bullet tumble 300WSM

[rcool]

I went to the range today and shot at 1,000 yds for the first time. I was mystified to see a profile of the bullet in the cardboard instead of a round hole.

My load is: 168gr Berger VLD, 66gr IMR 4350, Rem brass, Fed 215 primer.

I am shooting a Savage Model 12 FVSS chambered in 300 WSM, 26 in barrel, 1 in 10" twist.

Any ideas why my bullet would tumble?

 

[fivering]

The 30 cal 168 gr bullets are excellent through 600 yds, but don't remain stable at 1,000 yds enough of the time that some ranges do not allow their use, considering them to be unsafe at 1,000 yds.
Go with the excellent 175's available, or even heavier, and problem will go away.

 

[rcool]

The 30 cal 168 gr bullets are excellent through 600 yds, but don't remain stable at 1,000 yds enough of the time that some ranges do not allow their use, considering them to be unsafe at 1,000 yds.
Go with the excellent 175's available, or even heavier, and problem will go away.

Do you know why they would become unstable past 600 yds? I can't wrap my brain around this one.

 

[280man]

rcool, I will guess you have other issues going on I have shot plenty of the 155's, 168's and 180's in several 30 cal guns and have had no problems with them at 1000k

 

[rcool]

280man, any thoughts as to what other issues I could be having? I have less than 300 rounds through the barrel.

 

[280man]

What kind of accuracy are you getting? What is your muzzle velocity? You might think about getting your barrel bore scoped by a component gunsmith and maybe you could eliminate that

 

[rcool]

280man, my muzzle velocity is 3315 fps and at 100 yds it shoots 5 shot 1/2 inch groups.

 

[280man]

If thats the case I have no idea maybe someone else will chime in. Was it just one bullet or all of them?

 

[rcool]

It wasn't just one bullet, it was all of them. Wierd, huh.

 

[shotwell]

One of my close friend shoot a savage 300wsm. His prefered bullet is the 175Gr MTK. He's had alot of success with it.
I prefer the 200gr MTK, but have swithed 220gr MTK. I would look into the 175gr if you want to stay with the lighter bullets.
Another friend use 175gr and H380. He has the VHA trophies to prove it.

 

[CRF4FITTE]

I have a 300 WSM and shoot 168vld at 1000 71 gr. rl 19 @ 3075fps it seems to me over 3300 fps is really hot any pressure signs ? may contribute to problem my barrel is also a 1x10 twist .

 

[rcool]

After I posted last I cleaned my rifle and realized that my scope base was coming loose. Upon further inspection I realized

that the front screw of my front base had sheared off. I took the scope off, went to the gunsmith who drilled and tapped

the screw hole. I remounted my scope and went back to the range, I rezeroed at 100 yards and decided to try

1,000 yds again. I shot two 3 shot groups, the first was 9 inches and right of the bullseye so I corrected for wind and shot

the second group. It was 7 inches and centered in the bullseye. No signs of bullet tumble in either group, same load as before.



The only thing that was different was that my scope was firmly mounted. Is it possible that somehow caused my bullets to tumble?

 

[Ksmirk]

I was shooting the 168's and at 800 1 of 5 would make a funny bullet shaped hole at 900 everyone of the bullet holes would be keys, my barrel was a 1-14 twist so I just figured they were loosing rpm and the stability went to shat! when that happens the heavier butt of the bullet wants to go ahead of the lighter point the reason for funny looking holes but truth in the matter this is just a guess on my part and another guess on yours I would not think the scope base screws would effect bullet flight. Later,

Kirk

 

[Sako6555]

I have 300WSM, with 1:10 twist and shoot 210 SMKs.

From the way you describe the problem & its miraculous cure, I would suspect the batch of ammo you loaded. Could you have picked the wrong component off the shelf for your problem batch ?

 

[scout1]

rcool,
Are your ballistic come-ups done from a program like JMB or did you shoot your yardages and notate adjustments. I am asking this because your velocity seems quite high with that load and your chronograph could be taking a crap on you like mine did reciently, giving readings that were 200+fps off. Shoot through another chrono to eliminate that possibility. I would also suggest you or a friendly forum member run Quick Load on your set-up. my chroney was giving me averages of 3205 fps and my impacts were off low by 2 MOA at 600 yds from a 100 yd zero. If I would have been shooting this at 1K, Disastorus ) my bullets would have been subsonic at impact and more than likley keyholing.
Good luck and let us know how everything turns out.