05-10-2014, 08:05 PM
The Navy really pushed the .300 WM against the Army SOF requests, and it drove the direction SOCOM went with it.
I didn't mention it up at BoomerShoot, but I had a lengthy discussion about it with someone privy to the process that took place, and a lot of feathers were ruffled over the ordeal, to the point that there will be more division in how weapons are procured within SOCOM. SF wanted .338 LM pretty badly, and I understand that they are looking at .338 LM still. Squeals wanted .300 WM.
Barrel life is an issue with the guns for formal training, as well as unit sustainment training. This is one area where .308 shines, even though it has no legs when it comes to .338 LM territory.
.300 WM is a known problem for barrel life and cheating SEAL Sniper students out of qualifying in their course, although this was addressed several years ago if certain SEAL authors are to be believed. Webb claims they started using chronographs to document throat erosion and velocity loss from jump, which resulted in erratic velocity shifts at distance.
.300 WM would be nowhere on my list for a long-range rifle, but it got a boost in its life with the Remington MSR contract. I think belted magnums need to go the way of the gun, but that's just me.
I didn't mention it up at BoomerShoot, but I had a lengthy discussion about it with someone privy to the process that took place, and a lot of feathers were ruffled over the ordeal, to the point that there will be more division in how weapons are procured within SOCOM. SF wanted .338 LM pretty badly, and I understand that they are looking at .338 LM still. Squeals wanted .300 WM.
Barrel life is an issue with the guns for formal training, as well as unit sustainment training. This is one area where .308 shines, even though it has no legs when it comes to .338 LM territory.
.300 WM is a known problem for barrel life and cheating SEAL Sniper students out of qualifying in their course, although this was addressed several years ago if certain SEAL authors are to be believed. Webb claims they started using chronographs to document throat erosion and velocity loss from jump, which resulted in erratic velocity shifts at distance.
.300 WM would be nowhere on my list for a long-range rifle, but it got a boost in its life with the Remington MSR contract. I think belted magnums need to go the way of the gun, but that's just me.