300 Win.Loads?

[Sargesniper]

Just starting out with load development. Rifle is Rem. 700 Long range 26" BBL 300 WM, no brake yet.

Bullets I have are 168, 175, 190 Sierra and 208 A-Max.

Powders are IMR and H 4350, 4831, H 1000.

Open to suggestions based on what you are using. I am new to the 300 so I am taking it slow right now for starters.

I know some will say to shoot the 215 Berger but all I have for now is listed above. Would like your insight on what I have.

 

[BEEMAN]

You are right. Shoot the 215 Berger. But with what you have listed for bullets I would shoot the 208. I shoot 215's and H1000. I worked up from 73 gr till I was happy with velocity. I have a full custom rifle chambered with a reamer that adds extra freebore. This allows me to have a long COAL, and why I am able to shoot 79 gr with a 3000 fps muzzle velocity.

 

[Sargesniper]

You are right. Shoot the 215 Berger. But with what you have listed for bullets I would shoot the 208. I shoot 215's and H1000. I worked up from 73 gr till I was happy with velocity. I have a full custom rifle chambered with a reamer that adds extra freebore. This allows me to have a long COAL, and why I am able to shoot 79 gr with a 3000 fps muzzle velocity.

3000 fps is impressive for sure. I am really more into accuracy than speed. If I get 2900 with good accuracy then that is well enough. As long as the accuracy is there the speed will take care of itself. I chronograph after an accurate load is found. I am just feeling out the rifle now. Only 14 rounds fired so far. I got it on paper at 100 with 175 gr. Sierra TMK's and moved to 400 to see what it would do. Wasn't impressed with the load @ 400 but was satisfied the calculated MOA of elevation was good. Actually I shot 2 different loads with the same powder and bullet. All with virgin PPU brass and two different charge weights of H-1000. Group measured 6". So I guess it wasn't all bad but nothing to write home about.

What is your OAL measured to the tip with the 215? With the 208 A-Max I am at 3.600" to the tip. That's .015" off the lands.

 

[BEEMAN]

COAL is 3.718 I believe. 3.962" With Hornady comparator. The 215 is so forgiving. I started them 30 Thou off and worked up from 73 gr and stopped at 79 gr of H1000. All 7 powder charges shot equally well! All one ragged hole groups at 100 yds. I shot a 2 1/8" center to center 3 shot group at 500 yds the other day. My friend is running PPU brass in his and gets the same velocity as my Nosler brass but loads 77 gr because the PPU brass is heavier. Both guns are identical in performance and we load the same COAL in both. Shoots pretty good for a rifle that finishes at 10 lb 2oz with optics. Was worried that the #3 contour BRUX might not shoot; but that's not the case.

 

[Sargesniper]

COAL is 3.718 I believe. 3.962" With Hornady comparator. The 215 is so forgiving. I started them 30 Thou off and worked up from 73 gr and stopped at 79 gr of H1000. All 7 powder charges shot equally well! All one ragged hole groups at 100 yds. I shot a 2 1/8" center to center 3 shot group at 500 yds the other day. My friend is running PPU brass in his and gets the same velocity as my Nosler brass but loads 77 gr because the PPU brass is heavier. Both guns are identical in performance and we load the same COAL in both. Shoots pretty good for a rifle that finishes at 10 lb 2oz with optics. Was worried that the #3 contour BRUX might not shoot; but that's not the case.

Well, you just caused me to spend $252.82 for 500 of the 215 Bergers. Should receive this coming week. Stick with me on this as I may need more info for these bullets.

Good to hear about the PPU brass as well. Was reluctant to buy but that was all I was able to find locally at Cabelas. $65.00 per 100 seemed mighty cheap so I nearly balked.

First firing made the belt expand .001" Is this normal or should it have been more? This is my first attempt with a belted cartridge so excuse my ignorance. I'm more at home with .308 and .260 cartridges. What is the normal expansion just above the belt with your loads?

I full length sized the brass and followed up with a Lee Collet Neck sizer. What is your method?

 

[BEEMAN]

You won't be sorry for buying the 215's. We have never checked for expansion around the belt. We just full length size and shoot. I wish we could buy 215's for that price here in Canada. They are around $80 per 100!! As far as the PPU brass goes; it is working very good for my friend. I am no expert but will answer any questions that I can. Try them at 30 or 40 thou off for starters and they should shoot good. My RUM prefers them at 15 off but now the throat has eroded so much that I am about 80-85 off the lands. Haven't changed my COAL and it will still hold half MOA out to 910 yds in good conditions. Re barrel to 338 EDGE this coming winter.

 

[Sargesniper]

You won't be sorry for buying the 215's. We have never checked for expansion around the belt. We just full length size and shoot. I wish we could buy 215's for that price here in Canada. They are around $80 per 100!! As far as the PPU brass goes; it is working very good for my friend. I am no expert but will answer any questions that I can. Try them at 30 or 40 thou off for starters and they should shoot good. My RUM prefers them at 15 off but now the throat has eroded so much that I am about 80-85 off the lands. Haven't changed my COAL and it will still hold half MOA out to 910 yds in good conditions. Re barrel to 338 EDGE this coming winter.

I don't know if they ship to Canada or not but the order I made was with Wideners. You can look on Gunbot.com and see all the the components and Vendors that have them.

At $80.00 per I don't think I could afford to shoot them. I'm reluctant at the price I paid. That is sad for you and your friends as well to have to pay that much for something you are going to use only once. This is a very expensive hobby we have.

 

[BEEMAN]

It is a real problem what we have to pay. We can't get anything out of the U.S. Without a $250 export permit. I was going to order some 300 RUM brass from Midway and by the time it would of got here it was almost $500 for 100 Norma Brass. That and stuff is really hard to find here. Haven't seen any Reloader 25 or 22 etc. for YEARS. Kind of rediculous really; but that's the law.

 

[Sargesniper]

It is a real problem what we have to pay. We can't get anything out of the U.S. Without a $250 export permit. I was going to order some 300 RUM brass from Midway and by the time it would of got here it was almost $500 for 100 Norma Brass. That and stuff is really hard to find here. Haven't seen any Reloader 25 or 22 etc. for YEARS. Kind of ridiculous really; but that's the law.

Might be cheaper to come to the US and bring it back with you if the law allows it. Not familiar with laws on this matter just a suggestion if you ever come here for a visit.

Or you and your friends could split the cost of the license and make large orders like a group buy. Doesn't make much sense for one guy to have to pay that kind of money just to have something shipped to him. Lord knows if you ordered powder and primers you would have to sell one of your kids to cover the cost plus the HazMat fee!

 

[Sargesniper]

It is a real problem what we have to pay. We can't get anything out of the U.S. Without a $250 export permit. I was going to order some 300 RUM brass from Midway and by the time it would of got here it was almost $500 for 100 Norma Brass. That and stuff is really hard to find here. Haven't seen any Reloader 25 or 22 etc. for YEARS. Kind of rediculous really; but that's the law.

That sucks! I went to my local Cabelas and Bass Pro shop and they had both 22 and 25 on the shelf.

 

[BEEMAN]

What is the worst is that I am only 15 miles off the border but can't access any of the products. And no we cannot just drive down and pick stuff up and bring it back with us. I wish it was that easy.

 

[Sargesniper]

What is the worst is that I am only 15 miles off the border but can't access any of the products. And no we cannot just drive down and pick stuff up and bring it back with us. I wish it was that easy.

I guess the only legal way will be to buy the license then. Maybe if enough of your friends get in on the fee it could be the best way for you. I had no idea it was that complicated for Canadian citizens to buy things here. That is insane.