300 Mag & the 208 A-Max

thatmikeguy

thatmikeguy

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I'm thinking of making a target load for my 300 win mag and I'm wondering what kind of powder to use. I have reloader 22. The book says reloader 25 is a little faster. Which powder has worked well for you?
 
thatmikeguy said:
I'm thinking of making a target load for my 300 win mag and I'm wondering what kind of powder to use. I have reloader 22. The book says reloader 25 is a little faster. Which powder has worked well for you?
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What length barrel does your .300 Win have? If its 26" it may benifit from '25. 22-24" would probably jive with '22.
 
Whichever powder yields the best velocity with a 22-24" barrel will also yield the best velocities with a 26" barrel.

The obvious solution is to load up a few rounds with each powder and try them out.
 
thatmikeguy said:
I'm thinking of making a target load for my 300 win mag and I'm wondering what kind of powder to use. I have reloader 22. The book says reloader 25 is a little faster. Which powder has worked well for you?
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Think you got that backwards. 22 is faster burning than 25.
I've played around quite a bit with my 300 and powders and haven't seen much difference btw the 2 powders, though I've only gone up to 200 grain. I don't think the 300WM has the case capacity to fully use RL25's potential.

I've had very good luck with boring old IMR4350 as well. :)
 
Jordan Smith said:
Whichever powder yields the best velocity with a 22-24" barrel will also yield the best velocities with a 26" barrel.

The obvious solution is to load up a few rounds with each powder and try them out.
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Tell that to my 22" RSAUM that has sparks leaping out of the pipe when its scooting at a measly 2780fps with an over max charge of '25 :D

'22 at book max gives 2985 fps (162 Amax), and no sparks (ie unnefficiently burned powder).

****Your mileage may very significantly from mine :D****
 
I have a winchester model 70 with a 26" barrel. What I meant to say was that re25 gives slightly faster velocities than re22 according to my lyman manual. I don't have any re25 so that is why I asked. I have only used re22 with 165 and 180 grainers so far and it works well.
 
thatmikeguy said:
I have a winchester model 70 with a 26" barrel. What I meant to say was that re25 gives slightly faster velocities than re22 according to my lyman manual. I don't have any re25 so that is why I asked. I have only used re22 with 165 and 180 grainers so far and it works well.
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I see, my misread.

According to Alliant's reload guide:

200 gr bullet:

73gr RE22- 2852 fps
75gr RE25- 2857 fps

I don't know the barrel length used in their tests, but I don't think you're going to see enough difference in the velocity department to warrant the change to RE25. Many of my manuals don't even list Re25 as a powder to use in the 300,such as Barnes. With bullets of 180 gr and lighter, RE25 actually produces less velocity than RE22.
 
I see that the difference between the two is very little. Mine showed 2938fps with RE25 and 2875 with RE22 and that was with a 24" barrel.
I think I will just try my RE22 to start and see how it works.
 
I have used R22 in my 300WinMag, and 208grA-Max/210gr.Berger VLD's.
My velocity average is 2933fps.
This combo has been MOA accurate out to 1760yards many times.

But the only thing that really matters is what does "your" rifle prefer?

Test both R22&R25.
 
archie_james_c said:
Tell that to my 22" RSAUM that has sparks leaping out of the pipe when its scooting at a measly 2780fps with an over max charge of '25 :D

'22 at book max gives 2985 fps (162 Amax), and no sparks (ie unnefficiently burned powder).

****Your mileage may very significantly from mine :D****
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'25 is a bit slow for a case of that capacity. That's why you're getting a decent muzzle flash and low velocity. R22 would produce better velocity, regardless of your barrel length. The muzzle flash is just hot gases igniting again when they hit the fresh oxygen in the air, rather than powder kernels that are still burning when they leave the muzzle (which is a commonly-believed myth). Powder burn rate should be matched to the powder capacity-to-caliber ratio, as well as bullet weight.

Here's how you can know for sure (I've seen a few examples of this experiment in the past, and the results are always the same): Get a 26" barrel installed on that RSAUM and chrony the velocity with a max, but safe, charge of R25 and R22. Then chop off 1" at a time and re-chrony the loads. You provide the barrel and I'll provide the popcorn :D
 
Jordan Smith said:
'25 is a bit slow for a case of that capacity. That's why you're getting a decent muzzle flash and low velocity. R22 would produce better velocity, regardless of your barrel length. The muzzle flash is just hot gases igniting again when they hit the fresh oxygen in the air, rather than powder kernels that are still burning when they leave the muzzle (which is a commonly-believed myth). Powder burn rate should be matched to the powder capacity-to-caliber ratio, as well as bullet weight.

Here's how you can know for sure (I've seen a few examples of this experiment in the past, and the results are always the same): Get a 26" barrel installed on that RSAUM and chrony the velocity with a max, but safe, charge of R25 and R22. Then chop off 1" at a time and re-chrony the loads. You provide the barrel and I'll provide the popcorn :D
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I got a better idea. Lets take your 'Tucky and lop it 1" at a time down to 12"....I'll supply the laughter, you supply the tears :D
 
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