7mm Winchester Short Magnum History and General Information: The 7mm WSM is a new centerfire rifle cartridge developed in partnership with Browning Arms Company and Winchester ammunition, making its debut and introduced to the shooting public in 2001.
The 7mm WSM is a commercial cartridge based on the 404 jeffery cartridge case, shortening to 2.100" and necking down to .28 caliber and sharpening the shoulder angle to 35 degrees the new 7mm WSM cartridge offers plenty of case capacity for tailored handloads.
The 7mm WSM cartridge achieves its useful purpose as an excellent cartridge for larger, mule deer, sheep, black bear and elk, 28 caliber is a time proven caliber for elk, deer size game animals.
The 7mm WSM cartridge is a well thought out cartridge as Winchester is no stranger in 28 caliber cartridge development. Winchester has now developed 2 cartridges in this caliber; (284 Winchester in 1963), and (7mm Winchester Short Magnum in 2001). The 7mm WSM factory loadings show a velocity of 3,225 feet per second for a 140 grain bullet for deer and sheep hunting and this translates to moderate recoil for the shooter with plenty of bullet energy at the 500 yard mark to flatten a larger deer size animal.
The 7mm WSM cartridge, chambered in a short actioned light weight rifle may well be the ultimate combination for a superb mountain rifle that offers a slight increase in bullet frontal mass and energy offered by the 270 WSM in rugged terrain. 7mm WSM Barrel Specifications.
Common Barrel Twist Rate - 1 in 9 1/2".
Bore Groove Diameter - .284". 7mm WSM Reloading Specifications.
Bullet Diameter - .284"
Maximum Case Length - 2.100"
Trimmed Case Length - 2.090"
Primer Size - Large Rifle.
7mm WSM Loading Data Hints. The 7mm WSM cartridge responds well to IMR 4831 powder delivering high velocities with excellent accuracy with 140 grain bullet weights.
7mm WSM Reloading Data.
Hodgdon Reloading Data Center.  7mm WSM Rifles.
New 7mm WSM Rifles Here. Sponsor - Impact Guns.  7mm WSM Factory Ammunition Ballistics:
 Winchester 7mm Winchester Short Magnum Ammunition Ballistics: 7mm WSM., 140 Grain AccuBond CT Bullet: 3,225 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,233 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy. 7mm WSM., 140 Grain Ballistic Silvertip Bullet: 3,225 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,233 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy.7mm WSM. Ballistics: Rifle Barrel Length: 24 Inches. Ammuntion: Winchester, 7mm WSM., 140 Grain Ballistic Silvertip Bullet. Bullet Diameter: .284 Inch. Bullet Weight: 140 Grains. Bullet Ballistic Coeffecient: .460. Note: FPS. = Feet Per Second, FT. LBS. = Foot Pounds & IN. = Inches. | | Range | Muzzle | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | 500 yds. | Yards |
| Bullet Velocity: |
3,225 |
3,008 |
2,810 |
2,603 | 2,414 | 2,233 |
FPS. |
| Bullet Energy: |
3,233 |
2,812 |
2,438 |
2,106 |
1,812 | 1,550 |
FT. LBS. |
| Bullet Trajectory: |
- 1.5" |
+ 1.2" |
0" |
- 5.6" | - 16.4" | - 33.1" |
IN. |
