300wsm or 300rcm

ratamahatta

ratamahatta

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I've been looking at a winchester model 70 300 wsm, and a ruger 300 ruger compact magnum, are they the same????? The price for the winchester is around $800.00 and the price for the ruger is $660.00...........what's the difference??????
 
hank dangle said:
I've been looking at a winchester model 70 300 wsm, and a ruger 300 ruger compact magnum, are they the same????? The price for the winchester is around $800.00 and the price for the ruger is $660.00...........what's the difference??????
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The two cartiges are definetly different and not interchangable. I believe they have similar ballistics and are both designed to work in short action rifles but the exact specs of the the two cartriges are different enough to prevent chambering one in a gun designed for the other. I think the price difference is more a reflection of Winchester vs. Ruger pricing on guns, rather than any difference due to the cartiges.
 
I didn't want to interchange them, I was just wondering since they are both 300 short magnums are the ballistics in the same ballpark??????
 
Once you look at the ballistics, you might consider which is more likely to be manufactured on a regular basis and be more widely available. I'd guess the 300 wsm to be the one to choose on availability.
 
Since this is about the equipment itself rather than its use, I'm going to move this from Prac Tac to Gadgets & Gear.
 
hank dangle said:
I didn't want to interchange them, I was just wondering since they are both 300 short magnums are the ballistics in the same ballpark??????
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Sorry, I thought you were asking if they were two different names for the same cartidge. :foot:

As far as ballistics go, I found this comparision chart that included both the .300 WSM and the .300 RCM:

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=761

It looks like the performance of the two cartriges is extremely close all across the range of bullet sizes. Given that, you might want to consider zenheretic's advice on availability to finalize your choice.
 
I am in the gun business, and while the .300rcm is a good round, you will have a heck of a time finding it. I would go for the WSM just based on that. The price difference is on the weapon, not the chambering. For the same price as that ruger, you can score a .300wsm in various savage models or remington 700 sps--actually a bit less than the ruger at the retail level, even less if you buy used or go deal shopping.
 
I'm not in the gun business, but have owned several 30 cal rifles. The WSMs and RCMs are recent developments with the "benefit" of putting a fast 30 in a short action package.

In my opinion availability of ammo and/or components if you're a handloader is a much more important factor to consider than the length of the action. For that reason, I'd recommend neither.

Have you looked at a 300 winchester magnum? It's ballistics are just as good and it's tried, true, with ammo everywhere and almost every rifle made today is chambered in that cartridge.
 
The WSM'S have been around a while now and have established a decent track record for those that want a short action.
I never jumped on the short action magnum bandwagon. As Slatts mentioned, The 300 Win Mag has been around an awful long time and has proven itself very verstile and every bit as acurate as the short mags. In general, the short mags were just a marketing idea to sell more guns. Which to their credit it did..

Ammo availabilty should definetely be a concern with the shortage of stuff thats available. I would stay away from the Ruger cartridge until it has been on the market for a while. If it doesn't catch on, your going to have a harder time selling it if you want to. jmo
 
Slatts said:
I'm not in the gun business, but have owned several 30 cal rifles. The WSMs and RCMs are recent developments with the "benefit" of putting a fast 30 in a short action package.

In my opinion availability of ammo and/or components if you're a handloader is a much more important factor to consider than the length of the action. For that reason, I'd recommend neither.

Have you looked at a 300 winchester magnum? It's ballistics are just as good and it's tried, true, with ammo everywhere and almost every rifle made today is chambered in that cartridge.
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.300 WSM components are very available. My brother has two Model 70 Classics in .300 WSM (along with 3 others in other calibers) and handloads for them. The components are about as easy to get as the ones for his .338 Super Grade. As for comparison with the .300 Win Mag, you actually get slightly higher velocities from the .300 WSM using the recommended loads from the reloading manuals (the fat .404 Jeffrey based case hold a goodly amount of powder plus the theory that short fat cases are more efficient) AND you don't have to deal with the short neck of the .300 Win Mag. The Jeffrey based case is quite a bit larger than the old Holland and Holland ones. The factory loads for the 30-06 length 7mm, .300 and .340 Dakota are pretty much the equal of full length H&H based rounds like the .300 and .340 Weatherby and 7mm STW.
 
I got this like new model 70 at a gun show in .338 Winchester Mag for around 400. I sure don't need it but it's fun to shoot!
2ce3zmw.jpg
 
sorry I haven't replied, I've been over in W&SS section, I've thought about it and I'm going with the 300 win mag, a buddy of mine has one and I shot it the other day and liked how it felt and the recoil was that bad, so that's what I'm gonna go with, I'm gonna use it for hunting deer and elk, and black bear if I ever get picked in the lottery.....thanks for all the info....:D
 
hank dangle said:
sorry I haven't replied, I've been over in W&SS section, I've thought about it and I'm going with the 300 win mag, a buddy of mine has one and I shot it the other day and liked how it felt and the recoil was that bad, so that's what I'm gonna go with, I'm gonna use it for hunting deer and elk, and black bear if I ever get picked in the lottery.....thanks for all the info....:D
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You can't go wrong with that pick. I carried a 300wm on a brown bear hunt, and have taken many deer and hogs as well with it. It's more than enough gun for the smaller stuff and entirely adequate for bears.
 
jill jackson said:
I got this like new model 70 at a gun show in .338 Winchester Mag for around 400. I sure don't need it but it's fun to shoot!
2ce3zmw.jpg
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Jill,

Excellent deal! for 4 Benjamins. They are a gem to load for very accurate and factory rounds are available for it, esp. where the bigguns roam. Took my first Kodiak Grizz with my .338 win mag.

Put a Leupold Vari-X on it. Unbelievable combination of caliber and optic for long distance shooting.

Peace
ST~
 
Steel Talon said:
Jill,

Excellent deal! for 4 Benjamins. They are a gem to load for very accurate and factory rounds are available for it, esp. where the bigguns roam. Took my first Kodiak Grizz with my .338 win mag.

Put a Leupold Vari-X on it. Unbelievable combination of caliber and optic for long distance shooting.

Peace
ST~
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Amazing that you could get a push feed 70 of that cheap. I guess most people are opting for the Classic.
 
jdm61 said:
Amazing that you could get a push feed 70 of that cheap. I guess most people are opting for the Classic.
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It was on a table at a small gun show and the man wanted 500.
I offered 400 cash and he declined, the next day he still had it and asked if I still wanted it.
The caliber isn't exactly a big seller where I live. He'd bought it from a woman whose husband had died so I doubt he had a lot in it.
 
JJ, thats a nice looking 338... There is nothing wrong with the push feed model 70's. I collected early Winchesters for some years, and have had a couple push feed versions, never had any problem with them.
I found a target the other day I cut out from the last time I shot my Super Grade 338, 8 rounds in just under 1 inch with 210 grain Winchester Fail Safe ammo. I usually always use 230 grain bullets, but this gun absolutely loved them.
That just happens to be my absolute favorite caliber. I have lost track of how many rounds I have sent out the barrel in 338 win mag
 
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