300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM BRASS, IS IT GOING THE WAY OF THE DINOSAUR?

[Jkedsnake]

Well, I'm a complete newbie at reloading but that hasn't stopped me from collecting a decent hoard of supplies which has me thinking that the old belted magnum cartridge is getting harder and harder to find.

At least when it comes to anything other than the factory stuff like Federal, Winchester or Hornady, other than Norma brass it doesn't seem to be a broad selection of brass available from any of the retailers out there.

The small batch "aftermarket" brass manufacturers don't seem very interested in the belted one so I'm wondering if I should cut my loses and switch to either a 30 Nosler or 300 PRC? I am not interested in going further towards the less mainstream long action 30 calibers.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Warlok813]

I shoot a 300 win mag. I didnt realize there was a problem with this. Definitely interesting. Havent got around to reloading it yet as i have too many irons in the fire already.

 

[MOUNTIC]

The 300 win mag isn't going anywhere. Snag some ADG, RWS, Norma, Gunworks, etc, etc. I would get on the ADG brass on their next run. Talked to them a few weeks ago and they didn't realize the demand and are making larger quantities for the next run. Still a HUGE demand for 300 win mag.

 

[Jkedsnake]

I looked thru the ADG website and did not see the 300WM option, is it that they dont list their out of stock?

 

[MOUNTIC]

I looked thru the ADG website and did not see the 300WM option, is it that they dont list their out of stock?

They sold out of there last batch in a few hours. I'm on 13 loading on some of their 300 win mag brass. Have another 100ct I'm using now on another rifle with 4-5 loadings so far.

Here it is... https://atlasdg.com/product/300wm/

Out of stock but it's worth the wait. And made here in the USA.

 

[Warlok813]

They sold out of there last batch in a few hours. I'm on 13 loading on some of their 300 win mag brass. Have another 100ct I'm using now on another rifle with 4-5 loadings so far.

Here it is... https://atlasdg.com/product/300wm/

Out of stock but it's worth the wait. And made here in the USA.

What are you doing to take care of your brass to get that many loadings? Heard the belted mags were doomed to failure after 5 or 6 loadings? Havent tried it myself mind. Just rumor

 

[MOUNTIC]

Rumor is what that is. I'm not doing anything different then I do with any non belted round. I full length size every time even. Primer pockets are usually the first thing to go especially with hot loads. I run 77 gr of H1k and 215 Berger's. So pretty good load and I don't have any issues. Primer pockets are still tight. I will probably retire these after the next loading at 14/15.

 

[Warlok813]

Rumor is what that is. I'm not doing anything different then I do with any non belted round. I full length size every time even. Primer pockets are usually the first thing to go especially with hot loads. I run 77 gr of H1k and 215 Berger's. So pretty good load and I don't have any issues. Primer pockets are still tight. I will probably retire these after the next loading at 14/15.

Wow, thanks for the info. Still learning the art and im still on the smaller cartriges so its not so bad if i mess them up. Seen a lot about annealing and such. I do enjoy some good information though. Maybe you could impart some other trade secrets when i get to the heavy hitters. Is that many loadings typical of any normal brass or is it just the high quality stuff?

 

[MOUNTIC]

I got 6-7 on the Norma brass on about the same load that was ever so slightly hotter. 9 on Winchester WW super. (Older brass) before the pockets were a little loose for my liking. 12 on RWS before I switched to ADG. I did a test case of 15 on a single piece of ADG before I went with all in with my 300 win mags. Loaded one, went outside and shot it. Back inside loaded it, and back outside to shoot it again. Did that 15 times and never saw more then 12fps difference in the 15 loadings. Just full length size. Trimming when it needed it. Took a total of a few hours but worth the test. I'm sold on the ADG brass. Peterson is the other that I recommend as it's slightly more consistent from case to case but I don't believe they make 300 win mag at this point.

 

[Warlok813]

I got 6-7 on the Norma brass on about the same load that was ever so slightly hotter. 9 on Winchester WW super. (Older brass) before the pockets were a little loose for my liking. 12 on RWS before I switched to ADG. I did a test case of 15 on a single piece of ADG before I went with all in with my 300 win mags. Loaded one, went outside and shot it. Back inside loaded it, and back outside to shoot it again. Did that 15 times and never saw more then 12fps difference in the 15 loadings. Just full length size. Trimming when it needed it. Took a total of a few hours but worth the test. I'm sold on the ADG brass. Peterson is the other that I recommend as it's slightly more consistent from case to case but I don't believe they make 300 win mag at this point.

