300WM 180 Fusion vs. Hornady SST Custom 150

[82ndreddevil]

Hey guys, hope all is well. Well I have 300 WM in a 700 Sendero with a Leupold 4.5-14 Mark 4. I am not a well experienced handloader so I am trying to find some decsent factory ammo that shoots as well and is suitible for elk hunting. First I tried the Hornady SST 180 gr Super performance with no consistentcy. So I tried the Federal 180 gr Fusions for fun. Consistantly shot an MOA. I had my stock bedded, and a match crown cut and thought I would give a different Hornady round a try. I tried the 150 SST Custom and brought some more Fusions just for fun. The Hornady's again had a lot of flyers and inconsistantcies. I got a little frustrated and tried out the Fusions again. Did not notice any improvement from the stock bedding or the new crown but I still shot an MOA with no flyers. I have tried several types of Hornady rounds and I seem to always have a lot of flyers, has anyone had a similar experience with them? I guess I am going to just stick to the Fusions, they just seem to work. If anyone has any input that would be appreciated

 

[Dr. Vette]

Every rifle is different. I'm just getting into handloading, but in years of using factory ammo I've had some rifles that shoot most types well, others that shoot only 1 load well.

I recently tried 10 different loads in my 17 HMR rifle at 100 yards. Groups vary from an inch to 3+ inches, and this is confirmed by running the test on two different days at different locations. On both days it liked the same ammo, and now I've narrowed it down to 4 which will undergo more testing. The point of the example is that only in trying several factory loads did I find out which one was acceptable. And, the ones my rifle likes are not the ones my Dad's 17 HMR likes.

FYI, I would not personally go below a 180 grain bullet for a 30 caliber, especially if thinking of elk and especially in a 300 WM. Think 180-210 as your range, not 180 and below.

 

[FEENIX]

+1 on Dr Vettes bullet weight recommendation. I have two .300 WinMags, 1:10 and 1:11, and both group better with heavier bullets. Currently, using, 200 NAB, 208 A-Max, and 190/210 Berger VLDs.

 

[82ndreddevil]

I aint too worried about the weight, I am confident in my abilities and the abilities of a lighter bullet. My first cow was taken with a 30-06 shooting 150 gr Remingtons and the exit hole was the size of a baseball. I have been even more sucsesful with my current caliber. I am also familiar with the elimination process part too. I left out a piece of information. I also have a 700 BDL in 300 win mag and that one too shoots inconsistantly with hornadys, yet it really does well with the Fusions. So I got two rifles that like and hate the same ammo. Im wondering if anyone has had any sucsess with either of these rounds, especially the hornadys. I have never gotten any of them to work well in any of my rifles.

 

[jeff 300]

i had 2 different boxes of the Fusion 30-06 180gr tumble on me. i'm done with the fusion stuff it was a friend gun n ammo he's done with it as well. The only way i know it tumbled is because we where shooting at a target on ply wood and saw the holes. Hornady has always work good for factory stuff but i reload so i stay away from the over priced ammo for the price of 5-6 boxes you could have a big part of reloading gear that's the best thing to do.

 

[Dr. Vette]

I've had great success with Hornady ammo in my 7mm Weatherbys, 17 HMR and 25-06.

And no matter how confident I was, if I wanted a 150gr bullet I'd look to a 270 or 7mm rifle. Yes, they make them for a 30 caliber rifle but all I can say is - why?

OK, getting off soapbox now.

 

[82ndreddevil]

I've had great success with Hornady ammo in my 7mm Weatherbys, 17 HMR and 25-06.

And no matter how confident I was, if I wanted a 150gr bullet I'd look to a 270 or 7mm rifle. Yes, they make them for a 30 caliber rifle but all I can say is - why?

OK, getting off soapbox now.

Jeff, can you which Hornady's you have had luck with? I have tried the Custom and Super performance. Sorry you had bad luck with the fusions, I have shot about 8 boxes of them and I am pleased at how they do. I would like to just find something my rifle likes that is not a soft point.

Dr. Vette, dont worry about the soap box, its your opinion. As for why I would use a 150 gr in my 300 wm is simple. Flatter trajectory and it does not bust up meat as bad as the heavier ones do. I have shot animals with both 150 and 180 gr bullets before, none of them really seemed to know the difference between the two. my first elk was taken with a 150 gr 30-06 and had an exit hole the size of a baseball. The last cow I shot was with a federal 180gr TSX and ruined an entire shoulder. On the flip side a heavier bullet would have greater retention down range and it is less effected by wind. And yea, I am confident. It is only cause I have the background to back it up with. I do not say anything to my buddy that hunts cows with a 243, nor to my buddy that hunts deer with a 338 Lapua because they both are effective with what they use.