Regarding 300 WSM, and 230 A tips (COAL 3.340”)

[dougridgeore]

Here is what I have figured out so far....
I’m only posting this to possibly save some of you from wasting a whole bunch of time and money.
I started with a Really good shooting Bat M,low rider,RAD all the good stuff etc. and after reading all the stuff on this forum about the unheard of BC”s with this new Bullet. I ordered a Bartlien, 32 inch,1 in 9 twist,1.250” tapered to 1” inch (only to make weight with 32”) then had it it uni-throated out really deep to chamber these new A-tips. Now to be perfectly honest I have only shot them with H-4831 sc and Winchester cases. I have not spent a lot of time tuning but face it we have all thrown together a load that was so disappointing there was no need to go any farther.

To me, IMHO all the wind bucking traits of a super high BC bullet is not going to win a match if the overall accuracy is not part of the picture for what it’s worth on paper the Berger 230 hybrids should beat out the Berger 215 hybrids? But seems to me and most of the shooters that I know.... have figured out there is just more “nines” in a box of 230’s than in a box of 215’s

To be fair I have only spent one weekend trying to tune these bullets to shoot and I’m sure someone will eventually figure them out. Honestly they are very uniform in every respect but for now I’m going to put the 9 twist barrel in the huge pile of mistakes I have made over the years and put the 10 twist back on and stick with the 215’s for my 300 WSM. And for what it’s worth I’m still not absolutely sure the Short mags with high BC bullets (and high recoil) have ever completely proven they will overcome a 284 in top level competitions seem like they are gaining in popularity but there’s always someone that proves that 180 or 184 Bergers shot out of a 284 Win is all it takes to win a championship.

 

[dougridgeore]

Regarding 300 wsm and the new 230 A tips
Maybe this will be a starting point for someone
32” inch, 9 twist Bartlien, Winchester brass, 215 gold, .002 neck tension,
3.340” COAL
Today: I fired 8 more five shot groups
64.5 grains H-4831sc 2730-2738-2772-2748-2732. .560” group
65 grains H-4831sc 2775-2735-2743-2744-2737. .900” group
60 grains H-4350 2730-2714-2745-2738. .640” group (3 in one hole)
62 grains H-4350 2813-2797-2817-2810-2814. 1.020” group
63 grains H-4350 2849-2858-2849-2843-2872. .730” group
64 grains 7828sc 2756-2748-2759-2762-2751. .815” group
65 grains 7828sc 2801-2787-2804-2785-2789. 770” group
66 grains 7828sc 2852-2827-2854-2838-2868. .935” group

Then just for the heck of it I shot some leftover ammo from the F-class Nationals last year with the new 9 twist Bartlien
65 grains H-4831sc with Berger 215 hybrids
2758-2757-2759-2771-2761 perfect round hole group .200” group

 

[dougridgeore]

Regarding 300 wsm and the new 230 A tips
Maybe this will be a starting point for someone
32” inch, 9 twist Bartlien, Winchester brass, 215 gold, .002 neck tension,
3.340” COAL
Today: I fired 8 more five shot groups
64.5 grains H-4831sc 2730-2738-2772-2748-2732. .560” group
65 grains H-4831sc 2775-2735-2743-2744-2737. .900” group
60 grains H-4350 2730-2714-2745-2738. .640” group (3 in one hole)
62 grains H-4350 2813-2797-2817-2810-2814. 1.020” group
63 grains H-4350 2849-2858-2849-2843-2872. .730” group
64 grains 7828sc 2756-2748-2759-2762-2751. .815” group
65 grains 7828sc 2801-2787-2804-2785-2789. 770” group
66 grains 7828sc 2852-2827-2854-2838-2868. .935” group

Then just for the heck of it I shot some leftover ammo from the F-class Nationals last year with the new 9 twist Bartlien
65 grains H-4831sc with Berger 215 hybrids
2758-2757-2759-2771-2761 perfect round hole group .200” group

 

[dougridgeore]

 

[ShootDots]

I have a "working theory" about the .300WSM and the Berger .230 Hybrids. The bearing surface of the Berger 215 Hybrids is .450 and the bearing surface of the Berger 230 Hybrids is .520, a full 70 thousandths more. Due to the weight difference and the difference in bearing surfaces, not only the recoil but the t-o-r-q-u-e is substantially more. I have been shooting 2 / .300 WSM's now for nearly a year. One uses the 215s and the other the .200-20Xs. The 200-20Xs have an extremely short bearing surface, they churn up so little torque that it is barely noticeable! However, in the past few weeks, I have been trying the 230s. I can control them as well as the 215s. I believe the reason is, is that I have got used to the 215s and can shoot them just as easily as a .284. Getting used to them has, I believe, allowed me to "graduate", if you will, to the 230s with almost no "learning curve"! I am also keeping them down to 2775f.p.s. where not only is it accurate, but easily controlled. I believe the reason, as you state "shooters have figured out there are more "9s" in a box of 230s than in a box of 215s" is that many, if not most shooters, start out with the 230s. I believe doing that may be their mistake! I also believe they "compound their mistake" by running them up in the vicinity of 2860! This generates an abundance of BOTH recoil and torque, probably uncontrollable by a "newbie" shooter of the .300 WSM and the 230s! This is my theory based on a full year with not one, but 2 .300 WSMs...