Load 300WM to 30'06

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Idcurrie

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I got my hands on a really nice 300wm rifle because the price was right.

I find that recoil is more than what I'm used to with the 30'06. It's just past the limit for me.

Since I usually shoot 30'06, i could certainly handle that.

My reloading manuals only show loads that are above the 30'06.

If I could duplicate the 30'06 recoil and balistics I would be thrilled.

I know there is a factory managed recoil round from Remington but it appears to have a trajectory and energy that's actually below the 308, nevermind the 30'06.

Any input appreciated.
 
168 GR SMKs with 76 Grs of H1000 has worked quite well for me. Why don't you put a brake on it? I'm chuckin 210 GR VLDs behind 78gr of H1000 and it kicks like a 243. Sound is no different for the shooter. Can't say the same for the poor souls sitting next to me.
 
I'm not really interested in a break.

What I usually shoot from my 30'06 is 180gr pill travelling around 2560fps or so...

I'd just like to solve the problem with reloading as I find that load for my 30'06 to be completely managable.
 
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Felt recoil is always an issue of amount of powder, bullet weight, or both. Achieving the 06 performance in the WM should be a snap. Where you are stuck on 180s I would try around 60gr of H4350 or I4350. It will get you close to the speeds you are looking for in a 24" sporter barrel. The easier bet would be to reduce your pill weight to ease the impact on your shoulder. My two bits....
 
cuto85 said:
Sound is no different for the shooter. Can't say the same for the poor souls sitting next to me.
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Maybe that is why I dislike many people who use brakes. They just don't seem do give a d**n about anyone else. :rolleyes:

The guy is absolutely right to find a load he can shoot without using a brake.

To the OP. Practice with a load you CAN shoot comfortably - a lot. I really believe that if you shoot .30-06 level loads enough, your technique and tolerance will develop to the point where you will be able to load the .300 to its potential. No point buying a race horse if you won't let it run.
 
rral22 said:
To the OP. Practice with a load you CAN shoot comfortably - a lot. I really believe that if you shoot .30-06 level loads enough, your technique and tolerance will develop to the point where you will be able to load the .300 to its potential. No point buying a race horse if you won't let it run.
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At least he's honest enough to admit his issue. I suspect 75% of the big magnum owners in this country are in the same boat.

Idcurrie - ever thought of putting it up for a trade on EE?
 
Re: trade, no. I like the rifle. It should be quite usable for me with a reduced load.

Maybe with practice using the 30'06 level loads I can slowly work my way up without developing a flinch. I'm very cautious of it since I believe once one is developed it takes a long time to break.

I normally reload for 30'06 and use CCI Large rifle primers. Will they be okay for 300WM or do I need to purchase magnum primers?

Is it possible to put too little powder in and have some kind of failure or issue? Is there any reason I can't literally just use my 30'06 load? That's 47gr IMR4320

I currently load my '06 and 270 with IMR4320 so if it's possible to re-use the same powder that would be great.

Thanks.
 
Idcurrie said:
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What I usually shoot from my 30'06 is 180gr pill travelling around 2560fps or so...
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At that velocity you are barely above the 300 Savage and still below the 308.

Loading the 300 magnum down to that level will probably result in erratic performance and poor accuracy.

My advise would be to either learn to shoot the 300 or sell it and buy a 308.


If you want to use the 300 Hodgdon has a few lite loads HERE
 
'Boo said:
At that velocity you are barely above the 300 Savage and still below the 308.

Loading the 300 magnum down to that level will probably result in erratic performance and poor accuracy.

My advise would be to either learn to shoot the 300 or sell it and buy a 308.


If you want to use a lighter bullet Hodgdon has a few lite loads HERE
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Are you sure about that?

That's a midrange load for the 30'06 according to the Nosler reloading manual.

Remember, that's a 180 grain pill. According to the same manual, the 308 gets 2375fps-2425fps. So, the 2560 is indeed a midrange 30'06 speed for 180gr. Nosler lists the FASTEST speed for their bullets with the fastest powder as only 2675fps.

300 savage is listed at 3220fps in 180gr...


Not sure how you could say that speed is close to 300sav. It's not. Not sure how you could say it's below 308. It clearly isn't. It's mid-range for a 30'06 using the Nosler manual.

Maybe I'll stick with the Remington managed recoil loads although their performance actually IS below the 308. Might have to do that if no one actually knows how to load a 300wm down to 30'06...
 
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^^^^ To follow up, I consulted with the Lymann 49th edition regarding 30'06 speeds with 180gr bullets.

