I have a question I'd like to run by the whole group. I'm no stranger to hand loading and recently purchased a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe (high polished Vanguard with Mark V grade wood). My intention was to purchase a 300 RUM, but I've wanted a Vanguard Deluxe since the 70's and found an excellent one in 300 Weatherby Mag. Now that I own this rifle and have topped it off with a $1000.00 Leupold VX3HD, I'm wanting to get a 180 grain Barnes TSSX or LRN to leave the muzzle at a consistent 3200 fps. I know that's a tall ask for 99% of the older powders, but I'm looking into researching that velocity from some of the newer powder options. Because it's a factory Weatherby, I don't anticipate excessively high chamber pressures, but I'm also looking for accuracy and shot repeatability. I definitely understand that the case capacity is going to be a major limiting factor, but I'm still interested in loads others have tried, that were very successful as a long range hunting load. My current "trial" load is 86.8 grains of Reloder 25 (estimated fps @ 3100 fps) I haven't run into a temperature variance with Reloder 19 nor 25, in Arkansas weather, but I know there's newer/better powder options I've yet to explore. Thanks in advance guys, as I feel certain I'll get some truly useful advice from the group.
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Maximizing the 300 Wby Mag on a Budget
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Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
The 300 rum would have been a far easier to load rifle if you want both speed and accuracy; a 300win would have come within a few fps either way of your goal with about zero fuss also. I'm running 3300fps with 180's and 3,000 fps with 225's in both of my 300rums. I also load for a buddy's Accumarck in 300roy, and it was a joke accuracy wise with anything lighter than 220 grain. The 225 hdy hpbt or 220 sierra hpbt with enough 7828 to pass 2700 fps is a stable and great performing load in this rifle.
In a 300roy, you may be able to get 3200 fps from a 180, but that kind of speed with decent accuracy may well be a tall order. Retumbo may be your friend, but that powder is a bit hard to find lately. LRT or one of the 50BMG offerings may also do you well. I never really bothered to try to push 180's in his rifle since initial tries were pretty much a dumpster fire until we got to the heavies.
In a 300roy, you may be able to get 3200 fps from a 180, but that kind of speed with decent accuracy may well be a tall order. Retumbo may be your friend, but that powder is a bit hard to find lately. LRT or one of the 50BMG offerings may also do you well. I never really bothered to try to push 180's in his rifle since initial tries were pretty much a dumpster fire until we got to the heavies.
I used to load for a 300Wby. 180grain nosler partitions, IMR7828 with velocities about 3165-3190.
I didn't break 3200 fps with retumbo and that usually gives the velocity a little kick so I'm pretty sure the 180 is too light. In fact, Hodgon and Nosler don't list Retumbo as a poweder in their manuals under the 180 grain bullets.
IMR7828 was listed as fast and most accurate so i tried that and it works well
I stopped loading for it because wby factory ammo with 180 partitions is just as good and just as fast as the handloads
I load 230Bergers w/ Retubmo for about 2850fps..
I didn't break 3200 fps with retumbo and that usually gives the velocity a little kick so I'm pretty sure the 180 is too light. In fact, Hodgon and Nosler don't list Retumbo as a poweder in their manuals under the 180 grain bullets.
IMR7828 was listed as fast and most accurate so i tried that and it works well
I stopped loading for it because wby factory ammo with 180 partitions is just as good and just as fast as the handloads
I load 230Bergers w/ Retubmo for about 2850fps..
jjmp
Well-Known Member
OP, congrats on your 300(BEE) Vanguard it's a Beauty for sure ,but unless you have a26 inch barrel I don't think you're gonna make 3200 fps with that 180 partition bullet ,I've owned one but mine had a 24 inch bbl and I loaded 165s,my 1st cousin has a MD/70 in the 300 BEE stock 24 inch bbl ,and I feed it 165 Barnes x and tsx bullets and they just brake 3200 fps barely, and it's Very hard to catch one in all the Elk he's shot . Lots of people are shooting heavier bullets that fine buts it's not for everybody. Did you chronograph your RL-25 reloads of 86.8 grns? That's great powder as is Retumbo,RL/26 might get you there or very close . Factory barrels can only do so much,and if you ever owned a Custom Rifle barrel you'd understand . We as reloader s have to know our rifles limits with our fine tuned reloading smarts . Lots of good answers hopefully mine helped as well ,Cheers 
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Dr. Vette
Well-Known Member
I have 3 different 300 Weatherbys we used for elk this year, all shooting 180-grain bullets. Two have the TTSX, and one is the Hammer Hunter.
I use 7828SSC with the TTSX and both rifles are at 3210 fps with 26-inch barrels. On a Vanguard, you have a 24-inch barrel so I suspect you will get 3150-ish, and that's very good.
For the 300 Wby, try 80-82 grains 7828SSC. I have found that if you load 80/80.5/81/81.5/82 and maybe 82.5, and run a 3-shot group of each, one of them will be the load for your rifle. Obviously, watch for pressure signs as you go up. So far that has worked for every 180-grain/7828SSC combination I've used. There have been no problems with accuracy loading the 300 Wby at all.
I use 7828SSC with the TTSX and both rifles are at 3210 fps with 26-inch barrels. On a Vanguard, you have a 24-inch barrel so I suspect you will get 3150-ish, and that's very good.
For the 300 Wby, try 80-82 grains 7828SSC. I have found that if you load 80/80.5/81/81.5/82 and maybe 82.5, and run a 3-shot group of each, one of them will be the load for your rifle. Obviously, watch for pressure signs as you go up. So far that has worked for every 180-grain/7828SSC combination I've used. There have been no problems with accuracy loading the 300 Wby at all.
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Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
Have you ever stuck a toe into the mil-surp powder pool? If you are on a budget the roy has just enough case capacity that a lot of guys were burning h870 back in the day. wc867 and wc872 are similar; they just need to be worked up from a full 10% down. I wouldn't use 180's on this but 200 or 220 grain pills. Hodgdon 26 says 92 grains of h870 behind either bullet weight in your roy.
I have only tried 3 powders. My now retired German MKV, 24" 1-12 twist, I was loading 180 BT with IMR4350. Less than 1/2" at 100 yards with a load that is now considered way over max. The other rifles just IMR7828 and RL22.
I have a Win M70 CRF in 300WBY, I have not loaded for it yet. It's a 23", 10 twist. Just don't want to burn components now since I have rifles/loads ready to go.
I have a Win M70 CRF in 300WBY, I have not loaded for it yet. It's a 23", 10 twist. Just don't want to burn components now since I have rifles/loads ready to go.
memtb
Well-Known Member
I can't help with suggested load data….. but I do applaud you for your choice of bullets. If dissatisfied with those ……look at Hammer's! memtb
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
I shoot a 30Nosler which is ballistically similar to the 300 wby. I can get mighty close to 3,200 fps with a 180 Accubond or 180 Hammer with RE23 or RE26.
I still have a standing load for 180ttsx in my MarkV 300bee, its consistently is at 3250 with 73.5gr of IMR87828. This is a hot load so start lower and work up.
Dr. Vette
Well-Known Member
73.5 seems very low.
Are you sure it's not 83.5? I've had stiff bolts and pressure at 83 and above, and 73.5 is much lower than any of the books recommend.
