300 WM Bullet , which ones?

[webbspinner]

Sooo many choices      Thinking about 180 TTSX, or regular TSX.  Hornady SST's or interbond's, or Accubonds, Scirrocos etcc.. Elk and Bear And mule deer .  shooting 180 corelocs and 180 failsafes right now but about out and will reload then.  just thinking about what to load.  Really interested in the barnes.  but have had good luck with accubonds in 7mm and 270.  love to hear your thoughts as usual.  Thanks 

[Sweet 6.5]

If you look at this link you will see I am happy with Hornady GMX 165gr out of my
300wm. I don't think I will hunt with any other bullet again.
 
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,236342.0.html

[Lloyd Smale]

the bullet ive killed the most deer with out of my 300 win mag and what i load for my buddys 300 short mag and has accounted for many deer out of that gun is the 165 nos ballistic tip. Contrary to what you read about it it does real well out of the mags and about allways leaves an exit wound and doesnt tear up meat unless you hit a sholder. Its a very accurate bullet to boot. The 300 short mag isnt much more powerful then what you can load an 06 too and really doesnt need 180 grain bullets or even premium bullets for deer sized game. Most deer shot with this combo were bang flop kills. The premium bullets just dont give that knock them in the dirt performace that bts or seirras do. That woud be my second choise for your gun. the 165 sierra pro hunter. Id try both and use whichever shoots best in your gun. I wouldnt be a bit nervous about shooting game the size of moose with that combo. By the way you can keep those barnes tsx bullets. Ive had real poor luck with them. There great if you want to practice your tracking skills.

[webbspinner]

I appreciate the advice for sure, and I surely do not wish to practice my tracking skills.     I was just thinking I would stay with a 180 but have been toying with the idea of the 165gr.  My buddy shoots that in his .308 and 300 wsm.  ballistic tips and and the CT silvertips and loves em' two elk and a couple of deer and great performance.  Now both elk were smaller cows, probably yearlings but dropped like rocks.  I seem to usually end up with big old tough ones so thought the 180 was a good idea.  Maybe I should open my mind up a bit.      I have heard several say that you should go lighter with the bullets like the GMX.

[Lloyd Smale]

If BIG elk were on the agenda i still wouldnt feel undergunned with a 165 bt but woud proably give consideration to 165 partitions. Ive killed quite a few animals with them too and never lost one shot with them. There performance on game in all calibers has been without flaw for me but the bts just tend to shoot a bit better. I pretty much stick with 165s in the 300 win though. When i step up to my 300wby i then stick with 180s. Ive never seen the need for ANY bullet heavier then a 180 in a 30 cal though.

[RevJim]

 I've shot alot of game with the older Barnes 180 XBT out of the 300 Win Mag. I loaded the 168 TSx for a friends 300 WSM for a Big Horn sheep/Mtn Goat hunt, it worked great.
 I load the 168 TSX in my 30.06, it's very accurate. I like Barnes, and the Hornady GMX looks swell. Personally, in a 300 Winmag, I would use the Barnes 180 TTSX, working up to 76gr R22 in Win brass and the Fed 215M primer. That's just one of many, many recipes of course. Good luck to you.

[webbspinner]

Thanks a bunch and feel free to keep the suggestions or agreements coming, right now I have about 24 reloads with 180 failsafes then its time to go back to the bench.  whatever powder and load would be helpful, i have been using imr 4831, and its consistent but wouldn't mind a little more zip, especially since I think I will move down to the 165's

[webbspinner]

My buddy loads the 165 ballistic tip in his sons 308, took a cow elk last year and I was very impressed at the performance, when they first came out with them I loaded up some in a custom 25-06 and ended up using them for coyotes mostly, too fragile for deer.  but he said they reworked them in the larger calibers for hunting, and I have had good luck with the CT silvertips I reloaded (they were cheap) for my 270.  I think they are fairly similar in construction.  What about the interbonds, any experience with these, seem real hard to come by right now, everyone I have checked so far is sold out.

[Brithunter]

Due to a problem with his 6.5x55 rifle my buddy used his 300 Win Mag on our deer hunt back in 2003. He used Nosler 180 grain Ballistic Tips. Having questioned Noslers tech folks before using them they told him that the .30 cal BT's of 180 grain were made tougher as they KNEW folks would use them on Wapiti.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive shot a bunch of deer with nos bt 100s and 115s in the 2506 and 257 wby and never lost a deer hit by one. As a matter of fact rarely had to go more then 5 feet to recover them. Never had any more meat damage then with other bullets and just about allways get an exit wound. I hear the meat damage crap all the time but ive shot many many deer and what ive found is meat damage is much more a matter of where the bullet hits then which bullet it is. I think more people error on the other side thinking they need premium bullets to kill deer and find they just dont put deer down like standard old cup and core bullets.

