.300 Win Mag bullet choices & loads...advice?

I use my 300 Win Mag almost exclusively for elk and black bear.
After lots of experimentation, I settled on IMR-4350 and a 180 grain bullet. All the powders I tried gave me good to excellent results, I just use 4350 in a variety of calibers. The 180 grain bullet was perfect for my 300 Win. It provided exceptional accuracy. I prefer the Nosler Partitions and Accubonds, but have recently purchased Barnes TSX's for reloading (have not yet had them to the range). I don't know why I needed to try the TSX's as every shot using the Noslers was a quick, one shot kill. I guess it's the obsessive/compulsive nature of shooters/reloaders.
 
WildWildWest said:
As for both of the previous loads, longest shot for me so far is 600 yards on mule deer. My friend who also loads for .300 win with a similar configuration has an 800 yard kill (one shot...I was there)) on a mulie buck and he's going for 1,000 this fall. An 800 yard with this loads requires at least a 6 foot hold over. (and fortunately a standing broadside mule deer buck).
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if you're going to shoot that far those ^ are some words that you shouldn;t be using.

KNOW your drops, and invest in some turrets.
 
1000 yards on a deer....wow and to think :

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those are 8 foot by 8 foot targets .......at a 1000 yards ;)

oh and its 37" ^ @ 100 to hit 1000 with a 300 win mag
 
I have a sweet load for my 300. I shoot a Savage, not like that matters, but it is what MY gun likes yours may not who knows. My load is 200 grain Partitions, pushed by 69 grains of IMR 4831 powder. Have fun experimenting and let us know how it went.
 
three powders to try...

Well, a quick scan of reloading cabinet revealed that I have part canisters of IMR 4350, IMR 7828 and Reloder 19. I'll start with these, and likely whatever 180 grain bullets I can obtain locally. I will definitely be experimenting with the Barnes TSX at some point too. :)

Thanks again to all of you for your excellent advice - I intend to try many of the loads you've all suggested as I get those propellants and bullets in stock. Should be fun! I'll write back with my findings.

Best wishes, Jeff.
 
WildWildWest; I see. That is some pretty impressive long range shooting. What kind of scope are you using? I had a 3-9x on my .300 and I doubt I could effectively hit a deer at 800 yards. What kind of range finder do you use? That is also a piece of equipment I need to upgrade. And lastly have you chronographed your loads? What velocities are you getting and what length is your barrel? You must have a pretty slick rifle to make those shot work!
 
1899 said:
WildWildWest; I see. That is some pretty impressive long range shooting. What kind of scope are you using? I had a 3-9x on my .300 and I doubt I could effectively hit a deer at 800 yards. What kind of range finder do you use? That is also a piece of equipment I need to upgrade. And lastly have you chronographed your loads? What velocities are you getting and what length is your barrel? You must have a pretty slick rifle to make those shot work!
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Trust me, I doubt if I'll ever make 600 yards again. This was at 4pm on the last day of the season - I was desparate. (Not even worth trying again (I have no interest in tracking a wounded deer) - just trying to point out that lower weight bullets are sometimes more efficient over long distances, or so we have found)

My friend who hunts and shoots year round uses a Tikka T3 Lite SS .300 WM (24 3/8" barrel) with a Shepherd "One Shot Zero" (not sure of specs - he loves it. Some people would disagree. He uses a Bushnell Yardage Pro1500 laser range finder - no one would have believed it if he hadn't ranged it. This assumes that his range finder is correct of course.

I use a Browning A-Bolt (26" Barrel) with a Zeiss Conquest MC 3.5-10 X 44 and love it.

He just bought a chrony this spring at a gun show and I am hoping we can test it out - his loads are a bit hotter than mine - will be interesting to see. By the way, he's the only person who hunts with us who would attempt anything like this, but he has the proficiency to pull it off.

Our shots typically range from 150 yards to 350 yards. I have zeroed my scope for 200 yards with the loads and bullets I indicated before. These are the only loads I use for hunting now.
 
WildWildWest said:
As for both of the previous loads, longest shot for me so far is 600 yards on mule deer

-------

I have zeroed my scope for 200 yards with the loads and bullets I indicated before. These are the only loads I use for hunting now
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so let me get this right. you estimated the range with your eye and then held 5' over your 200 yard zero, and shot a deer. :confused:

you're pretty good. :)
 
As for both of the previous loads, longest shot for me so far is 600 yards on mule deer. My friend who also loads for .300 win with a similar configuration has an 800 yard kill (one shot...I was there)) on a mulie buck and he's going for 1,000 this fall. An 800 yard with this loads requires at least a 6 foot hold over. (and fortunately a standing broadside mule deer buck).
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Holy crap... Captain Deadly must be spinning in his phone booth about now...:eek:

I am reminded of a quote... Bubbles: Do you want to see a rocket go, Randy?
 
todbartell said:
so let me get this right. you estimated the range with your eye and then held 5' over your 200 yard zero, and shot a deer. :confused:

you're pretty good. :)
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You obviously didn't read the post - I wasn't the shooter. I am set at 200 yard zero with a Zeiss Conquest. I won't take a shot at 800.

