300 win Encore starting point

[gotboostvr]

I recently acquired a Encore in 300 win mag.
I'm looking for a good jumping off point for a general purpose load, target and hunting.

For example; my general purpose load in 308 win is a 165gr Serria Gameking over 42.X great RL-15 in Federal brass. Very accurate and a good performer on medium sized game. It's my do-all load.

I'd like to find suggestions for a similar load for the win mag.

I'll consult my manuals after I get some suggestions and do a work up accordingly of course. Just trying to narrow it down.

I don't really have a practical use for it here in Ohio, but would like to have something in case I get the opportunity to hunt something a little larger than deer or pigs out of state. For the sake of argument, let's say elk/moose and some long range evil paper/steel. Maybe out to 1k since there's a few matches I'd like to try.

 

[philip brousseau]

the 300 win mags i've worked up loads for liked reloder 22, h4831 and even h1000 with 165 gr bullets. i would try powders in the 4831 to h1000 for 180 gr bullets. you will find 180 gr bullets of some type fine for the game you mentioned.

 

[Grumulkin]

This is the best load I've found for my Encore.

I've actually put this load to good use in Ohio on raccoons and deer (on a nuisance permit).

 

[ants]

Good shooting Grumulkin! Good place for gotboostvr to start.

Here in Utah/Nevada/Colorado we often use 180 grain for elk. Any good premium bullet, but you can't lose with an Accubond.
R22, 4831 or 4831sc, 7828... and especially H1000 with that weight bullet. My load is 80.0 grains at 3100fps. Well under max load.

If you want to use your same 165 Game King you switch to R19. I keep it just under 3000 fps (from my Sako it gets squirrely above that).
My load is right arounds 71.0 grains, well under max load. But you can test your rifle to see where it likes to shoot.

 

[gotboostvr]

Grumulkin, that's some great shooting! You're really getting my hopes up! Regarding 200gr 300 win mag loads used on raccoons: I picked off quite a few squirrel, possums, and raccoon with a 7.62x54R.
In some situations there's no such thing as "too much hammer"

Ants, that's an idea. I always like too get extra use out of my components. I'd like to utilize the better BC of the heavier bullets though. I need to go peruse Hornady's, Noslers and Serria's sites since I can source most of their products locally.
I've had good success with RL-15, So I may start with RL-22. although I'm real tempted to just work up to Grumulkin H4831 load and see where that gets me with success like that.
I'll probably buy whichever I spot locally first.
Same goes for bullets and brass most likely.
I'll let you know where fate takes me

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My 300 WM is a sub 1/2 MOA shooter every time I get it out the case. I use a 208gr Amax with 75.3gr of H-1000 in Nosler Brass. It's .030 off the lands and it's a mild load 2748fps in a 24" barrel

 

[gotboostvr]

The A-Max is more of a target bullet isn't it?

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Yes the Amax is a target bullet, Hornady now makes a ELD-X bullet that gives the accuracy and B.C. of a target bullet but it's made for hunting.

I haven't tried them as my 300wm is a target rifle only and I have a lifetime supply of the now discontinued 208 Amax

 

[gotboostvr]

Those ELD-X's look pretty tempting being less than half the price of the Accubond.
I might try a box of both. I'll probably not take cost into it, as the price of bullets probably won't be a limiting factor compared to performance since it won't likely be a high volume shooter.

Any recommendations for brass? I know it's hard to go wrong with Lapua, but Nosler seems to work well. I've had good success with it in 308win, but mostly use Federal since I have alot of once fired FGGM brass since that's the only factory ammo I've shot other than some Privi I was unimpressed with in 308win.
I have some Remmington large rifle magnum primers I'll work with. I bought them during a scare even though I didn't need them. Figured they'd come in handy one way or another and it looks like I was right.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

For brass Lapua doesn't make belted magnum. IMO for high quality belted magnum your only choices is Nosler and Norma. I've been happy with my Nosler brass.

 

[ants]

Nothing wrong with your Federal Gold Medal Match brass. I find them to be slightly heavier (and thus slightly less case capacity) but as long as you consistently use the same brass the results will tend to be equally consistent. If you change brass (Nosler brass is easy for me to find and works extremely well) be sure to check your load workup.

And remember that each rifle is its own platform. Your Encore and another man's rifle are very different. If somebody's favorite bullet or powder load doesn't work so well for your rifle, make incremental changes little by little. Adjust powder charge up or down and evaluate as you go. Big changes are harder to track.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'm fully aware that while I may get similar results, it may take a different combination. Even in two otherwise identical rifles.

I'm going to try and use only one kind of 300 win mag brass.

All my other calibers I have multiple headstamps and it's irksome.

I have a little factory ammo, Winchester and Hornady, but only twenty rounds of each. I'll probably make dummy rounds or just throw that brass out.

 

[ants]

If you want to sell your FGMM for funds to buy new brass, get in touch with me. I can always make good use of it. Or maybe trade for bullets, let me know what you need and see if I have it.

 

[gotboostvr]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, my FGGM brass is 308win and I'm not looking to get rid of any of it.

I did however score a set of RCBS dies for $20 off eBay, I'll have to see what the local fun store has in Stock, maybe make a run to Cabellas for the rest of my supplies