I’ve killed deer with the 180 grain Winchester Accubond CT in .300 WSM and elk with 180 grain loads from a .300 WM. 180 are definitely better for elk and I do not think their overkill for deer. But the 150 to 165 grain bullets for deer would be bad medicine no doubt.
If I ever get drawn ... I'll be happy to get a permit to jump on one's back and stab it to death but ... yes ... I'd be much happier to use a 180 grain bullet. One other reason I chose the 300 WSM was because of the recoil ... my shoulders are SHOT and I've already had one replaced so I tried the regular 300 mag in a couple of rifles and there is considerable difference in recoil between the two shells and you don't have to give up very much in efficiency ... this is not to say the 300 WSM doesn't have a kick but you can easily tell the difference when you've got a shoulder like mine.
Same weight rifle, same load, the win mag has 2lbs of more recoil than the wsm. 27 vs 25 lbs, or 25 vs 23 depending what chart is used.
I guess you're inferring that I'm a big weenie for complaining about a 2 pound difference in recoil (if that's actually correct ) and maybe I am, but ... when your shoulder joint gets to be bone on bone ... I don't care how tough you think you are ... that 2 pounds feels more like 50. Hope you never have to have yours replaced and continue to go through life blissfully shooting elephant guns without flinching.
No, no name calling or inferring otherwise. I actually investigated this prior to buying my wife a wsm. Was surprised the difference wasn't more. i had a muzzlebrake installed on hers to tame some recoil. I have a partially torn rotator cuff that gets pounded. No replacement needed as of yet.
Ok ... I guess I am a bit paranoid about being so recoil sensitive so my apologies for assuming you were picking on me. As regards your rotator cuff, I sincerely hope you never do have to have it worked on because, as I understand, it's as bad or worse than having a shoulder replaced and that ain't no fun!
from someone who has had it done along with 6 pins in the shoulder at the same time also it aint no fun and PT was brutal and i learned to shoot left handed while all this was going on went through dove ,pheasant, and waterfowl season before could shoot on right shoulder at first i was black and blue from my elbow to my neck from bruising trying to learn to shoulder shotgun to my left side but i learned and killed limits of all species
I have had RT issues for years from lifting weights. The absolute best thing I ever did was incorporate physical therapy exercises for cuffs into my workouts. They look puny when doing but they worked exceptionally well.
I would feel fine with my 308. I shoot it a lot and know what it is capable of. I currently have a Nightforce scope on it that I trust, even if it gets dropped. There is no "Best Cartridge" But there are great cartridges that folks shoot a lot and some great cartridges that folks don't shoot hardly at all. Most modern guns are capable of killing game out to 600 yards. The weak link is the scope and shooter. The real questions is what scope do you trust and how much shooting practice are you putting in. Caliber choice is easy, just about any of them from about 270 (give or take) and up.
