Bullet recommendations for 300WM

[jakes10mm]

Preparing for my first Elk hunt and debating bullet selection. I have been shooting Hornady 180gr SST and 165gr SST bullets and wondering if I need a tougher bullet? Or if a 200gr is a better choice? I'm placing my max range between 500-600 yds.

 

[Broz]

I use have been using 210 Bergers in mine. Many elk down , and never tracked a one. This one was last season at 643 yards.

Jeff

 

[wyomingblizzard]

Broz I read your report on the 230 berger hybird. Which do you prefer for hunting, the 210 or 230? I was thinking about trying the hybird do to less sensitivty to seating depth. My 300wm is a factory gun, so I am limited by mag length. My fear has been that either the 210 or 230 will be to far off of lands. Any thoughts? I have been shooting 180 barnes and it shoots them well, butI wanted to try a heavier, higher bc bullet to extend my range. Thanks

 

[Topgun 30-06]

jakes10mm---Go up to their Interbond for elk as the SST is not for that animal.

 

[rooster740]

The SST bullets are not for elk. My experience with them was, my father tried them one year and they work well for head shots but are too explosive for chest shots. The one cow was shot at the point of the elbow and broke guts, blew a huge hole in and barely made it to the lungs. She went a ways and lay down, then was dispatched by a head shot. In the process she heaved stomach contents all the way up into her neck between the skin and muscle. It was disgusting! The other cow just stood there and took 4 chest shots at 400 yards. Animals do not deserve that.

I am a Barnes fan, but they lack the impressive B.C. and can be picky in certain rifles. I have not shot elk over 500 yards, only due to lack of opportunity. I have also begun to use Bergers and really like their ballistic performance so far, but have not killed elk with them YET. My two cows last year were killed with Barnes Bullets at less than 100 yards, but I have killed several from 400-500 yards. Small hole in, and a nice sized hole out, almost always.

 

[silvertip-co]

I'm zeroing my newtome 300 win mag with 180 corelokt greenbox Rem ammo cause its cheap. Then once I get past 425y (our club range's current limit) I'll switch to Superformance 180SST. That should be good to 600y once that range is completed. Once I get to 600 and am happy I want to try 190 match ammo and go to the 1300y range about 30 min west of me. I find my 300 shoots sooo much better than the 3 7mm Rem Mags I had in the same rifle model. Good luck on yours.

 

[barnesuser28]

I am a Barnes guy too although i have never shot an elk with Barnes i will be using them for wyomong elk this year. I do have three deer under my belt with Barnes and the farthest one went was rolling straight down the side of a mountain.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Preparing for my first Elk hunt and debating bullet selection. I have been shooting Hornady 180gr SST and 165gr SST bullets and wondering if I need a tougher bullet? Or if a 200gr is a better choice? I'm placing my max range between 500-600 yds.

I got to say I dont favor either of these choices. I cant say I have ever hunted elk but I have read much here of thouse who have. I have learned to heed there advice. Broz in particular has posted many great shooting and reloading tips that have helped my game a lot.

 

[Broz]

Broz I read your report on the 230 berger hybird. Which do you prefer for hunting, the 210 or 230? I was thinking about trying the hybird do to less sensitivty to seating depth. My 300wm is a factory gun, so I am limited by mag length. My fear has been that either the 210 or 230 will be to far off of lands. Any thoughts? I have been shooting 180 barnes and it shoots them well, butI wanted to try a heavier, higher bc bullet to extend my range. Thanks

Well, I really like the BC and wind abilities of the 230 but since I have been using the 210's for so much longer with great success I can not really say I have a favorite at this point. But I can tell you we switched my sons 300 win over from the 210's to 230's and he hunted with 230's last season. The numbers showed that even though the 230 started out slower by 1000 yards they were almost matched in velocity and the 230 carried 130 lbs more energy. He took his bull in 40 mph winds at 511 yards with perfect placement and the bull never stood up. I am getting ready to start testing the new 215's in my rifle and may hunt with them next season. All I am hoping to gain is less wind drift.

