Well here's a question for y'all

[skeet]

Now we all really like nice rifles..I mean NICE. Here is my dilemma. I have found a pretty rifle for sale locally. Fellow has a pretty Kimber 8400(I guess). It is a really nice rifle not a scratch on it. The wood is pretty. Not gorgeous..pretty. It is impeccable as far as condition...BUT it is in 300 WSM. I am not a fan of the new fangled umpity humpity maganumbs but this is a really nice rifle. I can probably buy it for 700 bucks. I think that is a pretty good price for a Kimber like this. Oh and one other thing..it is NOT a very heavy rifle. Probably not much fun to shoot...A friend just called..told him about it and his comment was..gee the ammo is REALLY expensive! Maybe he is right. What say y'all if it a buyer or a leaver??

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Not to sound like the rifle's father, but....what are your intentions?

Do you plan to hunt with it? If so, I think I would pass.....you've said it's not a heavy rifle, so it will probably kick like a mule with attitude, and as you already said, ammo is expensive (and probably hard to find to boot).

Also, it may be pretty now, but after hunting with it a few seasons, I'm pretty sure that it's going to be....well, not so pretty. One thing I hated was hunting with my buddy when he brought along his Browning Citori.....he was so afraid of scratching the finish that he held the gun under his coat while hunting....needless to say, he never, ever[I] bagged a grouse or woodcock with that gun.

Are you just going to use it as a shooter? The rifle might stay pretty, but your shoulder will probably need a heavy dosing of Ben-Gay after a range session, not to mention that the ammo (and probably reloading components, dies, ect) are expensive and hard to come by.

Finally, are you buying it as an investment? MIght not be a bad deal....you can [I]probably get your money back out of it, and then some.....but in this economy, there isn't a whole lot of buyers (at least in my neck of the woods), and they are ALL looking for bargains......

Just my thoughts and point of view.....yours may vary!;)

[Evan03]

I would not touch it with 10ft stick.
ive handle them lots and theyre not that great in my opion. in my opion you myswell just buy ruger/remington/savage and have a rifle thats just as good in caliber you like

[skeet]

I don't know my intentions at this point.. But I may just baqck off. I once had a Kimber 89 BGR in the Super America version. Sold it like a fool. Worth 3-4 grand now..more if new in box... Alas..it is gone long gone. I'm gonna think on this one ovrnight and see how i feel about it tomorrow in the light of day..:rolleyes:

[dovehunter]

I don't know my intentions at this point.. But I may just baqck off. I once had a Kimber 89 BGR in the Super America version. Sold it like a fool. Worth 3-4 grand now..more if new in box... Alas..it is gone long gone. I'm gonna think on this one ovrnight and see how i feel about it tomorrow in the light of day..:rolleyes:

As I recall, you are a handloader. This may sound dumb, but if you really like the gun otherwise, couldn't you just get a set of dies and load it to .308 and/or .30-06 velocity or (more importantly) recoil levels?

[Evan03]

how bought rebarrel it with 6.5 or 25 tube and called it a 25wsm or 6.5wsm

[muskrat30]

I have an A-Bolt in 300WSM. I have not shot it to much but load all my ammo & usually load it at about 30-06 +p levels. My 180 grn loads were 2812 fps across the chrony. Of course as a reloader you would have a wide spectrum of data available. I usually use a little smaller cartridge when hunting. As to buying it or not I have little to offer. At least the 300wsm has some pretty good traction & should be around for awhile.

[GoodOlBoy]

I would have to walk away from it unless you were thinking about throwing more money at it to get it rebarreled. Like you I have little use for the modern manglums. I can kill anything walking on this continent with a 45-70 and it don't try to beat me to death when I pull the trigger.

GoodOlBoy

[toxic111]

I have no comment on the rilfe itself, bu tht e .300WSM is not that bad to shoot, I have shot one out of buddy's Tikka, not a heavy rifle at all, and it was not much worse than my .30-06 for recoil, and much less than a .300mag I have tried. This was shot with factory 180grain loads, no reduced recoil reloads.

That said, I agree that anything can be taken with a .270 if you really want too. Also remember at one time the .30-06 was one of those new fangled calibers. Things move on, and things change.

