Accurate hunting load recommendations for custom 300 win mag

[sunny]

My wife of 30 years has been my accomplished big game hunting partner & really snapped me off with a custom 300 win mag for our 30th wedding anniversary! What a Gal!!! I would deeply appreciate pet-load, accuracy based reloading information for this type of rifle. I am still breaking in the 26" Krieger fluted match grade barrel in #5 contour, which is set on a Winchester Mod. 70 BDL post war action that was trued & lapped. The Monte Carlo stock is pillar bedded & the trigger reworking is truly outstanding. I am currently using up my stock of old reloads that didn't shoot very accurately in my other 300's, however, I am very impressed with the sub moa groups these "old" various loads are now consistently producing in this rifle & am anxious to make-up some real accurate hunting loads, which are known to work in premium match grade barrels for the 300 win mag. My Krieger barrel has a 1 in 11 twist, which I believe should be ideal for both "hunting & competition style bullets" in the 165, 180 & 200 grain range. I am new to this site but not new to reloading... Thank you in advance.

[jerkface11]

I'm a little confused here. You said it was shooting sub MOA with your handloads. But you want to find more accurate loads to hunt with?

[sunny]

I don't always break apart my reloads from prior tests, like when accomplishing a ladder test for loads...  I am currently using up these old loads that didn't work well in other rifles, but am inpressed that they are all grouping sub moa just different poi.

[Dand]

Please work up carefully as my rifle has a long throat and I can seat my bullets to 3.45 OAL or longer.

I have been very happy for over 20 years with:

Rem brass ( Win works ok too),  CCI Mag or Fed 215 primer,  71-73 gr of IMR 4831,   180 gr Speer Hot core flat base or Nosler partition or older solid base.  Velocity is 2900 to 3,000 fps.

Exact wt of powder depends on avg wt of my cases.  A long time ago my batch of cases averaged 235 gr and lately they avg 238 to 240 gr.

I routinely get 3-5 shots in 1 to 1.25 inch at 100 yards and once got 3 shots into less than 2 inches at 195 yards.

I have had good results with one or maybe 2 gr more of H4831 too. The new "extreme" Hodgdon powders attract me as I may hunt in +70 Fto - 20 F but I have a good supply of the IMR.  Also, I haven't really noticed much problems with the IMR over this range - but I really haven't done a lot of hunting below 0.

I've used IMR 4350, AA 3100, H870, H414, old Norma MRP and they all can make good loads.  But I like IMR 4831  and H 4831 (new and old) best in that order. I have't tried the H4831SC but plan to.  

I'm writing from memory so be careful.

My rifle is a Rem 700 action tuned by HS Precision, HS cut rifled barrel of 24 inch, 1 in 10 twist.  As noted I can seat bullets well out in my magazine and chamber so check load manuals and approach my loads with caution if you have a shorter chamber.  Though I no longer push to the limit - saves the barrel, my shoulder, and the meat. \

hope this helps.

[Patriot_1776]

sunny,

My 300 Weatherby always likes a 180gr. Barnes Triple Shock with IMR7828.  Most of the handloads I used gave 1 1/2" or less at 100 yds.  There is one group that measured 7/16".  I haven't had time to try any more loads yet...been busy with other cartridges.

But if you want a good powder, definitely give the IMR7828 a try.  It seems to be an excellent powder for 300 H&H-based case designs and improvements.

jerkface11 wrote:

I'm a little confused here. You said it was shooting sub MOA with your handloads. But you want to find more accurate loads to hunt with?

He probably forgot to mention this, but he might have been shooting with target-grade hollowpoints, not any kind of hunting bullet.


-Patriot

[sunny]

Thanks again to all...  Thus far, my custom rifle will keep everything under 1 moa, usually around .75 inch groups, however, 10 old 180 grain Nosler Partitions loaded with 70 grains IMR4350 grouped all 10 shots into one ragged hole about the size of a dime at 100 yards!!! Haven't used chrony yet but I'm truly impressed... Next week, if it's not raining, I'll use the chrony & try some Sierra boat tails with the IMR4350 & possibly H4350 & H4831...

Sunny