I have a Winchester Model 70 chambered for a .300 WSM. I have been working with different powders to find the right recipe. I have found that 65.5 gr. of RL-17, Federal 215 primers works best with the Nosler 165 AB bullet. However, I am at the stage of trying to tweek the load so that it will shoot under 3/4" at 100 yards. The bullet is seated .010" off the lands. It seems that when shooting a 3-shot group I can get 2 shots within 3/4" but I always seem to have a flyer that ends up making the group 1-2" in size. Those of you that have a .300 WSM how far off the lands are you shooting? I would be most interested in hearing from anyone that is also using a model 70 Winchester. Thanks for your help.
.300 WSM Seating Depth
- Thread starter gman
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DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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gman,
Welcome to the forum. I have had two Model 70 Featherweights chambered in 300 WSM. Each shot very accurately. I usually loaded my cup and core bullets between 0.010 and 0.020 inches off the lands. Monolithic bullets were loaded to about 0.100 inches off the lands. The magazine allowed loading the bullets out to ensure that the cartridges fed readily. You should not have great difficulty getting the accuracy you are seeking with the Model 70. Consequently, is this one of the newer models manufactured in SC? Or is it one from the New Haven factory? I have had both, and each shot very well.
Welcome to the forum. I have had two Model 70 Featherweights chambered in 300 WSM. Each shot very accurately. I usually loaded my cup and core bullets between 0.010 and 0.020 inches off the lands. Monolithic bullets were loaded to about 0.100 inches off the lands. The magazine allowed loading the bullets out to ensure that the cartridges fed readily. You should not have great difficulty getting the accuracy you are seeking with the Model 70. Consequently, is this one of the newer models manufactured in SC? Or is it one from the New Haven factory? I have had both, and each shot very well.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,419
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Welcome to the forum.
You're on the right track. Try seating at .010" intervals . If that does not work try primer swapping or try RL 22.
You're on the right track. Try seating at .010" intervals . If that does not work try primer swapping or try RL 22.
- Thread starter
- #4
DrMike, the rifle I am shooting comes from the New Haven, CT factory. It has had less than 100 rounds fired through it. Incidently, what size groups were you able to get from your .300 WSM model 70 Win. and what powder and bullet were you using?
Thanks again for your help.
Thanks again for your help.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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I just sold my New Haven rifle a couple of months back. It was shooting Hornady InterBonds into a half-inch group, delivering 2967 fps. I used 65 grains of IMR 4350 and a WLRM primer. It also shot 180 grain CT Fail Safe bullets into 0.4 inches at a velocity of 2900 fps. This was propelled with a charge of 69.5 grains of WXR and CCI200 primers. These two constituted my hunting loads for that rifle.
Reviewing my loading data, I note that I had very good success with Hornady 180 grain SST (0.97 inches), 180 grain Hawk (0.56 inches), Swift 180 grain AFrames (0.69 inches), Swift 180 grain Sciroccos (0.39 inches), Nosler 180 grain E-Tips (0.72 inches), Nosler 180 grain AB (0.88 inches), Speer 180 grain Grand Slams (0.71 inches), Speer 180 grain MagTips (0.70 inches) and 200 grain Sierra Game Kings (0.91 inches). The rifle was not at all fussy about what it shot, though it shot the 180 grain bullets best as it approached 2900 to 3000 fps. The new one does not shoot any better, but it does shoot just as well.
Reviewing my loading data, I note that I had very good success with Hornady 180 grain SST (0.97 inches), 180 grain Hawk (0.56 inches), Swift 180 grain AFrames (0.69 inches), Swift 180 grain Sciroccos (0.39 inches), Nosler 180 grain E-Tips (0.72 inches), Nosler 180 grain AB (0.88 inches), Speer 180 grain Grand Slams (0.71 inches), Speer 180 grain MagTips (0.70 inches) and 200 grain Sierra Game Kings (0.91 inches). The rifle was not at all fussy about what it shot, though it shot the 180 grain bullets best as it approached 2900 to 3000 fps. The new one does not shoot any better, but it does shoot just as well.
- Thread starter
- #6
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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gman,
You are most welcome. Trust you find a good consistent load. I have not loaded for a 300 WSM that would not shoot well, and I know I have loaded for more than 30 in the past several years.
You are most welcome. Trust you find a good consistent load. I have not loaded for a 300 WSM that would not shoot well, and I know I have loaded for more than 30 in the past several years.
BalisticsNut
Beginner
- Oct 29, 2010
- 51
- 0
gman, wish I would have cought this earlier. I have a tikka3 .300 wsm and have been playing hard with 165gr BT with little success on tight groups. As you stated I was getting flyers far to often. I too also use the RL-17 but the CCI 250 primers with 64.0 and 64.5 gr and have seen pretty good groups without flyers. My best group was with a 168gr BT 64.5 RL-17 CCI 250 primers getting around 3050FPS. This was set .070 off the lands.
Now all that being said, I have tested every combination of RL-17 up to 66.5 gr and the Nosler 165gr BT and AB and it steadily got larger groups at 200 yards. My buddy also has a .300 WSM and shoots pretty consistant groups at 100 yards with 160 gr BT and 64.0gr of RL-17 and CCI 250s. Here is what I found with RL-17
64.0 = avg 3050 FPS 5 shot group @ 200 yards 2.1"
64.3 = avg 3100 fps 5 shot group @ 200 yards 2.5"
64.5 = avg 3120 fps 5 shot group @ 200 yards 4.9" (two flyers)
64.7 = avg 3130 fps 5 shot group @ 200 yards 3.4"
My guess the sweet spot for this round is around 2900-3000 FPS.
Tonight I am loading 168 gr Silver tips with a plan of 63.7/64.0/64.3/64.5 gr RL-17, CCI 250 and Federal brass. Ill test these rounds come next week or even possibly this weekend.
Now all that being said, I have tested every combination of RL-17 up to 66.5 gr and the Nosler 165gr BT and AB and it steadily got larger groups at 200 yards. My buddy also has a .300 WSM and shoots pretty consistant groups at 100 yards with 160 gr BT and 64.0gr of RL-17 and CCI 250s. Here is what I found with RL-17
64.0 = avg 3050 FPS 5 shot group @ 200 yards 2.1"
64.3 = avg 3100 fps 5 shot group @ 200 yards 2.5"
64.5 = avg 3120 fps 5 shot group @ 200 yards 4.9" (two flyers)
64.7 = avg 3130 fps 5 shot group @ 200 yards 3.4"
My guess the sweet spot for this round is around 2900-3000 FPS.
Tonight I am loading 168 gr Silver tips with a plan of 63.7/64.0/64.3/64.5 gr RL-17, CCI 250 and Federal brass. Ill test these rounds come next week or even possibly this weekend.
BallisticsNut, sounds like you should get a shooting load out of that 300 with those loads. Keep an eye out on the Shooters Pro Shop for 168gr 2nds. They offer them pretty often and they are a great deal. If your rifle shoots them well, might be worth stocking up on a few hundred. Scotty
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- #10
BalisticsNut
Beginner
- Oct 29, 2010
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Absolutly will post the results. Between a better scope for longer range shots, better BCs and powder charges I am expecting much better results.
