Best factory ammo to site new 300 WSM?

[grouse]

I have seen lots of guys say the "optimal" weight for the Tikka's is right around 180 gr due to the 1:11 twist (wish they would change that twist rate, they have some nice looking rifles)

This!

 

[MVandiver4]

Morning fellas....

My 300wsm shoots a few very well but, keep in mind I have a 27" 1:9.

Norma brass has been the best I have found, hands down. I have about 400 pieces and majority are on their 8-10th firing. (I anneal).
Had a great work to with IMR4831 and H1000. The 190g and 210g ABLRs shoot insanely well and group well under .5 with IMR4831.
Also, berger 200.20x with H1000 slightly compressed is running 3120fps and one hole groups at 130yds.
Then I also shoot the 230g ATips. Little over 2750fps and are lights out to 2500yds. Also loaded with H1000.

Fed215 primers.

I know that my load doesn't particularly help your application, but, it's what I got.

 

[Backcountry sports]

1) I have the same rifle in 300wsm. My Tikka, while I can dial in excellent 165gn bullets (Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped, Hornady GMX), absolutely prefers 175-180gn class bullets, particularly the 175gn Berger VLD Hunting which killed the elk below. Hit high on the shoulder (my bad) but jellied the lungs and dropped her in 20 yards. Although it is not "high end" ammo, I would seriously considering trying out how it shoots the Federal Fusion 180gn factory ammo. The 100s of reviews from users can attest to the stuff.

2) Like JD126 said, it is sad to have to rely on Winchester brass, with a rate of roughly 5 pieces per 50 inspected as bad seen in my experience with both rifle and handgun brass. I went with getting Norma brass thru Midway and it's been very consistent. Budsgunshop.com and Brownell's are also good sources.

3) I use CCI 250 magnum primers for everything.View attachment 177934

One key piece of advice for any Tikka T3 Lite in heavier calibers! Get a Limbsaver model 10011 recoil pad. Try Walmart.com or Ebay to get it for about $25. It is a HUGE improvement over the stock pad, custom fit and takes about 2 mins to install. I will venture to say that it will remove recoil as a factor in your shooting. Cheers and enjoy this elk killer.

180 grain acubond works in Remington

 

[Tex_Hunter]

Howdy gents,

I've got a Tikka T3 Lite in 300 WSM
I've recently had it Hydpdipped and next weekend will get to the range to zero in.

I have 3 questions:
1. Best Factory Ammo for an initial sighting - (new optic)
2. Brass source for best brass to build a round
3. Best components other than brass ie- Powder, Bullet (including weight) and primer.

I know there are always multiple answers to the above.
I'm seeking bullet weight for long-range hunting at first, target later.
I'd love both suggestions if you wouldn't mind so I don't have to ask in the future.

My goal:
1/4 inch MOA (or as close as possible) target
1/2 inch MOA hunting (assuming a heavier round might have a little more spread)

With a lot of my new rifles I have used either Nosler or Norma premium offerings, to break in the barrel, initial sight in, and start gathering velocity data and maybe even kill a few animals with it.

Yes, it's pricy but you are getting good brass, usually very accurate even if not perfectly matched to your rifle, and are loaded with good bullets that I can hunt with before starting load workups (again this applies more to new rifles). I've seen velocity shifts in the first 100-150rds on every new rifle I have shot, and usually SD will calm down significantly over the first 50-100rds as well. IMO you are throwing away components if you try and find an accuracy load before that. Again, buying a bunch of factory ammo is expensive, but at the end of it all you will have a pile of 100-150 pieces of quality brass that's fire-formed to your chamber and ready for prep/load development. For the last two rifles I did this with, it was actually not a lot more expensive than buying virgin brass and loading it by the time you count the initial brass cost and components used. This may not be true for the WSM; my experience is only with 308Win, (Nosler Trophy Grade), and 280 Remington (Norma PH). It also has the added benefit of being able to buy ammo that works in your gun if for whatever reason you cant find components (I keep 100rds of factory ammo on hand for each of my main hunting rifles in addition to stockpiling components, just for rainy day type situations).

As far as components, I dont have any specific experience with the 300 WSM, but in general I have had fantastic results with Hodgdon powders (Varget, H4350, H1000, H4831SC etc), and my prefered bullets for game have been Nosler ballistic tips (308Win) or accubonds (280Rem) and for my 6.5 Creedmoor I run the Hornady ELD-X. All have been proven killers on game for me.

 

[skookum]

Norma Brass
CCI 250
H1000
Berger 200.20x hybrid at 2930 avg, ES of 9

 

[WYMIKE]

Try Nosler Trophy Grade and custom ammunition in180 Accu bonds.

 

[Josebigsky]

If you want to go the Winchester brass route let me know. I have 120 pieces. I will sell and 350 Federal.

PM me if interested.

 

[Riceguy]

Howdy gents,

I've got a Tikka T3 Lite in 300 WSM
I've recently had it Hydpdipped and next weekend will get to the range to zero in.

I have 3 questions:
1. Best Factory Ammo for an initial sighting - (new optic)
2. Brass source for best brass to build a round
3. Best components other than brass ie- Powder, Bullet (including weight) and primer.

I know there are always multiple answers to the above.
I'm seeking bullet weight for long-range hunting at first, target later.
I'd love both suggestions if you wouldn't mind so I don't have to ask in the future.

My goal:
1/4 inch MOA (or as close as possible) target
1/2 inch MOA hunting (assuming a heavier round might have a little more spread)

 

[MVandiver4]

Norma Brass
CCI 250
H1000
Berger 200.20x hybrid at 2930 avg, ES of 9

Great recipe. If you haven't yet, try what you have with the fed mag match primers. I was using CCI and got almost a 60fps jump in the feds. SD of 3.6 and ES of 7 @ 3138fps.

 

[Riceguy]

For what its worth, Bob Forker who wrote for Guns & Ammo for years, I believe he is gone now. Was the reloading expert for them, worked up loads for the 300wsm in the March 2004 issue.
He found the most accurate load in an 150 gr bullet (Swift Scirocco) to be 62 grains of IMR 4320, on a machine rest 3 shot group looked like one hole, that load produces 3220 fps in my Win. Mdl 70, 24 inch bbl.
with Hornady SST, Spear Grand Slam, and Nosler Partition 150 Grain bullets and outstanding accuracy. Have been reloading for 50 plus years and see no need to change loads for my 300 short mag.
I believe that IMR 4320 is overlooked by many in reloaders developing loads for many calibers.

 

[jd126]

Try this for Norma brass: https://www.huntingtons.com/store/home.php?cat=271

You also might want to try Barnes Vor-tex ammunition. Shoots very well in my 300 wm

FYI, Called to confirm inventory as I was going to order some. Said it is long gone & needed to update the web page. Also, said he can not find any more at this time.

 

[MVandiver4]

FYI, Called to confirm inventory as I was going to order some. Said it is long gone & needed to update the web page. Also, said he can not find any more at this time.

Did you speak with lynn? I live about 2 miles from the actual store front. They have been out of 300wsm norma brass for a while. That's where I buy it.

 

[Rick Richard]

M



What dies (brand and type) do you use to load your 300 wsm and brass prep if any. Do you full length size or neck size. Bullet seating die etc

Thanks

Buck

Redding Type S match dies Full Length (bushing).
Anneal brass (Norma) after every firing.
.030 off the lands.

Other than that, nothing special. I hope this answers your question.

 

[jd126]

Did you speak with lynn? I live about 2 miles from the actual store front. They have been out of 300wsm norma brass for a while. That's where I buy it.

I'm not sure who I spoke with.