270 WSM or 300 WSM light weight long range build

[elkeaterco]

I'm thinking about building another long range rifle. I'm looking at the 270WSM or 300 WSM. I'll be using it for long range deer and elk hunting(max 600-700yards). They both have awesome ballistics and killer KE at those ranges. I'm planning on using 150/180 VLD bergers. Who has experience with these calibers?

Thanks in advance

Jake

 

[xxxarcher]

I have a 300 wsm with a 26" PAC nor barrel getting 3056 out of 190 vld's.

 

[luke moffat]

Personally I'd split the difference and go 7WSM. Still thinking about turning my extra Browning Ti in 325 WSM into a 7WSM...the rifles themselves are 5 pounds 10 oz (my 325 WSM is 5 pounds 6 oz) and even with a 20 oz 30mm scope it'd still be right at 7 pounds or so.

But in your case a Tikka would be a great value the lightweight/accurate department. I had one in 300 WM 3-4 years ago, my brother has one in 30-06, and my dad has one in .308...all shoot less than one inch if the joker behind the gun did his part

 

[elkeaterco]

Man, that's smokin' fast pushing a 190. What is your powder load? Recoil manageable?

 

[Jager]

Luke, that's sacrilege, turning a 325 into a 7mm.

I have had 3 270's over the years, for me, they just don't stack up against a 30 cal.

 

[elkeaterco]

Luke, Thanks for the input.
I have a Ruger .243, M77. I'm considering cannibalizing, however, its probably cheaper to buy a M700 sps or Kimber montana. Gun smith work is crazy expensive as you guys know. I use a 7mm mag for everything now so looking for a new caliber to play with. The 270 wsm looks like it shoots a bit flatter. Has anyone shot elk with this round? If so, what bullet did you use? How effective? Range? Pass through?

Thanks in advance

Jake

 

[Ryan Avery]

Luke, your going to need at least a
10 in barrel on the 7 WSM...... I'm with Jäger go with the 300.

 

[Beastmode]

Be sure to look at what a gun can handle for COAL. You will run in to isuues with some of the longer long range bullets with the wsm's. Unless you want a single shot you are very limited to seating depths.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Luke, Thanks for the input.
I have a Ruger .243, M77. I'm considering cannibalizing, however, its probably cheaper to buy a M700 sps or Kimber montana. Gun smith work is crazy expensive as you guys know. I use a 7mm mag for everything now so looking for a new caliber to play with. The 270 wsm looks like it shoots a bit flatter. Has anyone shot elk with this round? If so, what bullet did you use? How effective? Range? Pass through?

Thanks in advance

Jake

I have seen two Elk get shot with a 270wsm both where Berger's, both died inside of 10 yards. The furthest was 250 maybe.

I like the 300 once you pass the 500 yard mark. Under that I don't think it matters. Brass will be a factor with the 270 at times. So buy in bulk if you go that route.

 

[Beastmode]

I killed my bull this year at 325 with a 270 wsm. shooting 130 ttsx @ 3220. Did the trick. I agree with Ryan though. Your asking a lot out of it on sn elk past 500.

 

[xxxarcher]

Man, that's smokin' fast pushing a 190. What is your powder load? Recoil manageable?

Rl22 it's got a little recoil but not too bad but it weighs about 9#.

 

[NoWiser]

I haven't shot an elk with a 270 WSM but I did take a big Canadian Moose with mine. 311 yards and I shot it twice. The first was broadside through the lungs and I had a pass-through. The second was quartering away and it entered towards the back of the ribs and ended up behind the skin on the far quarter. The moose made it about 20 yards before going down. This was with a 140 grn Barnes TSX. I love the caliber. Right now I have some 130 grn TTSX's moving out at 3,380 fps and I'm consistently connecting bullet holes at 100 yards. My dad also shot his moose the following year with his 270 WSM. Same bullet and same results. A dead moose inside 30 yards.

I do know a couple people with 300 WSMs and they love them as well.

 

[elkeaterco]

Riddle me this, how much does the KE matter? I'm running some basic data through my ballistic calculator with "general numbers" and it appears the smaller round has more energy. I have always believed speed kills BUT how does that really play out in real life?

270 wsm 150 gr berger mv 3200fps, @ 600 yards = 2639fps/KE2319
300 wsm 150 gr berger mv 3000fps, @ 600 yards = 2350fps/KE1900
300 wsm 168 gr berger mv 3000fps, @ 600 yards = 2394fps/KE2138

 

[Stid2677]

I have both and I would recommend the 300WSM, I had feeding issues with 2 different 270WSMs. The shoulder angle is steep, causing feeding issues, especially in push to feed actions. The only rifle I have out of the 3 that feeds 270WSMs without issue is my Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather.

 

[Steve O]

Luke is right, the long range king of the WSM class is the 7mm.

 

[Jager]

Elkeaterco, not too sure on the ballistics and KE, so i'll go with experience shooting a lot of Red stags, I have never been able to argue with the results from a 30 cal.

Go with a 338Win and your laughing.

 

[elkeaterco]

I have both and I would recommend the 300WSM, I had feeding issues with 2 different 270WSMs. The shoulder angle is steep, causing feeding issues, especially in push to feed actions. The only rifle I have out of the 3 that feeds 270WSMs without issue is my Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather.

Interesting....hmmm, what were the other two brands? I'm a huge Rem fan but I could see how the round could have feeding issues. I was looking at either a Rem 700 sps or Kimber montana.

 

[Stid2677]

Interesting....hmmm, what were the other two brands? I'm a huge Rem fan but I could see how the round could have feeding issues. I was looking at either a Rem 700 sps or Kimber montana.

The first was a Kimber Montana...Sent it back to Kimber, they ground the feed ramp, but while doing it took a bite out of the rail, causing it to jam when riding the bolt forward. You can see the notch on the right rail right at the bottom of the ramp.

The other was a Remington Alaskan TI 700.

 

[Shrek]

If you are building a custom then look at the 7mm-300 wsm. It's a wildcat but an easy one to make. If not then you need to look at the 210gr berger vld in the 300 wsm. Imo the 7mm family of bullets match well with the wsm case. The 168gr 7mm berger vld with its .316 g7 bc moving out at @3000fps is about optimal for your range and game objectives. I can get 3.05 col into my Winchester short action and thats about what you need minimum to run the 168gr 7mm vlds without putting too much bullet into the case. I'm going to the 7mm-300 wsm when I change out the barrel on my 7mm wsm to get the longer neck and more available and higher quality 300 wsm brass to work with. You can't really go wrong with any of them honestly.
Btw , when looking at long range shooting you need to be running the heavier bullets in each calber. Ballistic coefficients go lower as the weight to caliber declines. Sleek and heavy for caliber is where you need to be. If you are not buying a custom the you need to be aware of traditional factory twist rates for any given caliber. Most 270 and 30 cal offerings come with 1 in 10 twist and the long and heavy 270 bullets often will not stabilize in a factory 10 twist. Most 30 cal offerings will work with a 10 twist . The heavy 7mm need a 9 twist and that comes standard in many factory rifles.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Dave, what speed can you get with a 180 out of a 7-300?