What grain weight for 300 WSM

[Rick Richard]

Rebarelling a rifle to 300 WSM and looking for opinions on what would be the best for long distance and large game. Action is short action with Wyatts extended box. Initial thinking is 190 VLD or 200 Hybrids. Real life experience requested please.

 

[bigngreen]

All I have built have ran the 215 Berger from a med length action, I have heard good results with the Berger 200.20x bullet as well.

 

[Rick Richard]

All I have built have ran the 215 Berger from a med length action, I have heard good results with the Berger 200.20x bullet as well.

That is the projectile that I am leaning toward to chamber for. The only issue may be that it may be a bit too far in the case to be able to fit in the magazine.

 

[Barrelnut]

I run the 185 VLD at 2950 FPS out of a 24" barrel, using H4350. That gives me 1916 FPS and 1508 Ft Lbs. at 800 yards at 5000 Ft elevation. Would never try to actually take and animal past 600. At 600 it has 2152 FPS and 1902 Ft. Lbs.
So, it is all I would ever need. Load is 2.912 which is .010 off the lands in a short action with SAAMI chamber.

The above load retains energy and FPS better at distance than a 208 AMax load at 2775 FPS with H4831, I used for target before. Was an accurate bullet though. Just took up a little too much case capacity.

 

[Wolf76]

The 180 accubond has been spectacular in my buddies 300 wsm. IMO it is the sweet spot for the wsm (~180grs). Even the ablr 190 should be a consideration.

 

[Wedgy]

I am about to start testing the Hammer 181's with H3450 in mine, 22" barrel, it has a Savage adjustable brake but I chopped it off and rethreaded it to 5/8-24 and put a MB&M Beast on it.

 

[brentc]

I started using the 200 ELD-X at a touch over 3000 fps in my Win 70 action 300 WSM because it has a shorter profile that makes it easier to fit and feed from the short magazine. Another option is the 200 Accubond. It can easily be loaded to mag length and provide additional punch over the standard 165 and 180 grain options.

 

[J E Custom]

I would recommend bullets in the 180 class to get the most benefit in velocity and energy from the cartridge. The case volume of the WSMs limits the velocity and velocity potential of the heaviest Bullets even though they may have better ballistics that may come into play at extreme distances that May never be used.

Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[Ross1147]

I'm running the 200.20x in mine. Got them a touch over 3000 FPS with RL 26 and a 26" barrel. Best results were around 2930 FPS so I settled on that. With a .010 jump the boattail junction was right case neck shoulder junction.

I tried the 200 grn ELD X and they shot pretty good, but they were shoved so far into the case it limited powder. They were shooting about the same speed as the Berger's with 1/2 grn less powder. At 69 grns Berger's were 2932, at 68.5 ELDx were at 2925. In the end ended up going with the Berger's.

 

[Rick Richard]

I'm running the 200.20x in mine. Got them a touch over 3000 FPS with RL 26 and a 26" barrel. Best results were around 2930 FPS so I settled on that. With a .010 jump the boattail junction was right case neck shoulder junction.

I tried the 200 grn ELD X and they shot pretty good, but they were shoved so far into the case it limited powder. They were shooting about the same speed as the Berger's with 1/2 grn less powder. At 69 grns Berger's were 2932, at 68.5 ELDx were at 2925. In the end ended up going with the Berger's.

What is the overall length with the 200.20X and are you running a short action?

 

[Ross1147]

I'm running a Defiance XM action with their bottom metal as well. Base to ogive is 2.34", never actually measured COAL but it looks like 3.118".

 

[bigngreen]

I'm running on the criteria of the OP and for long range heavy game like elk going from a 180 class bullet to a 215 is like shooting a whole different gun, I've rebarrelled a couple of 300 WSM's for guys who were running the 180 class bullets and I set them up for single sledding or in a Tikka with a 215 and both guys called me part way through the season and were just blown away by the upgrade going from a short throat with 180's to long throated for 215's, flat hammered some elk out in the 800 yard range. One of my favorite chamberings is that 300 WSM and 215, running mid 2900's with 24 inch but suppressed barrels.

 

[Rick Richard]

I'm running a Defiance XM action with their bottom metal as well. Base to ogive is 2.34", never actually measured COAL but it looks like 3.118".

View attachment 141006

Thanks. That explains your seating depth difference from what mine measures. I am at a tad over 2.9, which allows .010 clearance in magazine.

 

[Rick Richard]

I'm running on the criteria of the OP and for long range heavy game like elk going from a 180 class bullet to a 215 is like shooting a whole different gun, I've rebarrelled a couple of 300 WSM's for guys who were running the 180 class bullets and I set them up for single sledding or in a Tikka with a 215 and both guys called me part way through the season and were just blown away by the upgrade going from a short throat with 180's to long throated for 215's, flat hammered some elk out in the 800 yard range. One of my favorite chamberings is that 300 WSM and 215, running mid 2900's with 24 inch but suppressed barrels.

Yeah, I could 'single sled' but trying not too. However, I might since it only takes one good shot in the right spot.