300 WinMag bullet weight question

[Georgia Shooter]

I am new to this site, but have read many posts as a guest. There's a lot of good advice and knowledge here, so I want to post a thread for debate.

I recently bought a Savage 116-FHSAK .300 WinMag (this is the muzzle break version). The purpose of this weapon is long range target and hunting, once I become familiar with the art of long range shooting. The gun is overkill for hunting in Georgia, but I really wanted a rifle that could be used for big game in the future.

So, here's the question. What is the most ideal bullet weight for this gun at 300 yards, if I am shooting targets only?

Second, would you suggest a different weight at 600 yards?

I know it's capable of 1000+ yard shots, but I have no real desire to tackle that just yet . I am not trying to start a debate over the best gun to shoot at different distances, so hopefully this this thread doesn't head in that direction .

Thanks in advance!

 

[dakotasin]

.1 - no such thing as overkill
1.0 - 165 hornady btsp
2.0 - no, i would not change my bullet pick for a game-capable target rifle.

you don't mention twist rate. a 10-twist or faster will handle just about any bullet you care to run out of a 300 win mag. a 12-twist may limit you a little on the heavier end of the spectrum, but might be made up for because of the win mag's velocity.

 

[Georgia Shooter]

The twist rate on this model is 10. I picked up some Hornady's yesterday, but cannot get to a range before Saturday.

I also bought some Federals, at the recommendation of a gun shop owner. They are 190's and cost about 20 bucks more than the Hornday's, so we'll see how they compare this weekend.

 

[LeonCarr]

The 180 Nosler Ballistic Tip would handle both your target shooting chores and your game shooting chores. if you plan on running up on bears (I think Georgia has a few bears) or large hogs in Georgia, then switch to the 180 Nosler Accubond.

There is no such thing as overkill, especially if you run across a bear or a 500-600 pound hog.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Georgia Shooter]

Hahaha, good point. I carry the .44 S&W pistol for that reason! I want something that can be easily aimed and fired, since you don't always have the luxury of scoping a bear or hog, lol.

 

[berettashotgun]

180 gr bullet
NO. Never.

 

[Jim Watson]

In general, heavier is better in a big case like that. A Long Range shooter would be comparing 190-210 and even bigger bullets. I doubt it will make much difference in the mid ranges of 300-600 yards.

Do you handolad? Buying factory match magnum ammo will really run up the cost.

 

[Float Pilot]

I shoot a 300 Win Mag Remington M-700 XCR tactical with a 26 inch barrel. 1 in 10 twist.
I am still working up various loads.

For punching holes in paper or two legged critters it is very hard to beat the Sierra match Kings or the Berger VLDs. The Sierra Match Kings are less expensive.

For an accurate game type bullet, with target bullet performance, the Nosler Accubond is very hard to beat. Followed closely by the Hornady SST bullets and Barnes Triple Shock.


With the 300 Win Mag, things like seating depth become very important. The 300 Win Mag has a very short neck for the case size.

Pus the distance the bullet must jump to the rifling lands makes a huge difference in accuracy and pressure.

Also primers can make a HUGE difference in your group sizes.
Here is an experiment from last Sunday

300 Win Mag. Rem M-700 XCR Tactical 26 inch bbl.

CAUTION ! THIS LOAD IS TOP END IN MY RIFLE ONLY. IT MAY NOT BE SAFE IN ANY OTHER RIFLE>

1,000 yard load.

200gr Sierra Match King
78.0 grains RL-25
WW brass trimmed to 2.610,
3.470 COL NO Crimp.
Temp 20f, wind 15 knots. 100 yards

Remington 9 ½ mag primer = 2,930 fps & a 1.4 inch group

Winchester Mag primer….. = 2,995 fps and a 1.1 inch group

CCI-34 Military Primer….. = 3,014 fps and a 0.80 inch group

Federal 215 Match Primer.. = 2,990 fps and a 0.50 inch group

CCI-250 mag primer =….. = Chrono failure and a 0.75 inch group


I have have had good luck with the 180gr Nosler Accubond and 74.0 gr of IMR-4831, = 3,120 fps and a 0.50 inch group at 100.

