300 WSM - 150 grain BTs

[filmjunkie4ever]

Since no one wanted to give me what I had into my Model 70 in .300 WSM I have decided that I will keep it and probably load up some 150 grain BTs for deer for next year.

3200+ fps seems to be quite easy to attain over a variety of "cook books" that I have recently perused in search of a good load.

The one I keep looking at is 69-70 grains of IMR 4831 for nearly 3300 fps (in the 26" test tubes).

Anyone have any experience with this load or any others?

This load is going to just be used for deer, antelope, or the occasional coyote as is, I have no thoughts of using it for elk.

Thanks! FJ4E

 

[Guy Miner]

That will be a flat shooting son of a gun! :grin:

Be sure you're not exceeding the recommended impact velocity for those 150 gr Ballistic Tips. Though they are much stronger now, it is possible to run a B-Tip too hard into game, resulting in too much expansion & too little penetration. I think my 3120 fps load for the 115 B-Tip in the .25-06 is near the edge for good bullet performance. I'm getting some violent bullet expansion, even hundreds of yards downrange, with that load.

I've never loaded 150's for my .300 WSM, 165's were as light as I wanted to go. 3100 fps is no problem with the 165's. H4350 is my preferred powder for the .300 WSM.

Regards, Guy

 

[rjm158]

I loaded those for use in my Tikka 2 or 3 years ago and had great luck with it. I killed three deer with it and had no complaints whatsoever. The effects were, um, decisive.

I don't recall the precise load I used but it gave sub-MOA groups at 100 yds while I was doing load work up. I can look it up when I'm home if you'd like to have it.

Ron

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Yeah please do when you can Ron. I would appreciate it.

I think this will be a super deer load here where I hunt in Idaho.

I also like my .25-06 and .30-06 though and they see a lot of use. I plan to try to use this WSM more in the coming years.

I like the idea of the 165s as well, and that is what I mainly shoot in my .30-06.

Just like that extra speed. And if it will shoot just as good, why not?

I think I will start out with 68 grains of IMR4831 over a standard primer with the Nosler BT.

Just in case, I also have some Partitions of the same weight I could go with if these are too well...explosive. I imagine they will be like the old W-W Silvertips.

 

[rjm158]

My load was 57.0 gr of Varget in Winchester cases on top of Federal 210 primers. I got this load from the Hodgdon site/manual. The max shown was 58.5 so there is room for experimentation if you wanted to.

I didn't chrono it so I can't provide a velocity but my notes say it shot .69 for 3 shot groups at 100.

Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[big rifle man]

As Guy has said watch your velocity. That's mighty fast for a B-Tip. With careful handloading you should be able to push that weight bullet well over 3200FPS. I'm getting close to 3100 with a 180 grain bullet and RL17. I have read a number of articles on the .300WSM and that was my reason for purchasing a Kimber Montana in that caliber. The articles also mentioned that the 165 grain and 180 grain bullets were ideal for that caliber.

 

[wildgene]

...I haven't used any 150's, but I'm getting 3200+fps w/ 68grs. of RL-17 behind the 165's...

...200yd. "zero" w/ the "practice rounds"...



...200yd. "zero" w/ the "hunting rounds", yeah, I pushed the second one anticipating the horrendous recoil...

 

[Guy Miner]

"Horrendous recoil" ?

Being silly, or does your rifle kick hard? Mine seems to recoil less than most .300 mags I've shot, but then again my .300 WSM Model 70 has a pretty beefy stock & barrel.

Guy

 

[SJB358]

Man, I'd be a little scared of a 150 at 3200 or so, unless expecting longer shots. Be a good place for the 150 AB I think, if they shoot similar.

I am thinking you'd really have a flatliner though, 150's at 3200 would really work well on your intended game.

I am really digging Gene's load with 17 and a 165 though. That is one I will have to look into in the future.

 

[SJB358]

Here is what I'd be looking at though, if I were wanting to run 150's in the 300.. 17 looks real good, as do a few others..

Cartridge : .300 WSM (CIP)
Bullet : .308, 150, Nosler BalTip 30150
Useable Case Capaci: 72.021 grain H2O = 4.676 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 79 55.20 2662 2361 32091 9344 95.4 1.421
-18.0 81 56.58 2729 2480 34312 9598 96.5 1.383
-16.0 83 57.96 2795 2603 36691 9835 97.4 1.345
-14.0 85 59.34 2862 2727 39238 10051 98.2 1.304
-12.0 87 60.72 2927 2854 41968 10246 98.9 1.263
-10.0 89 62.10 2993 2983 44897 10419 99.4 1.224
-08.0 91 63.48 3058 3114 48041 10568 99.7 1.187
-06.0 93 64.86 3122 3247 51418 10692 99.9 1.151
-04.0 95 66.24 3186 3381 55049 10790 100.0 1.116
-02.0 97 67.62 3249 3516 58956 10875 100.0 1.083 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 99 69.00 3311 3652 63162 10956 100.0 1.050 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 101 70.38 3373 3789 67710 11033 100.0 1.019 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 103 71.76 3434 3927 72617 11106 100.0 0.989 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 105 73.14 3494 4067 77922 11176 100.0 0.961 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 107 74.52 3555 4209 83669 11241 100.0 0.933 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 109 75.90 3615 4352 89906 11303 100.0 0.906 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 99 69.00 3433 3925 77164 10530 100.0 0.973 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 99 69.00 3124 3251 50910 11302 98.3 1.152


