Ideal Velocity
- Thread starter aaronfisher
- Start date
As Maynard stated, every rifle will exhibit different characteristics. That being said, if you are looking for practical ballistics from your 300 Win Mag, a 180 grain bullet will max out around 3100 fps in a 24" tube, using the right powders. Some may show a bit less, some a bit more, but if you hear someone telling you about his 24" 300 Win Mag giving 3250 with the 180, he is almost certainly loading it too hot!! Some rifles shoot their best with loads at or close to max. Others prefer being throttled back a bit. Only careful testing will reveal how your rifle acts. Regards, Eagleye.
"...giving 3250 with the 180, he is almost certainly..." Lying or doesn't have a chronograph. The fastest 180 grain load given by Hodgdon runs 3025fps with a max load of IMR4831.
Barnes bullets require Barnes data. There's 180 grain data on their site. IMR4831 gives 2995fps. RL22 gives 3009fps. Mind you, as mentioned, velocity isn't as important as accuracy. You'll have to work up the load for your rifle. A load for each bullet. Non-Barnes bullets are mostly interchangeable, but solid copper bullets don't fly like a lead cored bullet.
Barnes bullets require Barnes data. There's 180 grain data on their site. IMR4831 gives 2995fps. RL22 gives 3009fps. Mind you, as mentioned, velocity isn't as important as accuracy. You'll have to work up the load for your rifle. A load for each bullet. Non-Barnes bullets are mostly interchangeable, but solid copper bullets don't fly like a lead cored bullet.
Claimed factory velocity for 180's was 3070fps up until what, 1972? It was then lowered to it's present 2960fps. While attainable in most rifles, 3000+fps loads should be carefully worked up to with a chronograph. As others have stated, velocity is not the most important factor but it is nice to achieve the best performance your rifle is capable of.
Play safe and don't take chances.
Play safe and don't take chances.
Ideal velocity
I load for a couple of 300 win mags and have found 70 grs.IMR 4350 works really well very accurate (less than moa at 100 yds) and has been chrono'd at 3000 fps, I found that anything around 3000 works very well as I had equal success with R22 and IMR 7828 at the same speeds
I load for a couple of 300 win mags and have found 70 grs.IMR 4350 works really well very accurate (less than moa at 100 yds) and has been chrono'd at 3000 fps, I found that anything around 3000 works very well as I had equal success with R22 and IMR 7828 at the same speeds
The Nosler Reloading Guide Number Four lists a 180gr load out of a 300win mag producing 3160fps with a 24" barrel.That load could be very likely pushed to 3250fps without blowing the gun apart,but I certainly would not do it.
Personal experience leads me to believe that the 30 cal Magnums all seem to work well if loaded to their potential. I am a big fan of the 308 Norma Mag, which, depending on which brass you use, has from ½ to 4 grains less powder capacity than does the 300 Win Mag. Any of the early issue Norma factory ammo would beat 3100 fps in a 24" barrel. Granted, it was a little warm in some rifles, but usually not dangerously so. Later, Norma throttled it back a bit, and it is now listed at just below 3000 fps. I have not chrony'd any late ammo from Norma [too expensive, too hard to get] But my present Norma Mag 'graphs 3122 average for the 180 Partition and a healthy dose of Norma MRP or Vihtavuori N165. Shoots mighty fine groups at that speed too. Brass lasts well, and primer pockets do not expand enough to notice after 6 firings, so I have to think pressures are not excessive. I had a 26" HB 300 Win Mag that made very close to 3200 with the 180 Partition, using IMR 4831. Another 26" tube, on a Ruger #1, averaged 3145 with the same bullet using MRP. I'm definitely not advocating loading the 300 Winnie to dangerous levels, only commenting on my personal experience. Regards, Eagleye.
They will land very close together on your targets.
