Trouble with 300 Win Mag

[ShooterB]

I am in the process of load developing for a model 700 in 300 Win Mag. I can get a 0.4 inch group at 100 yards with the Sierra 180 grain Pro Hunter, flat base. I have tried work up loads with Accubonds and Scirroco II's and can't get a group smaller than about 1-1/4". Some of these boattail loads fly all over the place. Has anyone had a problem similiar to this where flat base bullets group very well and boattails don't?

 

[people]

After reading here apparently a flat base bullet is what these guys are using for shot range benchrest.

You may have to look at a different bullet. You can always keep the bullet you are using now. What are you looking for in a bullet?

 

[CatShooter]

I am in the process of load developing for a model 700 in 300 Win Mag. I can get a 0.4 inch group at 100 yards with the Sierra 180 grain Pro Hunter, flat base. I have tried work up loads with Accubonds and Scirroco II's and can't get a group smaller than about 1-1/4". Some of these boattail loads fly all over the place. Has anyone had a problem similiar to this where flat base bullets group very well and boattails don't?

You didn't mention the rifle - the rifle may not have what it takes.

The generic difference between flat based bullets, and boat tails will only show up in the best of benchrest rifles, and the best of the benchrest cartridges.

A match grade 300 WM with match grade, boat tailed bullets will easily do ~1/4" or less, so your problem is not the 300 WM, and not with boat tailed bullets.

There is not much left to look at except the rifle,or the shooter).


.

 

[Raptor]

Some rifles "DON'T" like certain bullets or loads. Many hunting bullets will group like a match bullet and many will not do to there construction. You may need to switch to a different bullet I would suggest Bergers if your hunting nothing larger than an elk. The Bergers shoot with match accuracy and do a good job on game.

If your using your rifle for hunting and shooting within normal hunting ranges of 300yds or less 1 1/4" groups are fine.

 

[M700]

ShooterB - I've seen some hunting rifles shoot flat base bullets much better than they handled boat-tail bullets. Just the nature of things, some rifles like one kind of bullet, others don't.

So... First, the Sierra Pro-Hunter isn't a bad bullet at all. If it shoots .4's for you - that's good! If you want a "premium" flat base bullet that might also produce good accuracy consider the Nosler Partition. Excellent bullet with very good terminal ballistics and surprisingly good accuracy results downrange. It may not have the highest BC, but a flat-base .30 cal 180 grain Nosler partition or Sierra Pro-Hunter is a very good hunting bullet at reasonable ranges. They've worked for me, and well.

Regards, Guy

 

[ShooterB]

Guys, thanks for the input. The rifle is a Rem 700 that I had restocked in a McMillan Edge stock. Pillar and glass bedded and the barrel free floated. The harmonics have definately changed but I have hopes for it. I've been told by one person that the Rem barrels shouldn't be free floated. I did shim it for a temporary Pressure point at the tip, but this seemed to make it worse.

Yesterday, I tried the Accubonds again with H-4350. I did get a 7/8" group with it. It seemed as though as I went through work up loads, it was definately starting to tighten up. We had some pretty hot weather so I had a hard time keeping the barrel cool and I had to quit before finishing these loads. I will try again monday morning.

 

[eww1350]

Try H4831 powder...it works the best in my 300 winmag...use the 180 grain bullets the 150-165 don't shoot as well in my 10 twist barrel...If you can afford it buy some Lapua brass...it is the best..

 

[ShooterB]

Just a little follow up and thanks for the replies. I did quite a bit more work with the H-4350 and 180 Accubonds and am consistently getting sub 1/2 MOA with this combination. All is good, thanks.

 

[30378]

Try 83gr of RL-25 with 165gr Accubonds. Neck sizrd Winchester brass, Fed 215M primers with an OAL of 3.36". Absolute tack driver in my Sendero.

 

[Iamsniper1]

The rifle is a Rem 700 that I had restocked in a McMillan Edge stock. Pillar and glass bedded and the barrel free floated. The harmonics have definitely changed but I have hopes for it.

Your first problem may be the glass bedding of your McMillan stock,
McMillan and H&S stocks with full pillar bedding DO NOT NEED TO BE GLASS BEDDED.The use of the full pillar bed has the advantage of torquing the action screws,65in lbs front/rear)ensuring that the action is dead nuts level in the pillar bed.With glass added to the pillar,the action DOES NOT NOW FIT CORRECTLY onto the pillar has it was designed for.to glass bed a wood stock,some of the wood is removed to accommodate the glass,the full aluminum pillar bed was not designed for glass.As mentioned above,if you are not torquing your action screws,I suggest you buy a torque wrench,INCH LBS) if you want to improve accuracy.

 

[CatShooter]

The rifle is a Rem 700 that I had restocked in a McMillan Edge stock. Pillar and glass bedded and the barrel free floated. The harmonics have definitely changed but I have hopes for it.

---

Your first problem may be the glass bedding of your McMillan stock,
McMillan and H&S stocks with full pillar bedding DO NOT NEED TO BE GLASS BEDDED.

That is not true - I have not seen a pillar bedded or H-S stock that did not improve with proper epoxy bedding.


.