Wondering if anyone is still hunting with their WSM's / SAUM's on a regular basis. Held a Tikka T3x Laminate Stainless over the weekend in 300 WSM and really liked it, even though they aren't a true short action rifle.


A few years back, I took a blackbuck doe with a Winchester Model 70 in 270WSM. It was honestly too much gun for the small antelope. But the performance was impressive.

Always liked the WSM's. Still own a Sako a7 Tecomate in 270WSM and a Remington model seven in 300 SAUM

So many rifles, so little time

I have 3 Win 70's in the WSM calibers. I have hunted with the 7mm WSM and it shoots great. I plan to try out a load with 100gr Cutting Edge Raptors this season with one of the 300 WSM's that I have.

Oh yeah! I've been using a Kimber 8400 in .300 WSM as my main hunting rifle since about 2008. I have a Sako 6.5x55 that sometimes gives it competition, but more often than not I reach for the WSM and go shoot something.

I had a 270WSM, a great cartridge. Sold it only cause I now mostly bowhunt and have other similar big game rifles. I did shoot a dall sheep and a mountain caribou with it.

I have literally killed scores of game in Africa, Mexico, the U.S. and Alaska with my 300 WSM and 325 WSM. Have numerous rifles in each caliber. Other than my 375 H&H in Africa, they are my go-to calibers for hunting almost everything from giraffe down to the smallest of the duikers. They are also death on coues deer, mule deer, whitetail, interior grizzly, antelope, etc. etc. etc. My 375 Flanged double, 450-400 double and 470 Nitro double are my own personal choices for cape buffalo, although I have killed cape buffalo with the 375 H&H. Sorry, I digress. . . . . . .

I use a 300 RCM. which in my mind is really just a short action 30-06. Nice to carry, accurate and I made a stock that fits me for it . found plenty brass so I'm good for life with that one

Me and my pastle of grandsons and greats shoot four .270 WSM"s, a 25 WSSM and a .243 WSSM and treasure all of them. In my opinion the .270"s are perfect Deer sized game chamberings with the other two very close. All Model 70"s except the WSSM's and they are Browning X Bolts. I have enough brass and bullets to last their lifetimes and more. Good Shooting.

I have only acquired my 7mm WSM late last year ready for our (myself and three sons) 7 day Tahr hunt planned for July this year. Unfortunately bad weather saw our trip cancelled.
My youngest son has shot two large red deer with the WSM and was impressed with the DRT performance on the reds.

The rifle is a Browning X-Bolt with a magnum suppressor on the original 22" barrel (sits 8" back over barrel and 5" forward of muzzle). The suppressor has an internal stainless steel muzzle brake reducing recoil to 7mm-08 level and noise to a crack like a 22 Magnum Rimfire.
The X-Bolts are very nice light rifles with a tang safety and excellent half-open bolt position i.e. bolt handle up, making them very safe to carry with a round in the chamber.

About 60 or so rounds of factory ammunition, over a hundred once fired cases, a full can of powder, Fed 215 primers, and reloading dies came with the rifle and my local hunting and fishing shop has another 60 rounds of the same Federal factory ammo on the shelf which I'll get round to purchasing soon. All in all enough ammo and reloading stuff to outlast me.

I used a 7mm Magnum (7x61 S&H) for several decades of hunting so am very familiar with the performance of the magnums but the short action Browning and performance to date of the WSM cartridge really impresses me.

Chronographed factory ammo from the 22" barrel shows slightly better than factory MV for the Federal 140gr (average of 3230fps) and just over 3000fps MV for 160gr Winchester and 162gr Hornady. Can't ask for better than that.

I have a 27 Winchester Short Mag that I really like

I use my WSM's and WSSM's all the time. The only "long" round I load is the 338-300RUM.

I have and regularly hunt with a Winchester m70 in .243 WSSM and a Kimber in .325 WSM. Love them both. I bought plenty of cases early on and have a lifetime supply of components and powder for them, no good reason not to use them.

My Winchester Model 70 in .270 WSM caliber is my go-to rifle when I need a flat shooting, medium game rifle. Great caliber.

