Maximizing the 300 Wby Mag on a Budget

[asd9055]

I have 3 different 300 Weatherbys we used for elk this year, all shooting 180-grain bullets. Two have the TTSX, and one is the Hammer Hunter.
I use 7828SSC with the TTSX and both rifles are at 3210 fps with 26-inch barrels. On a Vanguard, you have a 24-inch barrel so I suspect you will get 3150-ish, and that's very good.

For the 300 Wby, try 80-82 grains 7828SSC. I have found that if you load 80/80.5/81/81.5/82 and maybe 82.5, and run a 3-shot group of each, one of them will be the load for your rifle. Obviously, watch for pressure signs as you go up. So far that has worked for every 180-grain/7828SSC combination I've used. There have been no problems with accuracy loading the 300 Wby at all.

@Dr. Vette , any preference on primers? I have two loads that I actually LRP (0ne with 9 1/2 Remington and one with CCI 200) and one load with LRM Fed215

 

[Dr. Vette]

@Dr. Vette , any preference on primers? I have two loads that I actually LRP (0ne with 9 1/2 Remington and one with CCI 200) and one load with LRM Fed215

Fed 215M

 

[myshootinstinks]

I shoot 300 Wby and have been playing with loads. 180 gr Accubond and 180 Barnes TTSX. CCI 250. Three powders have provided good accuracy and velocity, 7828ssc, h1000, h4831sc.
Maybe it's just my gun but 300 Wby loads in most of the manuals seem to be loaded down. I find that about a grain under their stated max load to be a starting point and usually end up a grain or two over. I run three shot groups with each powder at .5 grain increments. 7828ssc has provided the best accuracy, often with 2 of 3 holes touching but the other two powders I mention also shoot excellent.
Seating depth? I start as long as I can to fit the magazine and work down in length.
My rifle is a pillar bedded Mark V. Vanguards I've shot are generally excellent shooters.

 

[cmarcu1]

I truly appreciate all of your comments, suggestions and questions. To answer the most basic of those questions "why the 3200 fps goal?", simply because most of the slower burning compressed load powders walk very, very, close to the 3200 fps mark, falling only 20-80 fps short of 3200 fps (average fps for 180 grain bullets in the 300 RUM. While I do plan to take hunting trips with much longer shots, my current "long shot" is only 363 yards, so 3100fps is far more than enough for that shot. I do sometimes hunt pipelines and bean fields, which give me well in excess of 1000 yards, but my current Leupold glass isn't quite enough for me to see whitetail antlers at those distances. Best case, I could possibly see a relatively large rack, but would still prefer a little better magnification at 1000+ yards. To answer another question, yes, I am well aware of the difference between a factory barrel and a custom aftermarket replacement. I've built many rifles throughout my career, but this is the first, extremely nice condition, Vanguard Deluxe I've seen since the 70's, so I have no plans to rebarrel it anytime in the future. I may however build a 300 RUM or 30-378 Weatherby someday soon, with much better glass and a barrel twist designed to send a much heavier bullet to distances likely to exceed 1000 yards. I'm really not seeing any accuracy issues with the 180 grain Nosler ballistic tips @ 3100 fps, but really looking forward to seeing the Barnes TTSX 180's in action. I use Barnes 145 grain LRX bullets in my 7mm RUM with devastating results and exceptional accuracy. I guess I always did really like the beautiful wood of the Weatherby Mark V, but actually preferred the Vanguard Deluxe action to the Mark V, especially when ithe raceway has been polished to near perfection. I have the same issue with Winchester pre-64 model 70 supergrades, Square bridged Mausers, a few Sauer models, and almost all Sako A75 custom deluxe rifles, as well. The list is honestly much longer, but I'd be listing brands and models for at least a week. I'm sure most of you guys feel the same way. I'm going to try to chronograph my current loads through the Vanguard Deluxe, as I know my synthetic 300 wby mag Vanguard absolutely loves the RL19 load, as far as the accuracy. If I'm at 3100+, with the RL25 load and maintain the accuracy of the RL19 load, I'll probably call it good and load up enough boxes to last me a lifetime. I saw very good suggestions for other powders I'd like to try, but powder is sometimes still a pain to get your hands on, especially if you're looking for something specific. Thanks again everyone for all the great advice and suggestions. I've worked in the firearms industry my entire life, but I still like to bounce ideas off a group, as I'll always get answers I never thought of. I'll post some photos, chronograph results, and hopefully the terminal ballistics on a nice size whitetail buck, during the Christmas hunt. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[aOWENc]

I absolutely love my Vanguard in 300 Wby. The attached groups were shot using 168 TTSXs and Reloder 19. These were loaded to 3.560". I have read much more about temperature sensitive issues than I have experienced them with this powder. This summer on a 90 degree day the 83.5 grain charge went 3311, 3304, and 3307 when I put it on the chronograph. The previous fall using the same load averaged 3280fps and I believe it was around 50 degrees at that time. Those TTSX's took zero effort to get to shoot well in the vanguard. I had never hand loaded before and that was my first attempt with rifle ammunition.


My brothers Mark V (26") averages over 3400FPS with the same load and shoots slightly less as good. I paid $395 for the vanguard and dropped it into a Bell and Carlson stock. For $600 I'm not sure I could find a better shooting rifle. We do use suppressors on our rifles which might increase the velocity a little bit. Good luck with your Roy!!

