I really like the 325 WSM loaded with 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic tips at 2850 FPS MV for Hogs.


Don't do much elk, moose or big bear hunting, but it flat works works on hill country hoglets.








Best

GWB

GW, is that the one I had?

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
GW, is that the one I had?

If you're talking the Custom Sporter in 325 WSM, no, I purchased it new.

The 270 I have on lay away I bought on GunBroker. If your traded it in at "Reds", then it could be!

Best

GWB

I believe that the WSMs lead in sales, with the 300 WSM leading them all. I too, have killed a butt load of game across the world with the 300 WSM and absolutely love that caliber-everything from giraffe and eland (yes giraffe and eland) down to the small duikers. I also have two 325 WSMs and they are just as deadly! The latest of the WSMs in my rifle stables is a 325 WSM in an MGArms Ultralight with a brown Zebra stock. Deadly accurate with three shots at ".351" at 100 yards.

Here are the top selling RCBS dies for 2011:

1 .45 ACP
2 .223 REMINGTON
3 .308 WINCHESTER
4 .30-06 SPRINGFIELD
5 .40 SMITH & WESSON
6 9MM LUGER
7 357 MAGNUM / 38 SPECIAL
8 .243 WINCHESTER
9 .270 WINCHESTER
10 .44 MAGNUM / .44 SPECIAL
11 .300 WINCHESER MAGNUM
12 .22-250 REMINGTON
13 .45 COLT
14 7MM REMINGTON MAGNUM
15 .30-30 WCF
16 .25-06
17 .380 AUTO
18 .300 WINCHESTER SHORT MAGNUM
19 .45-70 GOV'T
20 7MM-08 REMINGTON
21 .204 RUGER
22 .270 WINCHESTER SHORT MAGNUM
23 .300 REMINGTON ULTRA MAGNUM
24 .338 WINCHESTER
25 .257 WEATHERBY MAGNUM
26 6.5X55 SWEDISH
27 .300 WEATHERBY MAGNUM
28 .222 REMINGTON
29 .338 LAPUA
30 8MMX57 MAUSER



.

#23 is a XLFM

factory? 300 wsm is great, 7wsm is great .. i will eventually put together a 338x376 ruger

As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

I have a .338 RCM with a 20 inch barrel and just love the gun. In fact, I can't understand why anyone would go to all the trouble of building a .338/06 anymore when you can get a .338 RCM with a blued action and wood stock or in a stainless synthetic with a 20 or 22 inch barrel. However, I suspect that the most popular of the short magnums is the 300 WSM by a pretty wide margin.

My Ruger is very accurate. My pet load is a Hornady case, Winchester large rifle primer, 60.5 grains of Ramshot Big Game and a 225 Hornady Spire point. That load runs right about 2600 fps out of my 20 inch barrel with an extreme spread of only five feet per second.

I wish I had this little light and handy gun years ago when I was hunting elk in Colorado instead of my .338 Win Mag.

I don't think the .338 RCM is winning any sales races but it is one hell of a cartridge/rifle combo in my book.

I don't think that most American hunters have ever recovered from the magnum craze of the 1960's. I question the survival of the RSAUM and Rugers short magnums.

I do have a 7mm SAUM in a Remmie M7 AWR. It's a great package and really shoots great.

On the other hand, I also recognize its limitations. That is, I'm never, EVER going to find ammo on the road. It's my USA rifle (*because ammo flies in the rifle case in the USA) for non-dangerous game.

Recognizing the fact that the SAUM is pretty much dead on its feet I've also stockpiled a factory case (bought on clearance) as well as a spare bag of brass. I figure those 250 pieces will last a near lifetime of shooting...

And if I ever do manage to shoot it out I'll just rebore to a WSM...or change the bolt face and bbl and make it a .308. It's all good either way.

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

I found a good deal on a left handed Winchester FWT in 270WSM a few years back, with a Nikon Buckmaster scope and a box of ammo thrown in I paid $550. I've no trouble with handloading for it. My last test load with a Sierra 130 gr was 3300 fps and under 0.6" for three shots at 110 yds.

I own four .270 WSM's and consider them ideal for Deer sized game. Between my son and grandsons and myself we do a lot of shooting and hunting with them. All are featherweight Model 70's, one left handed for a southpaw grandson. The still amaze me more every shooting session. 130 grain Northforks at 3450 fps (other bullets will get close but no match that), 140 grain bullets at 3150 fps up to 3260 fps. 160 grain Nosler Partitions at 3000 up to 3200 fps depending on the rifle (they all have their own personalities although they are all the same Model). Two of the rifles are New Haven production, and two the new South Carolina production. Scopes are Ziess Conquest, one a 2.5 X 10, a 6.5 X 20, and the rest 4.5 X 14's. All are super accurate when the shooter does his part. I will be using the 160 grain Nosler Partition load in Colorado this year for elk. I have taken many Elk with the larger stuff from .300 Winny up to .358 STA prior to starting with the .270 WSM and feel very comfortable with it in my hands, having used it the last two elk hunts. I have shot some of the other short fat cartridges as in the .325 WSM for friends that wanted them zeroed and was pleasently supprized with accuracy. I also own a .243 WSSM and a 25 WSSM that serve the younger grandsons and grandaughter quite well starting off. My strong opinion is that if you shoot them enough and reload you can make them do wonders in time. Restricted to factory ammo while adequate on most cases limits their possibilities. Good shooting.

