.300 WSM Review: What You Need to Know About the .300 WSM (Pros and Cons)

If there's one hunting cartridge that's near and dear to my heart, it's the 300 Winchester Short Magnum. After borrowing my grandfather's 300 WSM for a sheep hunt, I quickly fell in love with the power and accuracy and have used it to since take a wide variety of animals. 

So it's no surprise that it is growing in popularity. Since its inception in 2001, more and more hunters and shooters are drawn to it thanks to the better ballistics than the .308 Winchester and the shorter action than the normal 300 Winchester. 

But like anything, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Let's dive into the good, the bad, and maybe some ugly so that you can decide for yourself if the 300 WSM is the right caliber of choice for you! 

Let's start off with the good stuff:

Pros:

1. Flat Trajectory: One of the best things about the .300 WSM is how flat it shoots. This means more accuracy downrange and the capability of making longer shots. I've taken several animals over 500 yards with this cartridge, and every time it has performed flawlessly. Hunter or shooter, you'll love shooting it beyond 300 to 400 yards. 

2. Recoil: Make no mistake, there are plenty of other calibers out there that kick much less than the .300 WSM. That being said, with a simple muzzle brake I've found that it's really not too bad at all. In fact, it has far less recoil than other magnum cartridges and honestly, when paired with a muzzle device like a brake or suppressor, this thing is a joy to shoot. 

3. Versatility: If there's one thing the .300 WSM does well it's the ability to use in a wide variety of situations. No matter what big game you are going after, from small antelope to giant moose, this thing can handle it all. I've even used one to take a small Coues whitetail and was very impressed with the performance. It's big enough to handle big animals but not oversized for use on smaller game.

4. Short Action: By far my favorite aspect of the .300 WSM is its short action design. This means it can fit in a short action rifle, making it way lighter and more maneuverable in the field. While super similar to the standard 300 Winchester Magnum, it is almost half the length and much easier to rack the bolt. 

5. Availability: Last but not least, the .300 WSM is a popular and widespread cartridge, meaning you can find ammo at just about any gun or sporting goods store. Forgot your bullets? You can probably find some on pretty short notice. There's nothing worse than buying a new rifle and never being able to find ammunition for it! 

Cons:

1. Cost: Now for the bad. This thing is NOT cheap. The .300 WSM is definitely more expensive than other cartridges, so just be prepared. If you have a strict budget when it comes to hunting or shooting gear, this might not be the caliber for you. 

2. Barrel Life: Another downside is that the .300 WSM has a shorter barrel life than many other cartridges. While I've never ran into any issues with this as mine is strictly a hunting rifle that is not getting thousands of rounds through the barrel, it will wear out faster and need to be replaced before my other rifles. This is all due to its high pressure and high velocity, which are known barrel burners. 

3. Noise: Yeah, this thing is pretty loud. Throw a muzzle brake on there to tame the recoil and it's even louder. Don't forget your hearing protection! While no hunting rifle will be quiet, the blast from one of these can definitely make some enemies at the gun range. 

4. Recoil: Recoil is on the pros and the cons list. Why? Because while the recoil of the .300 WSM is still less than other magnum cartridges, it still has a kick. Not a big deal for your average shooter or hunter, but probably not the best option if you plan to have any women or children shoot the gun. 

5. Limited Selection of Ammo: While the .300 WSM is popular and you can usually find ammo for it just about anywhere, your selections will be much more limited than say the .308 Win or the 6.5 Creedmoor. And again, you'll likely pay a pretty penny for it too! 

So is the .300 WSM the right cartridge for you? Well, that depends, which pros and cons spoke the most to you? While I've loved mine, it's still not perfect but no rifle ever is. I guess that's why we need more than one? 

Either way, it is easily one of my favorite calibers and the perfect choice for long range hunting and shooting. If you are at all interested in one, I'd highly recommend checking it out! And if you need a sling for it, we've got you covered there too. Order a customized rifle sling and happy hunting!