Well, I've decided to bite the bullet and join the "new fangled" crowd. I don't have anything between my 7mm-08 carbine and my 375 H&H, and this caliber looks to fill the bill. The question is - which flavor?

I like Winchesters, but I keep hearing about spotty quality control with USRAC products. If I go with a 70, I like the look and feel of the Featherweight version, but is this going to make a supposedly softer kicking magnum more hard to handle? I like the extra weight of the laminated version, but the plain, uncheckered stock doesn't do anything for me...

I like the balance and short throw bolt of the Browning, but it already starts with a tube shorter than I'd care for to get the most out of a magnum cartridge...

I have personally never owned a Savage, but everyone I know who has one swears by it, and they're certainly less pricey than either of the aforementioned...

Any advise from satisfied (or even more importantly, dissatisfied) WSM owners?

Thanks in advance!

Kevin

What's wrong with the REm 700 AWR in the .300 SRUM?

Nothing - in theory. I really like the Remington 700s; I'm just concerned that the Remington Short Magnums (a) have less powder capacity and hence less capability than the WSMs, and (b) probably won't survive based on their late arrival on the short & fat scene...

Regards,

Kevin

Gunner-

I don't own a WSM caliber (yet), but I can give you advice on rifle makes.

I own a .270 Win Stainless featherweight. I can't say enough about it. Some people will have had bad experiences with any make of rifle, but the fact is that this rifle is near custom-grade and it cost less than 600 bucks. It carries and handles so nicely compared to all the other rifles I own. The stock configuration is superb. It shoots several different 130 grain loads into 1" or less, but is finicky with heavier bullets.

I am not a Browning A-bolt fan. With my A-bolt and the magazine system, I have had some problems with feeding. I don't like the safety, and I don't like the trigger. Although the rifle is very accurate, I will never buy another.

Never owned a Savage, but have heard the same good things you have.

I guess you could end up with a mediocre Winchester, but I certainly didn't. I love the featherweight because it looks better than any factory rifle (IMHO), has the features I like best, has excellent accuracy potential, and carries and handles like a dream. None of the others feel this good in my hands. I think it's the total package.

Gunner

You have a 7mm-08 and a 375. In between is 30 cal, so a 300WSM in Browning is the ticket. With the short fat cartridge, barrel length doesn't make a whole lot of difference. I have a couple Browing Abolts and have never a complaint, one of them is 300WSM. You won't be disappointed.

Peter

Which WSM?

None of them. I like long actions.

Well, if I were to pick one of the short magnums, I'd go with the .300 WSM.
My son in law just got a Featherweight in that round and just loves it. He said it "Kicked like hell." but then his total experience is with a .247 Robt. and a 30-30 Win. For him, it's probably a good choice.
GUNTESTS Magazine just did a write up on the 300 and gave it a fairly good review. They felt it might be a good choice for a one gun person foe all round hunting in North America, but felt that it had hardly anything on the 30-06 and was surpassed by the .300 Win. Mag.
I don't guess I'll trade my .300 Win. Mag. off anytime soon.
Paul B.

Unless you really want to go with an over- rated unproven cartridge stick with the good old 300Win. and you'll never find it lacking. If you need more or less, you already have that solved.

If you are reloading what you currently have, you might want to stick with the 7mm WSM just so you only have to keep one size bullet.