And despite the nonsense one sometimes reads about it, the rifle feeds rounds from the magazine into the chamber without fail.

Although I have built them for guys, I consider all the short mags a complete waste of effort, invented simply to sell more rifles.
Short actions? If I can't operate a bolt that extra half inch, I need to quit hunting.
None for me. But I do have the reamers.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Although I have built them for guys, I consider all the short mags a complete waste of effort, invented simply to sell more rifles.
Short actions? If I can't operate a bolt that extra half inch, I need to quit hunting.
None for me. But I do have the reamers.

To be honest I was skeptical of the need for any of the short magnums too, thinking they would do no more than the standard belted magnums we have in existence today.

As I mentioned in my post above I used a 7x61 (belted 7mm Magnum) for decades of hunting, during that time taking many deer of several varieties but mainly the larger red deer, chamois and tahr. I shot a lot of animals for money over those years so shot everything that walked in front of my barrel.
My Schultz and Larsen rifle with a 6x steel Kahles scope and 4 cartridges on board weighed in at 10lbs and with a 26" barrel it was a handful at times when negotiating some of the jungle bush we have here and the high and steep alpine areas where our chamois and tahr are found.

The S&L rifle like most of the long magnums needed the long barrel to get anything like the published velocity for factory ammo and even reloads. It did give an honest 3000fps with a 160gr bullet in reloads and the Norma factory ammo with the same weight of bullet gave 3040fps compared to the published 3100fps.
This rifle served me well hitting long and hard on animals but I was younger then and could carry the heavy long rifle along with a heavy pack for many miles of walking to get into some of the areas we hunted at the time.

In my later years I have been using a Marlin XS short action 22" barrel in 7mm-08. A bit like a toy to handle being short and light but shoots accurate, recoils bugger all and will poke a 140gr bullet along at 2800-2900fps.

In the last decade I have hunted with my sons and some of their friends and had a few expeditions on tahr hunting high up in our Alps. The boys felt we needed a rifle with more reach and knock down power for some of the big bull tahr we were trying to get. Our 7mm-08's do well enough out to 300-350m but are noticeably short on pure anchoring power, and trajectory, for longer shots.

Anyway the opportunity presented itself to purchase a 2ndH Browning X-Bolt in 7mm WSM. With its 22" barrel I was not expecting to see full factory ammo velocity when first putting it across a chronograph but I was a little incredulous, putting it mildly, to see the velocity readings, and accuracy, from such a lightweight short barreled magnum. Sure it is operating at high pressure but so was my S&L with Norma ammo.

Maybe the X-Bolts have fast barrels, they are certainly highly polished in the bore and being Japanese made rifles are of high quality steel and beautifully finished barrels and actions.

Anyway at nearly 72 years of age now I am sold on the lightweight short action, short barrel rifle and stubby cartridge concept. They produce the goods, well for me they do, just wished I had one back all those years ago instead of lugging round the battle axes of the day. It seems from various posts here and online that those that own and use the short action magnums love them, there is more to it than just a half inch shorter bolt throw

270 WSM here , Browning A-Bolt since 2002.

I've still got the 270WSM I bought for tahr. Both the Tikka rifle and the cartridge are pretty ugly but shoot bloody well, even with my 110 and 180-grain handloads. The latter even go end on through the 300-yard targets. Although the calibre is too short for the action and lacks the aesthetics of the 270 Win, it's a fair bit more powerful. I'd be wary of it in a staggered magazine, though.

Yes 300 WSM

I have a 325 WSM that i came by in a strange sort of way. A friend won this rifle and he, being a small frame guy, thought it would be too much gun for him. I traded a 7mm-08 for it. I like the gun and I have killed several deer with it. It is a Browsning A-bolt.

Always thought the .325 would be about the perfect medicine for elk. Never owned one.

Never owned one. I like the idea of something a little more potent than an 06 case without the belt, but I feel like they just took the short, fat aspect a little too far.

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
Never owned one. I like the idea of something a little more potent than an 06 case without the belt, but I feel like they just took the short, fat aspect a little too far.

