.300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

[pcweidman]

Dear SH,

Like I have listed in my signature I am building a new rifle. I am an experienced shooter but I would not say I am ready for scout sniper school. I have attended a long range hunting school and a civilian sniper school actually called civilian long range marksmanship school but lets not kid ourselves. I however have never been in the military but respect the art as a HUGE gear head of long range shooting and always learning.

I am building my first long action rifle and know much about the 300wm in theory yet not in practice. I know ballistics pretty well as well as being pretty savvy with calculations and am simply always learning and practicing and trying to sharpen my skills.

What I want to know from military, x mil, or seasoned guys which are the best load combinations as well as what type of dead/no wind sea level performance I should expect out of my new 300wm to be competed first week in October. I am trying to maximize this .30 to support the fact I did not go 33, 37, or 40 cal. I like the price with performance this round brings yet I have always been a .308 guy.

Thanks in advance here is my new rifle specs and the rounds I have already started to stock pile for hunting and target shooting.

-AI Dark Earth 300 win mag
-24 inch 1-10twist, 6 button groove, helical twist, Hart Barrel.
-Badger Ord Thruster Prone break
-Stiller Helical flute Tac 300 bolt
-Surgeon Bolt Knob
-Have not bought optics yet

-Applied Ballistics 230gr Berger
-Mk248mod1
-HSM VLD Berger 210gr
-Black Hills 190gr bthp match

BREAK IT DOWN BOYS!! GIVE ME ADVICE... Am i headed in the right direction? I want the most accurate, hard hitting, consistent rifle and ammo I can build.

Thanks!!

 

[Megahoser]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

I am shooting a 22" 5R 1:10 barrel. My preferred load is the Berger 210 over 74.5gr of h1000. I am not pushing it as hard as some...roughly +/- 2750fps, but the load provides an ultra-consistent accuracy node for my setup and it stays supersonic to almost 1500yds. Good luck.

 

[pcweidman]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

Hey thanks Mega! Really super at 1500! Wow! I keep getting that 210 as advise. Everyone says its the stuff.

 

[Km22]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

mk248 mod 1 will kill your barrel life. Everything sounds good, just make sure you put a good scope on top of that good rifle.

 

[gebhardt02]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

I've been shooting the 300WM since 2001ish for competition as well as hunting. I have only ran the 190 SMK's and through two barrels have gotten 2950 to 3000 fps easily. This load has shot really well for me out to 1250 which is the furthest I've been able to shoot. For what you are wanting with a hard hitting caliber in .30 cal, I think the WM is a very capable round.

You have listed some fine components for your build and as long as you have a competent smith put it all together it should shoot extremely well.

If you are going to buy factory ammo, again, you have some good choices figured out. If you are going to reload however, I would suggest looking at the Hornady 208 AMAX and 225 BTHP bullets. These will work well through your 1:10 twist barrel you have specified above. My next barrel will be launching either of these, I just have to see how each one shoots before deciding, but am leaning toward the 208 AMAX and getting away from the 190 SMK for both ballistic and cost purposes.

As far as shooting the WM goes, it isn't a pussy cat that you can just screw around with form on and get away with. At least not in my experience. Good luck with your project, my 300WM was my first custom built rifle and is the rifle I pick for pretty much everything.

Geb

 

[pcweidman]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

Geb that i awesome info and the kind of stuff I am looking for. Why do you guys say the MK248mod1 will kill the barrel? Does the military not care and just wants performance or are they making typical government bad decisions?

I read on here that round is hot, fast, and hits hard and was made that way to get around the buying a shit pile of 338s for the army? Otherwise it seems to get it done.

Geb you are saying that the 190s are more expensive to run than the Hornady Amax in a heavier bullet?

For some reason guys I really want this rifle to push something over 200gr at near or over 3000fps. I think that will give me the ability to kill my hogs at very long distances without having to shoot em in the face! haha I want to use this gun out west and test my skills.

