300 Win mag load advice

[Tikka Lover]

73 grains of Reloader 22, 210 Berger, CCI 250 primers gives me 2930 fps out of my Savage 112 26" heavy, fluted barrel. ES in the single digits most of the time. Very accurate, have shot out to 1200 yards with it.

 

[6mm Shooter]

Tikka Lover, are you in or out of the lands with that load?

 

[Tikka Lover]

Tikka Lover, are you in or out of the lands with that load?

Yes, into the lands. The Bergers that I have used always shoot best into the lands. No pressure signs at all. It just shoots great.

 

[Overkill338]

Im having a lot of trouble finding an accurate 180gr load for my .300 WM. I can get sub 1" groups with factory Hornady loadings, but cant find a pet load that will do worth a poo. I may just step it up to 200gr Accubonds.

 

[Pdvdh]

Im having a lot of trouble finding an accurate 180gr load for my .300 WM. I can get sub 1" groups with factory Hornady loadings, but cant find a pet load that will do worth a poo. I may just step it up to 200gr Accubonds.

That's what I would do. Switching bullets has had the greatest single affect on group sizes in my experience. If you haven't tried a couple different 180s and really want to shoot 180s then try a couple different styles or brands of 180s (except avoid Hornady Interbonds). Then try powders & powder charge weights as the 2nd most affecting factor on your group sizes.

 

[Overkill338]

That's what I would do. Switching bullets has had the greatest single affect on group sizes in my experience. If you haven't tried a couple different 180s and really want to shoot 180s then try a couple different styles or brands of 180s (except avoid Hornady Interbonds). Then try powders & powder charge weights as the 2nd most affecting factor on your group sizes.

I have wanted to use Nosler Partitons of the 180 variety. But I have tried IMR-4350 and RL22. In the RL22 I have went from 73.5-77gr in .5 increments, and can not get the accuracy I am after. I have shot .665" groups with Hornady Heavy Mags.

 

[Pdvdh]

I shoot 200 gr Nosler ABs and 210 Berger VLDs in my 300 WM and I use IMR 7828 and H1000. I've never shot a bullet lighter than 200 gr in my 300 WM to date, but my comments are still applicable. If you strike out with 3 different 180 gr bullets, then you could always try different weight. 168s, 190s, 200s, etc.

If the gun is going to shoot well, you'll generally find a bullet/powder combination within 3 or 4 different bullets and powder combinations. I'd start to lose patience with the rifle after that.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Montana Native, I'm shooting a 300 WSM (which is very close to the WM in ballistics) out of a 11 twist, 24 inch barrel and using 180 gr bullets. For the WM your most effiicent down range bullet, other than a wildcat will be probably be in the 180 - 200 gr range. My first choices would be E-Tips then AB's. That's just me.

For Montana shooting, with wide range of temps, I would go with one of the Hodgdon extreme powders, For a 300 WM, H1000, Retumbo or H4831sc might be good choices.

 

[Overkill338]

I shoot 200 gr Nosler ABs and 210 Berger VLDs in my 300 WM and I use IMR 7828 and H1000. I've never shot a bullet lighter than 200 gr in my 300 WM to date, but my comments are still applicable. If you strike out with 3 different 180 gr bullets, then you could always try different weight. 168s, 190s, 200s, etc.

If the gun is going to shoot well, you'll generally find a bullet/powder combination within 3 or 4 different bullets and powder combinations. I'd start to lose patience with the rifle after that.

It bugs me because the 180gr Hornady factory ammo shoots great. Thats why Im trying the 180 Interlocks next. Then on to the 200gr Accubonds. I might pick up some RL25 and H1000

 

[Pdvdh]

It bugs me because the 180gr Hornady factory ammo shoots great. Thats why Im trying the 180 Interlocks next. Then on to the 200gr Accubonds. I might pick up some RL25 and H1000

I believe the bullet to be the most important component in finding an accurate load for any rifle, so if you can load the same bullet that shoots well in a factory round, then you'll do well with that bullet in reloads also, provided your reloads are up to snuff quality control wise. Good luck to ya.

 

[Overkill338]

Thanks phorwath. I pulled one of the bullets out of the Heavy Mags, to see if they were flat base or boat tail. They use flat base 180gr Interlocks. Which is good from the $ side of things, considering they are $23 per 100.

When I pulled the bullet, I weighed the charge. It was 84.5 gr and compressed so much I had to tap the sides of the case to get it all out. The powder looked more like flattened balls, than like the pellet shape of my RL22. RL25 is about as close to that charge as I can get I think. I wish Hornady would just sell me that powder

 

[montana_native]

Thanks for all of the advice. I've picked some Bergers in 190 and 210, some SMK's in 190 and 210 and some Accubonds in 200.

Generally, where is a good spot to start seating them? 0.020" out of the lands?

Thanks again for all of the great advice. I'm going to break in the barrel tomorrow with some light 200 gr Speers then work on some good loads.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I broke my barrel in the same time I was working up a load looking for max. Saves cost in ammo and rounds down the tube and time. For the Accubonds, I would probably start them about .010 off the lands, that's just me.

 

[Overkill338]

I just got finished checking the max OAL on my Ruger M77. With a 180gr Partiton, they hit the lands at 3.531".

So should I start loading loading them at 3.51" to load single shot style ? Would that be best for accuracy ? Sorry for the noob questions, but Im fairly new to reloading.