My buddy loads the 165 ballistic tip in his sons 308, took a cow elk last year and I was very impressed at the performance, when they first came out with them I loaded up some in a custom 25-06 and ended up using them for coyotes mostly, too fragile for deer.  but he said they reworked them in the larger calibers for hunting, and I have had good luck with the CT silvertips I reloaded (they were cheap) for my 270.  I think they are fairly similar in construction.  What about the interbonds, any experience with these, seem real hard to come by right now, everyone I have checked so far is sold out.

[LanceR]

I have never loaded for the 300 WM but have done a lot of loading for the very similar 30-338 WM and for 30-06 and .308. 

I have used and liked the 168 grain TTSX. 

I also use Barnes 275 grain XPB in my .50 caliber Savage muzzleloader and the 273 grain Tipped MZ Expander in my 20 gauge slug rifle.  Every shot (white tailed deer) has been a pass through and none of the critters have gone more than 60 yards with most going a lot less than that.  On the other hand, I look for a solid heart/lung hit and have hit a shoulder on one occasion.  That was on the exit side and still exited but didn't even leave much stew meat on the shoulder of the doe.  It was all blood shot.

The only one I ever recovered had passed diagonally downhill through a buck and was recovered from the dirt on the other side of him.  It had expanded to almost exactly 2x diameter and looked like the pretty mushroomed bullets on the Barnes site.  It had lost only 4 grains which I suspect was the plastic tip.

Due to the quick opening of the TSX/TTSX bullets and near total weight retention you can generally expect to be able to use a bullet that is a weight class lighter than most traditional bullets and still get the same results in wound channel size and depth.

From everything I understand about the way a Partition behaves the 165 grain bullet should give the same results.  Try a box of each and shoot what your rifle tells you it like best at your hunting distances....

I suspect that you won't find anything that is appreciably faster than IMR 4831.  Of the 14 powders on Hodgdon's website the only two that are faster with 168s are only are by 15 FPS or less.

Lance

[webbspinner]

I apologize Lloyd, I will clarify a little.  I never tried them on deer cause I was getting such devastating results on coyotes.  Of course I was not necessarily worried about shooting a coyote behind the shoulder, just ending with a dead yote.  I never had one run away after shooting and I assumed that the BTs would really tear up a deer.  Which most bullets will cause some damage at such high velocity as the 25-06 produces, had some really big messes with 100 grain core-locts also.  I had a pet load for hunting in my rifle, the old nosler 120 gr. boat tail which always seemed about 25 caliber in and double that on exit, and extremely accurate.  The BTs I shot were 100 gr and a shoulder shot on a coyote was very impressive.  I don't recall if they did not have a 120 gr or I just couldn't find any.  I will never knock nosler cause I started using them because of the track record, they are up at the top of the pile for a reason.  Consistent performance and quality, always very tight specs on their bullets, very little deviation in wt bullet to bullet.  At the time was buying bulk CCI/Speers and they would vary sometimes as much as 3 or more grains bullet to bullet.  Course you bought them by the pound at the factory, so no real surprise I suppose.

[Rock Home Isle]

I shoot a .300 WSM as my elk gun, unless I draw my Blackpowder Tag...and the Barnes 165 gr TSX is Uber Accurate in my .300 WSM Bolt Action. The Barnes Bullet has never failed me when the shot has been a hard angle into the animal that I'm shooting at. I also shoot this same bullet in my .30'06 and my .308 Win. The Barnes in one of my hunting rifles is what I use when I don't draw Black Powder.
 
For day to day shooting, in my .30 calibres, I load the 165 gr Sierra BT. This bullet is fairly cheap, with surprisingly good accuracy (the bullets usually weigh out pretty close to eachother)....I pay about $27.00 and some change for a box of 100 of these .30 calibre pills. The Sierra's have always been good to me in the past, but I don't take any hard angled shots into a big game animal when shooting a standard lead core bullet such as this style. That being said, when you take care on your shots then the Sierra 165 gr BT will again be very effective for both Deer and Elk sized game.
 