[rainydays]

Of all the new WSM's, I really like the 300. I load for it and shoot one alot. My son and a couple of friends have them. There Savages are lighter in weight than my Rugers. I find them similar to an 06 recoil wise. One of them in a Kimber would be very nice for someone.:)

[muledeer]

If you like it and it's priced fairly, buy it! Sell it later if it's more gun than you can handle and hopefully for more than you paid for it. I know you have a good eye for value. I have three Weatherby's (all magnums) 270,7, and 300 and haven't been in the hospital yet:p All are fun to shoot. I just don't fire 50 rounds in a shooting session. As you know when you're hunting you never feel recoil anyhow (if that's what you intend to use it for). Did I tell you about my Barrett M99 50 cal?:eek: BTW skeet I'm over 60.
muledeer

[GoodOlBoy]

30-06 isn't a new fangled caliber not even remotely compared to wsm wssm wsssssssmmmmmuphsouchouchouch.

That being said Skeet said it was a very light rifle. I don't care if you are recoil sensative or have a shoulder like a nerve dead rhino you are going to get the malarky kicked out of you with a 300 anything in a cery light rifle. I don't even wanna shoot a 270 or 30-06 or 25-06 in some of the real light rifle configs. You don't have enough mass for the amount of recoil.

GoodOlBoy

[GoodOlBoy]

by the way for those at home the 30-06 was finalized in 1906.

the 300 WSM was introduced in 2001.

Don't think that makes the 30-06 count a new fangled caliber for the discussion at hand. I believe we can discount anything over 50 years old as no longer being new fangled.

GoodOlBoy

[buckhunter]

The 300WSM is probably going to be the only survivor from the rash of WSM's that came out in the early 2000's. If it were me, I'd probably buy it. Being a reloader I could probably do just about anything with it from 308 to 300WSM. I really don't think its a bad round.

[Evan03]

but yeah the 3006 was new fangled hot digg dog kinda cliaber way back when. now it just works.

what about the 2506 this lived as wildcat for quite awhile. even the 280remington wich has been around for along time even earning its keep under a few difrent names is just now recently only being slid into factory cartridge position. because it it is tried and true.

maybe the 300wsm will survive. i do think it is a good one so why not keep it around.

i got a 270wsm back when they first came out. i also had a 270then and now. i got rid of it. then last year a freind of mine was dead set on the 270wsm. i tried talking him into a 270win. he ended up getting the wsm. he was shocked that my old 270 shot righter groups and was faster. i did some load dp and his savage rifle didnt like the max book loads. had to stay well under them. he still has the rifle now. but hes not so bad off because i already had the 270wsm dies and i load for him. it just drives him crazy that my smaller cased 270 is doing more with less powder. im sure this isnt the case with all wsm

either way the 300wsm would be nice light weight bigger game getter in the kimber they do make some nice looking rifles

[skeet]

Actually I have a few Maganumbs. And one or two is Newfangled or thereabouts. Have a 300 Win Mag a 300H&H a 257 Weatherby mag..oh and an oldfangled 375H&H. Not scared to shoot'em or anything just don't have much use for these new maganumbs with the short fat body and the shorter action(by a whole half inch. To get the higher velocities they holler so loudly about they work at much higher pressures to get a whole(maybe 100 FPS) more than say a 300 Win mag. Then they tout the short action with the shorter bolt throw..like you actually notice it. Sure they do. 2 ounces and a half inch.:rolleyes: wow. The thing I like about the Kimber isi it is a really nice remake of the pre64 Winchester 70 rifle. Better fitting and steels. And did i say they are pretty?? Notwithstanding I actually enjoy shooting most of them. The only one I haven't included is an old Weatherby 300 built on a flat top Mauser action. MAde in the 50's sometime when Weatherby got actions wherever they could. That thing is the nastiest shootin gun I have ever shot. Specially for its size.

Muledeer I also have a Barrett 50. One of the older semi auto's. Bought a few years back from a DEA agent. It was probably a confiscation. I didn't ask as the price was right. He actually had a couple IIRC. and a bunch of other guns. Some I actually wanted..badly. But he didn't want to sell darn it. He had one of them German MP 40s or whatevers. Ugly but..neat at the same time. I probably couldn't afford to shoot it anyway...;) My father in law said he captured one or two of them in the late lamented WWII. he said he shot a few rounds out of it.. Said everybody shot at him. It had a distinctive sound...or so he said.

[muledeer]

Well have you decided yet? Will you (do you) have an opportunity to fire the Kimber before you purchase? You have some stout calibers in your locker. I don't think a 300WSM will rattle you at all.
muledeer

[Goody]

A friend of mine has a 300WSM. That is his whitetail hunting rifle. He loves it. What the heck buy it. We can't have to many guns.
Goody

[bigbrother]

I'll buy it for $700. Seriously....if you can get that deal done....I'll buy it for $700 no questions.

[GoodOlBoy]

I still wouldn't buy it for $700. $500 yes, $700 no.

At $500 I would turn around and trade it for a better caliber, or have it rebarreled.

