.300 Ultra Mag

[Asscott4]

I bought a .300 Rem Ultra Mag a few months ago and im not very happy with it at the momnet. The gun is a Sendero,completely stock). I put a Leupold LRT 8.5x25x50mm scope on it with the varmint hunters reticle. Now here is the problem.... I know this gun/ caliber isnt supposed to be a "tack driver" but im sure it's suppoed to shoot better than what it does....I have shot factory 180gr feds in it with no luck. I have also shot 180gr remington premier scricco's in it, still nothing.... I have also reloaded for it. I loaded 20rds with 100grs of RL22, Fed mag primers, and a 125gr NBT @3800fps, just to see what it would do with lighter bullets). The first 6 shots, 2x 3-shot groups) @100 yrds i managed to cut 2 and place the third just to the outside. I was happy but then the rest of them were all over the place!!! Now I did let the barrel cool a little before each shot/ group... I also reloaded 20rds of some 168gr SMK's @3600fps. I shot 2x groups of 4. In each group the 2 shots cut each other,I was happy). Then the rest of them shot all over the place just like the 125's. Now I just dont understand... Is it me or the gun? I know this gun produces a TON of recoil but when I shot these loads I also shot my .308 and I cut very good groups with it. Im sorry for such a long and possibly confusing post but I would really like for this rifle to shoot pretty well. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you for your time and feedback.

 

[Dans40X]

700 Sendero 300 Ultra
Bed the action in the H&S Precision stock w/aluminum block.
Make sure the barrel is floated.

Clean the barrel/throat better than new.
,Flitz works really well for removing carbon build-up)

I've only loaded 220-240's for my 300 & 300's for the 338 Ultra-can't help you with loads for the light bullets.

My Sendero's in 300&338 Ultra would loosen the scope mounts until I swapped the bridge mounts out for Ken Farrell mounts/rings.

They both consistently hold under 1/2 MOA @ 300yds.

 

[Asscott4]

How exactly would you suggest cleaning the throat better than new? Also about how much would you think bedding in a new stock cost? Also did you adjust your factory trigger? do you know what is the stock trigger pull? Thanks for all of the information. I have been thinking of installing a muzzle break. If you were going to install one on one of your Sendero's what one would you pick?

 

[billmo]

Asscott4, That 300 RUM is a bad boy when it comes to shooting from the bench. When Rem first brought it out, I bought a SS reg. barrel. I shot it 26 times the first time I ever took to the range. It wore my butt out man. I ordered an H & S precision stock and had it fitted,bedded) and that done a world of good. I did all the other little things,trigger, torque action screws, etc.) and I finally got to the point of being able to hold it pretty good. The thing would shoot 125, 150, 168, Nosler BTs into .500 groups if I would do my part. So, they can be made to shoot but the recoil simply was more than I wanted to take since I shoot all my guns from the bench from time to time. My point is hang in there and work with it. It will come around but you may wind up like some of my shooting clam and myself. We got rid of ours simply because of being beat to death.

 

[Asscott4]

Heh yes I agree with you on the 'beating you to death" especially when you just shoot paper with it lol. Just curious, how much would the recoil drop if one were to put a muzzle break on it? Like .300 winchester mag levels or still more than that? I have never had a break and I always wondered how effective they are. I understand they are more effective on bigger caliber guns. So in other words if I dont want to sink more money into the rifle I should just sell it? Thanks for all of the input....

 

[billmo]

Brakes are fairly effective on the larger caliber rifles. I have never actually had one installed but I have owned a couple of Browning A-bolts 7mm Mag. and one Win. Model 70 .270 that came from the factory with brakes. Recoil was rather on the mild side with all of them but dang they were loud. I put the CR units on all of them which calmed the noise and still allowed adjustment.
As far as how much reduction in recoil goes, I'm sure somewhere there is a chart or list that Browning publishes that describes the amount of reduction. Just guessing I would say on the 7mm Mag. it was app. 30 to 40 % but I don't know that to be a fact. There is probably somebody here on the forums that could tell you exactly how much. Some pretty smart dudes on this site. But yep you are correct if I had it to do again I would sell my 3oo RUM and never think twice. Just too much killing going on, on both ends man. Happy T-day man. Bill

 

[BillK]

I have a Sendero just like yours and it shoots superb!!! I did not bed it I just adjusted the trigger and later I put a brake on it. I looked at six of them in the same store before I found one that was what seemed to be perfect in fit and finish,especially a perfect looking crown). I use re25 with 178gr amax bullets and 215 primers. I have shot the amax bullets both moly coated and bare and the gun shoots great. All my friends that have 300 ultras use re25 with 180ish bullets.

 

[CoyoteVision]

OK - I make simple mistakes, maybe this will help. Got a new gun, mounted the scope, drove to the range, and shot 4-5 inch groups. Drove home very upset. Later, that night still thinking about what could be wrong. Checking the scope mounts.. no problem. Then a random thought,as all my thoughts seem to be lately)
Drove to the range the next day, adjusted the scope for parallax, and shot 1 inch - 100 yd groups.

 

[Asscott4]

I have a Sendero just like yours and it shoots superb!!! I did not bed it I just adjusted the trigger and later I put a brake on it. I looked at six of them in the same store before I found one that was what seemed to be perfect in fit and finish,especially a perfect looking crown). I use re25 with 178gr amax bullets and 215 primers. I have shot the amax bullets both moly coated and bare and the gun shoots great. All my friends that have 300 ultras use re25 with 180ish bullets.

