The Best of the WSMs

by
posted on December 19, 2013
lessons_ah2015_fs.jpg (19)

undefinedThe whole short-magnum cartridge concept has been around for about 14 years—actually that’s not true. It’s been around since 1956 when Winchester shortened the .375 H&H case to make a .45-caliber rifle cartridge that would fit in a standard-length receiver—the .458 Winchester Magnum. But the modern short magnum is some 14 years old. It began with the .300 WSM and was shortly followed by the .270 WSM, 7 mm WSM and the 8 mm WSM. Wildcatters have necked the parent case up and down throughout the spectrum.

Topping the popularity list is the .300 WSM. That is not surprising. Thirty-caliber bullets have always been in the hearts of American shooters and hunters ever since the .30-40 Krag was adopted by the military back in 1892. Tons of R&D research—as well as tooling—has made .30-caliber bullets some of the most accurate available in this country. The .300 WSM replicates the ballistics of the .300 Winchester Magnum in a case that will fit in a short-action rifle. I fail to see any real advantage in this, but rifle aficionados seem to love the concept.

The 7 mm and 8 mm WSMs never really caught on. Remington pretty much owns 7 mm cartridges and has since 1963 when it brought out the 7 mm Remington Magnum. Big Green also tried to lay claim to the 8 mm cartridges, but that caliber has never generated much enthusiasm on this side of the pond. The reason Winchester tried the 8 mm WSM was that it was looking to provide .338 Winchester Magnum performance in a short-action cartridge. It could not do it with .338 bullets, but came pretty close with the 8 mm. For whatever reason, Americans have never latched on much to the 8 mm. Some say it’s because our fathers and grandfathers kept getting shot with them in WWII—I don’t really know if that is true. Nonetheless, these two cartridges have languished.

But the .270 WSM has a pretty good following. I was fortunate to be on the first hunt with this cartridge during the week of September 11, 2001. Aside from all the chaos that week provided, I found the cartridge to be quite good—noticeably flatter than the .270 Winchester that I was so used to using for deer and pronghorn. I immediately ordered a Model 70 Featherweight in this chambering and began loading and using it for much of my personal hunting excursions. If memory serves, I believe I have taken three mule deer, four whitetails, maybe a half dozen pronghorns, a couple of wild pigs and an elk with this cartridge. The only animal requiring more than one shot was the mule deer buck I shot on September 12, 2001. That buck, I felt, needed a second anchoring shot, but in reality it probably did not.

I’ve used factory loads and handloads. Because its velocity runs in the 3,300- to 3,500-fps range, I usually prefer a relatively strong bullet like the Barnes TSX, though recently I have tried some Berger 130-grainers, and they have performed well on whitetails and pronghorns. With the TSX bullets, I have used them from 110 to 140 grains. The 110-grainers were loaded to 3,485 fps, according to my chronograph, and shoot like a laser out to 400 yards. They turn off the lights of a pronghorn instantly. The 140-grain TSX brought down the bull elk you see here with one shot—he literally dropped in his tracks and did not move.

Anyway, for my money the .270 WSM is the best of the WSMs. It offers a real improvement in velocity that doesn’t simply replicate what’s already out there. Yes, the .270 Weatherby does the same thing, but it has never really caught on like the other Weatherby cartridges. I now have two rifles chambered for this cartridge, and they have pretty much earned their place as my primary hunting guns. I’ll play with others, but when I am serious about it, I’ll take one of my .270 WSMs.

Latest

LEDE Pull Shoot Save Rebate Program
LEDE Pull Shoot Save Rebate Program

Remington Ammunition Announces Pull, Shoot, Save! Shotshell Rebate

Remington Ammunition recently announced its Pull, Shoot, Save! Rebatewhich offers consumers the chance to buy some of Remington’s best target loads and receive up to $50 back. This promotion runs through June 30, 2025.

XS Sights Introduces Handguard for Henry Lever-Action Rifles

Designed for modern lever-action enthusiast who want to upgrade their Henry rifle, this highly customizable handguard is equipped with six M-LOK slots on each side and seven on the bottom to accommodate a wide array of accessories.

Montana FWP Announces 2025 Migratory Bird Stamp

A trio of tundra swans winging their way through a gray sky in the shadows of Rocky Mountain peaks is captured brilliantly in the 2025 Montana Migratory Bird Stamp.

Tested: EAA Witness2311 10mm Auto Hunter Pistol

This 2011 double-stack pistol is available with a six-inch barrel and an optics-ready slide for less than you might expect.

New for 2025: Escort Shotguns WS Youth 20-Gauge Shotgun

Youth shotguns are often the first introduction to hunting for many individuals, and Escort Shotguns is looking to help continue that tradition with its WS Youth shotgun.

Busting the Roost Myth: Why You Shouldn't Tree Talk to Toms

Should you call to a roosted tom? Mike Roux fills his readers in on why this popular strategy may be the reason they don't fill all their tags this spring.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.