Back to the loading bench for .300WM. Bullet/powder suggestions wanted.

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wombat13

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I’m headed back to the loading bench to develop a new load for my Ruger Hawkeye SS/laminate in .300WM and I’m looking for suggestions on bullets and powders. I’ve developed two good loads for the rifle so far. The first is a 180 gr. Nosler BT over 76.5 grains of RL22. This load shoots about 1.25” at 100 yards and I’ve found excellent terminal performance on deer. Next load is a 165 gr. TSX over 72.8 grains of IMR 4831. I tried the TSX because there are a lot of black bears where we hunt and I was worried that the NBT might be too quick to expand for black bear. The TSX load shoots 0.75” at 100 yards, but I’ve been disappointed in the terminal performance on deer (lack of blood trail, likely because of small exit wound).

I know that the accuracy of the NBT load is “good enough” but who wants to settle for good enough? Besides, I like working up loads. So, here are the bullet/powder combos I tried and rejected so far (all are 180 gr. bullets: Nosler Ballistic Tip with IMR 4831 and H100V; Hornady SST with RL22, IMR 4831, and H100V; Sierra Gameking with RL22, IMR 4831, and H100V; Nosler Accubond with RL22.

The SST offered poor accuracy with all three powders, so I’m reluctant to try that bullet again. The SGK had decent accuracy with a low charge of RL22, but I’d prefer a load near max if I can find one (otherwise I’d hunt with my .30-06). The NAB had poor accuracy with RL22.

I’m leaning toward trying the 180 gr. NBT with different powders to see if I can improve accuracy since I’ve been happy with the terminal performance on deer. Also, I’ve got plenty of them on hand to work up a new load. I’m currently planning to try IMR 4350 and IMR 7828SSC. Should I be confident that the 180 gr. NBT will be tough enough on a quartering shot on a bear?

On the other hand, I only tried the NAB with one powder. Should I give that bullet another chance? I only have a handful left from the box I bought and they are more expensive than the NBT. Would the NAB give as good terminal performance on deer as the NBT?

Here are the powders I have on hand that seem appropriate for 180 gr. bullets: AA 4350, RL22, H4831, IMR 4350, IMR 4831, IMR 7828SSC.

I also have plenty of NBTs in 150 gr. and 165 gr. for loading in .30-06. I could try the 165 gr., but would that bullet be tough enough for bear?

So which bullet powder combo would you try next? Thanks for taking the time to offer suggestions.
 
Could try a different powder with the nosler bt's or accubonds, or could try a 180 TTSX.

Or could modify shot placement on deer to anchor them better with the 168 TTSX.

You scrub your barrel clean after shooting the Barnes? Already messed with oal on the bt's?

Lighter bt's are going to make a real mess out of deer.
 
Based on your requirements, might put some imr 4831 under a 150 etip, the solids don't require such a heavy weight to fulfill the roles of their lead counterparts, I think the 150 will fly fast/hard enough to pummel your deer and still penetrate through everything the black bears are packing if you're using a solid. Sierra offers a 180 pro hunter that should be laser accurate for you but maybe a bit heavy on your deer but you seemed OK with a gameking so maybe give the flat bases a try. My prohunters fly well with h1000.
 
wankerjake said:
Could try a different powder with the nosler bt's or accubonds, or could try a 180 TTSX.

Or could modify shot placement on deer to anchor them better with the 168 TTSX.

You scrub your barrel clean after shooting the Barnes? Already messed with oal on the bt's?

Lighter bt's are going to make a real mess out of deer.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the comments. I've always followed Art Eatman's advice, "Don't shoot them in the eating part!" I've never shot a deer in the meat with my .300WM, but my FIL has with his .338WM. Not much left to eat.

I haven't tried the TTSXs. I've hunted with the 165 gr. TSX. Do the TTSXs REALLY open up faster than the TSX or is that marketing hype?

Scrubbing of the barrel will take place before I work up a new load.

My Ruger Hawkeye has a short magazine, so I can't load bullets near the lands. I seat bullets at the maximum length that will feed reliably from the magazine. I could seat the NBTs deeper but not closer to the lands. Is there much chance that seating deeper would improve accuracy?
 
wankerjake said:
Could also look at h1000 or other powders.
Click to expand...
Nosler lists H1000 as the most accurate powder with 180 grain bullets. Do you have good experience with it in .300WM? I've got several pounds of IMR 4350 and 7828ssc, so I was going to start there, but could certainly try h1000 if I can find any locally. I live in the People's Republic of NY, so internet purchase is out.
 
