Reloading the .300 WSM

[Justabirdwatcher]

Anyone loading their .300 WSM down to '06 or .308 levels? If so, are you using starting load data?

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Going to move this conversation over to reloading where I should have put it in the first place.

 

[jwatts]

I've found that a 180gr Accubond over 4350, loaded to magazine length in an X-Bolt is a heck of a load. Pushing it just over 3000fps, great accuracy, and bad news for any animal downrange from it.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I've found that a 180gr Accubond over 4350, loaded to magazine length in an X-Bolt is a heck of a load. Pushing it just over 3000fps, great accuracy, and bad news for any animal downrange from it.

If I'm lucky enough to draw a moose tag, I have a feeling I'm going to end up with a load that looks a lot like this.

 

[jwatts]

If I'm lucky enough to draw a moose tag, I have a feeling I'm going to end up with a load that looks a lot like this.

My buddy and I drew WY elk in 2017. I worked up a 180gr Partition load for my 300SAUM. His X Bolt didn't like the Partition, but loved the Accubond. The 2 loads were so close that we were able to share DOPE charts. I saw what it would do on an elk at 350yd, and wouldn't hesitate to use it on a moose.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Thanks. I have a new stock coming for this rifle that I bet will bring it into that .5 MOA range. Seems like an inherently accurate round and H4350 is one of the best powders of all time. This will be my moose and elk gun. Hoping to get a moose tag in the next year or two.

Good luck on the moose tag. I used a 300 RUM with 200 gr Accubonds when I had a tag in Maine. I didn’t have a Creedmoor back then.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Good luck on the moose tag. I used a 300 RUM with 200 gr Accubonds when I had a tag in Maine. I didn’t have a Creedmoor back then.

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Man, that's the stuff dreams are made of right there.

 

[Brad]

Good luck on the moose tag. I used a 300 RUM with 200 gr Accubonds when I had a tag in Maine. I didn’t have a Creedmoor back then.

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Holy Smoke Pakr - that's a nice Maine bull!

How did you settle on hunting in Maine? Live near there, or some other connection? Where in the state?

 

[BAKPAKR]

Holy Smoke Pakr - that's a nice Maine bull!

How did you settle on hunting in Maine? Live near there, or some other connection? Where in the state?

Thanks! That was a run of three moose tags in three years - New Hampshire, Idaho leftover, then NW Maine. I let my dad shoot the one in New Hampshire as my sub-permittee. All three were shot with that 300.

 

[grizzly63]

I picked up a "supposed 300 WSM". Barrel is not marked anywhere. 300WSM case goes in nice. Dropped a 208 Amax in to see how long the COAL could be. 3.230. Looked at how much bullet would be need to be in the case to probably be sufficient. 3.180 ? 225 ELDM would be better. Checked online to see if anyone had ever made a 300WSM Ai. Most discounted it as not very efficient. I better go see what that 300WSM Super article says.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I picked up a "supposed 300 WSM". Barrel is not marked anywhere. 300WSM case goes in nice. Dropped a 208 Amax in to see how long the COAL could be. 3.230. Looked at how much bullet would be need to be in the case to probably be sufficient. 3.180 ? 225 ELDM would be better. Checked online to see if anyone had ever made a 300WSM Ai. Most discounted it as not very efficient. I better go see what that 300WSM Super article says.

50 thou jump sounds perfect. H4831, RL23, or RL26 and send it!

 

[BAKPAKR]

I picked up a "supposed 300 WSM". Barrel is not marked anywhere. 300WSM case goes in nice. Dropped a 208 Amax in to see how long the COAL could be. 3.230. Looked at how much bullet would be need to be in the case to probably be sufficient. 3.180 ? 225 ELDM would be better. Checked online to see if anyone had ever made a 300WSM Ai. Most discounted it as not very efficient. I better go see what that 300WSM Super article says.

Will you be using an action that can handle the extra length? I have thought a long-throated 300 WSM in a Tikka would be neat.

 

[Brad]

I started loading for the 300 WSM when it came out almost 25 years ago. I think I've had 7 rifles so chambered, and loaded for all of them. I never ran anything except 180's on game, though I did play around with 200's at the range. Those bullet weights are what I think a 300 Mag is about. OTOH, I could see a case made for a 165 Mono - I just am not a mono fan. The bulk of the game I took was with a 180 Partition, and included everything from antelope to elk.

The "go to" 300 WSM load:

210 or 215 Primer (some rifles shoot better with a Magnum Primer, some with a Standard Primer - don't assume Magnum Primer, and I usually start with a Standard Primer).

180 Gr non-mono bullet of your choice. The 180 Accubond is my favorite, followed by the 180 Partition.

64.0 H4350 (velocity will be in the 2,980 fps range with a 24" barrel).

The "velocity" 300 WSM load (which often shoots as well or better than 4350):

Same as above, except 64.5 RL17 (velocity will be in the 3,030 fps range). The cartridge can easily handle more velocity with RL17, but I never saw the point.

I tried a lot of different powders, etc., for the 300 WSM, but the above is pretty much everything a guy needs to know about the 300 WSM. It, the 308 Win, and the 6.5 CM are among the easiest, most eager to please cartridges you can handload for. For me, after using the 338 WM and 300 WSM quite a bit, I got tired of recoil, and went back to my favorite non-magnum rounds (mostly the 308 Win). I just never found the need for them in any situation I've ever taken game in, and if I'm going to deal with excessive recoil, I'd rather it be because the rifle is a lightweight in a standard cartridge than a midweight in a mganum chambering. Just my .02. Everyone will have a cartridge itches that need to be scratched - until you don't.

Best Wishes with the pursuit.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Will you be using an action that can handle the extra length? I have thought a long-throated 300 WSM in a Tikka would be neat.

From a little bit of research I've done, there are a number of folks who are shooting 300 WSM's on long actions for this reason. The Savage short action (maybe others too) has a 3.00" box, which offers a little more room than most. So as long as the throat allows, a person could seat all the way out to 2.95" COAL and still use a short action. I've done this in a few .308's and 7mm-08's before. Pretty handy knowing you have that extra length to play with.

 

[noharleyyet]

Good luck on the moose tag. I used a 300 RUM with 200 gr Accubonds when I had a tag in Maine. I didn’t have a Creedmoor back then.

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700 LSS?