Which short mag for a custom build?

So I have an itch for a custom hunting rifle. I have a short action stock and action with a magnum bolt face. I have been trying to decide between the 7wsm and the 300wsm.

I currently own a 7stw and not a 30 cal. i will mostly use this gun to hunt whitetail and mule deer anywhere between 50 yards and 600 yards.

I like the ballistics of the 7wsm better than the 300 wsm but it looks like the brass is hard to get for the 7wsm. I do reload.

Can anyone talk me into one or the other? Maybe another caliber as well?

6.5 WSM

338 WSM. Neck up 325 WSM brass to .338, and you are there. It's a great round.

The 6.5 WSM is a hot rod, and will push a high BC, 140 grain bullet fast. It's a good one if you work up a good load for it.

270 wsm running 150 ablr's... run the numbers pretty impressive

Or 6.5 saum.

There ya go with that 270 again. When there's clearly three better choices.



OP,

My knee jerk reaction was 7 WSM but since you have a 7 already I have to say 30 or 6.5. Being a whitetail rifle I'm leaning toward the 6.5 since I love my 260 for just about every critter and piece of long range steel in Texas.

Thanks for the info guys. I forgot to mention I have a few guns

hunting
7stw
308

Long range
custom 6.5 creedmoor
custom 338 lapua

If I was looking for an alternant caliber I guess I would have to stick with
257, 270, or a 30.

Two problems with me
I don't know what I want...
I dont know exactly why i need it...
guess that is the easier than wanting something and not being able to get it...

The 7mm SAUM is getting mighty popular in the long range games. Slightly less capacity than the WSM but still generates nearly the same velocity, and has a little more neck. Start with Norma 300 SAUM and neck it down to 7mm and voila. You've already got 7mm bullets on hand, so you can share some components.

What about a 7mm-300wsm? Use 300wsm brass (easier to get a hold of for me since norma makes it) and neck it down to 7mm?

I can see why you can't figure out what you want or need---you pretty well have things covered and especially with that 7 STW. If my gunsafe looked like yours, though, I'd probably start thinking about a hot 6mm since you have nothing that small. I'm not well informed on all the late short mags and don't know what's available but maybe there's something that would appeal to you. I'd suggest .240 Weatherby if you weren't working with a short action.

Most of us never need what we want or get but it passes time and keeps us out of trouble sometimes

Clearly better is a very personal perspective. I've heard people say the 150ablr runs true to BC and other say right at .58 either way that's pretty good especially when you factor in lessor recoil of the 270wsm.

As of right now 6.5 wsm and gaps 6.5 saumsound the funnest

Or long action we should just wait for the 26 nosler to come out :), or 6.5-257wby

Here is what I did. Had the same idea. Took a Kimber 300 WSM (I already had a Montana and a Winchester Camo Model 70) and had it rechambered to 25-300. Used a 26" Shilen barrel, an MPI stock ( not many make Kimber replacement stocks) Timney trigger. Randy Franklin of Franklin Precision did the work for me. RCBS had custom dies. It is easier to use 270 wsm brass than the 300 because of neck thickness. Anyway, this gun with 100 gr. Nosler Partitions will cook at nearly 3700 fps with 5/8" groups at 100 yards. I have taken coyotes out to 350 yards and numerous hogs. The only downside, it does get hot. Not the kind of rifle to go plinking with. I have had excellent luck with this gun...only wish Winchester had done this instead of the WSSM's. Just started using it this summer so lots of animals in its future.

This is my thoughts on the subject.

As i understand the reason winny went wssm was they were unable to get reliable stable pressure in the wsmcase, but i would not be afraid to try a 257 wsm.

Here is one for you to look at...George Gardner at GAP rifles came with this one.....

It's a 6.5 SAUM.....now the first thing you say is barrel burner but not too fast amigo....

It has lower chamber pressures and thus preserving barrel life, but if you want to hot rod it and burn up your barrel you can...

I was in your same boat and built me one and it's pretty awesome...matter fact my favorite rifle to shoot and hunt with with...if you wanna know more check out the thread of this rifle on snipers hide...

http://forum.snipershide.com/snipers-hid...r-6-5-saum.html