Everybody is so enamored of the odd wierd, and just plain stupid variety of calibers out there. It's a real shame. I can't tell you how often I see a guy during hunting season in the locals store bitching because he bought some off the wall neato new caliber and nobody in any hunting area has ammo for it. Me? I am pretty well sick of reloading calibers because I don't have a choice in the matter. I have gotten myself down to mostly calibers I can buy off the shelf for a rush hunting or plinking trip, and thats it. No more oddballs for me. I reload for cost effectiveness, or to tailor a load, not because I absolutely have no choice in the matter.

In the end buddy its whether or not YOU want the gun. If you want it, you cand get the ammo locally, or don't mind having to order ammo online, or go to big city shops to get it then buy all means, more power to you. I never said it was an inferior caliber. Just that I don't see a need for them.

Some of the new calibers work, work well, and are available in po-dunk towns and areas (like the 204 Ruger) Some slightly older calibers are hard to find around here (like 22-250).

GoodOlBoy

[skeet]

. We can't have to many guns.
Goody

Goody..I hate to disagree on that point as i used to feel that way..but yes you can have too many guns. I am approaching the saturation point myself. To give you an idea..when I moved to Wyoming I had 117 22 rifles..just 22's of Winchester Remington and Marlin persuasion. I sold most of 'em so far..but at the same time I bought over 60 guns at yard sales in one year. Some are gone but wow. Now Rocky has me fired up for a Ruger Flattop in 44 Special.. sigh..It's a tough job..but somebody has to buy 'em.

Bigbrother..If'n I do buy it..I'll probably keep it. Did I say Kimbers are perty guns?? And it is at a price that is pretty good...even if it is for a short fat maganumb. If I don't like it..well I'll think about selling it then..:D And another point against it is it's in a place where the gummit will have to know I got it...I don't buy too many guns in stores these days. I don't trust them politicians or the rest of the idiots running this country

[Larryjk]

Skeet, Are you interested in the Kimber 300 WSM as a bench rest rifle, or a walking around hunting rifle? A walking around hunting rifle will be carried more than it will be shot, and most hunter get that little shot of adrenaline when they pull the trigger that makes them forget that a rifle recoils. A 300 WSM isn't a bad kicker, even in a lighter rifle. Also the fairly straight stock brings the recoil back into your shoulder with less stock lift into your cheek. I would buy it in a heart-beat.

[skeet]

I'm lucky to keep 'em in the bull anyway. And yep..I know about shooting when game is in sight..guns don't recoil then.........Well that nasty 300 Weatherby does. Nasty blasted gun. Went and bought the darn thing. Even if I don't keep it..it'll be good trading fodder. If I have the time I'll post a picture. As I said..it ain't beautiful...but it sure is purty..like a spotted calf.. Oh heck..not as purty as Lilred though..specially when she's havin a rant..

[GoodOlBoy]

lol congrats on another buy there buddy. Being a Kimber it will be REALLY good trade fodder (as you said) and is probably a shooter as well, despite the caliber (Sorry guys had ta get in one last dig)

Anyway have fun with it.

GoodOlBoy

[skeet]

Actually I told a friend about it yesterday evening and he wants it badly. Offered me on a trade a Rem 722 257 Roberts in the nice BDL grade and a Colt 22 revolver Peacemaker style adjustable sights and extra cylinder. I may just have to do that deal. I figure the pair are worth about a grand.. The Colt is nice. like new but no box.. We'll see. As I said...the Kimber is a Purty gun. And like i said..classy..... like the ladies on this site:D

[wrenchman]

Of all the wsm rounds the 300 will be the one that will be around for a while it is also the one that is still talked about after all the wsm rounds came out.
I think it is becouse it is 30 caliber lots of guys that do like it are former 300wincherster round fans they like the shorter action.

[GoodOlBoy]

I like that trade you are already talkin skeet. Tell him to throw in a good coon hound and its a deal. . . . :D

GoodOlBoy

[skeet]

Just what I need...a coonhound! Heck I already got 3 foodhounds. I just trap the coons. Too many of 'em like my corn..

[Larryjk]

wrenchman, Just how much shorter is a short action, for say the 300 WSM , than an action for the 30-06? I know they are a little shorter than some of the "long actions' for the magnums based on the H&H cartridge. I think a lot of the short action craze is a lot of hype put out by gun writers "who would never tell us a whopper". I have had both and have never noticed any difference when I was actually shooting them. There may be about an ounce difference in weight, but that is all. Not much difference.