The Barnes Bullet has replaced my old friend the Nosler Partition. When I go for big game such as Elk, I shoot a Barnes Bullet in the modern gun (I'm a Muzzlelaoder at heart) that I'm carrying into the field. And when I'm getting ready to head out, I've never had more than a slight scope adjust before heading to the hills when I switch between the Barnes and the Sierras. Usually its just a 3 shot group or two at the raneg to re-verify ZERO and I'm ready to hit it.
 
For short range Varmint shooting I use the 32 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade in my .22 Hornet. Its just a WOW on close-up Coyotes...one tiny hole in...no hole out...pelt is in beatiful condition. If you ever decide to go long range varmint hunting with your .300 Mag....you might look again at Barnes.
 
I must admitt that it was my soon-to-be Son-In-Law that turned me onto Barnes. I've since found that his whole family (Dad & 4 boys) are a .300 Mag Family. I come from a .270 Winchester Family...and I have a 7mm Mag Dad. 

[webbspinner]

I am trying to collect as many guns as my wife has shoes    I think I will be dropping down to 165 gr in my 300 now cause I love my 338 for the heavy stuff, having great accuracy with the 225 gr in that.  I shoot 130s in my 270, currently shooting 160s in my 7mm Mag, 220 RN in my 30-06 (just cause I got em) 180s in my 300 (going to switch to 165s) and 225s in my 338 WM.  Oh yeah and 170s in my 30-30,  thinking about using barnes and noslers in the 300 and making it a real long range shooter like my 7mm currently is set up.

[Rock Home Isle]

Nosler Partition is a great bullet. It's what I used for years. I switched to the Barnes because it is such an outstanding bullet, very uniform and its Boat Tail design transfers to great down range ballistics. Something that the flat based Nosler can't deliver.
 
From years that I have used the Barnes Bullet...This bullet just flat anchors 'em...
 
I'm sure that you'll be very content with the Barnes and you'll notice a huge difference.

[RevJim]

 I shot a doe antelope with the 180 Nosler BT and just about cut her in two, and this was out around 350yds or so. I figured it was just because they are small animals. I then shot a 180# young muley buck, same mess. I then went straight to the Barnes XBT ( pre-TSX times) I used it in South Africa and Namibia, great killer. I also shot a Gemsbuck with a friends 300 WM and the Banres 165 XBT. I felt the 180 had more oomph, but these are tough animals. I like the Nosler Partitions also, and sometimes use them in other calibers ( 35 Whelen/ 9.3x62) I used the Nosler 165 BT in a .308 with perfect results. The 165 has less soft lead up front than the 180, which means you get a mushroom consistently back toward the solid base/thick jacket. Works like a Partition. It would do the same in a 300 mag I'd venture. Big Bergers are the rage here in Utah now, but most, like me, are die hard Barnes TSX users. Good luck to you, any 300 mag is a fine big game rifle!

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Over the years I have shot Horn., Serria, Speer, and Noslers in my various 300's.. Used everything from the 150 though 220 grain wts...I think for my future hunting short of big bear in Alaska..I will use Nosler 165 grain Accubonds..I have some 180 Accubonds also, but have never shot much game with the 180 in any .30 cal..Never tried Barnes, bought a box of 180's several years ago, but never opened the bx..figured any thing they could do Nosler Part. has been doing for 50 years...The Accubond has worked fine in my 340 so I figure for my use it will be perfect...Barnes may be excellent, but at this time in life, I will stick with Noslers...

[Rock Home Isle]

  ...Barnes may be excellent, but at this time in life, I will stick with Noslers...

Nosler is a very fine premium projectile. 

[Cheesehead]

I have shot a truck load of deer with the Win Mag. Most with the 180 Ballistic Tip. It is very destructive, maybe too much. I have also used Hornady 180 round nose with good results on deer. The Win Mag is well suited for 180 bullets, in my experience.

Cheese

[nomosendero]

I have shot a truck load of deer with the Win Mag. Most with the 180 Ballistic Tip. It is very destructive, maybe too much. I have also used Hornady 180 round nose with good results on deer. The Win Mag is well suited for 180 bullets, in my experience.

