BIgTom
I'm a bit surprised by your statement. The recoil impulse a rifle generates has absolutely nothing to do with anything other than the mass and velocity of the bullet/powder, as I said before. That velocity may be affected by the case, case shape, case capacity, etc., but the mass and velocity of the ejecta is what generates the recoil impulse. How that recoil impulse is transmitted and absorbed is not recoil, it's how we perceive the recoil. In that vein the variables that change the effect are many but we weren't discussing felt recoil. We were trying to correct the incorrect statement that a cartridge could generate the same ballistics as another round and yet produce a lesser recoil impulse. This to me assumes we are comparing apples to apples. Savage rifle to savage or whatever. The cartridge has no effect on the amount of recoil produced. If a 180 grain 30 caliber bullet exits the muzzle at a given velocity there is no more or less recoil due to the case that generated that velocity.. Perceived recoil is indeed an entirely different subject and the variables are myriad.. stock design, weapon weight etc.. Even action type can play a role in felt recoil. An autoloading action produces a deffinite reduction in felt recoil. It does this not by absorbing the recoil but by spreading the application of that force to the shooter over a longer period of time. The articles I've been reading universally say the exact same thing. The WSM cartridges are great, the rifles shoot well and they develope the velocity one would expect based on their case capacities compared to other like capacity rounds, i.e. the 300WSM and the 300Win. And sir I must also disagree with the statement 'It basically duplicates the .300 Win performance up to 180 gr and then it quickly loses ground because of the short case length.' The case length also has little to do with the velocity differences. The cause is simply case capacity. Case length is but a single measurement and case diameter is also a factor, but they are both simply just factors in the capacity of the case in question. I suppose we could add 10 pounds of lead shot to a 300UltraMag. This would alter the felt recoil of the rifle immensely. Would this then allow us to advertise that this cartridge produces less recoil and more velocity than a 300 WinMag? No!
The paraphrase the 300 WSM is a great little answer to a question never asked. It is just what it is a short fat 300WinMag. That's not a bad thing!! It doesn't however make the 300WSM a fantastic breakthru in ballistics. In all one may save a 1/2 inch and a few ounces with such a rifle, if barrels are maintained at the same length(which must be done if velocities are to remain comparable). If all else remains equal that will be the extent of our gain, a few ounces, and 1/2 inch in length. If you wish a 300WSM by all means go for it, but do so knowing that what you are buying is in effect and in practice a 1/2 shorter, few ounces lighter 300 Winchester.
