duplicating factory loads

[dogfox]

Hi
I have a encore rifle in 300 win mag.I have try loading up some home loads but have not been able to get the required accuracy I would like.

I have shot some Winchester CXP3 180 grain power- points and they have shot real well. I would like to know would anybody know what powder,bullet and primer are used in the make up of this ammunition.

Thanks Dogfox

[kudzu]

Rem, Fed., Win. all have their own powder loads and are often a mixture of powders. Good luck gettin any of that info from them. From what I have gathered the powders that they are using are not available to the public. Myself I don't mind handloading and do for several rifles. However I try and find a factory load that shoots first. As most reloaders don't want to admit, velocities from fac ammo is hard to duplicate staying within safe presures. At times greater accuracy can be obtained by handloading without the vel. and imho is better. I will take accuracy over speed anytime. Having said this I will shoot fac. as long as I get the accuracy and bullet I want. I load for my 300rum for I want to shhot the 200AB, and also load for my 6mm, 7mmrum and 300rem saum. I am shooting fac from my 7mag, 270wsm,280,25-06 and 22-250. Since this is the TC board I will also state that the 280, 25-06 and 22-250 are all prohunter barrels. the 7mag(160fed AB), 270wsm(140fed AB) 280(140 fed Fusion), and 25-05(120 fed. Fusion) will all shoot 1 1/2'' or less at 300yrds. The 22-250 shooting rem 50 accutip stays under 2 at 300. With these results, I see no need to try and handload. Others will disagree because all they shoot are handloads and would not shoot fac to save em. To each his own.

Dogfox, I believe it would be worth your time to try the fed, Fusion ammo. You didn't state what or if this rifle will be used for hunting. I have really been impressed with this ammo on WT.
You also have the choice between 150, 165, and 180 gr. bullets.

Good luck, DM

[Grumulkin]

I don't think the major ammunition manufacturers "mix" powders.  I believe what happens is that a large batch of powder is mixed up, its properties tested and then an appropriate charge thereof used to load ammo.  The powders aren't necessarily standardized like powders meant for handloaders are.

Also, there is a big difference between velocities claimed by the factories and the real life velocities obtained.  Some of the claimed velocities are from pressure barrels which aren't like the barrels we take hunting.

The only factory ammo I ever tried that was as accurate as what I loaded myself was some 375 H&H Magnum Federal Premium ammo.  I, however, could load ammo that was just as accurate and much cheaper.

As far as trying to duplicate factory loads is concerned; I wouldn't even try.  The Hornady and Barnes manuals list recommended powders for various cartridges (the Barnes information is the most extensive).  I use one of the recommended powders as a starting point and take it from there.  Where a powder recommendation isn't available, I'll look at similar cartridges to make a decision.

[Graybeard]

Winchester factory loads are certainly the easiest to duplicate of all the factory ammo brands. Their bullets are all readily available to the reloader and they do use powders that are "more or less" available over the counter.

Winchester uses the same ball powders in their factory ammo you can buy in cannisters across the counter. BUT not from the same lots obviously and that would be the single biggest difference I think. Now figuring out which powder they use in any given load would be the trick. You could maybe figure that out by looking in their loading manuals to see what most closely duplicates their stated performance and taking a cartridge apart to see if it appeared to be that powder they used. BUT be forewarned that most of the Winchester ball powders look much alike so you might not be able to determine by appearance it really is what you think it is from the book data.

Still if you use one of the Winchester ball powders and Winchester bullets of the type in their factory loads and using book data match the velocity you get in your actually rifle with their factory ammo you will have come closer to matching their factory loads than you'll ever do with any other brand of ammo.

[kudzu]

I don't think the major ammunition manufacturers "mix" powders.  I believe what happens is that a large batch of powder is mixed up, its properties tested and then an appropriate charge thereof used to load ammo.  The powders aren't necessarily standardized like powders meant for handloaders are.
 
 I believe the correct term that they use is a powder "Blend".   DM
 

Also, there is a big difference between velocities claimed by the factories and the real life velocities obtained.  Some of the claimed velocities are from pressure barrels which aren't like the barrels we take hunting.

        most of the guys I know that reload have also stated that handloaded vel. do not match up with fac. These are chrony results, not printed results. I will see If I can find an old thread where this was disscussed. Many loaders here have come to the same conclusion.   DM