I had very accurate loads worked up for my 300 win mag. A good all around cartridge. The 375 H H also shot well with out killer recoil. Read up on data, energy at desired range, and suitable powders. Having a couple pounds of different powder is a good thing.
Complimentary Calibre Choices
- Thread starter kombatkyle
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I played around with trying to find a common powder but it quickly became apparent that at least 2 powders are needed if you shoot everything from 223 to the magnums.
Based on experience, varget and reloder 26 cover a lot of ground. Especially RL26, that stuff is magical.
Varget works great in my 223 (75s) and 6GT (105+). Tons of people use it in their 308.
RL26 works really well in the 6.5 creedmoor w/140-147s, 7 rem mag with 160gr+, and 300 win mag/PRC with 215gr+. Haven't tried it in my 338 Lapua, as I shoot the 285-300gr bullets (N570), but it's one of the best powders out there for the 250s. Plenty of people rave about RL26 in their 270s, 9.3x62s and 338wms.
Based on experience, varget and reloder 26 cover a lot of ground. Especially RL26, that stuff is magical.
Varget works great in my 223 (75s) and 6GT (105+). Tons of people use it in their 308.
RL26 works really well in the 6.5 creedmoor w/140-147s, 7 rem mag with 160gr+, and 300 win mag/PRC with 215gr+. Haven't tried it in my 338 Lapua, as I shoot the 285-300gr bullets (N570), but it's one of the best powders out there for the 250s. Plenty of people rave about RL26 in their 270s, 9.3x62s and 338wms.
varget worked great for me in the 375 ruger and 9,3x62 ... kept the 9.3x62 only.
Bearhunter's post is excellent.
While I have owned a number of magnums over the years, I own and have shot more game with non-magnum cartridges, and am down to just a few today...too much experience and sentiment in them to let them go. And a review of all my big game harvests over the years (38), ranging from 5 to 475 yards (underestimated the range on that one), my average shot distance is just 137 yards.
But wanting a magnum is not a bad thing, and for elk, brings a safety margin in increased retained energy with a heavier bullet that will provide better penetration if the shot encounters bone, or at longer distances...not to mention buying another rifle is always an exciting prospect!
And until you experience owning, loading, shooting, and hunting with one, yuu will not be able to determine if it is truly for you, or not.
When it comes to long range hunting, I have my own limits (ethical and physical), and I prefer to not shoot beyond 400 yards at unwounded game. If the animal is further out, I try to get closer, or not take the shot. But this is my personal limitation that I place on myself. I can, and do, practice out to 500 yards, but mostly to build skill and confidence that pays dividends for shorter distance shots.
Best of luck in your quest!
While I have owned a number of magnums over the years, I own and have shot more game with non-magnum cartridges, and am down to just a few today...too much experience and sentiment in them to let them go. And a review of all my big game harvests over the years (38), ranging from 5 to 475 yards (underestimated the range on that one), my average shot distance is just 137 yards.
But wanting a magnum is not a bad thing, and for elk, brings a safety margin in increased retained energy with a heavier bullet that will provide better penetration if the shot encounters bone, or at longer distances...not to mention buying another rifle is always an exciting prospect!
And until you experience owning, loading, shooting, and hunting with one, yuu will not be able to determine if it is truly for you, or not.
When it comes to long range hunting, I have my own limits (ethical and physical), and I prefer to not shoot beyond 400 yards at unwounded game. If the animal is further out, I try to get closer, or not take the shot. But this is my personal limitation that I place on myself. I can, and do, practice out to 500 yards, but mostly to build skill and confidence that pays dividends for shorter distance shots.
Best of luck in your quest!
Quote Originally Posted by Canuck65 View Post
Well, Varget and similar powders will do well in both 308win and 223rem. For magnums though, you’re going to need slower powders. There is some crossover between 30-06 300wsm and 300wm, but not really 308win and the 30 cal magnums.
Yes, I bet it would work okay in an efficient cartridge like the 375 Ruger - not so much in a case with larger capacity though. As for the 9.3x62 - yes, Varget would be fine for this and the similar 35 Whelen, but then, these aren't magnums - putting enough Varget in those cases to drive a bullet like that at proper magnum velocities would likely generate very dangerous pressures. The OP was asking about a complementary magnum cartridge to the 308 and 223. Neither the 375rug nor the 9.3mauser really fit that bill. What I was suggesting, is that while Varget and similar are ideal for the rounds he has rounds, it's too fast for something like a 300mag. That's all - just saying, get the right burn rate for your cartridge.
Well, Varget and similar powders will do well in both 308win and 223rem. For magnums though, you’re going to need slower powders. There is some crossover between 30-06 300wsm and 300wm, but not really 308win and the 30 cal magnums.
Yes, I bet it would work okay in an efficient cartridge like the 375 Ruger - not so much in a case with larger capacity though. As for the 9.3x62 - yes, Varget would be fine for this and the similar 35 Whelen, but then, these aren't magnums - putting enough Varget in those cases to drive a bullet like that at proper magnum velocities would likely generate very dangerous pressures. The OP was asking about a complementary magnum cartridge to the 308 and 223. Neither the 375rug nor the 9.3mauser really fit that bill. What I was suggesting, is that while Varget and similar are ideal for the rounds he has rounds, it's too fast for something like a 300mag. That's all - just saying, get the right burn rate for your cartridge.
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Same desire, but different path. I started with one 308 Win rifle - thought that was good for everything - got many deer and my first elk with that one. Then 243 Win for wife to use. Then 22-250, and so on. Ended up with that 308 Win and a 338 Win Mag - I thought ideal pair - except for re-loading supplies - was all different to each other. Then our son absconded with that 308 Win rifle when he finished University - gave me an opportunity to get a 7x57 - for years was 150 grain with RL-19 - might not be the best, but was the same powder that I used in the 338 Win Mag. But, standard Large Rifle primers in 7x57 (Fed 210) and Magnum Large Rifle primers in 338 Win Mag (Fed 215). Different bullets, of course, and different brass. So did not really work out to get "minimal" reloading supplies that worked in "all" that I had, then. Latest purchase was a 300 H&H - so bullet diameter same as 308 Win, but altogether different approach about bullet weight, I think. Looking at current rifles on hand, is at least one rifle in 308 Win, 30-06, 300 H&H, 308 Norma Mag, 300 Win Mag and 300 Weatherby Mag - is multiples in some of those cartridges - so is a struggle just to get a single load that is "best" for the five 30-06, for example - appear to act all different - seems to each have specific preference - or get store bought Winchester Super-X that goes "bang" in all and call that "good enough".
Various reloading manuals will report what they tested in their rifles - what develops "safe" pressure levels - might give you clues for "one size fits all" components, but I do not think reloading manual recipes (or any body's) give you the "best" that you can get from your particular rifle.
The 9.3x62 uses the same powders as the 308 Win. This includes but is not limited to CFE 223, Varget, RL15, H4895. Although the 9.3x62 is not technically a magnum, it has magnum effect on the biggest games in NA. The trajectory of a 250 grains bullet pushed to 2500-2600 fps is similar to a 180 grains in a 30-06.