Cheese

I have killed alot of Deer with the BT. As others have stated, the 165, esp. those made in the last few years do very well. The 2nd generation 165's are a good bit tougher. In the case of the 180, they have 3 generations of those, the 3rd because of Elk hunters as someone pointed out, one of the Nosler Reps stated that. I still have some of those 180's that came in the red box & said solid base Bal. Tips, wow they expanded. I used those for years in my 30-06AI. Yea those & the old box that looks the same in the 165 would not be the pic for me at 300WM velocities. But I killed some Whitetails season before last in 180 Gr. with my 300WM @ 3125 fps & they expanded well, but plenty tough.
 
Good as I like the 165gr, for Elk I would much prefer the 180, not because you have to have it to kill an Elk, but for rare cases that occur the 180 of same construction will penetrate better. But more than that, the 180 of same shape will have a much better BC. The trajectory difference is not much witha 165 at 3200-3250 compared to a 180 @ 3100 & the difference can be plotted and allowed for quite easily. The big deal in the West is wind drift, which is not easy to plot at all, so I minimize as much as I can. The high BC bullets drift much less.
 
But for deer, just get a decent bullet that shoots good in YOUR rifle.
 
 

[Lloyd Smale]

well said. I too would probably opt for a stouter 165 and better yet step up to a 180 if trophy elk were on the plate. No doubt the 165 bt would get the job done but id still feel better using a stouter or heavier bullet. For deer though way to much thought and internet advice steers people toward premium bullets. Deer are easy to kill and ANY bullet in a 300 mag is going to get the job done. Some people will claim meat damage with light or lightly constructed bullets. Personly i just havent seen it make that much differnce. Some of the biggest holes ive put in animals have been from partitions and grand slams. Its much more a matter of where you put the bullet then which bullet your using. For deer just use what shoots best in your gun and use the money youve saved by not buying a premium bullet to just buy more standard bullets and use them to practice!

I have shot a truck load of deer with the Win Mag. Most with the 180 Ballistic Tip. It is very destructive, maybe too much. I have also used Hornady 180 round nose with good results on deer. The Win Mag is well suited for 180 bullets, in my experience.

Cheese

I have killed alot of Deer with the BT. As others have stated, the 165, esp. those made in the last few years do very well. The 2nd generation 165's are a good bit tougher. In the case of the 180, they have 3 generations of those, the 3rd because of Elk hunters as someone pointed out, one of the Nosler Reps stated that. I still have some of those 180's that came in the red box & said solid base Bal. Tips, wow they expanded. I used those for years in my 30-06AI. Yea those & the old box that looks the same in the 165 would not be the pic for me at 300WM velocities. But I killed some Whitetails season before last in 180 Gr. with my 300WM @ 3125 fps & they expanded well, but plenty tough.
 
Good as I like the 165gr, for Elk I would much prefer the 180, not because you have to have it to kill an Elk, but for rare cases that occur the 180 of same construction will penetrate better. But more than that, the 180 of same shape will have a much better BC. The trajectory difference is not much witha 165 at 3200-3250 compared to a 180 @ 3100 & the difference can be plotted and allowed for quite easily. The big deal in the West is wind drift, which is not easy to plot at all, so I minimize as much as I can. The high BC bullets drift much less.
 
But for deer, just get a decent bullet that shoots good in YOUR rifle.

[RevJim]

 about 10 yrs ago, I had a chance to hunt (well, shoot deer off feeders,ha) up near Llano, Texas. I was playing with a 300 winmag alot then, so I thought I'd try a real "bomb" on them; the Federal Blue Box 150 ProHunters. Shah! The bullet acted just like a Partition on them! It actually "syphoned" out parts of the lungs,etc so they were hanging out the 2" exit hole! These were little Hill country deer ( I shot one buck, three does) maybe 8-9" wide. I was surprised just how tough that Sierra 150gr was, seemed like a great deer bullet to me.

[Rock Home Isle]

...... I was surprised just how tough that Sierra 150gr was, seemed like a great deer bullet to me.

I know what you mean. I've shot the Sierra BT's for years and for a regular day to day bullet...they are actually pretty good. 
 
When I reload, I like to weigh out the first 20 or 30 in each box to see how good the lot is....and for the most part, they weigh in real nice.

[RWK]

Ok! Which is better in a 06, 165tsx 0r 168ttsx ?

[nomosendero]

Ok! Which is better in a 06, 165tsx 0r 168ttsx ?

Better for what?  Goes back to the same conversation we already had if you are talking about the original
poster's question, just with a slower muzzle velocity. With your 2 choices it will depend on what your rifle prefers.