C

 

[Megahoser]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why do you guys say the MK248mod1 will kill the barrel? Does the military not care and just wants performance or are they making typical government bad decisions?</div></div>
The round pressure is usually on the high side...and no, they don't care.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For some reason guys I really want this rifle to push something over 200gr at near or over 3000fps. I think that will give me the ability to kill my hogs at very long distances without having to shoot em in the face!</div></div>
You can...but you'll need to keep your barrel fairly long 26-30" to consistently achieve that type of velocity without over-pressure...or you can build up your loads carefully to over recommended spec in shorter ones.

How far are you wanting to shoot those hogs from? IMHO 3000 for 200gr+ is going to eat your barrel pretty fast and it is unnecessary for the long range accuracy you want.

 

[gebhardt02]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

My recent Cabelas shooting catalog lists the 190's at $40.99 per hundred while the 208's are listed at $32.99 per hundred. I don't usually buy bullets through Cabelas, I'm just using it to illustrate the price difference. Do some shopping around and you might find them closer in price, maybe. I haven't bought bullets in a long time, I have enough on hand currently. But my next barrel will be seeing something other than the 190's even though they have worked extremely well for me.

Good luck on getting 3000 fps with that heavy of a bullet in a barrel length that isn't a real PITA to carry hunting. I like to stick with 26" maximum barrel length for a field rifle. If it were a dedicated range rifle, then a 30" plus tube might be the best option so you get the velocity. My current barrel was actually set to 25" and the barrel before that was 24". This next one will be 26" as I plan on using a little heavier bullet but I still need to maintain packability.

As far as burning out the barrel, that will depend in large part to the rate of fire. If you send lots of rounds down range in a short period of time, your barrel will be toast faster than one in which you let the barrel cool a while before the next round. jIt is also believed (maybe just me?) that long bearing surface bullets work to erode the throat faster than shorter bullets. This is just one factor however in barrel/throat erosion. Amount of powder plays into it quite a bit as well.

Geb

 

[pcweidman]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

hhahaha Thanks Mega you are right I know! Maybe I should stick to the low side of 200 or 190s. I shoot hogs from as far as I can on power lines in Alabama. I am really trying to get this rifle to be a jack of all trades considering the money I am spending. I was also afraid I should have gone with a 28 inch barrel with is closer to the length of the AI from the factory. Ohh well its ordered now. I like the HSM and Black Hills factory loads what do you think?

 

[gebhardt02]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

For hunting hogs, I think the 190s would work just fine. You don't need the added BC of the heavier bullet. Of course the weight isn't going to hinder you either. If you are shooting factory ammo, pick the ammo that shoots the best that you can get for the cheapest.

As an example, Exbal is showing the 190s to have over 1800 ftlb of energy at 600 yards. You planning on shooting at them much further than that realistically? at 800 I'm showing around 1400 ftlb. I think that's enough energy to take down a hog with proper shot placement. However, the SMK isn't designed as a "hunting" bullet. That hasen't stopped me from using it exclusively to hunt antelope, whitetail, and mule deer with either though in my rifle.

Geb

 

[RTK]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Megahoser</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why do you guys say the MK248mod1 will kill the barrel? Does the military not care and just wants performance or are they making typical government bad decisions?</div></div>
The round pressure is usually on the high side...and no, they don't care.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For some reason guys I really want this rifle to push something over 200gr at near or over 3000fps. I think that will give me the ability to kill my hogs at very long distances without having to shoot em in the face!</div></div>
You can...but you'll need to keep your barrel fairly long 26-30" to consistently achieve that type of velocity without over-pressure...or you can build up your loads carefully to over recommended spec in shorter ones.

How far are you wanting to shoot those hogs from? IMHO 3000 for 200gr+ is going to eat your barrel pretty fast and it is unnecessary for the long range accuracy you want. </div></div>

Exactly,
I run 26" barrels on my 300's. I can put down hogs DRT at very long distances with 180gr'ners no problem. My 300 has regular use for anything from coyotes too elk and a few squirrels every now and then.
Don't forget to put a good brake on it, that will make long shooting sessions much more enjoyable.

