125 grain BT in 300 RUM

[bailey1474]

I was just wondering if anyone has acheived an accurate load with these little missles. I am currently trying to work up a load using RL 22. Haven't chronographed it yet but it's screamin'!!! I would like to get away from the temp sensitive RL 22 but keep the velocity. Any suggestions?

 

[NOSLER]

We have had great luck with both IMR7828 and IMR4350.

 

[bailey1474]

What kind of velocity are you getting? Is the IMR temp. sensitive?

I may keep toying with the RL 22. I shot a whitetail at 450 yds this weeked with the 125 grain BT. Hit him right where I wanted and he only ran about 20 yds.

 

[bailey1474]

Just thought I would post an update on my load developement for the 125 BT.

I found a load using the RL 22 that my rifle seems to like. A five shot, 1 inch group is good enough for me!! Especially with the unfavorable 1 in 10 twist. I hope to get the chrono out this weekend and check my velocity. If the Nosler book is accurate, I should be over 3900 fps.

 

[NOSLER]

That is really smokin!

 

[FOTIS]

Just thought I would post an update on my load developement for the 125 BT.

I found a load using the RL 22 that my rifle seems to like. A five shot, 1 inch group is good enough for me!! Especially with the unfavorable 1 in 10 twist. I hope to get the chrono out this weekend and check my velocity. If the Nosler book is accurate, I should be over 3900 fps.

Wow that is fast!

 

[IdahoCTD]

I've had the 150BT's over 4000fps with my 30" 30-378IMP. I've always wanted to shoot a rockchuck with this load. I might have to see how fast I can push those little 125's and try them both on chucks this spring.

 

[NOSLER]

Those poor chucks!!!! :lol:

 

[bailey1474]

Got the chrono out today and avg. velocity was 3937 fps. Not quite the 4000 I had hoped for but close enough.

What was the recoil like pushing the 150's that fast? Gotta have a muzzle brake. At least I would.

Another question: With these big overbore calibers, about how much velocity do you gain for every extra inch of bbl?

 

[FOTIS]

Another question: With these big overbore calibers, about how much velocity do you gain for every extra inch of bbl?

Another Valid question: With these big overbore calibers, about how many shots before you re-barrel?

 

[bailey1474]

I don't know the answer to that question, but I'll let you know when the factory bbl on this one is gone.

 

[IdahoCTD]

What was the recoil like pushing the 150's that fast? Gotta have a muzzle brake. At least I would.

Another question: With these big overbore calibers, about how much velocity do you gain for every extra inch of bbl?

The recoil is fairly vicious. The rifle has a Hart SS LV contour that is fluted with a muzzlebreak. Since I do all of my own gunsmithing almost every rifle I have has a break on it. I always carry ear plugs with me, even while hunting, so they dont bother me in the least.

Overbore cases usually show large velocity changes by reducing or increasing the barrel length (atleast to a point). Obviously the shorter the more dramatic and at the other end of the spectrum, the longer the less dramatic. In my case shooting 120+grs of powder I would guess the loss to be 50+fps (probably closer to 60-65) for every inch of barrel cut off from 30.

Pop,

I dont really know the barrel life. I built the gun back before they standardized the 30-378 and 338-378. At that time it was hard to form brass and once my original 60 cases were tired I put it up. I would bet I have over 300 rounds through it now. The accuracy is starting to go but I dont think it is shot out. I think it is a case of severe powder fouling which can be quite common with overbore cases. I've read about mixing Bon Ami and Shooters Choice then saturating a patch and scrubbing it to cure the problem but I haven't brought myself to scrubbing a match barrel with floor cleaner. It is suppose to be the least aggressive floor cleaner in existence but that's besides the point. I might try some J-B's first and if things dont come around try the Bon Ami mix.

As a side note I just looked at some of my old load data (a bit warm but interesting). I had 165BT's up to 3915fps with 133grs of WC872 and 185 Berger VLD's to 3644fps with 126.5grs of WC872.

Nosler,

I know you didn't intend them to be a chuck bullet but the 150BT is one of the most spectacular chuck bullets out there. When driven over 3500fps they literally explode things. They are also one of the most consistently accurate bullets from barrel to barrel. Some barrels that are poor shooters will come alive when fed the 150BT's.