You should get one, I'm sure you will like it, I don't agree they took the short aspect too far. My 7mm WSM below, the X-Bolt is a beautiful action and feeds rounds smoothly from the flush fit, inline feed, magazine.

I'm really sold on these short magnum cartridges, from the 22" barrel I get slightly better than factory advertised velocity from 140gr and 160gr factory loads and with the suppressor that has a built in stainless muzzle brake, the Browning is most pleasant to shoot.

That's interesting, Eagle. Having a muzzle brake toned down by a suppressor sounds great but can a brake actually work if the gasses can't react against the atmosphere?

I suppose if the holes are underneath, the gas could bear against the underside of the suppressor, pushing it down. Angling the holes forward towards a baffle, could also push the suppressor and rifle forward, away from the shooter.

Obviously, it all vents to atmosphere eventually but with a much gentler rocket blast.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
That's interesting, Eagle. Having a muzzle brake toned down by a suppressor sounds great but can a brake actually work if the gasses can't react against the atmosphere?

I suppose if the holes are underneath, the gas could bear against the underside of the suppressor, pushing it down. Angling the holes forward towards a baffle, could also push the suppressor and rifle forward, away from the shooter.

Obviously, it all vents to atmosphere eventually but with a much gentler rocket blast.

Never had a look inside these suppressors to see how they work but they most definitely tame both noise and recoil extremely well. According to Gunworks the manufacturer, they are designed to cut recoil by 1/2 and noise by 2/3rds. The suppressed X-Bolt 7mm WSM is nothing like a normal magnum to shoot. I have shot it without ear protection and the shot noise is just a crack on par with a 22 Magnum RF. I haven't shot it without the suppressor and don't want to either as I imagine with the light rifle and short barrel the recoil would be rather sharp as would be the shot noise.

Specs from Gunworks:

41mm DIA DURALIUM SUPPRESSOR - Reduces recoil by half and removes 2/3rds noise

13.5” 41mm Magnum

Suitable for 270wsm, 7mm saum, 7mm rem mag, 300wsm etc (not suitable for ultra mags)

13.5” in length (340mm), sits 5” forward & 8.5” back

Weight 460–470grams (s/s internal muzzlebrake 20,000 rnds)

Colour black

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Always thought the .325 would be about the perfect medicine for elk. Never owned one.

I have also thought the same regarding the 325.
I have the 325 WSM in stainless Kimber Montana's and New Haven M70 classics. Unfortunately, I have shot only paper with any of my WSMs. I think the 325 is a great cartridge.

I also have the other WSMs in the M70's. My next personal favorite is the 7mm WSM. The 300 WSM would be my favorite of the 300's. The 270 WSM is certainly not shabby if one is a .277 fan.

The first 325 Kimber Montana that I saw on the rack, I bought. I recently had that barrel cut to 22-1/4". I like it even more. I hope to get it to the range within a few weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
Never had a look inside these suppressors to see how they work but they most definitely tame both noise and recoil extremely well. According to Gunworks the manufacturer, they are designed to cut recoil by 1/2 and noise by 2/3rds. The suppressed X-Bolt 7mm WSM is nothing like a normal magnum to shoot. I have shot it without ear protection and the shot noise is just a crack on par with a 22 Magnum RF. I haven't shot it without the suppressor and don't want to either as I imagine with the light rifle and short barrel the recoil would be rather sharp as would be the shot noise.

Specs from Gunworks:

41mm DIA DURALIUM SUPPRESSOR - Reduces recoil by half and removes 2/3rds noise

13.5” 41mm Magnum

Suitable for 270wsm, 7mm saum, 7mm rem mag, 300wsm etc (not suitable for ultra mags)

13.5” in length (340mm), sits 5” forward & 8.5” back

Weight 460–470grams (s/s internal muzzlebrake 20,000 rnds)

Colour black

I'm jealous. I had to fire several shots at a tahr that was hit but ran and this left me more deaf for six months. Trouble is, suppressors are lumped with silencers here and not allowed for amateurs. So, efficient as the 270 WSM is, it doesn't seem any quieter.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
Never had a look inside these suppressors to see how they work but they most definitely tame both noise and recoil extremely well. According to Gunworks the manufacturer, they are designed to cut recoil by 1/2 and noise by 2/3rds. The suppressed X-Bolt 7mm WSM is nothing like a normal magnum to shoot. I have shot it without ear protection and the shot noise is just a crack on par with a 22 Magnum RF. I haven't shot it without the suppressor and don't want to either as I imagine with the light rifle and short barrel the recoil would be rather sharp as would be the shot noise.

