re-loading 300 WSM
- Thread starter Shoot2026
- Start date
I haven’t used a ton of different bullets in Kimber 300 WSM, mostly because I never had to. The initial attempts were with H4350 because I’d read some comment by Nathan Foster that H4350 was about all you needed to know about the 300 WSM. I like Nosler Ballistic Tips and Accubonds so tried 180s. It was a text book example of why we start low and work up because I hit pressure signs a long ways below book maximum. Accuracy was fine, though my issue was that if I wanted 30-06 speeds I’d shoot my 30-06. Turns out the chronograph showed I was getting the book max velocity at 3 grains under max powder charge so I quit worrying about it. 2950 fps 
Took it out to 500 and 600 yards to see if I had a 5-600 yard 6 pound hunting rifle, which is what I was after. Yep, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Shot 3 moose and a truck full of bears and deer with it.
Naturally, eventually I couldn’t leave well enough alone and besides I was on a marathon load development spree because it was a poor snow winter and I had little else to do. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe I’d left a little on the table so tried IMR 7828 and the same bullets. This time I ended up with 3030 fps at the Nosler max load which was right on the book speed at their max load. Accuracy was the same so if I can get 100 fps with a powder change I’m taking it. Whether it made any practical difference in the field or not is a different matter.
Took it out to 500 and 600 yards to see if I had a 5-600 yard 6 pound hunting rifle, which is what I was after. Yep, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Shot 3 moose and a truck full of bears and deer with it.Naturally, eventually I couldn’t leave well enough alone and besides I was on a marathon load development spree because it was a poor snow winter and I had little else to do. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe I’d left a little on the table so tried IMR 7828 and the same bullets. This time I ended up with 3030 fps at the Nosler max load which was right on the book speed at their max load. Accuracy was the same so if I can get 100 fps with a powder change I’m taking it. Whether it made any practical difference in the field or not is a different matter.
If I was to start loading for a 300 WSM hunting rifle, I would pick a good bullet for large game like the Barnes 165gr TTSX or Nosler 180gr Accubond and try them over a handful of suitable powders such as H4350, StaBALL 6.5 or Vihtavuori N555