Also the 168 gr Speer Gold Match HPBT with 74.0 grains IMR 4350 and a Fed 215 primer = 3,234 fps and a 0.50 inch group.

The Hornady 190 grain soft point boat-tails can give me a 5/8th inch group at 100 yards using 78.0 grains of H-1000 for a velocity of 2,880 fps.

NOTE: Going slower in some (many) cases gives you much better groups.

 

[joed]

I have a similar cartridge, the .300 H&H Mag on a Rem 700 Classic. The 165 gr is a good all around weight and would be good to 300 yards or more. However, I prefer the 180 gr bullets, better ballistically for longer range. If I were going for big game my choice would be 200 gr bullets or even 220 gr.

Float Pilot is right about the seating depth on the .300 Win Mag, it's critical. That cartridge has a very short neck.

You'll find out that recoil is brutal. I actually have a shoulder pad I wear for range work.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

In a .300 Win Mag, I see no reason to go below 180 gr for anything, ever.

For target shooting--paper or steel, I would go with the 220 gr Sierra MatchKings or the 208 gr Hornadsy Amax. Either of these could take you from 300 yards and in to over 1000 yards, when you do get to that point.

For game, a 180 gr Accubond is a good place to start.

 

[AzBuckfever]

I agree...no such thing as overkill, EVER. Regardless of target shooting or hunting....load what you plan to hunt with....then plink all day with it. I agree with something in the 165-180 range.
With being back east, I would probably sway more towards the 165 area. Bullets that have proven their purpose are several from Nosler (Partitions, BTs, ABs), Barnes X (Triple Shocks), Bergers, Sierra Game Kings, so on and so forth. Don't pick the bullet that you like, but pick the one your rifle likes. Kinda like buying a toy for your rifle to play with

It may like to shoot 180grn Game Kings over 165 grn Partitions. If you want just a go to round, buy factory ammo

 

[AzBuckfever]

1,000 yard load.

200gr Sierra Match King
78.0 grains RL-25
WW brass trimmed to 2.610,
3.470 COL NO Crimp.
Temp 20f, wind 15 knots. 100 yards

Remington 9 ½ mag primer = 2,930 fps & a 1.4 inch group

Winchester Mag primer….. = 2,995 fps and a 1.1 inch group

CCI-34 Military Primer….. = 3,014 fps and a 0.80 inch group

Federal 215 Match Primer.. = 2,990 fps and a 0.50 inch group

CCI-250 mag primer =….. = Chrono failure and a 0.75 inch group

Are you saying that you're getting these groups at 1,000 yards???

 

[RSVP2RIP]

Don't pick the bullet that you like, but pick the one your rifle likes. Kinda like buying a toy for your rifle to play with

I'm gonna disagree here. Pick the bullet that has the desired terminal effects first, with accuracy a close second, price a distant third. Unless shooting paper, then accuracy, price. Plinking, price only.

 

[MCMXI]

My .300 Win Mag likes the 208gr Hornday A-MAX for target shooting. This bullet combines affordability with performance. The two groups below were shot prone with a bipod on the same day. The load is a 208gr A-MAX, 71.6gr of Reloder 22, CCI 250 primers, brass neck-sized only (fired twice), bullet seated 0.020" off the lands and a velocity about 2,850 fps. Rifle is a Remington 700 action with a 26" Krieger barrel with a 1:10 twist.

 

[Georgia Shooter]

I appreciate everyone's input. This will be a BIG learning curve for me, so I will keep everyone posted. I guess there's no quick answer to this question. Apparently, I just need to get out there and start shooting. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, no doubt influenced by different expectations and styles of shooting. I'll start with the Hornady's and Federals and keep all info logged for reference. Hell, to tell you the truth, I'm more excited about using the Accutrigger than anything!

 

[Float Pilot]

Are you saying that you're getting these groups at 1,000 yards???

NO. at 100 meters. That particular load with the 200 SMK is fairly warm since I developed it for a 1,000 yard load. 200fps less would be just fine for anything out to 600.

These loads were published mostly to show the difference between primers. So far, this rifle has not given me the 0.25 to 0.35 inch, 100 meter groups, I need to make it a good long range target rifle. I have $2,000 bucks or more sunk into this darn Remington, yet I can shoot better groups with aperture sights on my old $600 Swede CG-63.