Specs from Gunworks:

41mm DIA DURALIUM SUPPRESSOR - Reduces recoil by half and removes 2/3rds noise

13.5” 41mm Magnum

Suitable for 270wsm, 7mm saum, 7mm rem mag, 300wsm etc (not suitable for ultra mags)

13.5” in length (340mm), sits 5” forward & 8.5” back

Weight 460–470grams (s/s internal muzzlebrake 20,000 rnds)

Colour black

I'm jealous. I had to fire several shots at a tahr that was hit but ran and this left me more deaf for six months. Trouble is, suppressors are lumped with silencers here and not allowed for amateurs. So, efficient as the 270 WSM is, it doesn't seem any quieter.

Yes it is a shame that suppressors are still outlawed in many countries due to the connotation that they are a snipers accessory used by criminals on their guns to wreak havoc on the innocent population.

Rather they should now be viewed as PPE necessary for health and safety. Here suppressors are virtually 100% the norm amongst the up and coming shooters and gaining high percent traction amongst established shooters including the aged like me.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
I have only acquired my 7mm WSM late last year ready for our (myself and three sons) 7 day Tahr hunt planned for July this year. Unfortunately bad weather saw our trip cancelled.
My youngest son has shot two large red deer with the WSM and was impressed with the DRT performance on the reds.

The rifle is a Browning X-Bolt with a magnum suppressor on the original 22" barrel (sits 8" back over barrel and 5" forward of muzzle). The suppressor has an internal stainless steel muzzle brake reducing recoil to 7mm-08 level and noise to a crack like a 22 Magnum Rimfire.
The X-Bolts are very nice light rifles with a tang safety and excellent half-open bolt position i.e. bolt handle up, making them very safe to carry with a round in the chamber.

About 60 or so rounds of factory ammunition, over a hundred once fired cases, a full can of powder, Fed 215 primers, and reloading dies came with the rifle and my local hunting and fishing shop has another 60 rounds of the same Federal factory ammo on the shelf which I'll get round to purchasing soon. All in all enough ammo and reloading stuff to outlast me.

I used a 7mm Magnum (7x61 S&H) for several decades of hunting so am very familiar with the performance of the magnums but the short action Browning and performance to date of the WSM cartridge really impresses me.

Chronographed factory ammo from the 22" barrel shows slightly better than factory MV for the Federal 140gr (average of 3230fps) and just over 3000fps MV for 160gr Winchester and 162gr Hornady. Can't ask for better than that.

Eagle: I have this same caliber in an A-Bolt. It’s been to Africa and did very well on a Bison hunt here in Utah. Although my 300 Win is my favorite, I really like this caliber.

Ammo can be a challenge to find but I have (by luck) been able to find some.

As can be seen by the replies, the "short magnums" are still too new to be obsolete, but they'll make it there quicker than most cartridge designs.

But who am I to criticize? I own a .256 Winchester, 7x33 Sako, a .22 Short rifle and handgun, a .32-20 rifle and handgun, and a .25 Remington. But I doubt the WSM's, or particularly the WSSM's, ever being regarded with the "class" that these other obsolete rounds have.

My dad still uses his Remington 700Ti in 300SAUM for everything since I got it for him in 2004 for a Colorado elk hunt.

1-shot kills and DRT on everything including African plains game.

IHAVE A LIKE NEW .325 WSM IN A KIMBER MONTANA. i DON'T USE IT THOUGH IN FAVOR OF A LITTLE .308.