I have loaded the 210's in many factory Sendero's and was always able to get to the lands and still fit in the mag box. So depending on what rilfe you have that may help with your question there. That said, I have also loaded the 210's in many 30-378's and even though we were close to .200" off the lands they still shot 1/2 moa. So I would not worry about seating depth until you have tried them in your rifle.

If your factory rifle has a prety smooth bore and does not foul quickly with the Barnes, many shooters like them. I would recommend you always place a Barnes in the shoulder to aid in expansion. The problem I have is that when you move to longer shots you are limited in percentage as to whether or not you can get them in the shoulder or not. The Bergers at long range are more likely to expand and do severe damage in the shoulder or anywhere in the vital area. So I feel this has aided in our success with one shot kills. In 2010 I was off on my wind call. The shot on this bull was 803 yards. The 210 Berger landed at the rear of the rib cage maybe one rib in. When hit, the bull turned around to go back in the timber and I could see a good sized exit and blood running drown his side. I marked the tree where he went back in. Upon arriving up there 30 minutes later I found the dead bull right there maybe 10 yards in. The bullet fragments made it into the vitals and saved my butt from a long tracking job and probably a lost bull. This is one reason I like heavier bullets so even though it fragments it still has enough bullet left for a full pass through. The best of both worlds I say and I feel they increase my odds for animals going down fast.

Don't take my word for it. Do a little test. Load up a few 210's or 230's. Then go out on a steady windy day and place a large target at long range. Shoot the Bergers and then shoot your old Barnes load. See which drifts less and is most accurate. Then you will know which you feel you can place better on game in marginal hunting conditions. The farther you are shooing the more the Bergers will shine in both drift and expansion.


Jeff

 

[Broz]

I got to say I dont favor either of these choices. I cant say I have ever hunted elk but I have read much here of thouse who have. I have learned to heed there advice. Broz in particular has posted many great shooting and reloading tips that have helped my game a lot.

Glad it has helped you, I too learn alot here. Many people think I am in some way connected to Berger. I am not in any way. Now I will admit I have gotten to know some of the guys there from conversations. But that is as far as it goes. I simply try to report what I see. I truely feel that Bergers have enhanced My , My Wife and Sons hunting success. Plus I set up several rifles and load for other hunter friends and their wives here. Also, if needed, I always have my rifle available to whoever I am hunting with. This results in me seeing a dozen plus elk taken each year. I only call it as I see it. I have no reason to BS and support any product other than to share what works for me with people here who share and helped me too.

Jeff

 

[winmag]

180 Accubonds, or 200 Accubonds. Not far enough to think twice about having enough speed for expansion. Hits like a Mack truck. You can shoot at most any angle, & know your bullet will perform. You aren't limited to a broadside only shot. There is no need for anything heavier or higher BC for the range stated, & then some. & IMO in a whole different league than bullets like the SST.

If your launching bullets out past 850-1k at Elk, then I could see a reason to load a big Berger.

 

[Nomad]

Many good bullets out there my choice would be Noslers bullets first their line has been around
for a long time with a product that has time tested results.......
Most any top of the line hunting bullet you choose will have several reviews on them....
Lots of good information posted so far and there is many into include that have had great results with the Accubond bullet in their rifles..........Luck and keep us posted on your choices........

 

[jakes10mm]

Very good information. Looks like I need to pick up some Berger and Barnes bullets for testing in my 300WM. The Hornady SST's have proven good shooters for me in 30-06 and 308, but questioned their capability for win mag velocities for Elk hunting. I have contacted Berger for load data. Does anyone have pet loads to offer?

Regarding the 215gr and 230gr Bergers: I gather these are the Hybrid Target bullets? Are they appropriate for hunting? I see the 190gr and 210gr Hunting VLD bullets on the Berger hunting bullet listing.

 

[barnesuser28]

just a tip make sure your barrel is spotless before you use the barnes because if there is fouling from a different bullet construction the barnes will not shoot as well and they will foul more than normal