Reloading 300WinMag Questions ???

[.25MOA]

Hello people.....i have been searching for this info but in the last 3 hrs haven't come up with enough to start my reloading Debut.......i have recently aquired all my gear for reloading and instead of practicing what the manuals say i thought i'd ask some of You experts.......I have a Sendero SFII .300Win Mag and have been using Remington ACCUTIPS till now......with my "Once Fired" Rem brass i have bought the following which was ideas from you guys.....

* H-1000 powder (AR2217)
* CCI250 Mag Primers
* Berger VLD 190gr proj.
* SMK 190gr Proj.

I have measured a case with a Projectile "Loosely" fitted to the rifling and have come with an OAL of 3.595"

Firstly, with my once fired brass, What length should they be trimmed to ?
Secondly, what powder ranges should i load From and To ?
Thirdly, Should i load both types of projectiles the same in order to find which one the Remmo likes best ?
Finally, what is the best distance off the lands or rifling to start my test loads ??

All data gathered will be posted up to help others in the same boat.

Thanx for any help in this, I think this is an Awesome site for info !!

 

[Broz]

I have not used the 190 Bergers in a 300 win. But I have used the 210's a lot. So you can probably use my data for a starting load. I would start around 72 gr of H-1000 and .040" off the lands. From this I would pic a bullet and work up the powder charge to where I find the best accuracy. Once this is achieved I would then move to .030" off the lands and also some .050" off the lands to get a direction on what your rifle likes with the chosen bullet. Once you have a direction go with it until the groups open up or acceptable accuracy is obtained.

I trim to the book (reloading manual) length.

Jeff

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I'm using the 185 VLD
81g H1000
CCI BR2 primers
Nosler brass

Trim to length the manual says. Start with a safe load 81g H1000 is max in most books. You need to also read the Erics essay on the home page loading for VLD bullets. He suggest a 24 round seating depth test. It is what I used to get my load.

 

[flashhole]

You should go to the Hodgdon Data website for load data.

For your first loads why not use the recommended COL from the bullet manufacturer? My first-ever handloads were for a 300 Win Mag. Quite a pucker factor first time pulling the trigger. I ended up using Retumbo, it was more accurate and repeatable than H-1000.

 

[.25MOA]

I'm using the 185 VLD
81g H1000
CCI BR2 primers
Nosler brass

Trim to length the manual says. Start with a safe load 81g H1000 is max in most books. You need to also read the Erics essay on the home page loading for VLD bullets. He suggest a 24 round seating depth test. It is what I used to get my load.

81gr ?? Thats more than the manuals max....... wow...

 

[johnnyk]

.25MOA,
I got good accuracy from my .300WinMag using the 190gn SMK's and H1000 w/CCI 250's. I started at 79.0 and went to 80.5gn in 1/2gn increments.

79.0gn gave the best accuracy (.142") and veloctiy averaged 3078fps, ES 7.83, SD 4.12

While shooting the 80.5gn load the chrono went bonkers for some reason, but accuracy ran .4185" (3shot).
Tried 80.5gn again four days later and velocity averaged 3145fps and accuracy was .5245" - 5shot group.
I was pleased with this load's (80.5gn) performance and it would only get better by adding a 190Berger to it. This was my first experience with H1000. Needless to say, I will be buying more!
JohnnyK.

 

[.25MOA]

.25MOA,
I got good accuracy from my .300WinMag using the 190gn SMK's and H1000 w/CCI 250's. I started at 79.0 and went to 80.5gn in 1/2gn increments.

79.0gn gave the best accuracy (.142") and veloctiy averaged 3078fps, ES 7.83, SD 4.12

While shooting the 80.5gn load the chrono went bonkers for some reason, but accuracy ran .4185" (3shot).
Tried 80.5gn again four days later and velocity averaged 3145fps and accuracy was .5245" - 5shot group.
I was pleased with this load's (80.5gn) performance and it would only get better by adding a 190Berger to it. This was my first experience with H1000. Needless to say, I will be buying more!
JohnnyK.

Thanx Johnny.......isn't that a pretty Hot load, my manual says 79gr Max.......what is your rifle ???

