Thread: 300 Win Mag or 300WSM?

That's for all the responses guys. Much appreciated!

In answer to some of the questions raised here...

I have a 7mm-08 Montana for most hunting and that will be my main rifle for bush stalking, and general hunting - being Reds (bush and bush/openish country) and Fallow (if I can find the sneaky buggers in the bush!). It serves me fine truth be told, but I cut my teeth on a 308 Brno ZKK 601 and at the time of my Kimber purchase couldn't find a 308 Kimber so went with the 7mm-08 instead as that was the caliber in stock at the time. Can't exactly put a finger on why but on it but I prefer a 30cal.

My intended quarry for the Win Mag or WSM would be Red Stags in the roar, in the open past 300m. I know that it is doable with a 7mm-08 out to a certain distance, however I like the idea of having a bit more power on my side.

Do I NEED another rifle? Probably not. Do I WANT another rifle - simple answer is YES, Yes I do.

The other calibers suggested (7mm-Rem Mag, 280, 30-06 for example) would do well, however trying to source one of those in the Kimber Montana range (if I can even find them in NZ at the moment) may be problematic. Can't say I'm a big fan of the newer Kimber painted stocks or the Hunter model stock.

Now, full disclosure here, i didn't want to muddy the waters up front, but I actually own a 300WSM Kimber Montana (shortened by previous owner to 20 inches, fitted with a Hardy Magnum Suppressor and Talley rings). I thought I did well buying it as a package for $1700 in February for a Wapiti Trip so jumped on it. Here it is unscoped with my 7mm-08 for comparison (also a 20 inch barrel but with ATec Suppressor).



I've the taken the WSM to the range for a bit of a play and felt it quite comfortable to shoot.

My original question arose due to trying to find ammo for it. I've found the selection of ammo where I live to be a bit on the lean side and recently located a Kimber Montana in 300 Win Mag, but for $200 more than my WSM and without a suppressor. I was toying with the idea before getting too attached to the WSM that perhaps a Win Mag may be the way to go. The comments here have helped firm up my thought processes greatly though. I think I'll stick with the WSM for the foreseeable, just means I need to forward plan my ammo purchases and not leave it to the last minute as chances are ammo might be a bit scarce at times.

Perhaps one day I'll head down the rabbit hole of reloading for it, although after following @Tikka7mm08 and his marathon 280AI load development I'm not so sure....

Thanks again for all the comments/advice!

Originally Posted by Kimber 7mm-08

That's for all the responses guys. Much appreciated!

In answer to some of the questions raised here...

I have a 7mm-08 Montana for most hunting and that will be my main rifle for bush stalking, and general hunting - being Reds (bush and bush/openish country) and Fallow (if I can find the sneaky buggers in the bush!). It serves me fine truth be told, but I cut my teeth on a 308 Brno ZKK 601 and at the time of my Kimber purchase couldn't find a 308 Kimber so went with the 7mm-08 instead as that was the caliber in stock at the time. Can't exactly put a finger on why but on it but I prefer a 30cal.

My intended quarry for the Win Mag or WSM would be Red Stags in the roar, in the open past 300m. I know that it is doable with a 7mm-08 out to a certain distance, however I like the idea of having a bit more power on my side.

Do I NEED another rifle? Probably not. Do I WANT another rifle - simple answer is YES, Yes I do.

The other calibers suggested (7mm-Rem Mag, 280, 30-06 for example) would do well, however trying to source one of those in the Kimber Montana range (if I can even find them in NZ at the moment) may be problematic. Can't say I'm a big fan of the newer Kimber painted stocks or the Hunter model stock.

Now, full disclosure here, i didn't want to muddy the waters up front, but I actually own a 300WSM Kimber Montana (shortened by previous owner to 20 inches, fitted with a Hardy Magnum Suppressor and Talley rings). I thought I did well buying it as a package for $1700 in February for a Wapiti Trip so jumped on it. Here it is unscoped with my 7mm-08 for comparison (also a 20 inch barrel but with ATec Suppressor).

Attachment 169046

I've the taken the WSM to the range for a bit of a play and felt it quite comfortable to shoot.

My original question arose due to trying to find ammo for it. I've found the selection of ammo where I live to be a bit on the lean side and recently located a Kimber Montana in 300 Win Mag, but for $200 more than my WSM and without a suppressor. I was toying with the idea before getting too attached to the WSM that perhaps a Win Mag may be the way to go. The comments here have helped firm up my thought processes greatly though. I think I'll stick with the WSM for the foreseeable, just means I need to forward plan my ammo purchases and not leave it to the last minute as chances are ammo might be a bit scarce at times.

Perhaps one day I'll head down the rabbit hole of reloading for it, although after following @Tikka7mm08 and his marathon 280AI load development I'm not so sure....

Thanks again for all the comments/advice!

Greetings Kimber 7mm-08,
Handloading is as difficult or as simple as you make it. I've been involved in loading both the .300 Win Mag and the 7mm-08 and have found both easy to load for. The .300 WSM should be no different. I am also a minimalist when it comes to load development having long since abandoned endless series of small increments of powder charge in favour of concentrating on the target velocity area. Handloading does get over the problem of sporadic shortages.
Regards Grandpamac.