215 Bergers in 300 RUM with 26" barrel

[bitbythebug]

I have been reloading and shooting for weeks with my just-finished rebarrelled and blue printed Rem 700 in 300 RUM. I really am intrigued by the 215 bergers but no matter what I try, I can't get them to be accurate. I can shoot the 210 Bergers very accurately but they lack in the BC dept. I have tried Retumbo, RL25, RL22 H870 and IMR 4831 all with no real success. I have loaded many different COAL's and that didn't seem to help. In my 338 rum a COAL of 3.78 with Berger 300's was very accurate. I am no rookie but after100's of rounds down range, I'm a bit frustrated and would like some input. I am ready to sell the rifle and start on another project but hope that someone can enlighten me on this bullet in this cartridge.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Sometimes with a RUM if it doesn't shoot, go faster.

Then if it doesn't shoot, make it something else.

 

[BEEMAN]

My RUM likes the 215's at 15 thou off with 91 gr of H1000. This is a mild load but shoots very good. The 215 should not be hard to get to shoot. Some guns like them a bit closer to the lands but we have found anywhere from 15 to 40 thou off usually works. My friends RUM shoots the 215 with Retumbo. We have never found a rifle that won't shoot the 215. Good luck, and I hope you get it to shoot.

 

[bitbythebug]

Do you have to single shoot it. I ran a dummy case into the rifle the other night with a 215 in it and it measured 3.87". My magazine will allow 3.69. Isn't that to much jump for great accuracy?

 

[Barrelnut]

My 300 RUM would not shoot the 215's. Used H1000 and Retumbo. Into the lans to as far back as they would go. They shot .6 to .7 MOA most times with a few flyers. Just could not get them consistent. I wanted something better.

Went to the 210 VLD (.20 off the lans) and it now shoots .2 to .4 consistently. Sometimes I think the 215s could use a little faster twist. I ran them fast too, right up to the wall. Don't even care to try the 230 stuff. The 210s are exceptionally accurate and have powder to spare and the max distance I'm likely to shoot. Why waste the barrel.

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

i was in the same boat as you, only with 300 WM. I was getting very poor result - after thorough testing i couldnt get better then MOA. I pushed them hard at max pressure and am now just over 1/2 MOA.

Using reloader 22, not the best powder, but i have to make it work.

 

[bitbythebug]

Thanks to all of you. Now I know I'm not just stupid. I noticed yesterday that the gun was most accurate when I was blowing primers. I loaded some 215's out past 3.70 and the pressure was to high but not critical so I shot a five shot group and it was MOA but averaging 3205fps and I'm sure I will have to throw all five cases away but it was my best group. How accurate are the 208 A-max's and are they as good a hunting bullet as the 210's. I had 300 Accubond 210's but sold them when I discovered the 215's, How are they for accuracy?

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

No experience w/208 amax on game, however, i have loaded them, and they have an extremely soft jacket, I suspect they would grenade just like a berger.

 

[BEEMAN]

Maybe I am just lucky. I built a 300WM this past winter and was done load development in 12 rounds. For me the 215 Berger is my favorite bullet. My win mag is actually shooting the 215 faster than my RUM. But the RUM is due for a rebarrel this winter.

 

[Edd]

When you load a 215 gr bullet in a 300 RUM to an OAL length of 3.690", the front of the bullets bearing surface is inside the case neck. When you use a 210 gr bullet loaded to the same length, the front of the bullets bearing surface is inside the chamber throat.

 

[barefooter56]

I have been reloading and shooting for weeks with my just-finished rebarrelled and blue printed Rem 700 in 300 RUM. I really am intrigued by the 215 bergers but no matter what I try, I can't get them to be accurate. I can shoot the 210 Bergers very accurately but they lack in the BC dept. I have tried Retumbo, RL25, RL22 H870 and IMR 4831 all with no real success. I have loaded many different COAL's and that didn't seem to help. In my 338 rum a COAL of 3.78 with Berger 300's was very accurate. I am no rookie but after100's of rounds down range, I'm a bit frustrated and would like some input. I am ready to sell the rifle and start on another project but hope that someone can enlighten me on this bullet in this cartridge.

bitbythebug,
Try the 215s at the same distance off the lands as the 190 VLDs You will have to make a "dummy" round to the lands to find out what the CBTO (cartridge base to ogive) would be for the 215 to match that distance. Test. But back off your load to the lowest powder charge listed for the 215 in the Berger manual for your bullet/powder/cartridge combination so you dont go over pressure and then work the load back up. If that dosent work Go to .005 off lands and work back in .005 increments using the minimum load to find that seating depth accuracy node then work the load back up to find your velocity accuracy node. You need to do load testing by the number AND only change ONE thing at a time ! Keep good notes in your reloading log book to refer back to. The velocity and seating depth accuracy are determined by YOUR rifle. If you need more magazine box length . Go to WYATTS Outdoor Custom Rifles and have their express length magazine box fitted to your stock. These give another .110 on average in usable magazine length.
Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any other questions and thanks for using our bullets!

 

[bitbythebug]

I went out yesterday and took all of my reloading gear with me and shot and reloaded and shot, adjusted and reloaded. It was very productive. I finally found a powder that works well for pressure and shoots OK. I am going out do that again this week and I hope I can tighten up my groups and use that 215's like I want. The powder that seemed to work well was RL 25 at 90 grains with velocities averaging just over 3100 fps. It was barely MOA at 300 but I think I can do better with adjusting seating depths and powder. I will let you know. Also a picture of were we rode this week with the horses, if I can.

 

[bitbythebug]

I went out yesterday and took all of my reloading gear with me and shot and reloaded and shot, adjusted and reloaded. It was very productive. I finally found a powder that works well for pressure and shoots OK. I am going out do that again this week and I hope I can tighten up my groups and use that 215's like I want. The powder that seemed to work well was RL 25 at 90 grains with velocities averaging just over 3100 fps. It was barely MOA at 300 but I think I can do better with adjusting seating depths and powder. I will let you know.

 

[bitbythebug]

Thank you. I will try that when going out this week. That is how I got the 300's to work in my 338 RUM. Once i found that spot it became a nail driver. It took many rounds but it finally worked. I will let you know how it turns out.