300 Win Short Mag

[elktrout]

I have heard that the sharp shoulder on these rounds can cause feed problems unless the gun has a single stack magazine so that the rounds feed straight forward with the push from the bolt.

I really like the concept of the short mag, especially with the lack of a belt and the short action that can be used while still nearly matching the belted 300 Win Mag.

My questions, for those of you who have them and especially if you reload them, are:

1. What rifle do you use for this round?
2. Does it always feed reliably? Is it single stack?
3. Do you get ballistics equal to or close to the published reloading manuals?
4. What kind of case life are you getting?
5. Are there any quirks with the round that I should know about that typically are not discussed in the gun press?

Thanks for your help.

 

[dakotasin]

1- winchester 70.
2- yes. no.
3- don't recall exactly... ballistics are good, though. runs close to my 300 win mag.
4- not real good. maybe 3-5 firings.
5- no quirks w/ the round. it is one that i really like. there are some reloading issues w/ it, though. case life is relatively short, though i suspect annealing would help. my cases develop neck cracks quickly. getting the sizer die set up correctly isn't as straightforward as it should be, but not hard to do. overall, excellent cartridge that compares favorably to a 300 win mag, and blows most other 30 cals away (i have, and handload for, probably about 7-8 30 cals). i like my 300 win mag better because i like the rifle better (rem 700), but that has nothing to do w/ the chambering. you won't regret a 300 wsm - flexible chambering. my 9 year old daughter shoots a 300 wsm. her load is 130 grain hornadys at 2500 f/s; this is an accurate load to 200 yards. kind of nice to have a chambering truly capable of going all the way up and down the power spectrum accurately... not many chamberings can do that. on one end you have my daughter's load, and on the other there is my load (180's in excess of 3000 f/s... sorry i don't have exact numbers for you... it is early, and i'm still trying to shake the sleep out of my head)...

 

[saskboy]

1. tikka T3
2. always reliable feeding, single stack
3. I dont have a chrono so im not sure, im sure they are close though
4. Real good case life so far, over 5 reloads on brass so far. Running near max load.
5. nothing odd about reloading this round, i load 110gr to 180gr bullets with no problems at all. Easy to find new brass at gun shops because not too many people have that caliber and it doesnt get sold out instantly.

 

[MCMXI]

1. What rifle do you use for this round?

Remington 700 Alaskan Ti.


2. Does it always feed reliably? Is it single stack?

Yes but see caveat at the bottom.


3. Do you get ballistics equal to or close to the published reloading manuals?

No idea yet since I haven't chronographed any of my loads but I will soon.


4. What kind of case life are you getting?

I've reloaded the same brass six times now without any indication of any problems.


5. Are there any quirks with the round that I should know about that typically are not discussed in the gun press?

The magazine length in the Remington is WAY too short!! The round is very accurate but recoil is significant in a light, hunting rifle. My rifle including the scope, rings and bases weighs 8lb which makes it nice to carry but translates into quite a bit of felt recoil.

CAVEAT: I've been reloading for this rifle for just over a year. In working up the loads, I can't remember why I didn't check to see if my loads would fit in the magazine. A recent thread prompted me to check and just as the member described, the magazine is WAY too short so there's no way that I can seat the bullet 0.020" off the lands (or even close to that). I'm currently trying to figure out the best way of remedying this situation. I've seen some longer magazine wells available that require some fitting but that might be the way to go.

 

[elktrout]

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback. I know Winchester chambers this round, but I hear that the Weatherby Vanguards are now really up there in quality and still reasonably priced.

This just might be the round for my next hunting rifle. I really wish that CZ chambered it.

 

[robctwo]

Browning BAR Stalker with BOSS.

Extremely accurate. Never had a feeding issue. Load everything from 110 to 180 gr. Really likes Hornady 150 and 165 gr. I reload on a Hornady LnL. Really need to bump the shoulders and full length size to run in a semi auto. No case failures yet, but I probably have no more than 6 reloads in any one case.

 

[K-Dirt]

1. What rifle do you use for this round?
2. Does it always feed reliably? Is it single stack?
3. Do you get ballistics equal to or close to the published reloading manuals?
4. What kind of case life are you getting?
5. Are there any quirks with the round that I should know about that typically are not discussed in the gun press?

1. Mine is a Browning A-Bolt (Wood/Blued)
2. It's not single stack but it feeds great. I was a little worried about the rebated rim.
3. No chrono, so no idea about ballistics.
4. I've only loaded cases twice, but they look pretty good and don't stretch at all.
5. No quirks about the cartridge, but if you get a Browning, do yourself a favor and get a limbsaver recoil pad. The stock piece is ridiculous.

 

[JimmAr]

I shot my buddies Browning Eclipse.. was very accurate rifle.. didnt have any problems feeding in the spear head 210 bergers.. set .12 off the lands.. some cases he had reloaded 8 or so times I go shooting with him quite often.. ill see if hes gotten any past 10 its hard to say with hefty loads of 77.1gr h1000 perhaps you would be more generous then he is..