180 grain vs 200 grain

[Osprey78]

Hi all.

Just curious as to everyone's opinion on using 180 grain bullets or 200 grain bullets for hunting purposes.

What does the 300 WinMag like better?

I hunt in Southern BC where mostly the quarry would be deer, but also elk, moose and odd black bear. There is also a high probability of running into a Grizz.

Trajectory wise, if they were chrony'ed at 2900 fps and zeroed at 200 yards they are very similar according to JBM but the ft-lbs really shine with the 200 grain pill. Now with, say a Partition would that be overkill for a deer. I know for a bear, elk, moose etc that will be fine.

 

[DrMike]

I encounter grizzlies with a fair degree of regularity. A 200 grain pill just adds ten percent more confidence should I need to use the rifle. You aren't going to get many shots in any case. Overkill is a nonsensical word; dead is dead and you kill any deader than dead.

 

[nvbroncrider]

No such thing as overkill ask Fotis he took an antelope with a 416 Bee. I'd just make a 200 load and have fun. The Partition will work just fine might cause a touch more damage than others. Overall I wouldn't worry about it. Unless one shoot significantly better than the other.

 

[truck driver]

You should have less meat damage with the 200gr on deer. I know people who use a 220gr core lock in a 30-06 on white tail deer and think nothing about it.

 

[FOTIS]

No such thing as overkill ask Fotis he took an antelope with a 416 Bee.

actually 3 :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[NWBlacktail]

My Ruger M77 has been liking the 180 grn AccuBond with 75.0 grns of RL22.

I've been experimenting with 200 grn Partitions. So far it didn't seem to like them with RL22. I just got done with a batch of test loads with H4831sc. We'll see how those work.

 

[Guy Miner]

There may be no "need" for 200 gr bullets from the .300 mag, but 30 years ago I found that the 200 gr Sierras shot Really Well from my .300 Win Mag. The slower burning powders like 7828 work very well with the 200's.

BTW, a Nosler Partition will open up nicely even on lighter game like deer. The front end is usually pretty soft, to encourage expansion.

Guy

 

[Osprey78]

Thanks guys. Here is the next question. Are the spitzers ok or do i need Protected points. I read that Nosler designed the PP specifically for the 300 WM.

http://www.huntingillustrated.com/shoot ... ter-magnum

 

[NWBlacktail]

I have no trouble seating the 200 grn Partitions to 3.340", that's about all the magazine length I have. But I haven't tried the 180 grn Partitions (PP or otherwise), maybe it tapers farther back, I don't know.

If you can seat out farther then 3.340", then you don't have anything to worry about anyway.

 

[baltz526]

The 200gr Partition has better ballistics than the 180 and in the 300 win mag, You can get nearly the same velocity out of the 200gr.

 

[FOTIS]

Use the 200 spitzers and you will be great! For everything

 

[bobnob]

Buy several boxes of whichever shoots best.

That'll give you confidence.

Shooting is a confidence sport.

 

[sask boy]

There is nothing wrong with either bullet. The 200gr. has more mass & if your rifle likes them then go with them. My cousin uses IMR4350 under his 200gr. & that is what he uses on all hunts. So go with the 200gr. & have fun!!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

I really think the 200 grain bullets in the 300 magnums are where it's at. I came upon a load with the 200 grain Sierra that shot really well in an old Ruger. 200 PTs shot the same. It ran out around 2900 and change. I loved it. You can run the 180's a little faster but for the bigger animals, the 200 PT is a bruiser! Check out the bullet test section. I believe there are some PTs shot into jugs from a 300 Win.

The 200 AB would really be the cats meow if they shoot. You get a lot of BC and a very tough bullet.

 

[Guy Miner]

BTW, there is nothing wrong with 180's from a .30 cal magnum. It's a classic, proven combo.

Also, I never used Nosler's interesting protected point version of the 180 gr Partition in any of the .300 Win Mag rifles I've owned over the years. I too read that it was developed specifically for the .300 Win Mag, but always just used the standard 180 gr Partition myself, with no problems.

Shoots well, and goes right through game!

Guy

 

[JD338]

I would go with the 200 gr PT and not look back.

JD338

 

[Sas874runner]

I do believe the 180 AccuBond or Partition and the win mag are a match made in heaven

 

[gerry]

I think the classic do everything load in a 300 Mag is the 200 gr Partition, it will work at any range on any game.

 

[Elkman]

If my 300 shot them equally well, and if I didn't have over 1000, 180 gr bullets, and 300 180 gr PT's , I might change, but the 180 has served me well for 54 years now.

After saying the above, if I was you, living amongst the mean and nasty, I would take a real hard look at the 200's. Short range energy is significant, and penetration could probably be measured in "feet".