7mm WSM vs .308

[longstevo]

Hey all,

I currently own a 7mm WSM, and to date, have killed everything I've shot at with it, including deer, bear and a bull elk.

But I'm looking for something with a bit more 'oomph' to it for longer shots.  The elk I shot was a shade under seventy yards, so I'm concerned that a longer shot may take some of the starch out of the round by the time it gets there. 

I hear a lot of good things about the .308, including the fact that it is pretty comparable to the 7mm in terms of ballistics.  I'm pretty interested in the .308 Ruger Gunsite Scout, and I've read that its a pretty functional rifle.

Any opinions?

[Biggerhammer]

The 7mm WSM will walk all over the .308 Win in cruise mode in any scenario.

[bobcat]

If you want something that does better at long range than the 7mm WSM, then you don't want a 308. You'd be going down in velocity, which is not going to gain you anything, except less recoil.

For a noticeable jump in power you would need to go to something like a 7mm Ultra Mag or 300 Ultra Mag.

You could just go with a 7mm Remington Magnum, or 300 Winchester Magnum, but with those you're gaining very little over your 7 WSM.

[Huntbear]

Hey all,

I currently own a 7mm WSM, and to date, have killed everything I've shot at with it, including deer, bear and a bull elk.

But I'm looking for something with a bit more 'oomph' to it for longer shots.  The elk I shot was a shade under seventy yards, so I'm concerned that a longer shot may take some of the starch out of the round by the time it gets there. 

I hear a lot of good things about the .308, including the fact that it is pretty comparable to the 7mm in terms of ballistics.  I'm pretty interested in the .308 Ruger Gunsite Scout, and I've read that its a pretty functional rifle.

Any opinions?

To get more "OOMPH"  you will need to step up to a bigger round..  300 wsm and up..  If you really want to bridge the gap, get a .338 WM.  Will put a hurting on anything you want to shoot at out to 600 yards if you can shoot that far..  I know it will knock a 5x5 bull elk flat at 410 yards.       He fell where he stood and never made a whimper..

[yorketransport]

If I were looking to step up from the 7mm WSM, I'd start with a 338 Win Mag and move up from there. The various 300 mags don't offer much improvement over the 7 WSM.

If you really want to move up, look into a 375 Ruger. You will see and hear the difference when an animal is hit with any of the 375s when compared to a 7mm or 30 caliber.

Andrew

[Three_Oh_Eight]

I think you already have as much "ooomph" as anyone can stand.  As a matter of fact, I'd be a lot more concerned with the 75 yard shot you've already succeeded at.  The 7mm WSM is actually a bit faster than the 7mm Remington Magnum and fast/overbore cartridges tend to cause bullets do some funny things at close ranges due to the higher velocities.  They don't really come into their own until they pass the 200 yard line.

If you want to be able to shoot just as flat and want a bigger "whack" on the target, you'll have to move up to a cartridge that uses a bullet with a wider frontal area.  Because of physics, you'll have to also increase the length of the bullet to match the aerodynamic qualities that exist in your 7mm.  For instance, you'd probably have to shoot a 200 to 210gr .308 caliber bullet to match the aerodynamic qualities of a 162gr 7mm bullet.  To push 200gr of bullet the same speed as 162gr bullets, you'll have to move to a significantly larger case with more powder and a lot more recoil unless you add a bunch of weight to the rifle or brake it.

Doesn't that all sound like a pain in the ass?  I thought so too.  Just stick with what you got and pick a good bullet and you'll be fine!  I'm using 140gr Barnes Tipped TSXs and Reloader 22 at a velocity of just under 3200 fps for hunting and my reasonable limit is around 400 yards from field positions under the right conditions.  When it comes time to play at longer ranges on steel targets with the use of bags and a bi-pod, I use 162gr A-MAXs and Reloader 22 at 2850fps.  It seems slower, but they don't bleed velocity and shoot flatter out past 500 yards than the other stuff.

[beagledog]

Did the elk die when hit at just under seventy yards? I would say that that bullet at that speed will not perform at seventy yards like it will at 150 or 200 +. That bullet is moving to fast to perform to it's potential at that range( 70 yards).

[FALFire]

You want more oomph, step up to the 338 Edge or go home but in reality, that 7WSM will do plenty and way more than a 308.

[Elk whack master]

why 338 edge and not just 338wm? 

[Biggerhammer]

why 338 edge and not just 338wm? 

Haha! Why not a .338 Ultra or a Lapua for that matter. People love to say Lapua but the fact of the matter is, both the Edge and Ultra are faster but what does that matter when a animal is taking a hit from any of the three, dead is dead. The .338 Win Mag is plenty the rest is just the rest.

[Elk whack master]

LA-POOOOOOO-A  I said POO!

[jackelope]

why 338 edge and not just 338wm? 

Haha! Why not a .338 Ultra or a Lapua for that matter. People love to say Lapua but the fact of the matter is, both the Edge and Ultra are faster but what does that matter when a animal is taking a hit from any of the three, dead is dead. The .338 Win Mag is plenty the rest is just the rest.

The ultra will clearly make an elk more deader than the Lapua will. That's why its called Ultra...like ultra-dead.
Duhhh....

[FC]

So dead it will go back in time and die the day before!

[jackelope]

Yesterday dead? Wow. That's really ultra dead.

[washelkhntr]

I thought ultras killed stuff by just being in the woods.