Need some 300 win mag input

[trophy8]

My wife is joining me on a Muley hunt in a couple months and she wants to shoot one of my 300s. She is somewhat recoil sensitive so I'm planning on loading some "light recoil" loads. The gun in question is a ruger m77 hawkeye with 1:10 twist. My original thinking was a 130 Barnes ttsx but I have some 155 VLDs for my 308 I can load. Any recommendations that any of you have found that will slightly reduce recoil but keep velocities up pretty good? Gun has a muzzle break and a thumbhole stock so they help. She has shot this gun before and liked it but I'm wanting to run something smaller than 180-185 gr pills.

 

[2506]

Just my opinion, but what makes her think that see needs a 300 mag for mule deer? Don't you have something like a 25-06 that does not have much recoil and will kill any mule deer that ever left a hoof print in the the mud? It is hard to load down the mags and get them to shoot really accurate. You never know what you can come up with until you try. The 130 ttsx with starting loads for the 300 win mag will still do between 3100 and 3200 fps and would be the best of what you have in my book. I have shot some deer with the 155 VLDs at muzzle velocity of 2650 fps and it is WAY TO DESTRUCTIVE. If you can keep the impact velocity below 3000 fps the 125 Nosler ballistic is my pic for 30 cal. if yardage is kept to no longer than 300 yards. For the 308 Win 46 grs IMR 4895 with the 125 Nosler ballistic tip is awesome on deer. It leaves my 21 1/2" barrel at 3000 fps.

 

[wboggs]

Go with the Barnes TTSX at a reduced velocity you feel she can tolerate. Accurate and deadly.

 

[trophy8]

Just my opinion, but what makes her think that see needs a 300 mag for mule deer? Don't you have something like a 25-06 that does not have much recoil and will kill any mule deer that ever left a hoof print in the the mud? It is hard to load down the mags and get them to shoot really accurate. You never know what you can come up with until you try. The 130 ttsx with starting loads for the 300 win mag will still do between 3100 and 3200 fps and would be the best of what you have in my book. I have shot some deer with the 155 VLDs at muzzle velocity of 2650 fps and it is WAY TO DESTRUCTIVE. If you can keep the impact velocity below 3000 fps the 125 Nosler ballistic is my pic for 30 cal. if yardage is kept to no longer than 300 yards. For the 308 Win 46 grs IMR 4895 with the 125 Nosler ballistic tip is awesome on deer. It leaves my 21 1/2" barrel at 3000 fps.

all i have is big calibers and her 243. her 243 will not stabilize anything above an 85 grain sierra. i have tried, and i handload for every rifle i own. the 243 will work i am sure, but it makes me nervous letting a newer shooter use that small of a bullet on a 250-300 lb deer.

 

[watercam]

Perhaps the Barnes 85gr. TSX would do the trick. Certainly holds together. If Bell could kill elephants with a 7mm Mauser, I am sure she can get her deer. In New Zealand they use .243s for every large game animal in the country including moose and red stag. I have watched locals drop stags at well over 350 yards with well placed shots. She will be more comfortable and shoot more precisely with a rifle that she has shot a lot. Which is the point, she needs to shoot a lot...

 

[Raythemanroe]

If your gonna load down a gun to appease your wife and not the performance of the gun then why use such gun? I don't think a .243 is out of the realm of deer! I would load for the animal and performance of the rifle and choose a caliber that is suited for the game!

 

[2506]

If her 243 will shoot an 85 Sierra it will most likely shoot an 85 gr Nosler partition. The 85 TSX would work also if it will stabilize. It is a bit longer bullet than the Sierra or Nosler. If she can't put an 85 gr partition from her 243 where it is supposed to go then she will not be able to put a bullet from the 300 mag where it is supposed to go either. Get her out and burn some powder until she can put a bullet where it is supposed to go. Mule deer are not bullet proof. A 85 gr partition through the heart/lungs will kill one just as dead as a cannon ball.
It does not matter who it is. If you can't put a bullet where it needs to go then you don't need to be out hunting until you can.

 

[bheadboy]

i have shot 300wm for 40 years, and there are some really great loads using the 165sbt at about 2750 or the 150s about the same velocity.

Recoil is much below normal and accurcy excellent, energy more than enough for a mule kill at reasonable ranges.
for the 150's 4895 works well and for the 165's h380, varget or H414 work

Bob

 

[trophy8]

i have shot 300wm for 40 years, and there are some really great loads using the 165sbt at about 2750 or the 150s about the same velocity.

Recoil is much below normal and accurcy excellent, energy more than enough for a mule kill at reasonable ranges.
for the 150's 4895 works well and for the 165's h380, varget or H414 work

Bob

i have a couple hundred 165s laying around and some varget. ill give those a try. thanks

and her shooting is not in question. the girl can shoot. im not worried about that at all.

i dont think there is a thing wrong with the 85 sierra gk. it WILL kill a deer, or an elk.... but i want a little room for error in a bigger caliber. i didnt ask for opinions on what rifle. i can buy another if i want. i asked for questions regarding the loads on the 300 win and that is all i asked for. i have been hunting for a long time and know what im doing. but i havent ever had to load for anyone and be concerned about recoil except for myself. thank you to those who answered the question.

 

[MrMajestic]

I'll second the Nosler 125 grain BT at something around 3K fps. Reduced recoil and a great Deer killer as long as you don't push the ranges too far. Good luck to you both!

 

[bheadboy]

Trophy8, it would be interesting if you post your results using the 165's and reduced loads. they worked for me, i trust they will for you.

Bob

 

[trophy8]

Trophy8, it would be interesting if you post your results using the 165's and reduced loads. they worked for me, i trust they will for you.

Bob

Will do sir. im waiting on her new stock to arrive and as soon as my smith is done with it ill head to the range. im curious to know what your velocity reults were? and what loads you used? (just for refference, i wont hold anything against you lol) i have federal 210Ms and cci 200s i figure ill try. i have cci250s for my LR rig but for these other powders i dont think they are needed. let me know sir.

Thanks!!

 

[jim_k]

Look at the Hodgdon website for reduced loads using H4895. That powder can be used down to about 75% of maximum, for listed loads using H4895. The website says the percentage can be even lower, but I would recommend 75% as a minimum. There is a listed light load for the .300 Win Mag in the Hodgdon website.

 

[wboggs]

I have used the 4895 load listed on their site with Nosler 125BT, 1/2" groups, very mild recoil.