I say stick with tghe heavier projectiles, they are what got this cartridge its reputation.
I LOVE a old saeco mold I have. It throws a 500 grs bullet in spitzer profile. I have shot a couple hundred pounds of these down range. Its a great bullet. I load it with 3031 out of the 29" Highwall barrel. Last cronographed at 1200 fps if memory serves.....
My hunting bullet is the 400 speer or the 405 Remington. I load the Remington in my H&R's to about 1650 - 1675fps and the Speer in my Browning Highwall and Marlins loaded to just under 2000 fps.
The 300 was a weight to try to entice some higher velocities from this ol' grand dad.
I have shot a couple Whitetails with the 300's and they work fine. It wasnt untill a friend shot a bear head on that I stopped using them. The bullet entered half way down the throat cought the top of one shoulder bone and disentgrated. Yes this was a handload and yes it was loaded faster than factory, about 2000 fps or so. I think it was a Hornady bullet, not sure. He got the bear, as some of the bone fragments made it into the chest cavity. But not stellar performance to say the lest.
A couple years later, again on bears, I shot a 210lb sow through the shoulders, broad side with the Speer and my handload. The bullet broke both shoulders before exiting with a quarter sized exit. the bear went down instantly and began quivering all over, death balled and fell silent. just that quick. I am sold on heavy for caliber projectiles.
