7mm WSM & 7mm Rem Mag

[277284]

I have both, a Win M70 Super Shadow 7mm WSM 24" barrel and a Win M70 Black Shadow 7mm Rem mag 26" barrel.  Original owner both.  Both have the same mounts, scopes and synthetic stocks with blind mag boxes.  I have been using Federal Power Shock 7mm WSM 150 gr soft points and Remington Express 150 gr pointed core-lokt psp factory ammo.  3100 fps for the WSM & 3110 fps for the Rem mag advertised velocity on web sites.  Federal ammo box says 3200 fps.  The 7 Rem mag has a very sharp, swift kick compared to the 7mm WSM that has a more blunt, slower kick . Both are 1" to 1 1/4" shooters.  The 7mm WSM has been more pleasant to shoot.

[rickt300]

I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in recoil between the two rifles, if anything the lighter rifle should kick more. Is the rifle in 7MM WSM a short action? These two cartridges have almost the same powder capacity and capacity is what makes a cartridge what it is, case shape might effect accuracy.

[beemanbeme]

Well, I have the 7mm Rem Mag and I have never perceived it as having much kick at all.  I've never shot anything thru it except the various 160's.  It is amazingly accurate and I've killed several elk and mulies with it. One shot kills acrost the board. I am a hunter and all shots have been 200 yards or less.
 That said, I would never sell it to buy a shorty.  But, from looking at the book numbers, if I had neither, I would take a hard look at one of the shorties before making a decision of which one to buy. 

[Coyote Hunter]

I replaced the hard butt plate on my Ruger 7mm RM with a recoil pad a week after I got it (1982) and haven't given its recoil another thought.  Until last year it had only shot 160 and 162g bullets.  A boringly reliable killer.

No way I would sell this gun for a shorty and in fact if buying a new 7mm for the first time its unlikely I would even consider a WSM or RSAUM or any other shorty other than the -08 or x57 versions.  The WSM and RSAUM appear to be dying breeds but the RM will be around for a very long time. 

[rickt300]

I never felt that my 7MM RM was a bad kicker. To tell the truth I looked at the WSM's as answers to problems that didn't exist and now the ammo is getting harder to find already. Gotta give Winchester credit, they tried pretty hard to establish these cartridges.

[thumbcocker]

I have a 7mm saum model 700 ss bdl. Recoil is a non issue. It shoots really well with about any bullet I've tried in it. I am considering selling it. If I had to do it all over agian I would have bought the 7mm R. Also, this little 7 will match all of my buddies 7mm remington's velocities with all the bullets I've tried. I like this rifle alot, but I just have'nt seen a noticable improvement over my old 270. But if it was all I had I would'nt have much to complain about.

[jro45]

I have the Remington 7mm Mag.  And it does what ever I want it to do. I take it to the 600 yd range and it shoots 600 yds Pretty accurately. It doesn't recoil much. I wouldn't want a WSM. I have nothing against it. I already have a 7mm.

[Lone Star]

The WSM-breed of cartridges were developed to stimulate sales in a flat market.  Do they answer a need?  In part yes, sales of short action rifles were - and remain - brisk and increasing their performance helps sell more.  Too many posters here forget that rifle makers are in business to make a profit, and history shows that unless there are periodic introductions of new cartridges, overall rifle sales decline.  The plethora of different-but-similar cartridges offered in the 1880s by American manufacturers clearly shows that this action by rifle makers is hardly new.  Not many of the cartridges on Winchester's 1885 cartridge board are still around.....

The short cases do have limited technical advantages over longer cases of the same capacity, but it is questionable if these advantages are of much value to the average shooter.  Speer notes that ballistic unifirmity with light bullets is far better with the .300 WSM than with the .300 WM for example.  The shorter powder column has demonstrated a lower ES, which will translate to tighter groups at extreme range.  Will the average shooter see any value?  Hmmm.


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[jasonprox700]

It is the evolution of technology.  That is what happens to the rest of the markets as well.  "Bigger and Better" stuff comes along, people jump on it.  The benefits must outweigh the losses in order for it to be a winner. 

WSM's fill a niche.

My 2 cents

[rickt300]

A very small niche!  No real market I need to get into. Now brass is going to get a lot more expensive.

[nomosendero]

A very small niche!  No real market I need to get into. Now brass is going to get a lot more expensive.

Yes indeed.

The WSSM bunch was even a smaller niche & are all but dead.

With the WSM the 7WSM may be the best of the lot, but it does not matter. I believe it will die off, not looking good at all. The 270
& 300 WSM rounds are doing quite well.

[Lone Star]

Top RCBS die sales for 2004/2005:

 ...........2004.............................2005
1 .30-06 Springfield..................204 Ruger
2 .22-250 Rem.........................30-06 Springfield
3 .270 Win..............................223 Rem
4 .45 ACP................................308 Win
5 .300 WSM..........................243 Win
6 7MM Rem Mag.....................22-250 Rem
7 .44 Mag....... .......................45 ACP
8 .357 Mag.............................270 Win
9 .223 Rem............................300 Win. Mag
10 .308 Win...........................44 Mag./Special
11 .204 Ruger........................300 WSM
12 .243 Win............................357 Mag
13 .500 S&W..........................7mm Rem. Mag
14 .270 WSM.......................45 Colt
15 .45-70 Government.............45-70 Government
16 .300 Win Mag....................25-06
17 .40 S&W / 10MM...............9mm Luger
18 9MM Luger.......................500 S & W Mag
19 .45 Colt............................270 WSM
20 .30-30 WCF.......................30-30 WCF


I can't find the lists for 2006 or 2007.  While this grouping does not indicate rifle sales by cartridge, it at least indicates what was of interest to reloaders at the time.  I'd like to see the list for 2007, but RCBS has not answered my request....




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[277284]

I noticed the most popular 7mm cartridges are the 7mm Rem Mag then the 7MM 08 Rem.  Besides these two among factory load ammo shooters the rounds are still good like the 7mm Mauser, the 280 Rem, 7mm BR (some loads under loaded or comparably not popular) or the hot magnums SAUM, Rem UM, WSM, STW, WBY etc are not as easy to find or are expensive or specialty but still very good cartridges.  For handloaders they have more options.

[GRIMJIM]

I own a 7mm rum and yes the ammo seems to be getting scarce. If I run into any at the gun stores I'll usually buy a box or two. After shooting them off, I'll still have the brass to reload.