Here are ALL the loads they list:

2386
2403
2275
2281
2360
2469
2497
2577
2418
2525
2425
2604
2536


My load from the Nosler manual gives 2560 fps. You may notice this is actually above the mean. Suggesting that it's a really slow 30'06 load and somehow below the 308 is total nonsense. Both manuals agree that the 308 with 180gr are pushing 2250-2400fps...
 
one solution without a brake would be to put a pussy pad on - or a better recoil pad- i don't know why there's such a stigma attached to those things now- we used to wear them or a vest with the pad installed all the time when using "heavy " loads- it only increased lop by a 1/2 inch or less
 
You need to check more reference material. 2750-2850 fps is about maximum for the 30-06 with 180 grain bullets with most data.

Hodgdon data shows 6 or 7 loads for the 308 Winchester using 180 grain bullets that break easily 2600 fps with a few approaching 2700 fps, all above your 2560.

Additionally Hodgdon shows several 300 Savage loads that hover around the 2400 fps mark which is not too far below your '06 loads.

But hey .............. whatever floats your boat! ;)

BTW, did you check out the link to the youth loads I posted?
 
Idcurrie said:
^^^^ To follow up, I consulted with the Lymann 49th edition regarding 30'06 speeds with 180gr bullets.

Here are ALL the loads they list:

2386
2403
2275
2281
2360
2469
2497
2577
2418
2525
2425
2604
2536


My load from the Nosler manual gives 2560 fps. You may notice this is actually above the mean. Suggesting that it's a really slow 30'06 load and somehow below the 308 is total nonsense. Both manuals agree that the 308 with 180gr are pushing 2250-2400fps...
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You realize that the Lyman data you reference is all STARTING LOADS eh? Even Lyman has 3 loads that break 2800 fps.

lyman49_06.JPG
 
For the OP's original question, I'd load some IMR 4831 over a magnum primer, say 62 gr or so, and work up a little from there, if he wanted to.

As to the "how fast does a 30-06 push a 180" side-debate - I'm an avid 30-06 loader and I can say that I don't use any load that won't get me around 2800 fps with a 180. RL-22 gets me 2880 out of a 22" semi-auto. I'd bet my next paycheque that load breaks 2900 fps out of a 24" bolt gun. I can't get this velocity with any other powder, but honest 2800+ fps is no big deal at all.

It's also not at all unheard of to load a .308 win to 2650 fps with the same 180's, BTW.
 
Try some h1000 loads, no need to reduce them at all. It totally changes the type of recoil.

I can stand about 15 rounds of h4831 before it becomes painful. With H1000 I could shoot all day.

A good recoil pad will do wonders as well.
 
What's the point of having a 300 win mag if you want to load it to 308 velocities?

You have a longer, heavier rifle that will never do what it's designed for which is to shoot a 165 or 180 gr pill fast.

Either learn to handle the recoil or go back to your 30-06 which you load quite mildly. My son's 30-06 I load 168 gr Barnes bullets with 58 grains of H4350 at just under 2900 fps. A 300 Winny is another animal entirely, the few I've had liked loads near max, the same bullet 3100+ using re22 mostly.
 
i use 3031 for 308 and 30 06 -- 46 gr is max and the 300 wm is only 50gr to start . try powders and see what shoots well , i use 75gr of 4831 in the 300 and if you want to fix your flinch try 99gr of 4831 in 375 rum
 
Okay guys.

Look.

I also shoot some factory loads out of my 30'06 which i find tolerable and they are on the upper side pushing around 2790fps according to the box.

So if I can load the 300wm down to those levels that would be swell.

Does anyone have an answer to my primer question?

Also, the us military decided that the garand 30'06 was about the max recoil the average soldier could handle and still remain accurate.

I've read a lot of opinions from gun writers that 15-17lbs is about the most people can handle without developing a flinch. A lot of people have a flinch and don't even realize it.

The 25lbs from the 300wm is just too much. I don't want to develop a flinch

Regards
 
i shoot the 300, 30 06 as well as others, find what works for you, for me a 14.5 lb rifle a 300gr slug and over 5000 foot lbs of energy turns my crank
 
Idcurrie said:
Okay guys.

Look.

I also shoot some factory loads out of my 30'06 which i find tolerable and they are on the upper side pushing around 2790fps according to the box.

So if I can load the 300wm down to those levels that would be swell.

Does anyone have an answer to my primer question?

Also, the us military decided that the garand 30'06 was about the max recoil the average soldier could handle and still remain accurate.

I've read a lot of opinions from gun writers that 15-17lbs is about the most people can handle without developing a flinch. A lot of people have a flinch and don't even realize it.

The 25lbs from the 300wm is just too much. I don't want to develop a flinch

Regards
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A larger than just the primer answer: do not, under any circumstances, try to use data or components from a .30-06 load in the .300 Win case. Get some real .300 Win. load data, and use the components (very likely a magnum primer) and powders listed for the minimum loads. As for the maximum loads, don't go below the minimum loads for any powder. Issues can result from too little powder in that large case.

If you can't find a real .300 Win load that you can tolerate, sell the rifle. But do not try to "cook up" some load on your own that you think should work because it works in another caliber.
 
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