Share your .300WinMag reduced loads

[MadMarty]

As the title states! I only ask for my brother inlaw that whined about a "broken shoulder" after 2 shots. Not literally of course but to hear him tell it....

So I figured I'd ask people's reduced loads for a .300 WinMag

Thanks!

 

[LUTNIT]

This is something I've done quite a bit of experimenting with. I wanted to load rounds to .308 velocity for white tail and still be able to shoot .300WM out of the same rifle for larger stuff. I got the idea from the power level ammo for the Rem Ultra Mag. I started out using cast bullet data but swapping the cast bullet for a jacketed one. I couldn't get the velocity and accuracy I wanted (equivalent to a .308) so I started playing around with using .308 load data (with medium to fast powders only, no slow powders) in .300WM cases and got some good results.
My rifle seems to far prefer 180gr bullets to 150gr (makes sense since that's standard for a .300WM) so I stopped using 150gr in .300WM all together.
This is with a Rem 700 SPS-DM-Stainless

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
42gr of IMR4895
Shoots 1" @ 100yds

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
35gr SR-4759
Shoots 1" @ 100yds

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
43gr of H4895
Shoots 2" @ 100yds

178gr Hornady HPBT Match
CCI magnum primer
41gr of IMR4895
Shoots 3/4" @ 100yds

150gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
43gr of IMR4895
Shoots 1.5" @ 100yds

All of the above loads shoot to within 1 MOA of PoA/PoI with my full power .300WM loads.
And if you want to go lighter than .308 recoil I've done a bunch of that too. These don't shoot as close to PoA/PoI compared to regular .300WM loads so more scope adjustment is required.

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
24gr of Unique
2060fps
Shoots 1.5" @ 100yds

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
32gr of SR-4759
2170fps
Shoots 2" @ 100yds

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
52gr of H4831
2010fps
Shoots 1.5" @ 100yds

180gr Hornady interlock
CCI magnum primer
20gr of Trail Boss
1620fps
Shoots 1.5" @ 100yds

None of these loads have shown even close to anything I'd call pressure signs and the edges of the primers come out just as rounded as brand new primers (they almost seem more rounded than new primers). They heat up the barrel a lot less and aren't nearly as rough on the shoulder. I don't have an issue shooting .300WM unless I try to do it all day. I also didn't just try experimenting with this stuff out of the blue, I did a lot of reading up on it and talking to older guys who have been reloading for decades.

 

[Andy]

You've done some nice work there. I have done this with the 300 RUM, and I would have suggested exactly what you've already done - use cast bullet loads, ensuring they're hot enough for the jacketed bullet to exit (a point well made on another similar thread). I have one difference of opinion with you however - IMO it's also best to only use powders as fast or faster than H4895 (you used H4831). It's not reasonable to expect any reduced load to be the most accurate, but you sure can tame the MV and recoil down.

 

[MadMarty]

Great info! Thanks for sharing! Do you think I can use other powders ie Varget or BLC2 or Benchmark to make reduced loads?

 

[Dogleg]

When I was shooting more cast bullets I used 22 grains of 4759 under a Lyman 180.

A starting load of IMR 4350 and the jacketed 180 of your choice will give 30-06 velocities and powder-puff recoil. If that is too much, try 150s. If that's still too much he might want use his purse for a sissy bag.

 

[LUTNIT]

IMO it's also best to only use powders as fast or faster than H4895 (you used H4831).

That's my thought exactly as well. I did some experimenting with H4831 but decided the risk wasn't worth it as I was getting close to a possible SEE situation. I figured the one load I posted that uses H4831 is pretty safe since it's still around a 70% case capacity but I wouldn't go much lower than that.