In some cases the longer bullets like the 220 gr Match Kings seem to wobble or yaw a little at 100 yards but stabilize at longer ranges.

 

[Txhillbilly]

For paper mine likes the 208gr AMax,190 & 200 SMK's. You'll just have to find what your barrel likes and then go from there. A lot of guy's like Reloader 22,but I have better results with H4831 & H4350 out of my gun.

 

[7.62 Nato]

NO. at 100 meters. That particular load with the 200 SMK is fairly warm since I developed it for a 1,000 yard load. 200fps less would be just fine for anything out to 6000.

In some cases the longer bullets like the 220 gr Match Kings seem to wobble or yaw a little at 100 yards but stabilize at longer ranges.

Did you mean out to 600 ?

 

[Float Pilot]

Did you mean out to 600 ?

YEAP.

Too many things going on here. I can only be on here for a few minutes at a time. Then I have to drive into town or go shovel snow.

Try H-1000 as a good powder for the heaver bullets in the 300 Win Mag.
It does not change the pressure much with temperature changes. RL-22 does. Up here I might experiment with a load at 5 or 10 below zero (F) and then have to use that load on an 80 degree (f) day in the interior. Some powders go nuts and cause high pressures in warmer temps.

I do not yet know how the RL-25 will be with temp changes. This last week was the first time I have used it in the 300 Win Mag.


gotta go again...

 

[AzBuckfever]

NO. at 100 meters. That particular load with the 200 SMK is fairly warm since I developed it for a 1,000 yard load. 200fps less would be just fine for anything out to 600.

In some cases the longer bullets like the 220 gr Match Kings seem to wobble or yaw a little at 100 yards but stabilize at longer ranges.

I was gonna say.....either someone is fibbin' a bit or someone has one helluva rifle

 

[AzBuckfever]

I'm gonna disagree here. Pick the bullet that has the desired terminal effects first, with accuracy a close second, price a distant third. Unless shooting paper, then accuracy, price. Plinking, price only.

That's cool Just to clarify or further explain my statement. As I previously listed. There are several bullets with good ballistics and most are fairly similar in trajectory, coefficients, etc. The reason I said pick the bullet the rifle likes is because as everyone knows, each rifle will shoot the same bullet, differently. So in comparison, if you're shooting a 165grn. Nosler Accubond and a 165 grn. Hornady Ballistic Tip; although both are extremely similar in their function, one may shoot just slightly or drastically better than the other.
As another side note....if you're looking into long range shooting....IMHO, heavier is better. Just imagine trying to throw a pencil 50 feet and throw it as straight as you can. Now imagine throwing a .25" dowel the same distance, but the dowel is 3 ft. long. Same principal in my opinion. As briefly summarized by Float Pilot, in my experience, heavier (longer) bullets will yaw less at longer ranges to which you can avoid the "tumble" effect. Shorter range (such as 200yds) I don't think the bullet really has time to stabalize with the atmospheric conditions before it hits paper. We're talkin' a quarter of a second with a velocity of 2500fps.

 

[7.62 Nato]

I'm rebarreling a Sav. 110 to 300 Win. mag. I will be reloading for it and was looking at the H1000.

 

[Georgia Shooter]

AzBuckfever, the pencil/dowel analogy is a great point. Like I said, the gun will be used for 600 yards and less, so I will start with the 165 Hornady and see how it responds.

Again, great responses everyone!

 

[Georgia Shooter]

I took the Savage to the range on Saturday and again yesterday. Unfortunately, it was an indoor range and I could only shoot at 30 yards, but that was fine to get the new scope aligned. I was threading my first hole on every shot with 165gr Hornady's. Although, who couldn't at 30 yards, lol. The accutrigger is adjustable and needs some work. Overall, this is an incredible weapon out of the box.

I will keep this thread going with updates over the next few weeks. My first order of 180gr reloads will be here in a few days. BTW, a $25.00 required Hazmat fee on all gun powder is complete BS! Guess I'll look to the local guys for my powder needs instead of the internet! :banghead:

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the responses! You all made this decision much easier.