7mm WSM., 140 Grain Power Core Bullet: 3,225 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,233 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy. 7mm WSM., 150 Grain Power Max Bonded Bullet: 3,200 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,410 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy.7mm WSM. Ballistics: Rifle Barrel Length: 24 Inches. Ammuntion: Winchester, 7mm WSM., 150 Grain Power Max Bonded Bullet. Bullet Diameter: .284 Inch. Bullet Weight: 150 Grains. Bullet Ballistic Coeffecient: .393. Note: FPS. = Feet Per Second, FT. LBS. = Foot Pounds & IN. = Inches. | | Range | Muzzle | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | 500 yds. | Yards |
| Bullet Velocity: |
3,200 |
2,948 |
2,710 |
2,484 | 2,270 | 2,066 |
FPS. |
| Bullet Energy: |
3,410 |
2,894 |
2,446 |
2,055 |
1,716 | 1,421 |
FT. LBS. |
| Bullet Trajectory: |
- 1.5" |
+ 1.3" |
0" |
- 6.0" | - 17.6" | - 36.1" |
IN. |
7mm WSM., 150 Grain Power Point Bullet: 3,200 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,410 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy. 7mm WSM., 160 Grain AccuBond CT Bullet: 3,050 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,306 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy. 7mm WSM., 140 Grain XP3 Bullet: 3,050 Feet Per Second Muzzle Velocity, 3,306 Foot Pounds Muzzle Energy.7mm WSM. Ballistics: Rifle Barrel Length: 24 Inches. Ammuntion: Winchester, 7mm WSM., 160 Grain XP3 Bullet. Bullet Diameter: .284 Inch. Bullet Weight: 160 Grains. Bullet Ballistic Coeffecient: .512. Note: FPS. = Feet Per Second, FT. LBS. = Foot Pounds & IN. = Inches. | | Range | Muzzle | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | 500 yds. | Yards |
| Bullet Velocity: |
3,050 |
2,862 |
2,682 |
2,509 | 2,342 | 2,182 |
FPS. |
| Bullet Energy: |
3,306 |
2,910 |
2,555 |
2,235 |
1,948 | 1,691 |
FT. LBS. |
| Bullet Trajectory: |
- 1.5" |
+ 1.4" |
0" |
- 6.2" | - 18.0" | - 36.1" |
IN. |
 7mm Winchester Short Magnum Hunting Ballistics:
 7mm WSM. Hunting Ballistics: Rifle Barrel Length: 24 Inches. Ammuntion: Winchester, 7mm WSM., 140 Grain Ballistic Silvertip Bullet. Bullet Diameter: .284 Inch. Bullet Weight: 140 Grains. Bullet Ballistic Coeffecient: .460. Note: FPS. = Feet Per Second, FT. LBS. = Foot Pounds & IN. = Inches. This Cartridge Has An Effective Bullet Energy Range Of 300 Yards For Moose Size Animals: Brown Bear, Grizzly Bear & Moose. This Cartridge Has An Effective Bullet Energy Range Of 400 Yards For Elk Size Animals: Caribou, Black Bear, Sheep & Elk. This Cartridge Has An Effective Bullet Energy Range Of 500 Yards For Deer Size Animals: Antelope, Blacktail, Hogs, Javelina, Mule & Whitetail. | | Range | Muzzle | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | 500 yds. | Yards |
| Bullet Velocity: |
3,225 |
3,008 |
2,810 |
2,603 | 2,414 | 2,233 |
FPS. |
| Bullet Energy: |
3,233 |
2,812 |
2,438 |
2,106 |
1,812 | 1,550 |
FT. LBS. |
| Bullet Trajectory: |
- 1.5" |
+ 1.2" |
0" |
- 5.6" | - 16.4" | - 33.1" |
IN. |
| Moose Size: |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- | - |
- |
| Elk Size: |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ | - |
- |
| Deer Size: |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ | + |
+ |
 Comparitive Links And References:
Centerfire Rifle Cartridge Ballistics. Popular North America Hunting Cartridges: 223 Remington, 243 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum & 300 Winchester Magnum. Popular North America Hunting Rifles: Rem. Model 700, Ruger M77 & Win. Model 70. Winchester Cartridges: 243 Win, 264 Win. Mag., 270 Win, 30-30 Win, 308 Win, 300 Win. Mag., Short Magnums, 223 WSSM, 243 WSSM, 25 WSSM, 270 WSM, 7mm WSM, 300 WSM & 325 WSM. |