30.06 vs 300wsm vs 325wsm

300magman · September 11, 2009, 11:36 AM

If I'm handloading ammo in the 165gr range for the 30.06 vs the 300wsm for use in a browning BAR semi auto (22" barrel 30.06, 23" barrel 300wsm) just how much advantage is the 300wsm going to have over the 30.06 generally

And what if I want to step that up to something in the 200gr range?

I've heard heavy, and therefore longer bullets, reduce the case capacity of the 300wsm, does the 30.06 suffer from this to the same extent, and does it even matter when I'm using a BAR....as I'm assuming I don't want to load a semi auto as heavy as I would a bolt action rifle.

I threw the 325wsm in the mix just to ask how it would do against the 300wsm for 200+ gr bullets. Just looking at the case capacity (empty, no bullet) it seems the 325 is something like 3gr larger than the 300...is that 3 or so grains really going to give the 325 much more energy?

GeauxTide · September 11, 2009, 12:11 PM

With 165's - 100-150fps at the chrony. I haven't looked at the 325; however, 2900 with 200s should be strong medicine. My 338-06 pushes 200s like a 30-06 pushes 180s.

You won't be able to push any of them in an auto action.

300magman · September 11, 2009, 02:07 PM

I'm not really planning to run anything like max loads, I like my rifles to shoot fairly flat but obviously by choosing a semi I've already compromised on what I am willing to work with in terms of potency.
Basically the 30.06 is cheap, but if the 300wsm is a better performer by much of a margine in this set up then I will spend a little extra and go for it.

The 325 is an unlikely choice for me I think, but I have been toying with the idea of a heavy grain 200+ load for bush shooting and was just wondering if the tiny bit of extra powder the 325 case holds would be an advantage; or if the fact that such a bullet would extend back into the 300 case a bit would make it a poorer choice than the 30.06 or 325 for this application.

Not sure if I understood your last line GeauxTide...were you warning me not to load the powder charges too heavy in an auto, or warning me not to load heavy 200+gr bullets at all?

AlaskaMike · September 11, 2009, 03:57 PM

The advantage of the .300 WSM over the .30-06 is that you have a greater case volume. This means that you can heavier bullets faster than you can with the '06. It also means that the deeper-seating of the heavier bullets reduce case volume by a smaller percentage in the magnum than in the '06.

Mike

Slamfire · September 11, 2009, 08:47 PM

I was able to push 190 SMK's to 2650 fps and 200 SMK's to 2600 fps in my 30-06. I have a 26" match barrel on that rifle.

Kicked a lot.

I have shot next to guys with those WSM or the WSSM's. They are loud! Huge muzzle blast.

People must flinch, anticipating the bang. I know I did, and I was not shooting the rifle.

September 11, 2009, 11:36 AM	#1
300magman Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2008 Posts: 714	30.06 vs 300wsm vs 325wsm If I'm handloading ammo in the 165gr range for the 30.06 vs the 300wsm for use in a browning BAR semi auto (22" barrel 30.06, 23" barrel 300wsm) just how much advantage is the 300wsm going to have over the 30.06 generally And what if I want to step that up to something in the 200gr range? I've heard heavy, and therefore longer bullets, reduce the case capacity of the 300wsm, does the 30.06 suffer from this to the same extent, and does it even matter when I'm using a BAR....as I'm assuming I don't want to load a semi auto as heavy as I would a bolt action rifle. I threw the 325wsm in the mix just to ask how it would do against the 300wsm for 200+ gr bullets. Just looking at the case capacity (empty, no bullet) it seems the 325 is something like 3gr larger than the 300...is that 3 or so grains really going to give the 325 much more energy?

September 11, 2009, 12:11 PM	#2
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	With 165's - 100-150fps at the chrony. I haven't looked at the 325; however, 2900 with 200s should be strong medicine. My 338-06 pushes 200s like a 30-06 pushes 180s. You won't be able to push any of them in an auto action.

September 11, 2009, 02:07 PM	#3
300magman Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2008 Posts: 714	I'm not really planning to run anything like max loads, I like my rifles to shoot fairly flat but obviously by choosing a semi I've already compromised on what I am willing to work with in terms of potency. Basically the 30.06 is cheap, but if the 300wsm is a better performer by much of a margine in this set up then I will spend a little extra and go for it. The 325 is an unlikely choice for me I think, but I have been toying with the idea of a heavy grain 200+ load for bush shooting and was just wondering if the tiny bit of extra powder the 325 case holds would be an advantage; or if the fact that such a bullet would extend back into the 300 case a bit would make it a poorer choice than the 30.06 or 325 for this application. Not sure if I understood your last line GeauxTide...were you warning me not to load the powder charges too heavy in an auto, or warning me not to load heavy 200+gr bullets at all?

September 11, 2009, 03:57 PM	#4
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	The advantage of the .300 WSM over the .30-06 is that you have a greater case volume. This means that you can heavier bullets faster than you can with the '06. It also means that the deeper-seating of the heavier bullets reduce case volume by a smaller percentage in the magnum than in the '06. Mike

September 11, 2009, 08:47 PM	#5
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I was able to push 190 SMK's to 2650 fps and 200 SMK's to 2600 fps in my 30-06. I have a 26" match barrel on that rifle. Kicked a lot. I have shot next to guys with those WSM or the WSSM's. They are loud! Huge muzzle blast. People must flinch, anticipating the bang. I know I did, and I was not shooting the rifle.