300 Win Mag Load Development Help

[CGWVU]

Hi all,
So I recently built a 300 win mag out of a rem 700. I'm trying to develop a load for the gun. I was given 20 preloaded Berger 190 VLDs with 70.9 g of h4831sc .05 off the lands and they didn't shoot well through the gun. Couldn't get them to group at 100 yds. I'm wanting to develop a load for whitetail-elk sizes animas. I thought about Berger 215 hybrids and have been recommended H1000 but I can't find any anywhere in the state. Is there any other powder I can use? (I have yet to buy any bullets, which is why I'm not set on any type). Is there any recommendations on where to start?

 

[jpd676]

Retumbo, Reloader 22, Ramshot Magnum should all work with the Berger 215. I really like the Hornady 208 ELDM in my 300WM. I have killed plenty of animals at close and long range with them.

 

[dixiemagnum80]

Some are having good luck with IMR7828ssc too

 

[flashhole]

Retumbo is really good in the magnums with heavy for caliber bullets. I liked 220 grain bullets with my 300 WM.

 

[Elkeater]

Hammer bullets. @RockyMtnMT steve might chime in. His recommendation with 181gr hammer hunters is IMR7828ssc. I'm using the hammers in my .300 win mag and they wreck critters. If you aren't familiar with hammer bullets just do a search on here. Awesome bullets.

 

[johnnyk]

I'm using RL26 with 215gn Berger's and 212gn ELD-X's, lit by BR2's. 75.0gn's pushes them along at 3070fps and accuracy is great in my 28" Pac-Nor barrel, with no excess pressure signs.
After I bought this SAAMI chambered, .300WInMag pre-fit barrel I used a rented Ryan Mantha finishing reamer on it by hand. This slightly extends the free-bore for a better fit of the 215gn Hybrid and I'm not having to seat bullets down so deep in the case.

 

[ZReed85]

I'm using RL26 with 215gn Berger's and 212gn ELD-X's, lit by BR2's. 75.0gn's pushes them along at 3070fps and accuracy is great in my 28" Pac-Nor barrel, with no excess pressure signs.
After I bought this SAAMI chambered, .300WInMag pre-fit barrel I used a rented Ryan Mantha finishing reamer on it by hand. This slightly extends the free-bore for a better fit of the 215gn Hybrid and I'm not having to seat bullets down so deep in the case.

That's a hammer of a reamer

 

[tdot]

Were those handloads from someone else's chamber/gun? If that wasnt worked up in your gun, it might be a random powder load that doesnt relate well to you rifle.

I like the 215 with H1000 and Retumbo, H4831sc with Hammer Hunter 181 and also with Nosler Accubond 180grain. All have shot well. But I think the Hammer Hunter is my favourite load.

 

[Black Hat]

Vld's can be picky with seating depth, ive had more success running them .060" off in some rifles.

I run the 230 Bergers in mine now, has 1:9 twist.

 

[CGWVU]

It was an identical build. Remington 700 action with 1:10 barrel. I assumed it would be a place to start. I'm relatively new to reloading so I wasn't 100% sure

 

[CGWVU]

I also tried Retumbo and it's the same as H1000, it's sold out in every gun store within a 150 mile radius.

 

[CGWVU]

Hammer bullets. @RockyMtnMT steve might chime in. His recommendation with 181gr hammer hunters is IMR7828ssc. I'm using the hammers in my .300 win mag and they wreck critters. If you aren't familiar with hammer bullets just do a search on here. Awesome bullets.

Never heard of Hammer. I'm definitely not set on a bullet. I've wanted to try the 215s since I started the build but haven't bought any yet. The guy that helped me with the build gave me the 190s and I had high hopes with them. I'm trying to get a decent load developed by our whitetail season in 3 weeks (last minute I know). Would I be best off buying the VLDs, Hybrids, Hammers, or some other?

 

[mwkelso]

Never heard of Hammer. I'm definitely not set on a bullet. I've wanted to try the 215s since I started the build but haven't bought any yet. The guy that helped me with the build gave me the 190s and I had high hopes with them. I'm trying to get a decent load developed by our whitetail season in 3 weeks (last minute I know). Would I be best off buying the VLDs, Hybrids, Hammers, or some other?

Not to answer the question for someone else, but they are all good options really. You could even consider the Nosler Accubond or the Accubond Long Range if you wanted.
Is your application going to be close range or long range?
If close range, I wouldn't recommend the ABLR or the Hybrid. But for longer ranges (400-ish and out), they're great options.
Pick the tool that is best fit for the job, then develop around that.
Just my opinion. Best of luck for your deer season!

 

[tdot]

How new to reloading are you? If you are still early in the process and still learning the basics of reloading, it might be worth grabbing a few boxes of factory and seeing which one groups. Atleast then you have a backup plan if you cant develop a load in time.... it might take some pressure off and limit potential mistakes.

Hammer bullets are probably the easiest I've ever loaded for. Read up on them if you want. But essentially pick a powder, work up to pressure, back off a grain and as long as you arent touching the lands, you'll likely have a load that shoots well enough to hunt. Might find something better with more work, but if time is of the essence, that's probably your fastest program that I know of.