I have 2 reloading manuals, neither list the 190gn proj. One of the manuals states a Max load of 81gr for the 180gr and 77gr for the 200gr, the other manual states 79gr for the 180gr and 77gr for the 200gr......confused.... although one manual is using H-1000 and the other AR2217

 

[johnnyk]

I researched the load before I started. I have four reloading manuals plus all the powder companies under my "Favorites". Other good sites to check out are ReloadersNest, AccurateReloading, Steve's Reloading Pages and Nosler.
It's stout but not too hot. My rifle is a stock Savage 112BVSS (single-shot), with the exception of a Rifle Basix trigger, and weighs 11-12lbs. It's not a 338 Lapua or Allen Magnum but it's a helluva rifle/cartridge to be shooting Southern whitetails with. It's too much rifle (IMO) for close up work, so I search for wide open fields and power-lines to set up on. I just took a 6 pointer Tuesday, here on my property, with my .25-06 Sendero at 200yds. I was shooting the 115gn Ballistic Tip and it pole axed him. He was standing in my shooting range between the 100 and 500yd backstops. I was actually setting at my shooting bench with rest and sandbag (06:30AM) waiting on him. Bad place for him to be but more than enough rifle. He was quartering away and the bullet entered mid-ribcage on the left side and exited behind the shoulder on the right.
FYI, LEE's "Modern Reloading" list 82.0gn as max for the 190gn. In my experience, LEE has always taken loads to the upper edge but they have always been safe in my rifles. These loads listed in the manuals (published ones) are guides to go by. Your rifle may let you shoot more grains safely than what's listed BUT, you have to work up to these slowly and carefully.
I usually write down the load data for the powder I plan on using and then average it. This gives me a "ball-park" figure, so to speak.
The OAL length will vary from rifle to rifle. I measure mine for a particular bullet and back off .010" and go with that. I will usually find a decent load (.5" or less) somewhere within the powder range I have chosen. If not, I try a different powder. The exception to this rule, of course, is those sometimes finicky VLD's.
Hope this helps. JohnnyK.

 

[scsbronco]

I would like to see what others are loading too.

Im working on a New Remington XCR LRT 300wm

It would be nice just for kicks to see....


COAL
Brass Brand
Neck sized or full length
Primer
Powder
Bullet
Bullet seating off lands
Grouping
Speed

 

[.25MOA]

I researched the load before I started. I have four reloading manuals plus all the powder companies under my "Favorites". Other good sites to check out are ReloadersNest, AccurateReloading, Steve's Reloading Pages and Nosler.
It's stout but not too hot. My rifle is a stock Savage 112BVSS (single-shot), with the exception of a Rifle Basix trigger, and weighs 11-12lbs. It's not a 338 Lapua or Allen Magnum but it's a helluva rifle/cartridge to be shooting Southern whitetails with. It's too much rifle (IMO) for close up work, so I search for wide open fields and power-lines to set up on. I just took a 6 pointer Tuesday, here on my property, with my .25-06 Sendero at 200yds. I was shooting the 115gn Ballistic Tip and it pole axed him. He was standing in my shooting range between the 100 and 500yd backstops. I was actually setting at my shooting bench with rest and sandbag (06:30AM) waiting on him. Bad place for him to be but more than enough rifle. He was quartering away and the bullet entered mid-ribcage on the left side and exited behind the shoulder on the right.
FYI, LEE's "Modern Reloading" list 82.0gn as max for the 190gn. In my experience, LEE has always taken loads to the upper edge but they have always been safe in my rifles. These loads listed in the manuals (published ones) are guides to go by. Your rifle may let you shoot more grains safely than what's listed BUT, you have to work up to these slowly and carefully.
I usually write down the load data for the powder I plan on using and then average it. This gives me a "ball-park" figure, so to speak.
The OAL length will vary from rifle to rifle. I measure mine for a particular bullet and back off .010" and go with that. I will usually find a decent load (.5" or less) somewhere within the powder range I have chosen. If not, I try a different powder. The exception to this rule, of course, is those sometimes finicky VLD's.
Hope this helps. JohnnyK.

I have inserted a VLD into a spent case and chambered it, i get OAL of 3.595", should i seat my first lot of projectiles at 3.585" ???
Also, i ahve a box of 190gr SMK's, just wondering if i load them up the same as the VLD's ? Thanx Johnny...

 

[johnnyk]

I would seat the SMK at .010" off, start at the lower range and work up. With a VLD I usually start at .010" (just habit) and go through the powder range I have determined. If none of those produce potential accuracy (.5" or better) then I start over, seat them into the Lands and Grooves (LaG), start low on the powder and work up till pressure signs show up. This may not be the best way to find a load with a VLD and others have different methods, I'm sure. I don't have a lot of short term patience for bullets that don't shoot right off the bat (I'll lay them down and try them later after I sulk about it for a day or two ).
By the way, there is a good article somewhere on here about loading steps for VLD's, good read with good ideas. JohnnyK.

 

[trueblue]

My load:
215GM
winchester brass
190 Berger
82 gr Retumbo
3030fps 24" barrel

 

[flashhole]

All right .... another Retumbo fan. It's a great powder for magnums.

 

[scsbronco]

Cool, I just love this stuff!!!!

Ill be using the 180gr Noslers green ballistic tips. I cant wait but I moving the family so its on hold.