I've been working with some 200gr. Accubonds in my .300 win mag and have narrowed it down to 2 loads and needs some imput from you all. (fwiw- the rifle is a M 70 with 26" factory barrel with answer brake, bedded in a Boyds JRS stock, Burris 4.5-14 FFII on top.)
Anyway, I'm using Reloader 22 with these 200gr. AB's. I had great accuracy with H-4831sc, but velocity wasn't there. With 72gr. R-22 I'm getting 2880 fps (average of 3 shots) and 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups. With 74gr. of R-22 I'm getting right at 3000 fps and groups hovering right around the 1 to 1 1/4 inch mark. I'm pretty sure that this is a max load, judging by the manuels and the velocity I'm getting. No really pressure signs, but I haven't loaded the cases more then twice with this load (neck sizing).
Which would you use if you were using this for deer/elk under 400 yards? If I were shooting chucks, I'd take the accuracy any day, but 120 fps is nothing to sneeze at either?
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....when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it
Just to echo what has already been said. My neighbor shot a 6 X 6 bull last fall with my Win M70 at 480 yds using the 200 gr accubond over 66 gr H4350. Velocity from my 24" factory tube was 2810. One shot, one dead elk. Velocity is great, but not needed to kill big elk. Just my 2 cents.
I appreciate your advice, guys. My heart was telling me to go with the more accurate of the two loads, (but the speed sounds nice too) [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I'll load some up and get to practicing. thanks again-Duff
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....when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it
2890 seamed to be the sweat spot for me. More powder than 71 grains of RL22 gave me pressure signs, but that is for a tight chambered barrel. I have never been able to go more than 73 grains RL22 for any lot for the 2 300WMs I have owned. I would stick to the 2880 FPS 72 grain load. You're asking a lot of your brass and rifle if you want more than this. I personally had better consistancy with H4831SC, and for my rifle, velocity was about the same for the accuracy loads with both H4831SC and RL22.
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"Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms"
Run the ballistics. I think you will find that at 400 yards the extra confidence of a 1/2 - 3/4" load will be better than the 120 fps. The bottom line is that the elk will not know the difference withing 400 yards either way if you do your part. It is a good feeling to know where your bullet is going.
You have to realize that that initial valocity gain will decrease with every yard your bullet travels until at 400 yards it will basically be insignificant.
Even at the muzzle, even though there is a Ft/Lbs difference, there is zero difference in the ability to harvest game up to elk and moose.
Again, I try to stress to my customers that their rifles will loudly tell them what they like, they just need to listen.
Load up the more accurate load and go out and test this load at the ranges you plan on calling your max, even perhaps 100 yards beyond what you will be shooting at game, say 500 yards.
Get proficient doing this and when that big bull steps out of the aspens at 350 yards, it will be a cake walk.
And the elk will certainly never feel the difference in the different loads, he will be dead just as well with the lighter load as the heavier one.
Good Shooting!!
50
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Kirby Allen(50)
Allen Precision Shooting
Home of the Allen Magnum, Allen Xpress and Allen Tactical Wildcats and the Painkiller Muzzle brakes.
Are you using matched cases, and is the extreme spread velocity a lot wider, R-22 versus 4831sc? Was the 4831 load compressed? What primer are you using, and have you tried different ones?
Seems like your answer is somewhere in your question. If 72.0 grains is accurate, and 74.0 grains is unacceptable, there is a lot of wiggle room in between.
I have a good supply of R-22 that I use exclusively in a 25'06AI, and the shot to shot variation (extreme spread) is a little more than with other powders. I have not used it in 30 caliber Magnums, as it is dedicated. But, in the limited experience I have, the powder produces velocities unapproachable with W760 or 4831H. Accuracy is acceptable, but certain other powders with slightly different bullet weights, are superb. For long range work, the substantially higher velocity is a little more important than fractional improvement in accuracy.
In other words, it's a judgement call. Good luck with your choice, LB
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