Cool cool. I was wondering did you adjust the trigger yourself? If so could you break it down for me? For as much shooting as I have done I have never pulled a gun apart, other than to clean it of course.) Another question... About how many shots do you fire before you clean your .300? 3,4 or what? Thanks for all of the help. I dont really want to sell it and I dont really want to stop shooting it either. Also what kind of break did you install on it? Heh one more thing. How is the recoil now? What is it equal to now? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks for everything.

 

[Woody]

If it helps:
I put a Vais brake on mine and a better recoil pad,mine is an older LSS). You could probably put on a better brake in that it would perform better,less recoil) but I really like the look of the Vais on mine. Recoil with brake and pad is less than my 30-06. For me, tolerable.
Good luck.

 

[Asscott4]

Heh oh wow that's a big difference lol. I could find that to be nice I think for now im going to buy and install a 40xb trigger that adjusts from 8oz-1.5lbs. Thank you for your time.

 

[BillK]

I did adjust the trigger myself. The trigger on my sendero is pretty good for a stock remington trigger. I have to reference an instruction sheet to remember the screw sequence on the rem trigger. My other guns have different triggers and I always refer to the tech sheets I have-sorry. I put a Hart brake on my gun. It did not work that well so I modified it by running an endmill into the thread end and putting a chamber up to the first set of holes. I kind of stole the idea from Mark Kings brakes before I had him smith my guns. This also makes the Hart brake similar in works to a kdf. I just recently started to use a modified harrells brake that works real well!!! The harrells brake is half harrells half chamber brake by running an end mill in to the first set of holes!!! Very effective brake and cheap to do if you have equipment and machinist skills!!!

 

[280man]

as for a trigger spend the money for a Jewel I would bed the action with alum devcon float the barrel and shoot slower powder RL25, Retumbo and check your mounts only the best will hold up to the recoil that thing produces I have a factory M70 Winchester and I get 3 shot groups under .75 I had a custom built 700 heavy barrel that would shoot under .5 five shot groups the 300 RUM is a very accurate round for a big gun just my $.02 worth

 

[squirrelduster]

I have a 300 win mag and it was a kicker. I added a stock from Darrel Holland and it made the recoil so bad I could hardly shoot it.
I added a muzzle brake from OPS, Inc. that I purchased from Brownells and the difference was amazing. It kicks about the same as my old 6mm remington. The noise is no louder than without the brake.
I had a 22-250 with a regular style brake with the holes on the end and it was supposed to be a quiet brake and the noise was so bad you needed muffs and ear plugs to shoot it. People would stop by to see what I was shooting that was so loud.

 

[treeman]

I've had some expirience with the 338 mag and 7mm stw. I found that if you are shooting from a bench you have to pull the rifle into your shoulder very firm to get good groups. maybe this will help. with the 338 I could shoot it just as well group wise sitting useing the hasty sling. treeman

 

[people]

I had a rem 700 in 7mm STW at about 7 lbs or something like that. It is very light. Even with a scope it feels like a car 15. I could only shoot it three times before I was jerking the trigger. I had a break installed the kind that has the holes all over it. There is more muzzle blast felt then recoil. It is very loud. I like it for clearing the bench next to me.

 

[SlowpokeRodriguez]

I had a custom rifle in 300 RUM and it always shot lights out my new one is called a 300 Slowpoke which is an improved variety of that cartridge and it shoots .3 and .4 every single time at 300. There is not a problem with the cartridge but either with the rifle of the shooter and when I say shooter I mean rest, bags, reloading techniques, components, actual shooting techniques etc..

 

[Asscott4]

Well i went out this weekend and shot some of my reloads. The ones I shot were: 210gr SMK's with 87 grs. of Retumbo, Federal Mag Match primers, and the COL of 3.8". I shot a group of 5x @100 yards and I got all 5 to nearly touch. I'm very excited because I havent got this rifle to shoot like this before. I think I found what it likes and how to shoot it lol. Thanks for the advise though

 

[warthog97]

How exactly would you suggest cleaning the throat better than new? Also about how much would you think bedding in a new stock cost? Also did you adjust your factory trigger? do you know what is the stock trigger pull? Thanks for all of the information. I have been thinking of installing a muzzle break. If you were going to install one on one of your Sendero's what one would you pick?

I can't answer all of your questions, but I shoot a Sako TRGS in 30-378 Weatherby Mag, which runs pretty similar velocities to your 300RUM. I have to admit I was afraid to shoot it until I braked it. After spending over a year researching breaks, I decided on one of the least sexy, but possibly most effective breaks, the JP Enterprises break. The Sako is a fairly light gun but with the break, it recoils about less my 6.5x55 Sweed. As to intermittent accuracy, here is a tip from experience. I was having exactly the same problem you described. Frustrated, I set the Sako in the rack. Then I noticed that the barrel seemed to have more free float than normal. Squeezed the barrel and stock and resulted in more than a 1/4 of play with very little force. I'd shot my action screws loose. I wish I could say I had my torque wrench handy and fixed it on the spot. Instead, I took it home, torqued it, and put it away and deployed a month later. If you removed your stock to clean your rifle, you may have fixed it on assembly. Me, I pulled every rifle and checked the torque of every screw. I was amazed how many of the rifles needed tightening. Every rifle had loose action or scope ring screws. Checking screws should be a maintenance action accomplished at every cleaning. Happy shooting! -bnw