horsey300 said:
Based on your requirements, might put some imr 4831 under a 150 etip, the solids don't require such a heavy weight to fulfill the roles of their lead counterparts, I think the 150 will fly fast/hard enough to pummel your deer and still penetrate through everything the black bears are packing if you're using a solid. Sierra offers a 180 pro hunter that should be laser accurate for you but maybe a bit heavy on your deer but you seemed OK with a gameking so maybe give the flat bases a try. My prohunters fly well with h1000.
Click to expand...
Do the etips open faster than Barnes TSX? I'll give the ProHunters a look
 
wombat13 said:
Do the etips open faster than Barnes TSX? I'll give the ProHunters a look
Click to expand...
They are essentially a ttsx with a larger cavity that SHOULD open faster, based on videos/cross sections I've seen they crossed a tsx with a ballistic tip. I'M looking at putting some factory 2ND 86 gr etips (because they are extremely well priced) through the wife's .243 to see if I can create a coyote, deer, boar all around combo. The etips larger cavity theoretically lets the bullet expand to the rifling better too.
 
Yeah I doubt deeper seating would help. I haven't used H1000, I'm shooting a short mag, but I know a lot of guys like it and Retumbo.

One benefit of a heavy monolithic bullet is you can shoot them in the shoulder and not ruin much meat. The controlled expansion and penetration minimizes the shock very well. I have had good expansion with the 168ttsx out of a 30-06 but I aim for shoulder.

Shooting a heavy, well constructed bullet is your best bet for minimizing meat lost imo. That BT is gonna make a mess if you venture into shoulder accidentally. I'm a shoulder/anchor/penetration guy and with a BT or cup and core that is a meat killer but with bonded or monolithic it's not bad at all. But if you are adamant about lung but want the penetration for bear I'd go bonded and heavy. I'd pick the bullet first then find out how to shoot it and maybe settle on long range accuracy.

But I know that's not what you were asking so my main recommendation is different powders if you are stuck on the BT and getting under 1" at 100. I bet there's a a load that will get a Nosler BT to do that for you. That's what i'd try first if it was me.
 
wombat13 said:
Should I be confident that the 180 gr. NBT will be tough enough on a quartering shot on a bear?
Click to expand...

I think that any 30 cal 180 grain bullet has enough "critical mass" to penetrate even the biggest black bear. Most aren't really that big, and none are armor plated. But I do agree that they are built differently than deer and appreciate your concern.

If deer are your main target, I'd just find what shoots most accurately. I'd even consider stepping down to 165's.
 
wankerjake said:
Yeah I doubt deeper seating would help. I haven't used H1000, I'm shooting a short mag, but I know a lot of guys like it and Retumbo.

One benefit of a heavy monolithic bullet is you can shoot them in the shoulder and not ruin much meat. The controlled expansion and penetration minimizes the shock very well. I have had good expansion with the 168ttsx out of a 30-06 but I aim for shoulder.

Shooting a heavy, well constructed bullet is your best bet for minimizing meat lost imo. That BT is gonna make a mess if you venture into shoulder accidentally. I'm a shoulder/anchor/penetration guy and with a BT or cup and core that is a meat killer but with bonded or monolithic it's not bad at all. But if you are adamant about lung but want the penetration for bear I'd go bonded and heavy. I'd pick the bullet first then find out how to shoot it and maybe settle on long range accuracy.

But I know that's not what you were asking so my main recommendation is different powders if you are stuck on the BT and getting under 1" at 100. I bet there's a a load that will get a Nosler BT to do that for you. That's what i'd try first if it was me.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you're saying try a heavy Nosler Accubond or similar.
 
Laphroaig said:
I think that any 30 cal 180 grain bullet has enough "critical mass" to penetrate even the biggest black bear. Most aren't really that big, and none are armor plated. But I do agree that they are built differently than deer and appreciate your concern.

If deer are your main target, I'd just find what shoots most accurately. I'd even consider stepping down to 165's.
Click to expand...
So we've got a vote for work on the accuracy of the NBT.
 
I wouldn't use the NBT for bear. Love the bullet, but it's not a deep penetrator. Accubond is great, but expensive - bear aren't THAT hard to kill, a 300wm with a standard cup and core bullet will do it just fine.

I run Retumbo under 180-220grn pills for best results in 300wm. H1000, Reloader 22, and 26 are other favorites of mine for 300wm.

For precision loads - not bear killing loads - if you can't get an NBT or Accubond to shoot straight, there's likely something wrong with your rifle.
 
In 2015 -2016 I used IMR-4451 and IMR-4166 for temp stability and anti Copper fouling
In 2011 -2014 I used H4350 and H4895 for temp stability
In 1999 -2010 I used IMR-4895, Re22, and dozens of other powders.

In 2015 I shot a big mule buck running away at 250 yards with a 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip moly in Mosin Nagant I converted to 300 Win Mag.
The load was 66 gr IMR-4166 3.34" 3375 fps 24" Krieger 10" twist barrel.
It was bang-flop.