Wow thats really a relief i have been hasitant to start loading the 300 because of brass life and still have a few priorities before i do but that makes me feel a little better going in to it anyways. What sort of speeds are you getting out of the H1K loads? Barrel length?

 

[supercorndogs]

Short brass life is on the person reloading most of the time. Too much shoulder bump causing CHS, too much powder causing primer pockets to stretch. I have some winchester 300WM with 15 or 16 loadings on it. I have trashed Lapua .308 brass in one loading.

 

[MOUNTIC]

Short brass life is on the person reloading most of the time. Too much shoulder bump causing CHS, too much powder causing primer pockets to stretch. I have some winchester 300WM with 15 or 16 loadings on it. I have trashed Lapua .308 brass in one loading.

Exactly. I got one loading on Hornady 300 wm brass that was really hot! I'm on 4 now with my 300 PRC on Hornady brass because I don't push the pressure envelope like I used to.

 

[supercorndogs]

I went from Winchester 308 brass to Lapua and used the same powder charge.

 

[MOUNTIC]

I went from Winchester 308 brass to Lapua and used the same powder charge.

That's an expensive 50 rounds of ammo ?

 

[MOUNTIC]

What sort of speeds are you getting out of the H1K loads? Barrel length?

2900 +/- with a 26 inch proof CF with the 215s at 77gr H1k. Your mileage may vary.

 

[supercorndogs]

That's an expensive 50 rounds of ammo ?

100, it doesn't hurt so bad now because it was about 7 years ago. Most expensive hundred rounds I ever loaded. Didn't shoot very good either. LOL.

 

[cornhusker86]

100, it doesn't hurt so bad now because it was about 7 years ago. Most expensive hundred rounds I ever loaded. Didn't shoot very good either. LOL.

Case capacity differences have bit most people in the ass. OCW testing " cured " me of that issue.

 

[Fig]

300WM is the only brass I buy that's Norma, but I've definitely had more than 8 loadings on a batch. I also have a bin of once fired factory ammo (mostly range pick ups) that I'll also reload. Honestly, my rifle doesn't seem to care much. Seems like it'll shoot anything under a minute. Then again, I run 210s and don't redline them. I've never understood the fear of the belt, and the Redding FL dies I use keeps everything spec without doing anything unusual. If I had one rifle to shoot at live targets it would be my GAP Hospitaler in .300WM.

 

[brianf]

im surprised the ADC brass is even stronger/longer lasting then RWS, that shit is like a tank
WW brass used to hold all the records when the 300wm was the king of 1000 yard comps

 

[cornhusker86]

I still say Lapua is missing the boat on 300 mag brass.

 

[MOUNTIC]

im surprised the ADC brass is even stronger/longer lasting then RWS, that shit is like a tank
WW brass used to hold all the records when the 300wm was the king of 1000 yard comps

I retired the RWS before I got to the end of it's life. Not sure how long it would have lasted. I was at the end of a barrel and a buddy wanted it and gave it to him. I believe the RWS would have lasted longer. Just never got that far.

Should have kept all my WW super brass. It shot really well. Just couldn't source more and sold my leftover once fired for 1.50 per case.

 

[ALShooter]

I use ADG for the 300wm as well. Good stuff! Just set a email alert on their website!

 

[Milo 2.5]

The 300 win mag isn't going anywhere. Snag some ADG, RWS, Norma, Gunworks, etc, etc. I would get on the ADG brass on their next run. Talked to them a few weeks ago and they didn't realize the demand and are making larger quantities for the next run. Still a HUGE demand for 300 win mag.

This^^^ the 243 isn't going anywhere either, lol

 

[RTH1800]

The belt is not the problem some make it out to be. I loaded 300 Win, 7mm Rem, 300 H&H and 375 H&H for 40 years before I ever heard it had a problem. Basically bullshit.

 

[Vargmat]

I still say Lapua is missing the boat on 300 mag brass.

The rumor around here is that Lapua is well on their way on setting up a production line for 300 win mag and 7mm rem mag brass. Some of the top shooters from Sweden was at a factory visit this past winter, so they had a peek. Now, I have Norma brass to keep me going for a year or two, but I will get Lapua brass as soon as it is available.

300 Win Mag wont go anywhere.

 

[cornhusker86]

The rumor around here is that Lapua is well on their way on setting up a production line for 300 win mag and 7mm rem mag brass. Some of the top shooters from Sweden was at a factory visit this past winter, so they had a peek. Now, I have Norma brass to keep me going for a year or two, but I will get Lapua brass as soon as it is available.

300 Win Mag wont go anywhere.