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Common uses: Hunting, Big Game, Long Range
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 180gr Winchester Power Max Bonded |
| Muzzle velocity | 2970 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 3526 ft-lb |
| Stored G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.394 |
| Case length | 53.34 mm |
| Overall length | 2.86 in |
| Listed maximum pressure | 65000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:10" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2970 | 3525 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2728 | 2974 | 0 |
| 200 | 2499 | 2495 | -3.2 |
| 300 | 2281 | 2078 | -12 |
| 400 | 2074 | 1720 | -27.4 |
| 500 | 1879 | 1411 | -51 |
At 1,000 yards, .300 WSM (180gr at 2970 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 35.4 MOA / 10.3 MIL, retaining 1142 fps (transonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2281 | Supersonic | -11.9 | 3.8 | 1.11 |
| 400 | 2075 | Supersonic | -27.4 | 6.5 | 1.90 |
| 500 | 1879 | Supersonic | -51.0 | 9.7 | 2.83 |
| 600 | 1696 | Supersonic | -84.5 | 13.4 | 3.91 |
| 700 | 1528 | Supersonic | -130.0 | 17.7 | 5.16 |
| 800 | 1377 | Supersonic | -190.6 | 22.8 | 6.62 |
| 900 | 1247 | Transonic | -269.5 | 28.6 | 8.32 |
| 1000 | 1142 | Transonic | -370.8 | 35.4 | 10.30 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Published BCs depend on a reference drag model and stated velocity conditions. A source review does not independently measure a BC. Understanding BC sources
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .300 WSM is a hard-hitting big-game cartridge that delivers near-.300 Winchester Magnum performance from a compact short-action rifle, making it a favorite for lighter, quicker-handling mountain and all-around hunting rifles. It has the reach and energy to take everything from deer and pronghorn to elk, moose, and larger plains game, and its high velocity gives a flat trajectory well suited to open-country and longer-range shots. Many shooters find the squat, efficient case burns powder cleanly and can deliver excellent accuracy. The trade-offs are stout recoil, meaningful muzzle blast, and shorter barrel life typical of a high-performance magnum. Factory ammunition and component availability, while good, remain narrower than that of the standard .30-caliber magnums it was meant to replace.
Introduced by Winchester in 2001, the .300 WSM was the first of the Winchester Short Magnum family. Its fat, rebated-rim case derives from the .404 Jeffery, shortened and reshaped to fit standard short-action rifles rather than the longer magnum actions required by belted cartridges. The design goal was to match the ballistics of the older .300 Winchester Magnum in a shorter, lighter package, and it succeeded well enough to earn a place in the factory lineups of most major American rifle makers.
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