300WSM hunting loads...ideas and help
- Thread starter goindeep
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Orcon
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I went through a substantial amount of powder and bullets searching for an acceptable load for my WSM. Somebody told me the 4350 powders would be a great starting point and dagummit, they were right. Ramshot Hunter was also recommended to me but I never got that far. I wouldn't pick any bullet lighter than a 180 grain if you intend to shoot anything under about 150 yards, thin jackets at high impact velocities tend to make a mess even if you stay off of the meat.
My general purpose load is a nearly compressed load of AA-4350 under a 200gr ELD-X.
My general purpose load is a nearly compressed load of AA-4350 under a 200gr ELD-X.
hoghunting
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I use Hornady 165 gr Interbonds with RL-19, extremely accurate and works very well.
snuffy
Member
Gosh where to begin. I have one of the first Browning A-bolt mountain hunters in 300 WSM. Well the first to come in here in Oshkosh.
Orcon's suggestion for AA-4350 is spot on. My 300 likes most of the medium burn rate powders, like the 4350's R-19 and H4831 SC. It does not do well with the slow stuff like 7828, H-870 or other slow magnum powders.
As for bullets, heavy for caliber is one way to keep from destroying a lot of meat, the other is a premium bonded or solid copper like Barnes, Nosler ELD-X or Hornady GMX. The Nosler accu-bond or Hornady interbond will work, but close up the still open too fast.
Back about 10 years I was hunting in some pretty dense woods, ammo was a 165 H-interbond. A small buck stepped out about 30 yards away, I didn't see the 1" poplar sapling in front of him Bullet center-hit that sapling, exploded on it, the only thing that hit that deer was lead fragments and possibly the empty jacket.
This years hunt was with the 165 H GMX with AA-4350, should go out at about 3000 FPS. 1+ groups @ 100, longest shot just over 100 yards. No shot presented itself, so called trophy management area meant darn few deer. Could only shoot one mature doe, and no buck other than horns outside the ears and well above the ears. Unfortunately deer that old are also smart, smarter than this old goat.
Orcon's suggestion for AA-4350 is spot on. My 300 likes most of the medium burn rate powders, like the 4350's R-19 and H4831 SC. It does not do well with the slow stuff like 7828, H-870 or other slow magnum powders.
As for bullets, heavy for caliber is one way to keep from destroying a lot of meat, the other is a premium bonded or solid copper like Barnes, Nosler ELD-X or Hornady GMX. The Nosler accu-bond or Hornady interbond will work, but close up the still open too fast.
Back about 10 years I was hunting in some pretty dense woods, ammo was a 165 H-interbond. A small buck stepped out about 30 yards away, I didn't see the 1" poplar sapling in front of him Bullet center-hit that sapling, exploded on it, the only thing that hit that deer was lead fragments and possibly the empty jacket.
This years hunt was with the 165 H GMX with AA-4350, should go out at about 3000 FPS. 1+ groups @ 100, longest shot just over 100 yards. No shot presented itself, so called trophy management area meant darn few deer. Could only shoot one mature doe, and no buck other than horns outside the ears and well above the ears. Unfortunately deer that old are also smart, smarter than this old goat.
Captcurt
Member
300WSM was my go to gun for several years. My favorite load was IMR-4350 and 165gr Accubond. This year I brought it out of retirement and tried some 150gr pills. Shot Speer HotCor and Accubonds. Both hit like sledgehammers. Played with several powders and wouldn't hesitate to shoot 760, IMR-4831, IMR-7828, or R-22.
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