Powders

[ayers21]

Like H4350 on the sub-180gr. The rifle loved it with Berge

I loaded for 2 300 WSMs for several years. I had very good results from RL17, H4350 , and IMR4451. The RL17 can be affected by temp but gives very good velocities. IMR4451 is very temp stable and does not allow copper to build up. Performance wise I found 4350 and 4451 very similar. I also found in the 2 rifles I loaded for, an A7 Sako and a Kimber Montana with a Douglas barrel, I got the best ES and SD results using standard large rifle primers. You didn't ask about bullets but I got good results from Nosler 180 Accubonds and the Barnes 180 TTSX. I used the Barnes in Africa and on Elk with very good results. But, the most crazy accurate bullet I every shot in both of them was the Berger 190 VLD Hunter. It was crazy accurate for a couple of light barrel hunting rifles.

Good info. Thank you. Gonna try out the 175RDF's with the 4451 and 4350 next. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Deleted member 107796]

I'm loading for a Tikka T3 300wsm and using 64.0gn of IMR4350 under a 175gn Berger VLD-H with excellent accuracy.

 

[dougduey]

H4350 is pretty much the "gold standard" powder for the 300 WSM. So, anything in that burn rate will work well. I've had great results with IMR4350, W760 and RL17 for 160-200 gr bullets. RL16 is great, too, but I found my pet loads before it was ever introduced.
My elk thumper is with the 200 gr ELDX and RL17. I'm also in the finishing stages of load development with the 162gr Absolute Hammer, but it requires a faster powder (I'm using H380).

 

[basinman]

My best load for a 150 grain Silver Ballistic Tip is using Hodgdon Superformance and CCI 250 Magnum Primers. I'm getting 3270 fps from a 24" Winchester model 70 and it groups .5 moa.

 

[cabelasken]

I have been using IMR 4350 (at least an 8 LB jug) behind Barnes 168 TTSX for many years and it has accounted for 6 elk and 3 bucks. Velocity in my Brown Precision with a Schillen SS Frozen Match 24" BBL is about 3135 FPS. It prints between 1/2 and 3/4 MOA 5 shot 100 yd groups when seated right at the end of the first groove. This powder charge fills the case perfectly and although temp does have an effect on the IMR 4350, it has not been enough for me to miss shots that have ranged from 100 to 430 yds.

MY friends stock Kimber is about 1 MOA with this load and I sighted in a stock Tikka for another and it also is about 1 MOA - all 5 shot groups.

 

[chav0_12]

I haven't loaded for 300 WSM but I've loaded the WSMs right around it. 325 WSM has lived H4350 the 270 WSM like IMR4350, I've used RL19 in the 325 with 200gr partitions and got amazing results too. I'd just stick around that burn rate where the 4350s are and you'll have good luck. At this point it might come down to what you can find. 4831s would be a good place to check also.

 

[Achilles1]

On a personal note:
Why select a .300 WSM chambered rifle, over a .300 Win Mag?
Aren't the loadings limited for 200-220 gr bullets?
My current 30cals are limited to .308 Win.
AG

 

[tooth doc]

Recommendations for powder selection for my 300WSM? Anybody have experience loading this cartridge? (Yes, I'm new at this)

I have been using the same load for over 20 years. A compressed max load of rl22 and a 168 barnes. Ttsx now . Started with a xlc barnes, then tsx. Gives me 3260 in a 26 in custom bm barrel on a win mod 70 action. My go to rifle.

 

[Deleted member 107796]

On a personal note:
Why select a .300 WSM chambered rifle, over a .300 Win Mag?
Aren't the loadings limited for 200-220 gr bullets?
My current 30cals are limited to .308 Win.
AG

This is a valid point from a ballistics view and certainly opens up the heavy options, but they are different beasts even if to a small extent. The physics of a shorter burn column is why. It is also why the 300wsm can match velocities with slightly less powder.

 

[Dentite]

On a personal note:
Why select a .300 WSM chambered rifle, over a .300 Win Mag?
Aren't the loadings limited for 200-220 gr bullets?
My current 30cals are limited to .308 Win.
AG

In my experience and the bullet weights I use (175ish), less powder, less recoil, less weight to carry around, less length to carry around (short action 23" barrel in 300WSM achieves about the same velocity as a long action 26" barrel in 300WM).

Only downsides I see to WSM is less factory ammo, less brass availability (again my experience), and if you want to shoot 200+ grain bullets, they do start to eat up some case capacity in the WSM.

Hope that helps.

 

[Cwray5]

Recommendations for powder selection for my 300WSM? Anybody have experience loading this cartridge? (Yes, I'm new at this)

I have used IMR 4350 work 180 grain Accubonds and had some really nice groups.

 

[Mustang72]

I agree with the above. The only other downside is one less round.capacity. Not a real big deal but 3 rounds go by quick if you catch a bunch of pigs in,the wide open

 

[L.Sherm]

if you want to shoot 200+ grain bullets, they do start to eat up some case capacity in the WSM.

Not if there throated correctly for the heavies.
The new 1000 yd record that was just set used RL23 powder and 220 Bergers.

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

H4350 has been my go to for years with the 300wsm, just recently started working with H380 and have yielded very good results as well!