Remington may have abandoned the SAUM cartridges but Nosler currently offers brass in 7mm SAUM and 300 SAUM – and both are on the development list of Captech International’s Jamison brass as well as the WSM and WSSM cartridges – so as long as one is a handloader the SAUM and WSM/WSSM cartridges will still live.

I would like a 7 SAUM in a 700 myself

To me it's a very appealing looking .280

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

I'm no apoligist for them...but I have a few 300WSM's and a 270WSM. Haven't shot the 270 WSM enough....but erach of my 3000WSM's including my sniper rig, all shoot very well. Sniper rig is as accurate as my AR-10T and my 308 Sniper rig with 10 shot groups. Guess I've been lucky....with reloaidng as well because mine all shoot well with Wolf primers and IMR4007SSC.

I've only owned one short magnum, the 350 Rem Mag. The original short mag really sizzles with a 200TSX and a max load of TAC. The only downside I've found is brass. You have to wait and stock up when Remington does a seasonal run. Nosler started making brass but it's about 4 times the price of Remington.

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

The local gun emporium was blowing out Winchester Ultimate shadows (CRF) in 7mm WSM for $449. They just wouldn't move, even at that price it languished for more than a month.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I've only owned one short magnum, the 350 Rem Mag. The original short mag really sizzles with a 200TSX and a max load of TAC. The only downside I've found is brass. You have to wait and stock up when Remington does a seasonal run. Nosler started making brass but it's about 4 times the price of Remington.

Saw a real nice Model 7 with the hinged bottom metal Saturday chambered in .350 RM. It was tempting.

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

That must be a regional thing. Out west here wsm sales are pretty brisk for the 300 and 270wsm's. Of course 300rum is a pretty big seller with a lot of guys starting to shoot 338rum's and edge's as well. The saums are dead.

quote:

Posted 25 October 2012
i will eventually put together a 338x376 ruger

[assuming a typo of "376 ruger" for 375 Ruger ]
I kind of like Jeffeoso's 338x375 Ruger suggestion.

The Ruger case is a great medium bore, medium length platform. It can take a 338 Win Mag and turn it into a ballistic 340 Weatherby within a medium/standard action.

What's not to like?

At our local range I find as many 270 WSM and 300 WSM cases as I do 300 Win Mag's.
Talk to a lot of shooters and the 270 and 300 are very popular. As far as WSM's I own a 270 and a 300 and son has a 270.
Can't even remember ever talking to anyone who owned a RSM or a 7mm WSM. Nor have I ever found any brass for either.

op - best in terms of sales (of factory chambered rifles) is 300 wsm, followed by 270 wsm. the others never "caught on" by most hunters/shooters, so they are having a difficult time remaining relevant (read as popular).

I've been thinking of buying SAUMs and having them rechambered. They are usually cheap. Specifically the 7mm or .308 saum cleaned up by a WSM reamer. ? Workable?

quote:

Originally posted by filmit:

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

That must be a regional thing. Out west here wsm sales are pretty brisk for the 300 and 270wsm's. Of course 300rum is a pretty big seller with a lot of guys starting to shoot 338rum's and edge's as well. The saums are dead.

That is exactly it, look at the posters location who said they're failing in his shop. You don't need large game capable magnums in Tennessee. Most of the times I hear people talking about them gathering dust, other then a few specific rifles like Z1R mentioned, they're from the south or back east. Out here in the west I see plenty of them move. At my LGS they pop up used on a semi regular basis, but the only ones that don't sell seem to be Brownings or Rem SAUM's. Other brands, in WSM's, seem to sell within a week or two for the most part. But relating the entire sales spectrum by your localities sales, is akin to wondering why the surfboard shop in Wyoming isn't doing very well.

If I were ever to buy a fat short magnum Id probably go for a 300 WSM. But that will only be when there are no more components for my 7x57... The short fatties just dont appeal to me. Then again if I were to get a 300 it would be a 300 H&H.

quote:

Originally posted by BigNate:
I've been thinking of buying SAUMs and having them rechambered. They are usually cheap. Specifically the 7mm or .308 saum cleaned up by a WSM reamer. ? Workable?

Looking at minimum chamber specification for each, then yes the WSM reamer should clean up the SAUM chamber.

quote:

That is exactly it, look at the posters location who said they're failing in his shop. You don't need large game capable magnums in Tennessee. Most of the times I hear people talking about them gathering dust, other than a few specific rifles like Z1R mentioned, they're from the south or back east. Out here in the west I see plenty of them move. At my LGS they pop up used on a semi regular basis, but the only ones that don't sell seem to be Brownings or Rem SAUM's. Other brands, in WSM's, seem to sell within a week or two for the most part. But relating the entire sales spectrum by your localities sales, is akin to wondering why the surfboard shop in Wyoming isn't doing very well.