[PJgunner]

Well, JMHO but of I already had a .300 Win. mag. I probably would not bother getting a .300WSM. However, I have done some work with two rifles in .300 WSM and frankly, I like it.
The first was a standard Winchester M70 Classic (pre-64 style) that a new kid to shooting was wanting to sight in. Now that rifle has a bit of weight to it and although it was his first centerfire high power rifle, he shot darn good groups with the gun from the bench. He then let me shoot a few rounds (5) and the group was solid one inch. FWIW, his groupss were in the 1.25 to
1.50" range. Not too shabby for a newbie.
My second run with a .300 WSM was my ex-son-in-law's M70 classic Featherweight, a much lighter rifle than the Classic standard model. he was not a reloader when he bought it so he left the rifle with me to work up loads for him. I gues by the time I was through, I'd put maybe 200 to 250 rounds through the gun from the bench and frankly, the recoil was not all that bad. We had the gun glass bedded and a decent trigger job done on the gun and groups (5 shot) run in the 1.0" to 1.25" range.
If I were in the fame of mind to buy another .300 mag. of any kind. I'd look real close at one of those Featherweights for several reasons. One, at 8,000 feet MSL, rifle weight seem to climb exponentially, especially if you're on the wrong side of 60 years old. (I'm nearly 72) Second, it's a hell of a lot lighter than my 26" McMillan stocked Winchester M70 in .300 Win. Mag. and even lighter than my three Ruger #1 rifles in .300 Win. Mag. So would I buy one? Maybe, if the price was right. I own one early Kimber rifle, a medium weight barrelled .223 and if someone offered me a Kimber in .300 WSM that was as described, I'd be all over it like stink from a skunk although I'd much rather have the featherweight.
Paul B.

[Rapier]

Skeet,
you decided wisely. I do believe that Kimber is built on a Montana 1999 action which is about as fine as frog hair. I own two 300 WSMs that I built on the 1999. Stick some VN 560 under a 168 and I get sub .50 at 3,200 fps with either gun. The Kimber should be right on the same money. Suggest you shoot the gun before you trade it. I sure would hate to see you trade it and find out it was the best shooter you ever owned....:eek: The 300 WSM will shoot if set up right and most who own both say is more accurate than the 300 WM, gun for gun.
Ed

[skeet]

I still have the Kimber..Saw another today for sale..For a fair amount more than I paid..It also is perty. But I sure don't need two. I didn't trade the Kimber for the Rem 257 and the Colt 22..but I did get 'em..for a really nice Win 70 from 1956..shot 11 rounds... Tryin to figure out what I am gonna do with it though.. Bullits is spensive ain't they?? I sold my 300 Win Mag(Ruger 77) fer a fair profit so don't have too much in the Kimber. Now..what scope to put on it?.. I was thinkin of one of the Bushnell Elite 6500s in 2 1/2 x 16..whatcha all think..I've used Leupolds etc etc etc and the Elites seem to work as well as any for me..I do want a good 'un...somethin that will handle a bit more recoil. I also have a Leupold VX II 3X9 and a couple of older Redfield widefield 3x9 rangefinders I could use..

[Rapier]

Skeet,
I like at least a 12x on my Mag guns, they are really designed for distance and can be used for such if need be. My 300 WSMs both have 4x16s on them. I think the make of scope is more personal preference. I have seen a few not so expensive scopes outshine some very expensive scopes. Myself, I do not like the Leupold reticle and no longer own anything Leupold, but a Leupold/Gilmore 2 MOA dot that Leupold bought out. Go for it, put the Elite on the gun and let her buck.
Ed

[skeet]

Scopes...I also have a VX III 4.5 x 14 LR 30 mm scope I could put on.. But it has the Boone & Crockett Reticle..kinda busy type but all in all a good scope. I do like Leupold but have no use for all the overpriced European types...Heck the Leupolds are spensive enough...and I already have it...I just wanted to try one of the Elite 6500s:confused:

[Rapier]

:) if you want to try the Elite and do not do so you will wonder forever. Put it on the gun, what is the worst that can happen, you do not like it.... Then you get to put another scope on and shoot some more.:D

Go to your favorite supplier, order a 300 WSM die set, the shell holder and two of the big blue WSM, MTM style 50 rd boxes... yep special box. Get a can of VN-560 and some Hornady 168 BTHP Match. Load 74 grs of 560 and set off about .003 to .010 then if you do not like the result send her down the line. Oh, if you want to try 180s, use 72 gr of 560, for just over 3,000 fps.

There was a guy on the net selling WSM once fired Win nickel brass. The brass comes from the Winchester gun factory and was used in test firing brand new rifles. It is cheap and about as good as it gets for once fired. Just do a FL resize and you are in business. Oh, typical Win, they beat the brass into proper length so you need to deburr and champher.
Ed