Ball powder load for 300wsm w/Barnes 180gr TSX

[BountyHunter]

If you rifle has an unusually short throat, call you local smiths. Dave Kiff from PTG sells a hand throater that works great and is easy to use and control depth. should not cost you too much to have it done

BH

[Rimfire]

If you can't fit factory SAAMI ammo in it without cramming the bolt that is short. I would send it to a good smith and have it throated to at least Min. SAAMI or what ever your mag lenth will handle.

[Frank in the Laurel Mts]

Too temperature sensitive...I steer clear of all ball powders for rifles...they all are extremely temperature sensitive..I had a competition .22 BR that loved WW748, the problem was that you could tell a temperature change of 5 degrees by the point of impact without changing the sights...it shot great groups, as good or better than anything else, it just drove me crazy so I now steer clear of all of them in competition or hunting rifles....try some H-4350 and you'll be fine...

[SamSpade]

The idea behind the short magnum is to have a case that fills completely with powder.

You didn't say what your seating depth is to the lands, mine is 2.823. I set mine bullets just below 2.82 so they will fit in the Remington magazine well. I have settled on using 180 gr SMKs using 70.2 grains of WXR (Winchester powder that is not a ball powder) which will compress the powder slightly. My average velocity is 3050 fps and shoots 1" groups at 200 yards off a bipod.

There is some loading data out there using H4895 that would be interesting to try,4831sc is another option, H380 and H414 wouldn't shoot in mine.

I have a couple of friends that also shoot the 300 WSM and none of them have been able to reach 3100 fps with 180 grainers.

[britz]

As far as starting to load for a 180 grain bullet with a 200 grain load, I think that would be OK, You always use more powder with a lighter bullet, so You should be safe, as long as you start with a lower amount. I have seen various companies using drastically different powder amounts for the same bullet. THink it has something to do with the way the test barrel is throated.

I see what you are doing using the ball powder. I run out of room with my 180 grain bullets and IMR 4350. I too am trying to work up a good 180 grain accubound load with h 380, IMR 4350, W 760, Or Win 760. Good luck.

[bweber]

Thanks guys. I measured the distance to the lands with the TSX bullets. It was 2.828" (roughly 2.83"). I didn't measure the factory load with the Barnes 180gr TSX's, but they seemed to hit the rifling as you had to push the bolt pretty hard to close it.

Those were the ones that I chronographed at 3100fps. I agree that's fast for that load and was kind of surprised myself. (Chrono was about five feet from the muzzle when it measure that.)

I went ahead and plunked down the $50 to get a Barnes subscription. That's given me access to data for their #4 manual and includes h380 info for the 180gr TSX. I'm hoping to get out to the range tomorrow to try some out.

Ben

[steve4102]

I have found Ramshot Hunter to be the powder for three 300WSMs that I load for. Fast and accurate. Like all Ramshot powders it is a ball type powder and it is NOT temp sensitive.



http://www.ramshot.com/powders/