Sheep Rifle build - 300 WSM

[cb4128]

I'd probably run a sendero lite contour cf, so I can shoot it suppressed when I'm not on this hunt.

 

[AkBirder300]

I have a Dall Sheep hunt next year and wanted to build a lightweight, compact rifle for this trip and to have in general.

I'm thinking a lone peak fuzion ti medium action, 22" proof barrel 1-9 twist, and not sure on the stock yet.

I like the idea of shooting the 180gr nosler accubonds in case we run into a grizzly, good compromise on BC vs tough construction.

With these parameters in mind, does anyone have experience with loading this caliber with this range of bullet weights? Looking for some real world velocity numbers on 180-200gr bullets in a 20-24" barrel.

Thanks for the help!

I checked with two friends who have taken more sheep than any others I know. Both have guided occasionally in the wrangels for dall sheep. One uses a Tikka 300 WSM and shoots factory Nosler with the 180 Accubond. He took three rams with it before switching to archery where he has taken two more. The other uses a 30-06 with 165 Barnes. He has taken multiple and all 4 of his sons have each taken a ram with that rifle and load. You will be absolutely fine, the hardest parts of sheep hunts are 1) finding a legal ram - they're scarce to begin with, they're hard to judge age wise, and populations all over the state are in decline. 2) the physical demands on your body, combine that exhaustion with some bad weather and your hunt can go sideways real quick.
Something else to keep in mind, last year 10% of guided hunters turned in a sub-legal ram. That brings down some serious heat from Fish and Game, so be absolutely sure before you shoot, because if you're one annuli short they'll absolutely confiscate your ram and will take your gear too if they think you were trying to knowingly cover it up.

 

[littlebighorn]

I used my off the shelf Browning stainless A-bolt in the 300WSM on three of my four sheep kills (including my Dall). It is light weight and a pleasure to pack, which I find essential in sheep hunting.
I'm a big fan of mono's and I shot mostly 168g Barnes TTSX in this rifle. I have switched to 160g Hammer Hunters and will see how that goes...but I don't have any more sheep tags. My guides in grizzly country have always toted bear guns, so I've never really felt a need to pack extra bear punch.

 

[kootenay man]

With regards to 300 wsm. I'm shooting a Tikka T3 lite. All stock. 180 gr Barnes TTSX @ 2990 FPS. 65.5 gr IMR 4350 WLRM primer. Winchester brass. 2.830" COAL. Consistent dime size groups. Sometimes hole on hole. I've taken 5 moose with them. I've recovered 2 bullets. Perfect expansion. Only lost about .3 grains in weight.

 

[griz375]

I have a Dall Sheep hunt next year and wanted to build a lightweight, compact rifle for this trip and to have in general.

I'm thinking a lone peak fuzion ti medium action, 22" proof barrel 1-9 twist, and not sure on the stock yet.

I like the idea of shooting the 180gr nosler accubonds in case we run into a grizzly, good compromise on BC vs tough construction.

With these parameters in mind, does anyone have experience with loading this caliber with this range of bullet weights? Looking for some real world velocity numbers on 180-200gr bullets in a 20-24" barrel.

Thanks for the help!

Worry about the shot you will need to make on the sheep. Depending on where you are planning to hunt odds of running into a problem bear bear are pretty slim. Hell Phil Shoemaker killed one a few years back with a 9mm so anything you shoot from a 300 wsm will kill one too.

 

[Longshotjames]

running a 300wsm Savage UL action with a 20" shilen barrel. Pushing 208eldM's at 2750(just below my pressure spike). Not the bullet I choose for grizzly but thats real world data with a heavy bullet in a 20" tube.
James

 

[cb4128]

thanks for the input guys! I have 165/180 barnes ttsx on hand also, may look into those

 

[JAYgs8163]

Here's a 22" 10 twist Sendero PROOF 300WSM just built for a friend. He's not shot it yet but the 22" is very nice to carry. He's planning on running 180 Swift Scirocco II's in it.

 

[hicountry1]

For a hunt like that, I'd stay away from anything eldx

Accubond......

 

[BPollard]

I have a Dall Sheep hunt next year and wanted to build a lightweight, compact rifle for this trip and to have in general.

I'm thinking a lone peak fuzion ti medium action, 22" proof barrel 1-9 twist, and not sure on the stock yet.

I like the idea of shooting the 180gr nosler accubonds in case we run into a grizzly, good compromise on BC vs tough construction.

With these parameters in mind, does anyone have experience with loading this caliber with this range of bullet weights? Looking for some real world velocity numbers on 180-200gr bullets in a 20-24" barrel.

Thanks for the help!

I shoot the 175LRX out of my 300 Saum

 

[BPollard]

I shoot the 175LRX out of my 300 Saum and the 165 tip triple shock out of my buddy's wsm

 

[WildRose]

He better hope they have the same POI and be able to quickly change mags or grab the correct one when things go sideways. My vote is a heavy for caliber bullet In the 300WSM because of bears....I would lean towards a quality 200gr....Partition, Accubond, Trophy Bonded Tip, Terminal Ascent, Barnes, and no boogers or match bullets.

If you're having to defend yourself from a bear it's not going to matter at that range.

 

[dogz]

Worry about the shot you will need to make on the sheep. Depending on where you are planning to hunt odds of running into a problem bear bear are pretty slim. Hell Phil Shoemaker killed one a few years back with a 9mm so anything you shoot from a 300 wsm will kill one too.

Amen to that! This whole thing about I'm in bear country so I better have a load to stop them......zeesh real world how often does that happen...Stopping a bear is about a CNS hit at close range and most any bullet in a 300 will take care of that job just fine.

For the 300 WSM and sheep, I'd be looking at the 155 Scenar, 168 NBT, 168 Berger etc. Taking a sheep out doesn't take a lot of fire power. There just isn't that much to penetrate to get into the chest. Out to 400-500 yards the 22/250 or Swift will handle it just fine!

Glad you're booked and ready to rock!

 

[tdot]

I've had a couple Accubond's blow up at sub 10 yard ranges. One was a 180grain from a 308win. Which was my planned load for a Grizzly hunt, I quickly changed to solid's and haven't looked back. When I'm sheep hunting I have two bear rounds and the rest are for sheep. Bear round is for stopping a Grizzly and the sheep round is for minimizing wind drift and drop. I don't really care if they have the same impact, I wouldn't likely pull the trigger on a Bear at more then 20-30 yards and more likely sub 10-15 yards.

I've also slowly been converting to the light and fast solid bullet crowd. I have some 152Hammers and 124HH for Spring Bear. May even try the 120AH in my 7saum.