300WSM fast or slower powder?

[goindeep]

Ok, do I want a faster or slower burning powder? 20 inch barrel, I would think faster burn would be more complete...is this right?

 

[Linear Thinker]

Slower powder would be better. Overbore magnums (short/fat case, Ackley-ish shoulder) have special requirements, and there are a couple of powders specially designed for them - Retumbo and MagPro.
300WSM would probably do well with the older "slow" powders eg. 7828 or RL22.
No personal experience with 300WSM here, but a lot of experience with 300 H&H and 300WM.
LT

 

[dakotasin]

my 300 wsm absolutely sparkles w/ rl-19, and is where i'd suggest starting from w/ a 20" pipe.

 

[Racktracker]

Depends on what your needs are. Are you looking for a bench rest load or a hunting load?

I wouldn't go with anything faster than H380 or slower than H4831.

I agree that something in the RL19 range would be a good start point. My rifle really likes Ramshot Hunter, which has a similar burn rate to RL19.

 

[snuffy]

Slower powder would be better. Overbore magnums (short/fat case, Ackley-ish shoulder) have special requirements, and there are a couple of powders specially designed for them - Retumbo and MagPro.
300WSM would probably do well with the older "slow" powders eg. 7828 or RL22.
No personal experience with 300WSM here, but a lot of experience with 300 H&H and 300WM.
LT

I respectfully disagree. The 300 WSM shines with the mid-range burn rate powders. It does NOT need the ultra slow powders.

In mine, the slowest I've had any luck with is H-4831 SC. In fact it is the best for my Browning A-bolt. AA XMR-4350, R-19, AND ww-760 are all in the right burning range.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This thread should be combined with your other thread since both are about reloading powders for the 300WSM. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=309522

 

[dakotasin]

My rifle really likes Ramshot Hunter, which has a similar burn rate to RL19.

i have been working w/ ramshot hunter recently (257 roberts primarily) and that looks to be a great powder. i was getting ho-hum results until i switched over to a magnum primer, and then the accuracy significantly improved. i am looking forward to doing more work w/ this powder soon, and my daughter's 300 wsm is next to go through development...

 

[jeepmor]

I've loaded some IMR 4350 at 62-ish (61.8, 62.0 and 62.2 grains) and got sub 1" groups at 100yards with 165 grain Nosler Accubonds. Best group was 0.67". Max charge is something like 65 or 66 grains, but groups were bigger as I went up in powder charge. But the rifle may not have been fouled enough yet, these went through first, right after a cleaning. Rifle is Ruger SS MKII with 24" barrel.

Information from Hodgdon website, please verify before you load if you choose this powder.

 

[ShunZu]

Pet load for the .300 WSM (in MY rifle, anyway): 62 grains 4350, 168 gr Sierra Matchking bthp, Federal match primer. Doesn't shoot as good of groups as my .300 WM but is still well under 1 MOA.