Some More 300WSM ?s

[TheHardWay]

Ok, I have read extensively through the old threads regarding the 300WSM while looking for bullet/powder ideas, but I still have some questions.

First off, I am looking for a load that will be suitable for antelope, deer, and elk. I was originally thinking of going with a 180gr class bullet due to elk factor. Thinking Berger or Barnes. Now I am thinking I may want to go a little lighter, and go with a 168 gr class bullet for a little flatter trajectory. Do you think that that light of a bullet would be an inferior choice for elk? Killing an elk is not my limiting factor as I already have some heavier caliber loads worked for elk sized game and bigger.

From what I have read it seems like RL17, H4350, and N550 are the popular choice for this caliber. RL 19 seemed to be a choice before the introduction of the 17. I don't happen to have any of these 3 powers, as my luck would have it. Are they all pretty comparable or is there one I should concentrate on?

The rifle is a off-the-shelf Remington 700 XCR (24" barrel, 1-10" twist). I know every gun has its own likes and dislikes as far as bullet and powder combos, but does anyone have this particular rifle with a load that gives them great results? I know its hard to get .5 MOA groups out of an off the shelf gun, but I would like to get as close as possible. I am a stickler to get the bullet holes to touch, and I know it is possible as I have done this with my 375HH, and 338-378 that I purchased over the counter.
Thanks for any help and insight you can offer

 

[winmag]

You may try sending Shortmagman, or Mphstigerfan, a P.M.
I know they have worked extensively on Mphstigerfan's 300wsm. It happens to be a VERY finniky rifle, but they've worked a couple loads that shoot .2's. I know they've worked with lots of VV, RL-17, RL-19, and I think IMR7828 with bullet wt's ranging from 168-thru-210gr. Bergers, and Accubonds.
Again the particular rifle theyre workin on is Very Very finniky. But as far as wich powders to use etc. they would know without a doubt if whatever you had in your cabnet would work or not for starting load development.

I am an Accubond fan, so Id recomend 180gr Accubonds, but if youve already ruled out 180's, use a tough 168gr Accubond IMO. Id use the 168's in my 300wby, but it just doesnt seem right to use such a light bullet in such an overbore cartrige, so Ill stick with my 180's....for now anyway. I have my 270wsm for the light and quick bullets, and my 338 win mag for the big un's

 

[TOM H]

The new 300WSM I had build will be using it for Elk,Deer,Antelope. So far the bullets I've tried 165gr Rem,165gr TSX and 165gr Accubond,168gr E-Tip and I'll try a 168gr TSX that's what I shoot in my other 300WSM using H-4350.

R-17 is only powder I've tried in the new rifle and I was waiting for this rifle to be finsih so I work up loads for the other 300WSM at the same time. I like the load density with R-17 and I'm also shooting that in a 270WSM.

I got my first 300WSM 2003 and I tried most of the powders like R19/22,H-4350,H-4831,N-550,W-760 plus afew others and H-4350 was the powder I decided on using. Well good luck

 

[TheHardWay]

Thanks for the info guys.
To the guy with the stubborn wsm: I wonder what is making it so fininicky? That is one reason I went with the 300WSM as I had read it was fairly easy to develop a load for. I hope my gun isn't that way since I don't want to spend a ton of money in order to find the right load...been there done that!

 

[winmag]

Thanks for the info guys.
To the guy with the stubborn wsm: I wonder what is making it so fininicky? That is one reason I went with the 300WSM as I had read it was fairly easy to develop a load for. I hope my gun isn't that way since I don't want to spend a ton of money in order to find the right load...been there done that!

Im sure it will shoot many loads into sub moa groups. The problemb theyre heving is 2fold.
1. after they saw it would get groups in the .2's, he swiched to try and shoot a heavier bullet than a 168.
It loved the 190 bergers, and I think the groups were .3 ish
After seeing the groups it would get with the lighter bullets he decided that there had to be a way to shoot 210's into bug hole groups. I think theyre still workin on it.
2. The guy is a fan of heavy bullets, and a complete perfectionist. He will not settle for .5moa. Hell shoot lighter bullets in super small groups before setteling.

For some reason it didnt like alot of powder/bullet combo's. Why I dont know. Maybe it did like them, but talkin to Mphstigerfan on the phone, youd think the world was commin to an end if its not under .5moa So ones idea of accuracy is relitave I guess.
Shortmagman, the guy Mphstigerfan loads with, sounds to me like a very very capable, and avid handloader. He's pulled all the stops getting this one to shoot like it does. (I wish I could consistantly shoot sub .5 moa) I have shot a couple .3's with my 270wsm, but Im usually in the .6 range with that load.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I have just started on my 300 WSM. I asked a few of the same question you did as there was not alot of data for R17 out there. I have only shot 3 groups with R17 so far 61, 62, and 63g under a 208g AMAX just to look for pressure signs I had none.

As far as bullets just use what ever you might use in a 300 win mag. I am shooting 185g Bergers in my winmag. But Im going to switch to the 210g VLD.

 

[baldhunter]

I load and get my best groups from 69.0grs of Winchester WXR,which is the same as Reloader-22 as far as I can tell.Another powder I tried was 65.0grs of IMR-4350 and got excellent groups with it too.I tried some 165gr Hornady Interbonds in it this past season and they really put the hammer on whitetails with complete pass throughs and no bullets recovered.300WSM 3 shots 100yds on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[TheHardWay]

I purchased some 168 Gr Barnes tipped triple shocks yesterday. They have a BC almost the same as the Bergers ( .470 compared to .473) I was able to locate some H4350 and RL 17 as well. Finding reloading supplies around here is pretty difficult. If anyone wants to trade a few of the Barnes bullets I have for a few of the Berger Hunting 168s or 175s to give 'em a whirl, let me know!

 

[sniperjwt]

I shoot the 168 SMKs in my 300WSM. It is a factory gun with no gunsmith work done to it. I use RL 17 and love it. Here is a pic of what mine does at 100 yards Details on the load are in the pic

 

[TheHardWay]

^^^^^

Those are the kind of results I am looking for out of my XCR!
What kind of rifle are you shooting if you don't mind me asking.

 

[sniperjwt]

^^^^^

Those are the kind of results I am looking for out of my XCR!
What kind of rifle are you shooting if you don't mind me asking.

Savage 111, it has really surprised me on how well it shoots. i have some groups at 550 and 1000 that i would never suspect a factory rifle to produce

 

[Rimfire]

With the mid weight bullets like 175's H-4350 is a go to powder kind of like varget in a 6br. I have loaded for 1/2 a dozen 300wsm's and all shot H4350 well.

With she shorter barrel the 175 class bullets shine. With a 30" tube for BR the 210's come alive. If you aren't shooting past 800 the 175 will be fine. I shoot heavy in most cals but in a WSM you wont see the benefits with 210's unless you drive them hard and get out past 800.

 

[fireroad]

You never mentioned what distances you will be shooting out at. If your gun likes them and you find the right load I would not hesitate to take an elk with a 165-168 class bullet. It's not until you get under the 130-140 weight class bullets that things get questionable.

 

[TheHardWay]

You never mentioned what distances you will be shooting out at. If your gun likes them and you find the right load I would not hesitate to take an elk with a 165-168 class bullet. It's not until you get under the 130-140 weight class bullets that things get questionable.

I realize I forgot to put that info in the post. 600-700 yards. I don't think I would try at an elk much past that. Deer possibly, but I'd use my 338-378 for elk past that yardage.