I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SHOOTERS WHO SHOOT 300 WIN MAGS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR BEST LOAD FOR ACCURACY IS AND AT WHAT YARD. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST MATCH LOAD AND POWDER COMBINATION YOU USE. WHAT IS THE BEST LOAD FOR 1,000 YARDS WITH WHAT PROJECTILE. GIVE ME YOUR BEST SHOOT!!!!!!!!!! MY WIFE THINKS I HAVE WAY TOO MANY GUNS. ANYONE HAVE THAT PROBLEM? WHAT DO YOU DO, SNEEK AROUND OR JUST TELL THEM YOUR HOOKED ON GUNS AND NOT DRUGS?

-- Steven Shaw (Stevenshaw@cox.net), July 01, 2003

Answers

I'm trying something a bit differt this year, I'm using a 300 wsm for elk hunting, I'm using a 165 grain hornady boattail with 60 grains of H380 powder, I'm getting better than 1/2 inch groups at a hundred yards, (most of the time I get better than that). The bullet comes out at around 2940 fps, not super fast, but I have faith in placing the shot to drop any animal over magnum wonder guns. If I can't see them that well, I won't shoot them, show that much respect for the hunt. My gun is a savage 11G, in wood and blued barrel, my scope is a 6-24x44. I use a 338 win mag at times also, 210 nosler partition bullet, with 72 grains of reloader 19, great load, great accuracy. I use a Ruger 77 with a 3-9 bushnell scope, again not a fast load, 2740 fps is all I can muster with this load, but it sure is accurate, I get better than 1/2 groups with this load also. I've never lost an elk with this combo, usually one shot kills are not uncommon. 300 win mag, good gun, my son uses one and it is a game stopper, he uses a 180 grain hornady bottail, with 75 grains of reloader 22, he gets 3145 fps with this load, find what works for you, good hunting.

-- Mario Jimerson (jimersonfamily@earthlink.net), May 17, 2004.

I have been hunting elk and deer in Wy for about 25 years, and have tried alot of differant calibers and bullet manufactures. I don't think you can beat the 300 Mag. I have harvested a large number of elk in the last 10 years, the farthest was 487 yards, and most of the rest were over 300 yards. Accuracy is arrived with alot of differant things. You can't hit whay you cant see. A good scope is a must, I use a 6x20 burris mill dot. Next is the trigger. You can't get good groups with a factory trigger. Either replace the trigger, or have a good trigger gun smith rework the existing trigger to get a light touch. Another important factor is the barrel. KEEP IT CLEAN. Copper in the barrel greatly effects the accurcy. As was mentioned by someone else, head spacing is important. Get the bullet as close to the barrel as possible. I use 180 gr XBT barns with 72.5 grs of IMR 4831. When this bullet hits, the elk goes down and doesn't come apart. Read the Barns web page and believe what thay say. I have read that the 168 grain boat tail is the most accurate bullet for the 30 cal. I'm going to expeirment with that one this year. Probaly the most helpful in achieving accuracy is shoot, shoot, shoot!!!!!!!!!!! Know what your gun will do. As far as the wife, get a new one LOL. Not really, did you try to get her involved in target shooting? She might like it. Start her out with a .22 and see what happens. She might get hooked.

-- Tim Kulhavy (tkulhavy@bresnan.net), May 03, 2004.

I have a Remington 700 PSS in .300 win mag. The best load so far for accuracy I’ve found is: 73.5 grn RL-22, Sierra 190 grn HPBT Match Kings w/ CCI 250 Large Rifle primers. This load produces 3018 fps (@ muzzle) and .25” groups of 5 (@ 100 yds). It’s not the best load for hunting as expansion is unpredictable. For hunting, I’m working up a recipe using Barnes Triple Shock 200 grns. Also worth noting, I seat bullets between .002 - .008 off the lands, depends on what the gun likes with the particular bullet. I may drop down to the Barnes Triple Shock 180 grns, simply because they are boat-tail and the 200’s are not.

-- Sean Bordner (sbordner92@hotmail.com), March 18, 2004.

Steve:

I have been hunting deer with my Win. Model 70 300 win. for 6yrs. I've found that 150 grain bullets don't provide complete pass throughs about 50 percent of the time. If you wish to use 150 grain bullets I recommend loading them on the lower end to reduce velocity, or use a well built bullet Nosler Partition, CT Fail Safe other wise step up to 165 gr. bullets. I'm currently loading the Fail Safe with 81.5 grains of H1000. I get 1 inch groups at 100 yds. And that is really good for me. Too bad Nosler doesn't make their new accubond in a 150 or 165 grain bullet.

-- Mark Stallings (stallings5@cox.net), March 04, 2004.

I shoot a Rem. 700bdl. and I've tried just about every bullitt they make, had a hard time beating Sierra boat tail, for accuracy and price. My favorite load is 77.1 grs. of H4831sc with 150gr.Sierra boat tail. I hunt on a pipeline and have made many shots between 300 & 400yds. Love the 300 win. mag.

-- Mike Burnaman (tmburnaman@motivaenterprises.com), January 09, 2004.

Like bobby said 74.1 grains is max for the .300 using IMR4350 ... but with the 168 MatchKing, I push it out to 78 grains. This with CCI 250 MAg primers has really come to give me excllent results from my Savage 112. As for two many guns....I told my "ex" wife that the day she became as reliable as my hunting rifle... i might start listening to her bitching. That shut her up right there! Also cll Nosler.. they have different specs on thier loads due to claiming their bases in the noslers are harder creating higher velocities and increased chamber pressures. Or play it safe ,,, shot Seirra's. Best of Luck

-- Chuck de la Riva (countyoutlaw@yahoo.com), December 27, 2003.

I don't like alot of recoil,so I've developed some light loads that seem to work.A Speer 130gr. HP with 73.5gr. IMR4350, and Nosler 125gr., with same powder, hold practically the same zero! Mine is 3" high @ 100yds. puts me dead on @ 300! Pretty neat, huh?

-- Gary Dixon (gbuckowen4@aol.com), October 26, 2003.

i like a good stiff load of imr4350 book max is 74.1(sierra manual) and a 168 match king,watch your loads on the upper end,it dont take much to go from great to really really bad,start low work up and watch for pressure signs,always load safe,and shoot safe,as for the wife thing,i kept my guns,bobbby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), July 27, 2003.