Firstly Muir and Brit are perhaps a bit on the errr may I say old side,
Personally I don’t really see what the problem is with the WSM, if you are looking for a Magnum then you can make a good argument for them, OK the 270 WSM is a bit over bored, fine if you are using it for 150gn plus bullets IMO. The 7mm makes more sense again if you launching 160gn bullets, perhaps a better balanced cartridge than a 7mm Rem’ mag’, the 300 WSM is even better, when I was hunting in NZ two of the lads with us were carrying them.
In comparison with the 7mmRM or the 300WM the WSM has a few plus points, none belted case, and the rifle can be built in two action lengths shorter.
The principle behind the short fat case is that a theatrical perfect shape for a cartridge is a sphere with the primer in the middle, a cartridge of this shape would be difficult to build a rifle for, and then you would have to get it to feed from a magazine. The nearest we have is the family of short fat cases.
The 7mm WSM is king of the F class at the minute, in competition they only keep the winners. Brass is available from Norma, Winchester and Remington. If I was in the market for a magnum and a WSM rifle that suited me and was the right price came my way I would buy it no worries, although, like Brit I think I would err towards an 8mm magnum.
ATB
Tahr