HELP PLEASE .300 WSM

[GregC PA]

Hi Guys, New poster here. I am leaving for a Moose hunt in a few weeks and am having problems with my Winchester Mod 70 Sporter in .300 wsm.

I have tried the following rounds / bullets:

Fed Prem 180gr partition
Fed prem 180 gr trophy bonded
Fed Prem 165 gr partition
Nosler Custom 180 gr AB

These all shoot very inconsistent at 100 yards. I am talking 4-5" groups off of a bench and bags. At 200 yards it is HORRIBLE.

However, here is my dilemma. 180 grain el cheapo Winchster powerpoints shoot 3/4" all day every day at 100 yards. So, what does that mean?

Rules out bad scope, bad bedding, gun problems?

HELP.

 

[dragman]

By your post I assume you don't hand load???
Why not just shoot the el cheapo ammo that does shoot??

 

[Kurz]

180 grain el cheapo Winchster powerpoints shoot 3/4" all day every day at 100 yards. So, what does that mean?

It means you should count yourself lucky that it is the less expensive ammunition as opposed to THE MOST EXPENSIVE ammunition.

Personally, I have never experienced this much of a change in group size when testing ammunition, especially with the .300 WSM. But I reload so there's a significant difference in methodology.

 

[6MMsteve]

shoot the cheapo 3/4 is dam good for a factory rifle that light off bags, shoot it at 300yds and if it shoots 3in groups or better you got your answer

 

[6MMsteve]

they way I sightin hunting rifles I zero in, is get it on paper, get decent vertical & hor then setup five 6in dia rocks at 300 and bust them all with the guy watching I'm sighting in for, then set up 5 more and if he hits 2 then he's good to go

 

[dkhunt14]

Hi Guys, New poster here. I am leaving for a Moose hunt in a few weeks and am having problems with my Winchester Mod 70 Sporter in .300 wsm.

I have tried the following rounds / bullets:

Fed Prem 180gr partition
Fed prem 180 gr trophy bonded
Fed Prem 165 gr partition
Nosler Custom 180 gr AB

These all shoot very inconsistent at 100 yards. I am talking 4-5" groups off of a bench and bags. At 200 yards it is HORRIBLE.

However, here is my dilemma. 180 grain el cheapo Winchster powerpoints shoot 3/4" all day every day at 100 yards. So, what does that mean?

Rules out bad scope, bad bedding, gun problems?

HELP.

The WSM is a very accurate cartridge. Hard to believe it is shooting 4 to 5 inch groups at 100. That is bad. Did you shoot more then one 5 shot group with the Winchester ammo? I have to believe their is a major problem somewhere. Barrel, bedding, scope, shooter or crown. Even 2 inch groups would be bad. Did you let someone else shoot the gun? Matt

 

[JBT47]

The WSM is a very accurate cartridge. Hard to believe it is shooting 4 to 5 inch groups at 100. That is bad. Did you shoot more then one 5 shot group with the Winchester ammo? I have to believe their is a major problem somewhere. Barrel, bedding, scope, shooter or crown. Even 2 inch groups would be bad. Did you let someone else shoot the gun? Matt

Agree with Matt on this...something is wrong. May want to go ahead and start the process of elimination to figure out where the problem is.

 

[GregC PA]

Thanks, everyone.

A little more information. I initially sighted the gun in with the 180 powerpoints and as I said above, it was highly accurate. I'm wanting to shoot a more premium bullet for my moose hunt so I gradually tried the different ammo above over the course of 2-3 weeks. Yesterday, at witts end, I tried the powerpoints again and they provided the same accuracy as previous.

I would think (and I'm no expert) that If I had a scope or bedding problem or barrel problem, it would not shoot the powerpoints as accurate as it does?

Are the powerpoints to light for moose? I have read that they will explode and fragment at .300 wsm speeds on big animals.

 

[JBT47]

Since it appears you do not yet handload, you could contact one of the custom ammo makers (Copper Creek, McCourt Munitions, etc.) and see about some custom ammo for your rifle.

 

[Whitehunter]

Thanks, everyone.

A little more information. I initially sighted the gun in with the 180 powerpoints and as I said above, it was highly accurate. I'm wanting to shoot a more premium bullet for my moose hunt so I gradually tried the different ammo above over the course of 2-3 weeks. Yesterday, at witts end, I tried the powerpoints again and they provided the same accuracy as previous.

I would think (and I'm no expert) that If I had a scope or bedding problem or barrel problem, it would not shoot the powerpoints as accurate as it does?

Are the powerpoints to light for moose? I have read that they will explode and fragment at .300 wsm speeds on big animals.

Try the Nosler custom loads in 200 grain accubond. I shoot these in a 300 RUM and they are very accurate. The 338 RUM likes the 250 grain accubond.