My friend's Shepherd "One Shot Zero" scope has a reticle graded for distances out to 1,000 yards. Ever checked it out? He estimated he was six feet high (hell, for all I know he was 12 feet over, two feet over, or six feet under, he just answered the question when I asked) - he targeted the deer in the little circle for 750 yards. He ranged it after the shot with a laser range finder. He ranged it with his scope's reticle for the shot. It's a little different type of reticle than most - might want to look at one first.... By the way, I'm guessing you're the trajectory god. (36" bullet drop at 500 yards on a sight zeroed at 200 yards, 165 gr. bullet. I don't have the stats at 800..do you?)

I'll stop there before I say something I regret!:eek: When you make the shot or have better input, I'll start listening again.

Somehow this rolled off the topic of the load....

Again, 70 grains H4350, Nosler BTH 165gr. or Nosler Accubond 180gr., great for long shots.... Who cares how long! Just try as many different ones you can until you find the right fit for you and your rifle.
 
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WildWildWest said:
You obviously didn't read the post - I wasn't the shooter. I am set at 200 yard zero with a Zeiss Conquest. I won't take a shot at 800.
.... (36" bullet drop at 500 yards on a sight zeroed at 200 yards, 165 gr. bullet. I don't have the stats at 800..do you?)

....

Again, 70 grains H4350, Nosler BTH 165gr. or Nosler Accubond 180gr., great for long shots.... Who cares how long! Just try as many different ones you can until you find the right fit for you and your rifle.
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Out of curiosity I plugged in some numbers in my ballistics program. Mind you, it won't be 100% right because I don't know your muzzle velocity (since you haven't chronographed it). I assume your 70.0gr charge is for the 180gr, not the 165gr, right? Anyways, a max charge will put you at 3170fps with the 165gr, using H4350 (according to the Nosler manual). With a 200 yard zero your drop is -52.5" at 600 yards ( 4 3/8') and at 800 yards the drop would be -124.8", or 10 feet.

The problem for me, with a shot like this (other than I have no range to go to where I can practice shooting this far, which also means I don't know how to dupe the wind) is that if I think the range is 750 yards, and the real range is 800 yards, then I would miss the deer because there is almost a 22" drop from 750 to 800 yards.

I'm just not good enough.
 
My lieca 1200 will not even range a deer at 800 yards.I have tested it several times and the limit seems to be about 600 yards.That is however fine for me as my own personal limit is 500 yards,and then only with perfect conditions.It will range elk to over 700 yards and cattle to almost 900 yards.
 
you wrote this :
WildWildWest said:
longest shot for me so far is 600 yards on mule deer
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so I take it as you holding 5' over your zero, and shooting a deer @ 600 yards.

A 165 gr. bullet @ 3150 fps drops 58" @ 600 yards (12" to the foot = 4.8 feet).

btw, drop @ 800y should be around 132" or 11 feet


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By the way, I'm guessing you're the trajectory god. (36" bullet drop at 500 yards on a sight zeroed at 200 yards, 165 gr. bullet. I don't have the stats at 800..do you?)

I'll stop there before I say something I regret! When you make the shot or have better input, I'll start listening again
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Certainly ain't rocket science to become a "trajectory god", and if you're successfully making 600yd shots... you likely already knew that!

800yd shot ranged via reticle is simply outstanding...your pard is a great shot!

280_ACKLEY
 
Well all kidding aside... I have an Elite 1500 rangefinder and it will range deer out past 1200 yards if you have a steady hand or a firm rest... I have done it.
I have also shot my 300WM at 600 yards a couple of times and shoot it at 500 yards regularly. I would likely attempt a 600 yard shot under the right conditions, I know the trajectory of my rifle and load. If I made the shot I would post it... if I missed I would post that too (yeah right:rolleyes: )
You need to have thick skin if your gonna post this kinda stuff on here WWW, every one is an expert on the innernet and everyone is their own hero.
Except Captian Deadly, he is the real deal.:cool:
 
I have an Elite 1500 rangefinder and it will range deer out past 1200 yards if you have a steady hand or a firm rest... I have done it.
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I have ranged deer farther than 600 yards on occaision but that is about the maximum range with my rangefinder under all conditions.Weather does seem to make a noticeable difference.
 
Thanks again guys for the great load ideas...I'm going to put up some tonight using Hornady 180 BTSP's, and each of the three propellants I mentioned above for a comparison test.

Jeff.
 
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