200 grain bullets in .300wsm

[Cameron SS]

I am a new reloader looking for some advice on using 200 grain bullets in my .300wsm. Some of the reloading manuals I have, ie. Speer, say there is no advantage in using anything larger than 180s.
I've tried the sierra HPBT in both the 180s and 200s, and find the 200s shoot a little flatter, with less wind drift.
Looking for some more experienced opinions...anyone?

 

[Kenny474]

German Salazar has an article on heavy bullets in the 30-06 on his site, Riflemansjournal.com. I believe there is also some information on the advantages of the heavier bullets over the lighter bullets as well. You may look there for more info. Lots of good stuff there anyway, definitely worth a look.

 

[TonyR]

Some of the top 1000 yard BR shooters use the Berger 210 VLD and the 300 WSM. I think the issue is where you seat the bullet. If you seat the bullets to magazine length, then you loose internal case capacity while increasing the weight and resistence of the bullet. If you seat the bullet shank completely out in the neck, as most target shooters do, then the heavier bullets with their higher BCs make better sense.

 

[Cameron SS]

I don't mind going out past mag length. I load single shot anyways. Any possible issues with loading into the rifling?

 

[TonyR]

Depends on the bullet and your chamber. Hornady makes a device that allows you to put a special case in your chamber then push the bullet forward until it touches the rifling. Then you can see where the bullet will be seated in the case neck with your rifle. Different bullets of the same weight are not shaped the same so it depends on the bullet and your chamber. Fortunately most gunsmiths can use a throating reamer to lengthen your chamber if necessary.

 

[Rem06]

I am a new reloader looking for some advice on using 200 grain bullets in my .300wsm.

depends on how you define "using"?

targets/hunting/distance/game?

more details will get a better answer.What are your plans?

 

[Cameron SS]

I shoot F Class target mostly. The BCs on the Sierra 200 HPBT is virtually identical to the 200 Gr Accubond, so correct me if i'm wrong, I could use the same load with the both bullets and the data should be pretty much the same.

 

[Rem06]

I could use the same load with the both bullets and the data should be pretty much the same.

should be? we could hope for that,at 600yds but 1k BC really helps.

accubonds are a bit pricey to shoot match at well over 2x the price of the 208Amax.

what length bbl? in order to take advantage of the 200's over the 180's in 300wsm a 30"bbl helps. if you're running a 26" i'd stick with 180's