 

[Drop Port]

If you confirm it continues to shoots the cheapo Winchester over several groups then you can rule out something loose.

A well built custom rifle will often shoot decent with anything you put through it, on the other hand a out of wack factory rifle can be a B!tch to find something it likes and in your case if you do without hand loading you are lucky.

I would definitely let someone go over it, if it is wood start with bedding related issues. Torque alone can often relieve a lot of your symptoms. Make sure the guard screws aren't gorilla tight and leave the middle screw barely snug this cut my groups from 2.5 to 1 MOA. My 264 then got bedded crowned and the torque it likes and I decided to keep it

 

[Zero333]

Anything loaded with a Sierra Gameking bullet will shoot sub moa.

I never hand luck handloading Partitions.

 

[FeMan]

Moose are big but not as tough to kill as you might think. A premium bullet is certainly preferred. The Powerpoints just behind the shoulder would do fine. I'm not sure where you are hunting and if you have the luxury of being picky out shot placement and angles. If so and you don't try to get to the vitals through 24-inches of bone and meat, the PP will probably work perfectly well.

Another thought (kind of out-there but its a thought) is to try some Winchester brand factor ammo with premium bullets. I reloaded for a buddies Winchester 300 WSM a few years back and found that the chamber had a ridiculously short throat. I agree with the folks above that I have a hard time blaming that much accuracy issue on seating depth but if you say WW ammo shoots they just might be optimizing it for their chambers.

 

[JBT47]

Moose are big but not as tough to kill as you might think. A premium bullet is certainly preferred. The Powerpoints just behind the shoulder would do fine. I'm not sure where you are hunting and if you have the luxury of being picky out shot placement and angles. If so and you don't try to get to the vitals through 24-inches of bone and meat, the PP will probably work perfectly well.

Another thought (kind of out-there but its a thought) is to try some Winchester brand factor ammo with premium bullets. I reloaded for a buddies Winchester 300 WSM a few years back and found that the chamber had a ridiculously short throat. I agree with the folks above that I have a hard time blaming that much accuracy issue on seating depth but if you say WW ammo shoots they just might be optimizing it for their chambers.

Along the same lines the Winchester Supreme Ballistic tip ammo is generally accurate enough for hunting

 

[dsculley]

Try the Hornady Superformance ammo. My son's 300wm loves it.

Also, I would advise cleaning the barrel between testing different brands if you are not already doing so.

 

[RGRobinett]

If you confirm it continues to shoots the cheapo Winchester over several groups then you can rule out something loose.

A well built custom rifle will often shoot decent with anything you put through it, on the other hand a out of wack factory rifle can be a B!tch to find something it likes and in your case if you do without hand loading you are lucky.

I would definitely let someone go over it, if it is wood start with bedding related issues. Torque alone can often relieve a lot of your symptoms. Make sure the guard screws aren't gorilla tight and leave the middle screw barely snug this cut my groups from 2.5 to 1 MOA. My 264 then got bedded crowned and the torque it likes and I decided to keep it

I own a single Winchester rifle - Model 70, .270WSM, laminated (plywood) stock - it shot GREAT for a while ( a couple of years), then, "went to pot": 3+ inch groups at 200 Yd.! When I took it apart, to check out the bedding/inletting, the 'bedding' material (appeared to be a 'hot-melt' type epoxy/glue concoction) fell out of the stock! Some aluminum pillars, and bedding with JB weld cured that! RG

 

[Sekora]

I'm curious if you know what year the gun was manufactured. I just went through the same scenario with a Winchester model 70 in 300WSM. I spent countless hours, bullets, and pounds of powder before I gave up on it. It was a decent 100 yard gun but after that went to crap. All signs pointed to a bad barrel so I had one built the right way with a Bartlein. Problem solved.

 

[bobinpa]

A few years ago I picked up a 300 WSM right before deer season and I didn't have time to work up a load. So, like you, I went out and bought a few different "premium" boxes of ammo to try. They all shot like crap.... 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards and some were worse. So I went back to the store and bought a box of way cheaper, Federal Fusion..... It shot great. I used it and it did a great job on the deer I killed that year.
My point is that it is way more important to shoot a cheap or common bullet accurately into the vitals than it is to shoot a premium bullet into the guts. IMHO there is nothing wrong with power points..... don't let the word premium on the box lead you to believe those bullets will do something magical if you miss the vitals.
Go with what is working. Practice shooting as much as possible before you go and make a good shot with the ammo that is the most accurate and you will be back on here posting pictures of your moose.

OR, Sell me that inaccurate rifle really cheap and go buy one that shoots better.....
Good luck on your hunt!