.300 Win Mag Pet Loads?

[BigNate]

My son and I are going to start loading for .300 WM and I'm hoping that folks would be willing to share any pet loads for AZ hunting. At the moment we are planning to load 180gr and I have RL-22 and N165 powders - so loads around those would be great - but interested in any other suggestions for Arizona Elk hunting use. Both the rifles have 26" barrels I believe his (newish Browning X-bolt) is 1:9 twist and mine (old Ruger 77 MKII) is 1:10 twist.

Yes - I have a book.
Yes - I plan to step load.
Yes - I understand that loads perform differently in different guns.

Just curious as to what folks here have done that works for them.

 

[stomp442]

The .300 Win mag is probably the most temperamental caliber in existence. I have pages and pages of data for individual rifles I have worked on for people that all liked different bullets, powder and even primers. Rarely do I find one that likes the same bullet or powder as another. I would suggest picking a bullet and powder and working up until you find a load that works or move on to the next combo. The powder I have probably had the most success with is H4831sc. It rarely provides the fastest speeds but accuracy has always been really good once its tuned in.

 

[BigNate]

Thanks much @stomp442 - appreciate the insights...

 

[Hac]

[mention]stomp442[/mention] couldn't had said it better. One of the most temperamental caliber I have loaded for. The powder that has worked the best for me has been, RL17 and RL22. Good luck on your venture. Currently loading 70gr of RL17 pushing a 165gr Accubond at 3150fps out of 2 different rifles.

 

[Doc]

My son and I are going to start loading for .300 WM and I'm hoping that folks would be willing to share any pet loads for AZ hunting. At the moment we are planning to load 180gr and I have RL-22 and N165 powders - so loads around those would be great - but interested in any other suggestions for Arizona Elk hunting use. Both the rifles have 26" barrels I believe his (newish Browning X-bolt) is 1:9 twist and mine (old Ruger 77 MKII) is 1:10 twist.

Yes - I have a book.
Yes - I plan to step load.
Yes - I understand that loads perform differently in different guns.

Just curious as to what folks here have done that works for them.

Don’t sure that powder but this link should take you to the RL22 recipe. There was a load for 180’s, winchester brass & CCI 250 : https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=14&cartridge=141

Here’s a link for the N165
https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/rifle-reloading/?cartridge=25

Hope it’s a starting point.

 

[BigNate]

Thanks Doc

 

[792mauser]

Yup.
Had a remmy 700 in 300wm. She wanted nothing to do with anything over 180gr.
Keyholed almost everything over 180 and what it didn't Keyhole, it spread far and wide.

She was fantastic with 175s and below.

Such a temperamental and frustrating rifle. Sold it years ago and only have 1 300wm left, a Winchester Laredo which is picky about seating depth.

 

[428cj]

I had a Rem 700 P 300 mag with a 26'' barrel. It used Reload 22 with 180, 190 and 200 grain billets. It held under 1 1/2 MOA at one mile . With no trouble. Very good shooter.

 

[BigNate]

Yup.
Had a remmy 700 in 300wm. She wanted nothing to do with anything over 180gr.
Keyholed almost everything over 180 and what it didn't Keyhole, it spread far and wide.

She was fantastic with 175s and below.

Such a temperamental and frustrating rifle. Sold it years ago and only have 1 300wm left, a Winchester Laredo which is picky about seating depth.

Yeah - we are loading 180s for the two "hunting rifles."

I had a Rem 700 P 300 mag with a 26'' barrel. It used Reload 22 with 180, 190 and 200 grain billets. It held under 1 1/2 MOA at one mile . With no trouble. Very good shooter.

I've daydreamed about building something to shoot at a mile - probably in .300 win mag given that it is "enough" cartridge, I have dies and lots of brass, and I don't think that I need more cartridge than that to start shooting in that space. I've also looked at the Bergara B-14 HMR as my sense is that I can buy one for less than the price of an entry level ELR build - and buying a complete gun will make it less likely that I'll try to scapegoat the gun for my mistakes while I learn.