Hunting projectiles / Recommended powder for 300WM

[JimTom]

G’day gents

For those who are reloading for the 300 Win Mag, just wondering what is your projectile and powder of choice for hunting? I know the questions are going to be what are you hunting and at what distance so I will say more often than not it will be pigs at longer distances, the odd brumby and hopefully one day, larger deer, some scrubbers or buffalo.
I have some 178ELD X and AR2209 on hand to start with. Interested in hearing what people think. AR2217 will prob be my next move if I have no luck with the AR2209. Is anyone using AR2213sc? Once I have used the 178ELD X, I will perhaps move to a 180gr SST or something that is suggested here.

Thanks gents.

[TassieTiger]

I’m still working up a load for my rifle, but at present it’s looking like 68.2gns of ar2209 pushing 180gn sst’s at spot on 3000fps. I’ve tested from 65gns to 72gns with this projectile as well as with Sierra 180gn boat tail hollow points.
In my set up - close enough to 4 out of 5 shots touching at 100m.

[JimTom]

Thanks for that Tassie. Appreciate the reply. Will see how these current projectiles perform and prob try the 180’s next.

[JimTom]

Out of curiosity Tassie, have you tried any other powder or just the ,09?

[TassieTiger]

I’ve been happy with the 09 for several reasons - including accuracy and speed - and I also use in the 06 and 260 so saves having too many variables...

[JimTom]

Yes I see your point. I also load 2209 in my
6.5 Britney so would be handy if it works out.

[SCJ429]

I used 71 grains of RL22 behind a 220 grain Hornady ELDX for an ES of 7 fps and a SD of 3. Shot a group of 0.271.

[JimTom]

I used 71 grains of RL22 behind a 220 grain Hornady ELDX for an ES of 7 fps and a SD of 3. Shot a group of 0.271.

Impressive mate. Seems you have yours dialled in nicely. I’ve not ever used RL powder. Mate are you happy with how the ELD X projectiles perform on game? Thanks for the reply mate. Appreciate it.

[marksman]

although l dont have one at this time l do have some experience with the 300wm
RL22 is supposed to be the mothers milk for the 300 wm with 180gr and heavier bullets
l have had good results with 2209, 2213sc and RL22 on all sizes from 150gr to 180gr
2209 is a very good one with shorter OAL because you wont run out of powder space in the cartridge that you may run into with 2217
l'd give the 2209 a go with your 178gr bullets as you are going to, l found the magic velocity for 180gr bullets was between 1950fps and 3050fps
what rifle have you got or are you looking at

[JimTom]

although l dont have one at this time l do have some experience with the 300wm
RL22 is supposed to be the mothers milk for the 300 wm with 180gr and heavier bullets
l have had good results with 2209, 2213sc and RL22 on all sizes from 150gr to 180gr
2209 is a very good one with shorter OAL because you wont run out of powder space in the cartridge that you may run into with 2217
l'd give the 2209 a go with your 178gr bullets as you are going to, l found the magic velocity for 180gr bullets was between 1950fps and 3050fps
what rifle have you got or are you looking at

Yeah thanks mate, definitely will consider the RL22 if no joy with the AR2209. Thanks for the information. Appreciate it.
I am waiting on a Winchester M70 to arrive. Hopefully only another week or two. Thought long and hard about which rifle to purchase. After much deliberation I decided on the Mod70 Super grade which is a timber stock model. Will post some results up here when I get it and develop a few loads.

[Bill]

200gr lapua Mega would be my first choice, Ive used the 155gr in a Swede and 260 rem on donks, horses, srcubbers and pigs and expansion and penetration is what you need. Plenty of other pills will do the the job but few do it like a Mega. I have a spare box if you want to test a few ....

[Sherlock]

Had good result using Nosler Accubond 180 gn ,AR 2209. Averaged 2936 FPS
Barnes TTSX 180 gn do everything manufactures claim but $ are a factor.
Hornady SST 180 gn I really didn’t have much luck with,but not much time went into load development.
I have settled on the Nosler Accubond as they do every thing I require,for any hunting situation.
Ruger M77 300 win mag so it limits any OAL options.
Enjoy your new rifle

[JimTom]

Thanks for your input Bill and Sherlock. A few more options for me to look at.

[SCJ429]

Impressive mate. Seems you have yours dialled in nicely. I’ve not ever used RL powder. Mate are you happy with how the ELD X projectiles perform on game? Thanks for the reply mate. Appreciate it.

I shot some pigs at a bit past 300, they performed very well.

I found SST very hard to tune, they work well on game but very frustrating to get them to shoot. If you want to use ADI then I would try Short Cut or 2217.

[TassieTiger]

What did you find frustrating about the SST's ? Please dont say inconsistencies....

[SCJ429]

What did you find frustrating about the SST's ? Please dont say inconsistencies....

Ogive length all over the place, even after batching them they shot a load under an inch one day, repeat the load and it shoots an inch and a half. I will never bother with load development with a SST bullet again. The bullet design is very sensitive to seating depth and not suited to magizene length COAL.

[TassieTiger]

Hmmm...I’ve had a couple of shots that I cannot explain...you have me wondering. It’s not huge for me as I’m either punching paper or wallaby.
As mentioned above , I can shoot 4 that are touching but 5 might wander an inch...I put it down to me...

[flutch]

I loaded a lot of 100 rounds of lapua boat tails at 185gn, they did well with 2209 with very little felt recoil compared to federal 180gn ammo but now I have a heap of 155gn Berger boat tails that a friend palmed off on me, those same loaded at mid range powder load at (off top of my head) 72gn 2209 come out around the 3100 mark but kick like all heck. Both shoot pretty accurate, but haven't developed the loads too much, not even bothered with it considering it mostly gets used on things like donkeys/ bulls and pigs at close range

[JimTom]

Thanks mate.

[marksman]

having the winchester you will have plenty of room for longer OAL's and using slower powders

l use the SST's and do ogive sort them but dont see any more problems with them than any other bullet, except bergers that l find are very uniform
l have used the 150gr sst bullet out to 650 with a bang flop finish recently in my 270wsm and had very good results when it was a 300wm out to around the 500

[JimTom]

Cheers mate. Will post results up here when I get it sorted.