Loading a 300 to behave like a 30-06

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300dakota

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I just got a 338 sako and a Blaser in 300 wsm and I would like to put them to use !
But my usual deer hunt is within 200 yards so I was thinking of making up some light loads to make the 300 wsm act like a 30-06 and the 338 behave like a 338-06 barnes is making some 185 gr projectiles in .338
What do y'all think?
 
I load my 300WM to 308 velocities. I just use 308 load data that used a medium burn rate powder (H4895 in my case). I wouldn't recommend trying it with really slow magnum powders though. Can get inconsistent ignitions and some say you could have a Secondary Explosive Effect (SEE).

I started about about middle of the load data but ended up going to max (for a 308) to get good accuracy. I now have the rifle shooting MoA with the same PoI at 100yds but considerably less recoil and muzzle blast. With the cases being 60-70% full there isn't really a need for filler.
 
I have seen more meat lost on moose by a 30-06 than a 300WM shot in same spot/distance
Reason is simple, with the 30-06, it takes a walk before it falls so emoragy continue and more meat is lost. With the 300WM, it falls in its track right there
Dont worry about a too big cartridge. Bullet choice and placement is everything
 
Why own a racehorse if you don't want it to run?

The OP doesn't give any "reasons" for downloading (although I can think of a couple) so I don't understand why it is thought to be a good idea. If recoil is the issue, sell the guns and get some that are less abusive on the back end. There is no reason to develop, test, and sight in reduced loads just to "put them to use" hunting deer. If reduced loads are a necessity, I would stick with load data from respected sources for the actual cartridge, but use the lower end loads from the lighter for caliber bullets. Magnum cases with lots of air space can sometimes have "issues" that I would just avoid. But I would not use something like .308 data in a .300WM.
 
Ok well what I did was load my 300wsm with 66.0 gr of imr4831 topped with 150 gr GMX which is not a hot load but it's not reduced either 2900fps
The 2 reasons for downloading are my wife seems like the blaser better then some of my other rifles just that the 300wsm has a little too much kick for her .... And second you guys guessed it meat loss .. I do agree with previous comments that shot placement and bullet selection affect meat loss more then caliber does .... I'm going to use 73.5 gr of rl-19 and 210gr Barnes ttsx for my 338
And that's a lil on the hot side
 
It's a reasonable idea. Use one of the medium powders to get good fill with lower velocity. IMR/H4895 should work very well for that in the 300.
 
I sold my WSM because it acted like a 30-06.;)

However, if you want to calm down the recoil of any of the .300s a starting load of 4350 would do it. If it is actually about meat saving use a TSX.
 
I've loaded my 300 to '06 velocities for deer. Very good accuracy, I was using a powder from Higginsons I think it's 47SL10 (?, slow lot of H414) under some 165's. Why would I sell the rifle when I can also load and use it for moose by loading up to 300 Win Mag velocities. Reloading offers so many options.
 
I have played around with stuff like this before, loading a 300 Rum down to 300 Wm and 30-06 levels. A thing of the past for me, have acquired enough rifles that when i want a 30-06, i take a 30-06. My Rum is my "beanfield" seizmic stakeout rifle.

I think asking here is a excellent idea. Loading too light, counter intuitively can be dangerous. A half charge can have very dangerous pressure levels.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I dunno...downloading a magnum is like grabbing your dink halfway up. It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way, when I have the idea to make my magnums not feel magnums any more and loose out on what they are actually made for, I just go buy a gun that will fill the void I'm trying to accomplish.

Kevin
 
Nothing could be easier than making a 300 WM behave like a 30-06.
Just use factory ammunition in it!
 
H4831 said:
Nothing could be easier than making a 300 WM behave like a 30-06.
Just use factory ammunition in it!
Click to expand...

That is true with some if not all factory ammo. The 300 winmag 180 gr winchester super-X clocked 3055 fps out of my M695 Tikka with 23.5" bbl. Thats awfully darn close to the 3050 fps winchester used to advertise for this ammo.
 
I would just load up that WSM with a 180 grain pill, and put 50.0 grains of IMR 3031 under it.

About 2700 and quite accurate in several 30 cal Magnums I have owned.

Regards, Dave.
 
I had a 1943 Remington 03A3 and its worn larger diameter chamber tortured Remington 30-06 cases and caused them to warp and become banana shaped after one firing. The reloads with this warped brass shot 5 to 6 inch groups at 100 yards, and on top of this the bore was very worn and was .310 in the throat, .309 at mid bore and .311 at the muzzle.

The cure was simple I down loaded the 30-06 to approximately 2400-2500 fps and shot 170 grain 30-30 bullets out of it and the lowered the chamber pressure to the point it didn't stretch and torture my brass. This old 30-06 was my rain gun and I shot more deer with it than any other rifle I have ever owned.

You have a ton of .308 bullets to choose from and all you need is to pick a powder that gives you the best loading density. To the naysayers all you need is the right bullet for the velocity and range you are shooting at.

And a .312 100 grain pistol bullet shot out of a .303 British Enfield rifle will knock ground hogs for a loop and add a large ventilation hole in them.

303pistolbjpg_zps9c6de94d.jpg


And there is nothing wrong with reduced loads and they have been used since the invention of the sling shot. Just use bigger stones for the goliath types. :D
 
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