 

[Weatherbyshooter/Hunter]

I have a question I'd like to run by the whole group. I'm no stranger to hand loading and recently purchased a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe (high polished Vanguard with Mark V grade wood). My intention was to purchase a 300 RUM, but I've wanted a Vanguard Deluxe since the 70's and found an excellent one in 300 Weatherby Mag. Now that I own this rifle and have topped it off with a $1000.00 Leupold VX3HD, I'm wanting to get a 180 grain Barnes TSSX or LRN to leave the muzzle at a consistent 3200 fps. I know that's a tall ask for 99% of the older powders, but I'm looking into researching that velocity from some of the newer powder options. Because it's a factory Weatherby, I don't anticipate excessively high chamber pressures, but I'm also looking for accuracy and shot repeatability. I definitely understand that the case capacity is going to be a major limiting factor, but I'm still interested in loads others have tried, that were very successful as a long range hunting load. My current "trial" load is 86.8 grains of Reloder 25 (estimated fps @ 3100 fps) I haven't run into a temperature variance with Reloder 19 nor 25, in Arkansas weather, but I know there's newer/better powder options I've yet to explore. Thanks in advance guys, as I feel certain I'll get some truly useful advice from the group.

I have a question I'd like to run by the whole group. I'm no stranger to hand loading and recently purchased a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe (high polished Vanguard with Mark V grade wood). My intention was to purchase a 300 RUM, but I've wanted a Vanguard Deluxe since the 70's and found an excellent one in 300 Weatherby Mag. Now that I own this rifle and have topped it off with a $1000.00 Leupold VX3HD, I'm wanting to get a 180 grain Barnes TSSX or LRN to leave the muzzle at a consistent 3200 fps. I know that's a tall ask for 99% of the older powders, but I'm looking into researching that velocity from some of the newer powder options. Because it's a factory Weatherby, I don't anticipate excessively high chamber pressures, but I'm also looking for accuracy and shot repeatability. I definitely understand that the case capacity is going to be a major limiting factor, but I'm still interested in loads others have tried, that were very successful as a long range hunting load. My current "trial" load is 86.8 grains of Reloder 25 (estimated fps @ 3100 fps) I haven't run into a temperature variance with Reloder 19 nor 25, in Arkansas weather, but I know there's newer/better powder options I've yet to explore. Thanks in advance guys, as I feel certain I'll get some truly useful advice from the group.

i tested a ladder with 180 TTSX with Rotumbo and found a load for my MKV Deluxe 3175 FPS with a .22 MOA group.

 

[RidgeTop]

I load my Mk V, 24", to 3050 with 180gr Partitions and IMR4350. Most accurate - shoots cloverleaf.

 

[asd9055]

I load my Mk V, 24", to 3050 with 180gr Partitions and IMR4350. Most accurate - shoots cloverleaf.

Just curious, do you load above "stated max" for that?

 

[RidgeTop]

Just curious, do you load above "stated max" for that?

77gr IMR4350, 180gr or H4831SC at 79gr and 180gr I am working up some 250gr but have not found a load yet.
Another I have tried is 78gr RL22 and 180gr.
My favorite is the first one.
I don't know what max are for these off hand - if you know, let me know.

 

[asd9055]

According to Lyman 49th Edition, IMAR 4350 for 180 is 73 gr. According to Nolser current data, IMR 4350 for 180 grn is 74.5 grn.
My old German weatherby, I used to load 79 grn IMR4350 with 180 Nosler BT. That was the Max back in late 80's. According to Hodgdon, powders have not changed. The difference is the primers. I have not attempted to try new loads that high. I load 77.4 grn RL22 with 200 grn Nosler AB or PT, in two different Mark V. Current max in both books is for RL22 is 78, Fed215 primer.
I load 81 grn IMR 7828 with 180 grn TSX and CCI 200 primer (0.4" @ 200 yards). Current max in books is 84.5 gr IMR 7828 but with magnum primer.
Beautiful wood stock, I prefer wood, but have very few rifles in wood. I do like the syntetics for hunting.

 

[Muddyboots]

RL26 pixie dust will get you very close to 3200 in 24" barrel. Good luck finding it!

 

[Muddyboots]

There is no doubt in my mind you can hit 3200 with 180HH with 24" barrel in your 300WBY. I was touching 3300 in 26" Sendero 300WM with RL26. I will bet RL23 with be close as well.

 

[RidgeTop]

According to Lyman 49th Edition, IMAR 4350 for 180 is 73 gr. According to Nolser current data, IMR 4350 for 180 grn is 74.5 grn.
My old German weatherby, I used to load 79 grn IMR4350 with 180 Nosler BT. That was the Max back in late 80's. According to Hodgdon, powders have not changed. The difference is the primers. I have not attempted to try new loads that high. I load 77.4 grn RL22 with 200 grn Nosler AB or PT, in two different Mark V. Current max in both books is for RL22 is 78, Fed215 primer.
I load 81 grn IMR 7828 with 180 grn TSX and CCI 200 primer (0.4" @ 200 yards). Current max in books is 84.5 gr IMR 7828 but with magnum primer.
Beautiful wood stock, I prefer wood, but have very few rifles in wood. I do like the syntetics for hunting.

Do you have a .340Wby? Looking for a 250gr load.

 

[asd9055]

Do you have a .340Wby? Looking for a 250gr load.

Sorry, I don't. Got 338 WM and 338LM but have not worked up the loads. Stopped when components skyrocketed. There are at least a couple of members here I believe that load that. Otherwise, the Weatherbynation.com