 

[gebhardt02]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

Or put a suppressor on it, even better than a brake!

 

[Km22]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">hhahaha Thanks Mega you are right I know! Maybe I should stick to the low side of 200 or 190s. I shoot hogs from as far as I can on power lines in Alabama. I am really trying to get this rifle to be a jack of all trades considering the money I am spending. I was also afraid I should have gone with a 28 inch barrel with is closer to the length of the AI from the factory. Ohh well its ordered now. I like the HSM and Black Hills factory loads what do you think? </div></div>

The 220gr from HSM wasn't very good for me. Federal Premium was lights out. Black Hills and CorBon shot very well too. I'd also look at Southwest ammunition and their 220gr version. I haven't shot it yet, but I do have some as soon as I get my 300 win mag back from the gunsmith.

 

[Megahoser]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">hhahaha Thanks Mega you are right I know! Maybe I should stick to the low side of 200 or 190s. I shoot hogs from as far as I can on power lines in Alabama. I am really trying to get this rifle to be a jack of all trades considering the money I am spending. I was also afraid I should have gone with a 28 inch barrel with is closer to the length of the AI from the factory. Ohh well its ordered now. I like the HSM and Black Hills factory loads what do you think? </div></div>
The HSMs are nice if you don't plan to reload. Check Southwest Ammo(site-link), as well. They make some nice .300WM loads.

 

[Alpine 338]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

I'm shooting the 208 AMax's at 2850-fps using 75-gr of H1000.

It's a mild load, and with the weight of the rifle and effective break, very pleasant to shoot. Also guessing my barrel will last longer then the average 2500-rounds for a 300WM.

 

[Mo_Zam_Beek]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

Been shooting a R700 with a 24" Rock done by GAP. Win cases, fully prep'd, Fed 215M, Berger 210s, Reloader 22, 2800 fps. It is a laser. No real point in pulling it out for less than 800. Lots of hits in the 1,200 - 1,650 range. Lobbed 'em to 1 mile. I'm at more like 3,500 ASL.

Most folks report great results with the Hornady 208s, never used myself.


Good luck

 

[pcweidman]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

Thanks so much guys! This is all great info! You are right Geb many "bullet guys" will tell you that a bthp or a target bullet is not made for hunting which in my opinion is crap. It may not be technically right but i have to respectfully disagree. If I feel more comfortable hitting an animal with more precision at a longer range, because we all know that mistakes or drift are just modified the farther the barrel from the target. Now I will say that I hit a 100 or so pound doe with a horrible shot last year at VERY low light because I had had a few too many pulls off the Wild Turkey in the tree stand with my buddy. I made the shot at 100 yards too far back probably back lobe or guts with a 168 FGMM from my 308 Tactical Police. She ran, did not bleed, and the vulchers found her the next day before I did. That was a very irresponsible shot and I will not do it again but the point is if that was a Barnes TTX, Winchester Silver Tip or something 'made' for hunting thin skin animals, she would have bled more and I would have maybe found here before she was road kill. I will never do that again.

My point is that shot placement and accuracy of a 200-230 bthp on the shoulder through vitals will drop any animal in North America like a bad habit. So I am going for responsible laser precision over some lumbering ugly soft tip or wobbly ballistic tip.

Sorry to be so long winded guys. I just had my coffee.
C

 

[Megahoser]

Re: .300 WinMag Capabilities, Tips, and Direction

I use the Berger VLD 'Hunting' bullets for all my loads...same BC as the 'Target' version. I used both for a while, but I quickly found the 'Hunting' rounds shot identical out of my rifles. Seeing no advantage to using the 'Target' version for shooting at paper/steel, I have ceased using them altogether and I couldn't be happier with the performance of my 'Hunting' bullets either on the range or in the field. IMO Bergers are awesome...super-accurate long-range, and most game drops DRT.