300wsm for long range hunting out to 700 yards

Brant Walton said:

Just acquired a rem 700 in 300 wsm. I am looking at running H4350 or rl 26 with 178 eldx. Has anyone tried these? How is the 300 wsm for hunting long range out to 700 yards?

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Great choice and H4350.... shouldn't have any problems at 700 and as Buzz Lightyear said......AND BEYOND!

Rick, yes, the thread is mainly on the 300WM data and experience. There is mention of the 300 RUM as well as the 300 WSM. The thread's main emphasis is on the 215 Hybrid and their performance next to the 210 Bergers.

I did a pm to Broz, and told him I was wanting to try the 215's. He sent me information on them for use in my 300 WSM. He also sent me 20 of the 215's to try. They work in the 300 WSM just fine.

Broz does comment on the fact the 215's should work fine in the 300 WSM. Additionally I also posted near the threads end, of my experience with the 215's in my 300 WSM.

Once again, THANK YOU BROZ FOR THE SAMPLE OF 215'S YOU GRACIOUSLY SENT ME.

There are also a couple of posts in the same thread of guys using the Berger 230 in a 300 WSM in Africa with success even though the 230 had to be seated a lot deeper. If 230 will work in the 300 WSM no reason the 215 won't work as well. They do!! There are other threads on this forum with folks shooting the 215s out of 300 WSM's.

Yep, the 215 is used a lot in 1000 yard benchrest too. However, they single feed if it is a "short" action or "long" action for hunting.... In most cases.

Rick here is my experience. I use a standard 10 round MTD .308 magazine, which will only load 7 rounds of the 300 WSM. My rifle is a short action Savage model 12 in an Oryx chassis, previously in a McMillan A% adjustable. The only mod I made to the magazine is adjusting the steel lips for proper feeding. My COAL does not exceed the standard max length of 2.860". I was using a longer COAL before I went to the chassis, but I have seen no excessive pressure changes nor any group size/performance issues since shortening the COAL, about 250 rounds to date.

My experience is over 4 different brands of brass, approx. 270 cases. They are WW Nickel plated, Fed Nickel plated, WW Brass, and Nosler brass. All of the nickel plated brass and 20 rounds of the WW Brass brass have 10+ reloads in addition to the original factory load. I have now shot 750 to 1,000 rounds of the Berger 215. The other 100 rounds of WW brass only have two firings. Not a single case failure for over 10 years of use.

The Nosler has 5 firings, all Berger 215's. My Nosler brass loads have a velocity of 2800 and ES of 9. The other brands of brass have ES's of 23-43 as well as being 40 fps slower than the same loads in the Nosler brass. Hence I am now in the process of culling and replacing all non-Nosler brass.

THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE IN MY RIFLE. YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARRY, PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

Rick how much powder are you burning with that load ? I believe we could have taken mine to the next node or 2 with the Big game, but it is so accurate that we didn't even try. I will have to try some H4350 and the 180 in mine

sika64 said:

Rick how much powder are you burning with that load ? I believe we could have taken mine to the next node or 2 with the Big game, but it is so accurate that we didn't even try. I will have to try some H4350 and the 180 in mine

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Check out the pictures on the first page. Remember what worked for me may not work for you.

I worked up some loads for a buddy's .300WSM using RL23 & 215 Hybrids.
Short 23" 1:10" barrel, but the thing was a tack driver. Final load was "only" 2772fps, but no pressure, and accurate as you could ask for.

Second the idea of 215 or 210 Bergers. I found some great loads with 210s and r22 of all things. Either way, the 300wsm is a phenom when it comes to long range accuracy

I use that caliber for out to 800yds. Currently using up the last of the TSMK175gr. and have a box of 178 ELDX with new Nosler brass ready for a new recipe. Great round.

Rick Richard said:

Check out the pictures on the first page. Remember what worked for me may not work for you.

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Duh, Brain fart as I already looked at that. Thanks

My SS Tika lite likes the Barnes 180 ttsxbt, used 66gr imr4350, g215m primer @ 2950fps. Shoots .29 groups at a 100yds with my little 10 power Leopold, can't wait to shoot an elk with it.

Barrelnut said:

I shoot a 300 WSM too. My favorite loads are with Norma brass, H4350, and 185 Berger VLDs.
Take Rich's post above to heart. Those are some nice loads he has worked up.
My only advice would be that I have never had any luck with the 178 ELDx or RL26 in mine. I would start with a quality bullet like the Bergers. Once you prove the rifle, then try things like the ELDx, if you still want.
The 300 WSM tends to like a little faster powders than long action mags like the 300 Win. The 300 WSM likes H4350 and H4831. RL17 will give you excellent speed too but better accuracy will probably be had with the "H" powders above.

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You're not the only one who has had issue with hornady lately. Not sure what they're doing. When they first came out with the 178eldx I built a load for my buddies 308 and shot one of the best groups I've ever shot, with it. Lately though haven't had that kind of luck...thinking of it I should really buy that gun from him lol. I could not get 180eldm to shoot in a proof

I love my Kimber Montana in 300wsm it shoots 180g Accubonds 3 shots in a cloverleaf all touching with factory loads....I have 2 boxes of failsafes that it shoots to the same point of impact at 100 yds for hunting in griz country here in western Montana...….I load 2 accubonds and 2 failsafes behind em. I killed a 450 lb black bear in the Sapphire Range Ravalli county Montana only 180 yds that scores BC 19 9/16ths and squares out at 7 feet. Now I hunt from a wheelchair and that has slowed me down a bit...…..but always looking for good opportunities.

Rick Richard said:

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I have a custom 300 WSM and shoots very well. That range is no issue for this round. The 300 WSM is used in 1000 yard matches.

I shoot Berger bullets over H4350. Also, going to try some Hammer bullets after the hunting season. As always, start low and work up with your loads.

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Hello Mr Richard.
Awesome shooting! What primers do you use for your 300 wsm 180 gr bergers? I realize this thread is from 2 years ago however I just started loading up for my 300 wsm & came across your post & was very impressed! I have read some guys stating only use large rifle primers & some say magnum primers? Thank you.
Brad.