The WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) family- anyone in uk use them?

[doric_prince]

Does anyone use one of these in the UK? I’m assuming ammo availability isn’t great? Grateful for views from those that use it and what you have found its performance on our deer species Is like.

I am Just back from a Spanish ibex hunt where i used the estate rifle in .270WSM on what looked like a shortish barrelled a tikka ( I think a T3, although I’m not familiar with tikka rifles). Guide told me it was a Norma 145 grain bullet. Certainly did the job and knocked over with authority my ibex. on actual fact it completely flattened it Off it’s feet, shot through the shoulders, dropped like a stone.

I’ve not seen or used this calibre before but first impressions, in my, admittedly very short experience of it, was that it impressed me on its hard hitting and low recoil. The reaction of the beast was intresting to watch back on a video the guide took (which I won’t post here for obvious reasons).

This rifle had neither a suppressor or muzzle brake, I’m used to a 7mm rem mag with a suppressor and this .270WSM felt a lot less recoil even without one.

what are other SD members experience of this calibre or the wider WSM family?

Thanks

 

[Island]

Never used one, never seen any ammo for one, never seen a rifle chambered for it..............but for many years there has been a little voice at the back of my head that has said "I kinda fancy a 7mm WSM".

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

I shoot a .300 WSM, it’s awesome for large deer at extended ranges and even small deer at longer ranges. As you mention they hit hard and not much makes it very far at all!

I’ve never bothered looking too hard for factory ammunition, I suspect it would be a custom order from an importer job bar a few shops in the UK (and factory ammo tends to be silly expensive in WSM)

For someone reloading it’s ideal though as it’s a nice short powder column which is very inherently accurate, without too many issues I’m getting an ES of sub 5 FPS and groups sub 0.25MOA.


Carcass damage wise it’s not been too horrendous for me, I will post some examples on posts below.

Hope this helps,

Ben

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

Roe with a 150 TTSX or 175 LRX

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

Reds with 150 TTSX or 175 LRX

 

[243ack]

I own and use a 7WSM based on a Stiller Predator action and a 243WSSM.
Also 'assist' in reloading for 270WSM, 223 and 243WSSM.
All superb - and just a little bit different!.

 

[User00040]

Never used one, never seen any ammo for one, never seen a rifle chambered for it..............but for many years there has been a little voice at the back of my head that has said "I kinda fancy a 7mm WSM".

Believe it or not, Sloans of Inverurie had some in the backroom the last (and only time) I was there.

7STW, 7X64, 270WSM, all weird and wonderful stuff for equally amaizing prices. Saw a box of 5.6x57 and asked

- 'Who has a rifle chambered for that?'

-'Ah this older gentleman who passed away 5 years ago'

 

[finnbear270]

Owned a Howa 7mm WSM, Shot Reds well, did some damage at Diggle on the hun's head ( target running up & down the butts), & it knocked a few steel plates out of position on the other range details.

 

[stubear]

Personally I reckon it’s basically the same as .300wm except short, and with worse rifle and ammo availability, fewer reloading resources, harder to get dies etc for…

So a more inconvenient .300wm. So I just got a .300wm

That said if you have the itch, scratch it. Otherwise you’ll always be wondering!

 

[Island]

Believe it or not, Sloans of Inverurie had some in the backroom the last (and only time) I was there.

7STW, 7X64, 270WSM, all weird and wonderful stuff for equally amaizing prices. Saw a box of 5.6x57 and asked

- 'Who has a rifle chambered for that?'

-'Ah this older gentleman who passed away 5 years ago'

Ahem...I think you will find, good sir, that the 7x64 does not fall into the category mentioned...it is, of course, categorised under "distinguished, cultured, suave and debonair"...

 

[Dunwaters]

Believe it or not, Sloans of Inverurie had some in the backroom the last (and only time) I was there.

7STW, 7X64, 270WSM, all weird and wonderful stuff for equally amaizing prices. Saw a box of 5.6x57 and asked

- 'Who has a rifle chambered for that?'

-'Ah this older gentleman who passed away 5 years ago'

I wonder if that was H.H?

 

[Fabnosh]

I had a 300WSM some years back in a Sako 75 Finnlight. Great calibre, great rifle...but not a great combination. It needed a heavier gun. It was also a sod to work up a load for as the whippy light barrel was cooking after three rounds. I don't miss having it though....and yes, unless you load your own, ammo availability a challenge.

FN

 

[Border]

I wonder if that was H.H?

I wondered the same?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Sold a 270wsm to a friend. awesome tool
Runs 95 and 140gr bullets

I run a 325WSM with 110gr at 3450fps, its fun

 

[Selous]

Personally I reckon it’s basically the same as .300wm except short, and with worse rifle and ammo availability, fewer reloading resources, harder to get dies etc for…

So a more inconvenient .300wm. So I just got a .300wm

That said if you have the itch, scratch it. Otherwise you’ll always be wondering!

There are tangible advantages over the 300 Win Mag. In particular the lack of a belt and the short powder column which does seem to result in very consistent burn and low ES and SD. In essence I think it’s a better design than the Win Mag but I accept the disadvantages you discuss.

 

[moray loon]

Believe it or not, Sloans of Inverurie had some in the backroom the last (and only time) I was there.

7STW, 7X64, 270WSM, all weird and wonderful stuff for equally amaizing prices. Saw a box of 5.6x57 and asked

- 'Who has a rifle chambered for that?'

-'Ah this older gentleman who passed away 5 years ago'

Over the years, Rodney Sloan has sourced rifles / ammunition from all over the globe for lots of people. Great guy, great shop.

 

[doric_prince]

Thanks for the responses. Am I right in thinking that wsm, like most magnums, required a barrel length of c24” to get the most out of them? Or can they be had with a shorter say 20” barrel and still compete with the like of a 24” barreled magnums like .300wm / 7mm rm etc? that is to say, is this one of the advantages the wsm have over the more established magnums? Appreciate the shorter chamber makes for an overall reduced length Of rifle but what about barrel length ballistics. Thanks

 

[Ronin]

Wsm is a fantastic base for any longer range rifle for any application

It’s advantages over the belted case are many as @Selous has posted

The 7wsm has a shorter case neck so many choose to use the 270/300 case as a base for custom build - if choosing the 7mm variant

The 300 is and can be exceptionally accurate when hand loaded this reflected in the use of the cartridge in F Class where accuracy and precision is required

The case feeds reliably from magazine too so an advantage for hunting application

 

[Klenchblaize]

What was wrong with the 1960’s Norma 308 Magnum?

K

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

What was wrong with the 1960’s Norma 308 Magnum?

K

It died
There is only one 30 cal Norma Magnum..... The 300