Nathan

 

[cold_hunter]

hey Idaho i know this is an old subject for you now but i have kind of a funny story fo you. Myx -brother in law i know thats a classic beginning. Well he went to buy a stainless 270 for deer hunting and came home with a stainless browning A-Bolt with boss in 300 Win. And boy he had the biggest gun in the world it could do all. Within a few years he was pissed cause all the dear he shot just turned and ran away. He was loading150gr BTs with 72 grains of IMR 4350. And sinse his barrel was two inches longer than that of the test barrel his loads were 100 fps faster than the books. according to him the bullet was too fast to expand and just went right threw. But he shot a bunch of prarrie dogs with it and they all popped like pop corn. The whole fam damily of guys all saw the same thing when he shot deer, a 6 inch impact zone and the deer ran off. they never tracked one down just went on to the next victum. Well a 150gr. BT at something between 3300 and 3400 was exploding on impact and getting no penetration and they all saw it and were toooo dumb to know what they saw. It proves that some people are better off staying behind the gun and leaving the loading up to the people that use at least part of there brain. helping them cut up dear i have found up to three different little plastic tip in one dear.

 

[JD338]

I have seen a few hunt WT deer here with a 300 Win Mag and 150 gr bullets.
Followed a hit deer but never did recover it.

IMHO, 180 gr and the 300 Win Mag are a perfect match.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Prairie doggin' and burning barrels are we? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Divernhunter]

I use 150gr bullets in my 300win mag and never had to chase down or loose any game................correct bullet selection matched to the game is the answer. Also use 140gr bullets in a 7mm rem mag on everything from yotes to elk and again bullet selection. Had lost small deer with several different 160gr bullets that just went thru without opening. Have shot pronghorns with 125gr BT in the 300win mag with good results and 100gr BT in a 25-06.

 

[FOTIS]

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread ... ost3067109

 

[cold_hunter]

I use 150gr bullets in my 300win mag and never had to chase down or loose any game................correct bullet selection matched to the game is the answer. Also use 140gr bullets in a 7mm rem mag on everything from yotes to elk and again bullet selection. Had lost small deer with several different 160gr bullets that just went thru without opening. Have shot pronghorns with 125gr BT in the 300win mag with good results and 100gr BT in a 25-06.

good for you i would say you are a hell of a shot and dont get many close shots cause i have seen both of those 30 cal bullets just explode on impact. and like a 150 BT hit a small bush that was hidden from our position and just pepper the whole side of a coyote with lead and jacket material. and on that day i saw a yote almost blown in two. but that 100gr. 25cal i used to use when i had a single shot 2506 now i use the 100gr PT or the 110gr. AB.

 

[Divernhunter]

Thanks for the sarcastic answer. I usually get close shots. I took my last hog with a 150 PAR in my 300win mag @ 40 yards. MV(actually 20' from muzzle) was 3417FPS(yes a hot load). It went nowhere after being hit. Same with the one shot at 250(approx) yards for another hog. Have taken small deer many times with the same load .........usually under 100yds. I do not claim to be a great shot. I DO claim to select bullets for the job and do well at that. Plan to TRY the Hornady interbond bullet.
You stated "those bullets" and I did not say what bullets I used for different hunting situations. So you could not see them not preform as you stated. BULLET SELECTION is the KEY. I have seen bullets just go thru an animal without opening due to being too heavy constructed or weight and moving too fast to have time to expand. Also have seen them not penatrate enough due to light construction and high speeds.
In the no lead zone here I am going to try the tipped X-bullet in 130 and 150gr depending on the cartridge in .308. Also plan to try the Hornady 150gr GMX bullet in the 300 win mag. The feedback I an getting from guides here is that they are loosing more hogs now with the no lead bullets. This is due to construction/not enough speed to expand and mostly to people trying to use too heavy of a bullet. They try to use the same weight as the standard bullets they are use to. This is a mistake. The no lead bullets will act like a regular bullet 30% heavier. They also need speed to open more so than regular bullets. My Barnes 130gr tipped tripple shock bullet max loads in 30-06 have worked well on hogs.

 

[cold_hunter]

sorry to inform you of this but those x bullets are supposed to expand within 2 inches of entry. so you are right on with using light ones going fast but how far away do you have to be before they wont expand? good question i shot a bunch into a box of wet news paper at different speeds to simulate different distances and a 150gr x bullet still opened up at 1700 so you theory has a few bullet holes in it sorry