3x3%20mule%20buck%20300WinMag%20Mosin%20Nagant%20125%20gr%20NBT%20b10-29-2015.jpg
 
I don't use magnums for hunting anymore, but I used them extensively in the past.

In the .300WM, a Remington 150 Core-Lokt bullet over a hefty charge of H4831 never let me down on either deer or elk..
 
ants said:
300WSM introduced exactly 15 years ago. You must have been one of the very first to shoot one!
Click to expand...
I might be off a year or two. I wanted a light rifle and a butt kicking rifle. I got both in one. A Savage Model 10 Sierra. 6 1/4# of shoulder and whitetail thumping fun. Shot Sub-MOA out of the box.
 
wombat13 said:
I’m headed back to the loading bench to develop a new load for my Ruger Hawkeye SS/laminate in .300WM and I’m looking for suggestions on bullets and powders. I’ve developed two good loads for the rifle so far. The first is a 180 gr. Nosler BT over 76.5 grains of RL22. This load shoots about 1.25” at 100 yards and I’ve found excellent terminal performance on deer. Next load is a 165 gr. TSX over 72.8 grains of IMR 4831. I tried the TSX because there are a lot of black bears where we hunt and I was worried that the NBT might be too quick to expand for black bear. The TSX load shoots 0.75” at 100 yards, but I’ve been disappointed in the terminal performance on deer (lack of blood trail, likely because of small exit wound).

I know that the accuracy of the NBT load is “good enough” but who wants to settle for good enough? Besides, I like working up loads. So, here are the bullet/powder combos I tried and rejected so far (all are 180 gr. bullets: Nosler Ballistic Tip with IMR 4831 and H100V; Hornady SST with RL22, IMR 4831, and H100V; Sierra Gameking with RL22, IMR 4831, and H100V; Nosler Accubond with RL22.

The SST offered poor accuracy with all three powders, so I’m reluctant to try that bullet again. The SGK had decent accuracy with a low charge of RL22, but I’d prefer a load near max if I can find one (otherwise I’d hunt with my .30-06). The NAB had poor accuracy with RL22.

I’m leaning toward trying the 180 gr. NBT with different powders to see if I can improve accuracy since I’ve been happy with the terminal performance on deer. Also, I’ve got plenty of them on hand to work up a new load. I’m currently planning to try IMR 4350 and IMR 7828SSC. Should I be confident that the 180 gr. NBT will be tough enough on a quartering shot on a bear?

On the other hand, I only tried the NAB with one powder. Should I give that bullet another chance? I only have a handful left from the box I bought and they are more expensive than the NBT. Would the NAB give as good terminal performance on deer as the NBT?

Here are the powders I have on hand that seem appropriate for 180 gr. bullets: AA 4350, RL22, H4831, IMR 4350, IMR 4831, IMR 7828SSC.

I also have plenty of NBTs in 150 gr. and 165 gr. for loading in .30-06. I could try the 165 gr., but would that bullet be tough enough for bear?

So which bullet powder combo would you try next? Thanks for taking the time to offer suggestions.
Click to expand...
 
I'm a little late chiming in but I do enjoy .300 Win mag quite a bit and have developed some awesome loads over the years.
*Disclaimer- I'm showing simply the end result of load work ups, for my rifle on my test days in my weather yadda yadda. As always loads should be worked up for your rifle, maybe starting a grain or 2 lower than mine and working up. While not anything overly wild or extreme these are "full power" loads and should be treated as such*

165gr Speer BT-SP- Winchester case and LRM primer, 78gr RL22. Makes a little over 3100fps and anchors deer on spot with a proper hit. Very accurate too, around 1/2" 3-shot holes at 100 with a Remington 700 I consider to be a mediocre bolt gun at best.
77gr of RL25 produces a very similar performing load, but the 78gr of 22 edged it out in my testing. I typically load these to 3.465".

If you prefer a HP deer round vs soft point, 165gr Sierra Game King BTHP with 78gr of H4831. (I use the C short cut variety but both are the same)
This gives me around 3/8" groups at 100 and is also a more than adequate deer dropper. This load makes around 3200fps and I seat to 3.375" I also used Winchester primers for these.


For heavier fodder, try
72.5gr RL22 with a Berger 210 VLD bullet. Seat to 3.590" This was in Remington Brass with Winchester LRM primer.
The 200gr Nosler Partition is another in this class that works well with RL22, I use 70gr with this bullet and seat to
3.565". Both of these run right around the 2900fps mark and are 1/2" group or better capable at 100, again from a Remington 700 that I don't even like.

Lastly, my Heaviest successful load has been the 220gr Sierra. Back to H4831 with 70gr seated to 3.365" in Remington case with Winchester primer. Another 1/2" group load at 100 and it is a DEEP driving bullet. We've seen these go shoulder to shoulder through some big game and off into the woods on numerous occasions.

Happy loading!
 
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