Im old school, and long in the tooth and still prefer a 300 Win, or a 338 Win and I like the 375 Ruger and 9.3x62, but in reality for the USA Im satisfied with the 270 and 30-06.

But I believe the short mags are proper calibers and capable..

Ishoot a custom 7mm WSM. Lengthened the throat to allow a COL of 3.2. Shoots 180 gr Berger at 3000fps. Use it on steel most of the time. Regret selling a 325 WSM....very underappreciated.

Just purchased three packets (60 rounds) of Federal 140gr TBT ammo for my 7mm WSM, the last stock my local gun shop had on the shelf. Another large gun shop with a few branches nationwide is advertising the same ammo for sale and I'm tempted to buy a bit more while still available although at NZ$100 per packet it is not cheap although is comparable to much of the magnum ammo and reloading components retailing here now.

While I've got plenty of once fired cases and reloading dies for the WSM, the Federal TBT ammo is great stuff giving fine accuracy and slightly better than factory advertised velocity in my 22" Barrel X-Bolt. My youngest son has had DRT shots on two big red deer so far. The one recovered bullet from a shoulder shot shows perfect expansion and hold together.

It is not the sort of gun you blaze away ammo on target much and if all shots are DRT then my stock of factory ammo will be good for the rest of my lifetime shooting animals and hopefully will feed the gun as the WSM lives on with whichever of my three sons takes it over.

Expensive at NZ$100 per packet but worth it IMO.


Federal 140gr TBT recovered from shoulder shot red deer.

Good to see that you and your son are enjoying the 7mm WSM. I have one in a stainless M70 classic that I have had several years. I have it bedded in an aftermarket stock, scope mounted, factory ammunition, and plenty of reloading components. I have just not taken the time to sight it in.

I do like the cartridge. It and the 325 WSM are my favorites of the WSMs. I use monolithic bullets mostly in all my cartridges. But, I am also a fan of the solid shank Trophy Bonded types. I have more or less chosen the 145-150 grain for the 7mm WSM and 7mm Remington in the monolithic types. I think those will do all I need for 7mm use.

quote:

Originally posted by ldmay375:
Good to see that you and your son are enjoying the 7mm WSM. I have one in a stainless M70 classic that I have had several years. I have it bedded in an aftermarket stock, scope mounted, factory ammunition, and plenty of reloading components. I have just not taken the time to sight it in.

I do like the cartridge. It and the 325 WSM are my favorites of the WSMs. I use monolithic bullets mostly in all my cartridges. But, I am also a fan of the solid shank Trophy Bonded types. I have more or less chosen the 145-150 grain for the 7mm WSM and 7mm Remington in the monolithic types. I think those will do all I need for 7mm use.

Federal do supply the trophy bonded tipped bullet as a reloading component which I would like to obtain in both the 140gr and 160gr weights for the 7mm WSM, however their website is saying that the TBT bullets for all calibres they make are currently unavailable. I don't know if this is a temporary or permanent position.

Their 7mm WSM ammunition with 140gr and 160gr TBT bullets is listed as discontinued on their website although 7mm Rem Mag ammo with the 140gr TBT bullet is listed as available. Hopefully they will continue to supply the TBT bullets as a reloading component, I would reload these for my WSM and also my three sons 7mm-08's. I usually load the Hornady 139gr SST bullet in the 7mm-08's but I think the TBT bullet might be a better one where some extra, or more sure, penetration maybe required.

I had a 270 WSM. It shot well, but it did have issues feeding. I finally sold it.

I have had a 270 WSM, a 7mm SAUM, a 300 SAUM, and a 25 WSSM. Still have the 7 SAUM and 25 WSSM. They work, though no better than a dozen other rifles I have. - dan

I have a browning highwall in 7mmwsm that I have never shot. Took it out of the box, engraved it and put it back in the box.

Yes for sure .
My Kimber Montana 300WSM shooting 150gr Barnes TTSX has been a very deadly accurate combo .Sheep - Deer- Elk - Moose.

I have used one - a .300WSM. Shot well, felt awkward but worked fine. I prefer the longer cartridges for feeding reasons. If your gun handles the WSM shape, by all means shoot it!