Advice on best possible bullet gr for 300 win mag

[jgduvenage]

Hi guys,
This question had been asked probably many times! I am new to the forum, and has been loading for a year or so.
I have the following rifle, and would appreciate any first hand experience with similar rifle and bullet greins as used.

Range from 200 yards and up. Since now I have tested 180gr in nosler BT and hornady sst!

Sako 85 hunter stainless
300 win mag
Twist of 1-11" and 4 grove.

I would really appreciate your input and advice as to what bullet and greins to use (start testing) for both hunt and target.

Thanks in advance

 

[watercam]

If you want optimum usage from just one bullet I would think the hunting version of the Berger 185 Juggernaut (Boat tail, conventional ogive) would be my first choice. Excellent accuracy and good on game.
With the right powder you should be seeing 3050+ fps. Play with seating depth (making sure it will feed from your magazine) for optimum accuracy and PRACTICE from field positions more than the bench.
For truly optimum effect on game though I prefer monolithic (copper) bullets (Barnes TTSX or LR, Hornady) or Swift Scirocco (heavy copper jacket/bonded).
For less expensive target options, Sierra 190s or 210s if you don't mind adjusting your scope for two different bullets.

 

[jgduvenage]

Thanks for the good advice!
Do you also have such rifle?

 

[r bose]

Hornady A-max 178's or the 208's are very accurate and deadly. In my 300 WM I like the 178's w/R-22 at 3000 FPS. The 208's (if you don't mind recoil) will go 2850 FPS. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt just about anything in the lower 48 with these loads. This is out of a 26" barrel. Can't remember my powder charges but any reloading manual will give you starting data.

 

[jgduvenage]

Thanks for the advice,
Bose, do you also have the same rifle?
I will definitely try those loads!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If you want optimum usage from just one bullet I would think the hunting version of the Berger 185 Juggernaut (Boat tail, conventional ogive) would be my first choice. Excellent accuracy and good on game...

+1

Hard to beat Berger Hunting bullets for long range accuracy, flat trajectory, and terminal performance on game. Berger bullets hold most of the long range Benchrest world record groups (or have at one time), shoot flat as a laser beam, and are a HAMMER on animals

 

[Drop Port]

I take it you will use it on plains game? which species? What is a realistic cap on distance 200- up to? There are a number of good bullets depending on what you want out of it some might not be necessary. The 180 NBT work great and if you need a tougher bullet its an easy switch to the Nosler AB. I hunted SA with a 300 Win in 2000 and found it to be a great choice for most game

 

[jonbearman]

The Barnes TTSX or TSX are some of the best hunting bullets ever devised. In my friends 300 wsm they drop a deer from 300 yards like they were hit by a cruise missile.

 

[r bose]

I have a Remington. 300 WM is a great no nonsense caliber. Bergers are very good bullets. Hornady a-max's are half the price and they have never failed me.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I ran 208 Amax and bthp's in my 300 WM, Retumbo pushing them around the 3000 fps mark..



Ray

 

[bsc4444]

185 GR. Berger Classic Hunter # 30571 In my Win Mag. jump'ed .030th with R-22, H4831sc and Imr 7828 all shoot very good. With 7828 w/76 GR shoots in the 2's. THIS IS MY RIFLE....START LOW AND WORK UP.

 

[byrddog]

I agree, to help you better, max distance and game hunted would definitely help. Personally, I don't like the all copper bullets. I have shot elk, oryx, deer, Barbary sheep and antelope with a whole bunch if different bullets out of a 300 win mag. I have used 190 SMK, 180 Nosler CT, 210 Bergers, 180 Nosler BT and 208 a max. The Sierra shot good and harvested everything I shot them at but did not like the way it performed. All the others I was way more happy with performance. The noslers performed flawlessly on every occasion. The Bergers do exactly what they say their going to do and critters don't go far. I'm not completely sold on the a-max but I have the least experience with them. I just started using them this fall and harvested a cow elk. This next fall should tell me more. Every bullet has a plus and minus. The 180 Nosler has a relatively low BC compared to the others but is a great 600 yard bullet. The other heavier bullets extend your range and offer better energy and wind drift at the longer distances.

Give us some more info and maybe we can help a little more. Bottom line-find something that shoots good out of your rifle then do your part.

