I recently just put together a 300 Norma Mag. It is a Cadex R7 "D" bolt face, IBI barrel 26" 1:10 twist, Mcmillan A5 stock, and Hawkins Precision bottom metal. I am looking to to use either 220gr SMKs, or 220gr Lapua Sencar Ls, or Berger 215gr hybrid targets. This rifle will be used mostly for ELR ringing steel targets past 1000 yards. If anyone here uses 300 Norma Magnum, please feel free to chime in!
I am looking around for powder choices for a my 300 Norma, right now I am seeing a lot of data for Retumbo, H1000, VV powders, and US869. With me being in Toronto, those powders might as well be unicorns. I have decided on either H50BMG, or Winchester Staball HD as those are the ones I currently have access to. I've done some digging and people have being saying that H50BMG powder is not the best as it is "TOO SLOW" for 300 NM. But US869 is considered a good powder to maximize "case fill", every single load data I consult (Hodgon, Sierra, Berger) all have data for US869. With H50BMG being a tad faster, why would it be inappropriate to use that powder?
The other choice is to go Staball HD, seems like people are having decent luck with those as it is just right behind retumbo the burn rate chart. However I was under the prenotion that extruded powders are traditionally much better suited for accuracy. With Staball HD being a double based powder, is that really going to effect accuracy?Hogdon's data for both Staball HD and H50BMG seem to be around 2800 - High 2700s on a 24" barrel, both are similar "enough" for my taste. Which is a better choice?
No I will not use US869, even though they are readily available through a vendor near me. I shoot during all 4 seasons from +25 degrees to -10 degrees, temperature stablity is needed.
I am looking around for powder choices for a my 300 Norma, right now I am seeing a lot of data for Retumbo, H1000, VV powders, and US869. With me being in Toronto, those powders might as well be unicorns. I have decided on either H50BMG, or Winchester Staball HD as those are the ones I currently have access to. I've done some digging and people have being saying that H50BMG powder is not the best as it is "TOO SLOW" for 300 NM. But US869 is considered a good powder to maximize "case fill", every single load data I consult (Hodgon, Sierra, Berger) all have data for US869. With H50BMG being a tad faster, why would it be inappropriate to use that powder?
The other choice is to go Staball HD, seems like people are having decent luck with those as it is just right behind retumbo the burn rate chart. However I was under the prenotion that extruded powders are traditionally much better suited for accuracy. With Staball HD being a double based powder, is that really going to effect accuracy?Hogdon's data for both Staball HD and H50BMG seem to be around 2800 - High 2700s on a 24" barrel, both are similar "enough" for my taste. Which is a better choice?
No I will not use US869, even though they are readily available through a vendor near me. I shoot during all 4 seasons from +25 degrees to -10 degrees, temperature stablity is needed.
