300 Win Mag whitetail load

[Richard.Howe]

reload velocity vs. expansion

--subject edited--

Morning all,

In theory:

1. Assuming the same bullet construction, will a slower round have time to expand more?

2. What weight bullet would you recommend for whitetail, from 150 gr up to 180? Recommended construction (Partition, SP, etc.)?

3. How downloaded is *too* downloaded? Aside from possibly sticking one in the barrel, what other detrimental effects could this cause?

4. If the recommendation is to leave the round as-is, what would be the best shot with this rifle? A high-lung shot seems as though it would offer too little resistance, and hence decrease bullet deformation.

Reason I ask is that I'm concerned full-power loads will be a bit too zippy and underexpand in a thin-skinned southern whitetail. Furthermore, the area I hunt does not justify the use of 36" drop in 500 yds ammo. 200 yd max shots. Is this a valid condern?

You may be wondering why I'd use a canon on a poor little whitetail...it's a gift from my grandfather, and my only rifle.

Thanks all, and Happy New Year!
Rich

 

[paul105]

Check out the info on "youth" loads at Hodgdon's site:
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/index.php
They give specific load on .300 Win Mag and general info on how to develop other reduced loads:

 

[45crittergitter]

I handload for, and use a .300 Win. Mag. for Whitetail in Mississippi. I am also an engineer. Here are my thoughts:

>1. Assuming the same bullet construction, will a slower round have time to expand more?

In theory, yes there is more time, but no reason to expect more expansion. Expansion is related to work done on the bullet resulting from the energy carried by the bullet meeting resistance of the target. Slower is less energy, not more. In practice, no; the faster you push an expanding bullet, the more it expands upon impact.

>2. What weight bullet would you recommend for whitetail, from 150 gr up to 180? Recommended construction (Partition, SP, etc.)?

Most recommend 150-180 grain. I have only used 180s and have found that standard construction bullets (non-premium, i.e., Core-Lokt, Ballistic Tip) fragment terribly at around 3000-3100 fps. Therefore I use Partitions, Scirrocos, X-bullets, etc.

>3. How downloaded is *too* downloaded? Aside from possibly sticking one in the barrel, what other detrimental effects could this cause?

Don't go below the recommended minimum in your manual.
Slower could easily lead to poor expansion, especially with tougher bullets. If you find a real slow load you like, use a bullet designed for that velocity, like a .30-30 bullet.

>4. If the recommendation is to leave the round as-is, what would be the best shot with this rifle? A high-lung shot seems as though it would offer too little resistance, and hence decrease bullet deformation.

Just put it in the middle of the chest. Expansion will not be an issue with any deer bullet in a .300.

>Reason I ask is that I'm concerned full-power loads will be a bit too zippy and underexpand in a thin-skinned southern whitetail. Furthermore, the area I hunt does not justify the use of 36" drop in 500 yds ammo. 200 yd max shots. Is this a valid condern?

No way will a "too-zippy" load UNDEREXPAND for being too fast. I suggest you quit worrying about it and go enjoy your hunting. Good luck.

 

[Fire1]

One of things I have been thhinking about doing this summer is working up a good deer round for my .300 Mag. I was thinking that a good 165gr bullet, I like Sierra, and a charge that will put in the upper end of the .30-06 range should make a fine deer round. 45crittergitter has it right though, any good factory load in the 150-180 gr range and a shot to the ribs should get you a very dead deer and hardly any meat wasted.