This is a very cogent comment. I think something that needs to be realized where the WSM and the SAUM cartridges fit in the scheme of things.

The 300 WSM is basically a 30/338 WinMag powder capacity wise in a more compact rifle/cartridge combo package. This is a very good combination once you get to the open spaces of the Western USA, more power than needed where shooting distances are shorter but always available for the occasional longer shot. The biggest problem for the 300 WSM in the Western USA is that many individuals are looking for more long range power than the wildcat 30/338 WinMag or the 300 WSM deliver…

The 300 SAUM is basically powder capacity wise to the 30-06 AI what the 30-06 AI is to the standard 30-06 Springfield – packaged in an even smaller rifle/cartridge combo than the WSM. The 300 SAUM should have been a good seller in the Eastern USA unfortunately many individuals in that part of the country consider the 308 Winchester to be a “big cartridge” with more power than needed for the game animals typically hunted…

Anyway that’s my perceptions of the problems that the short magnums face.

I can tell you that's exactly right...

Here in the thick, brush South East - I see many, many hunters shooting 300 WM and 7mm Ultra Mags... but they are still shooting the same 15 - 70 yards shots on game as the rest of us....

I actually switched down from a 30-06/308 to a 7.62x39 bolt gun this season because there is just no need for the extra power, range, and noise that the '06 or 308 bring... I can carry around a 6.5 lb rifle (Including scope and a mag full of ammo)... and I have no issues with it at all inside of 200 yards....

Many hunters in our area have started loading their 30-06's and 308's down to approximate 30-30 velocities (2400 fps or so) and are running those 170g flat point 30-30 slugs...

I was teasing a few of my buddies doing this that they ought to buy 30-30's... but they said that you couldn't get a Remington 740/7400 or a Browning BAR in 30-30.... Go figure...

The other thing we run into down here is that there are far more people living outside city limits than out west... and lighting off a large case Magnum or even a 30-06 gets you a whole lot more attention from the neighbors than a much smaller cartridge does.... Those things sound like artillery going off...

Thanks

Here in my small town Wisconsin stores, I'm seeing the WSMs on the ammo shelf, but not the others. 270 and 300 wsm seems popular but the 7 & 325 not so much. I'm loving my 270wsm featherweight and others I know or meet who have them are loving them too.

WSMs sell pretty strong in Montana. I know the .300 WSM seems to be the top seller, then the .270 WSM

I just picked up Charlie Sisk's original rifle in 9.3BS. The BS is for Barsness-Sisk...a project with writer John Barsness and Charlie. They took a 350 Rem Mag and necked it up to 9.3, leaving the shoulder in place, so forming just involves running a 9.3 expander die through the neck of the case. They made 2; a Win Model 70 SA for Charlie and a Rem 700 for John. Pretty cool rig...supposed to be ballistically equivalent to the 9.3x62, but in a "short mag" design.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
As a dealer, I would say they all are poor performers in terms of sales. I would never again purchase a new gun for resale in any short magnum cartridge, period. They are dogs for gunshops in general.

There are, however, some great buys on used guns in the short magnums due to their lack of popularity throughout the hunting community.

Other problems with the short magnums are accuracy issues in certain types of rifles and in certain twists and handloading issues that seem to be prevalent across the board with the WSM's.

Nevertheless, if you find a rifle in a short magnum that shoots well, and you find the appropriate load, then it can be your do all type cartridge. Theoretically, I've always thought the .325 WSM is the best idea of them all. Making it work is another issue. But most of what I've heard regarding the .325 has been pretty good.

The local gun emporium was blowing out Winchester Ultimate shadows (CRF) in 7mm WSM for $449. They just wouldn't move, even at that price it languished for more than a month.

When I took over the gun shop a year ago, there were 12 fat mags on the racks and they are still there! Top sellers are 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win mag, .30-06, .270, .308, and .243 Win. There has been no interest in any magnums in the last 6 months and that includes deer season! Folks seem to be gravitating back to standard calibers for a number of reasons, predominately recoil and cost. There have been dozens of complaints of pass-thru shots using ballistic tip mags at short range. No bullet expansion or blood trails. Recovered animals show only bullet diameter entry and exit wounds according to anecdotal reports. Most hunters going back to pointed soft points and bonded bullets at '06 velocities.

every hardware store I have been in recently here in Central Texas has had 270 WSM and 300WSM on the shelves--

I bought a Kimber 7WSM out of curiosity more than anything else. Got a great price...seems to be the orphan of the three WSMs.

Shoots great...160 gr Accubonds on top of 64 gr of IMR 4831 gets a bit over 3000 ft/sec and just about 1 inch. That said, my buddie's 280 Remington will touch 2900 with his handloads. His 7x57 Ackley nearly the same.

So the WSM becomes a "me-too" cartridge with the debate centering around action length.

Am putting together a 7x57 Ackley and have a feeling I'll be selling my other 7mm rifles.

quote:

Most hunters going back to pointed soft points and bonded bullets at '06 velocities.

I do not find this surprising.