Cartridge : .300 WSM (CIP)
Bullet : .308, 150, Nosler BalTip 30150
Useable Case Capaci: 72.021 grain H2O = 4.676 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Ramshot Hunter

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 83 56.80 2598 2248 31710 8899 90.1 1.439
-18.0 85 58.22 2664 2364 33914 9183 91.4 1.401
-16.0 87 59.64 2730 2482 36276 9458 92.7 1.363
-14.0 89 61.06 2796 2604 38808 9721 93.8 1.321
-12.0 91 62.48 2862 2729 41523 9971 94.9 1.280
-10.0 93 63.90 2929 2857 44436 10208 95.9 1.241
-08.0 95 65.32 2995 2987 47571 10429 96.8 1.203
-06.0 97 66.74 3061 3120 50941 10633 97.5 1.166
-04.0 99 68.16 3127 3256 54566 10820 98.2 1.131
-02.0 101 69.58 3192 3394 58471 10988 98.8 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 104 71.00 3258 3535 62677 11137 99.2 1.063 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 106 72.42 3323 3678 67178 11264 99.6 1.031 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 108 73.84 3388 3822 72023 11370 99.8 1.001 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 110 75.26 3452 3969 77249 11453 100.0 0.971 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 112 76.68 3516 4117 82894 11513 100.0 0.943 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 114 78.10 3579 4267 89002 11563 100.0 0.915 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 104 71.00 3401 3852 75541 10769 100.0 0.985 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 104 71.00 3057 3112 50572 10935 94.1 1.166


And here is what IMR4831 looks like.. Still pretty danged good..

Cartridge : .300 WSM (CIP)
Bullet : .308, 150, Nosler BalTip 30150
Useable Case Capaci: 72.021 grain H2O = 4.676 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : IMR 4831

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 87 55.20 2592 2238 31918 8741 93.2 1.455
-18.0 89 56.58 2657 2351 34201 8991 94.4 1.416
-16.0 91 57.96 2721 2467 36621 9228 95.4 1.378
-14.0 93 59.34 2786 2585 39203 9451 96.4 1.335
-12.0 96 60.72 2851 2706 41967 9660 97.2 1.293
-10.0 98 62.10 2915 2830 44926 9852 97.9 1.253
-08.0 100 63.48 2979 2955 48094 10027 98.6 1.214
-06.0 102 64.86 3042 3083 51488 10184 99.1 1.177
-04.0 104 66.24 3105 3212 55126 10322 99.5 1.141
-02.0 106 67.62 3168 3343 59029 10440 99.8 1.107 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 109 69.00 3231 3476 63219 10536 99.9 1.073 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 111 70.38 3292 3610 67723 10611 100.0 1.041 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 113 71.76 3354 3746 72569 10672 100.0 1.011 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 115 73.14 3414 3882 77790 10729 100.0 0.981 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 117 74.52 3474 4021 83423 10783 100.0 0.952 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 119 75.90 3534 4160 89512 10832 100.0 0.925 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 109 69.00 3357 3754 76213 10096 100.0 0.994 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 109 69.00 3043 3084 50562 10617 96.5 1.180

 

[wildgene]

"Horrendous recoil" ?

Being silly, or does your rifle kick hard? Mine seems to recoil less than most .300 mags I've shot, but then again my .300 WSM Model 70 has a pretty beefy stock & barrel.

Guy

...it's a Tikka T3 Lite, 7lbs. 3oz. w/ a Leupold 4.5X14 VX-3. recoil is about on par w/ my 7mm RM, might be just a hair more w/ 180's than the Mod. 70 .325 that's a pound heavier & has a big, fluffy pad. Mostly I just anticipated the shot... :roll: :mrgreen:

 

[wildgene]

Man, I'd be a little scared of a 150 at 3200 or so, unless expecting longer shots. Be a good place for the 150 AB I think, if they shoot similar.

I am thinking you'd really have a flatliner though, 150's at 3200 would really work well on your intended game.

I am really digging Gene's load with 17 and a 165 though. That is one I will have to look into in the future.

...165gr. AB's run & look about the same, a 3 shot group consistently has 2 near touching & one out, just can't seem to find the "sweet spot w/ 'em...

 

[muleman]

I used Superformance powder to push 150gr ABs to 3400fps out of a 300wsm. Not sure I'd do that with BTs though.
Scott

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Anyone used 165 grain Sierras? Have a few of those around too.

Was going to get some 150 E-tips but they were out of those...

 

[wildgene]

...I've used the 120gr. .25 Sierra HPBT GameKings on antelope & mule deer, the 160gr. 7mm & 165gr. .30 on mule deer & elk. Not the highest BC's, but exceptional accuracy & terminal ballistics...

...antelope @ 200yds. "in"...



...& "out...

 

[SJB358]

Never used the Sierra HPBT Gamekings, but I used quite a few of the 125 Pro Hunters in my wife's old 308 at 2900 and they seemed to work very well..