 

[jgduvenage]

I mainly hunt from springbuck up to wildebeest and eland!
For buschveld conditions up to 150m and kalahari up to 600m!
So the heavier bullets would work just as week at those long distances?
As I said I have tried
180gr nbt
180gr sst
Next I would try then
A-max in 178 and 208,
Berger 185 and 210( I see on their website that they recommend the 210 for a 11 twist barrel! Is that crucial , as guide line?

Thanks for the input!

 

[Drop Port]

I mainly hunt from springbuck up to wildebeest and eland!
For buschveld conditions up to 150m and kalahari up to 600m!
So the heavier bullets would work just as week at those long distances?
As I said I have tried
180gr nbt
180gr sst
Next I would try then
A-max in 178 and 208,
Berger 185 and 210( I see on their website that they recommend the 210 for a 11 twist barrel! Is that crucial , as guide line?

Thanks for the input!

If you can keep shots off the shoulder there are more options, if not I would shoot a minimum of a 180 or 200 Nosler AB. A shoulder shot Eland at 0-150 yard with a 180 NBT could be a disaster. All depends on your type of hunting, I hammered two Gemsbok with well placed 165 NBTs out of a 300 win.
Tough choice going from bush to Kalahari, I personally like to shoot one load and often shoot Berger and Sierra, But under these conditions I might take a hard look at a 200 Nosler AB.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I mainly hunt from springbuck up to wildebeest and eland!
For buschveld conditions up to 150m and kalahari up to 600m!
So the heavier bullets would work just as week at those long distances?
As I said I have tried
180gr nbt
180gr sst
Next I would try then
A-max in 178 and 208,
Berger 185 and 210( I see on their website that they recommend the 210 for a 11 twist barrel! Is that crucial , as guide line?

Thanks for the input!

If you can keep shots off the shoulder there are more options, if not I would shoot a minimum of a 180 or 200 Nosler AB. A shoulder shot Eland at 0-150 yard with a 180 NBT could be a disaster. All depends on your type of hunting, I hammered two Gemsbok with well placed 165 NBTs out of a 300 win.
Tough choice going from bush to Kalahari, I personally like to shoot one load and often shoot Berger and Sierra, But under these conditions I might take a hard look at a 200 Nosler AB.

I agree on the 200gr AccuBond. The 180gr AccuBond is only a little less explosive than the 180gr Ballistic Tip because they both have a thin jacket. When you step up to the 200gr Accubond, you not only get a much better BC of .588, but Nosler also gives it a much heavier jacket for deeper penetration through bone and heavy muscle. The toughness between the 180gr AB and the 200gr AB is very different.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I think for a hunting rifle the 165 Sierra game king is hard to beat and no where near as expensive to load and shoot as some of the others. I don't believe 95% or western game needs a solid copper or bonded bullet to kill well. I love shooting the 175. For targets 175 nosler custom comps get my vote

 

[byrddog]

Yes the heavier bullets will work as well, even better at longer distances. The barrel twist is crucial for the stability of the bullet and accuracy. I would have to agree with the last two on the 200 grain accubond for what your intended purpose is. The 210 berger would be my second choice. Good luck with it.

 

[dkhunt14]

With the 11 twist that you have anything over 200 to 210 could not be as accurate. Depending on elevation they could be on the edge of stability and be not as accurate. I would try a 200 or 210 Berger VLD hunting bullet. For big tough animals I would go to a Barnes or Bonded bullet. Matt

 

[Ledd Slinger]

With the 11 twist that you have anything over 200 to 210 could not be as accurate. Depending on elevation they could be on the edge of stability and be not as accurate. I would try a 200 or 210 Berger VLD hunting bullet. For big tough animals I would go to a Barnes or Bonded bullet. Matt

What do you mean by "big tough animals"? There is no animal in North America that the 210gr Berger cannot easily anchor in.

 

[Drop Port]

With the 11 twist that you have anything over 200 to 210 could not be as accurate. Depending on elevation they could be on the edge of stability and be not as accurate. I would try a 200 or 210 Berger VLD hunting bullet. For big tough animals I would go to a Barnes or Bonded bullet. Matt

What do you mean by "big tough animals"? There is no animal in North America that the 210gr Berger cannot easily anchor in.

The OP is from SA, I think he is referring to the Eland. Inside 150 yard the shoulder can be like shooting a Dodge Ram 2500 ;D