What is the best cast bullet for the 300 Savage?

[Turkeyfeather]

I have shot 150 grain Lymann 311466 Loverin designed bullets for years and have punched paper and targets with good success.

Now I am searching for the best cast bullet weight and design for hunting whitetail at 100-125 yard distances. People have recommended I go with a FN, 180-195 grain bullet. The heavier bullet would allow me to get better energy levels at that distance without shooting them at faster speeds which cause more barrel leading.

The FN will provide a better wound channel than a RN or pointed bullet and still have good balistic qualities at that distance. I am not sure I would like to entertain a seperate soft nose mold but I would like to get a view on that as well. I have heard the Guy Loverin designed 311407 180 grain FN is a good design but I haven't seen other designers utilize that type of lube grove design and perhaps that isn't the best for me.

I know Mr Smith has a quick answer for this as the 30 cal, short case 300 Savage and 308 Winchesters, have probably come across his request list many times. This time I would like to get a professional view for a hunting application. I appreciate the input.

[Veral]

First, understand that any reccomendation I make will be for an LBT bullet design, because I make them and believe they are the best available.  Furthermore, I don't believe anyone can proove me wrong!

  I reccomend my LCFN design, due to the short neck and probably short throat.  Make a throat slug and send it to me with your mold order and I'll cut the maximum weight the gun will handle properly, which isn't likely to be over 170 gr.  Use air cooled wheel weight metal which has 1% tin added, LBT lubricant, and drive them to the maximum velocity your rifle will shoot them accurately.  Most rifles in this class will get 2400 fps  or more with air cooled ww alloy bullets and LBT lubricant, and effective range for certain expansion will be well over 200 yards.  In other words, softnoses would be a waste of efffort unless you wanted to take game at longer ranges.  Softnoses provide certain expansion at well over 500 yards, when the right alloys are used.