.300 WSM small grain bullet info

[BalisticsNut]

Looking for info on the smallest handload bullet that can be used on a .300 WSM. I reload all my own but stick with what I know. That is 165 gr and up. I was wondering if it was possible to create a varmint round for the 300 wsm? I hear guys using .270s, 30-06 with yotes. Is this possible with a .300 WSM? I dont want to blow its legs off, just make a nice clean hole through the hide. Any suggestions??? Thanks in advance.

 

[DrMike]

You would likely want to work up a reduced load as the velocities generated with the smaller 30 calibre bullets would give quite a thwack when it smites a 'yote.

 

[1Shot]

110 Hornady V-max or Nosler 125 ballistic tip pushed by a stiff dose of H-4350 should work just fine. I hope you are not serious about keeping hides on a yote with these light bullets because they will tear one up. If you keep your impact velocity under 3100 fps the 125 ballistic tip really works great on deer also. If you have to use a 300 WSM on yote's and want to save the hides I would go with a heavy bullet like a 180 gr in one of the bonded bullets like the AccuBond to cut down on expansion that is if you can't use a FMJ bullet.

 

[Guest]

There are 110-130gr bullets that would likely work very well for coyotes and larger varmints. Nosler makes the Ballistic Tip in 125gr in 308cal, and Hornady offers a variety of 110gr bullets, as well as a 130gr Spitzer. Speer offers 125 and 130gr varmint bullets, as well. Any of these should be reasonably good choices for varmints in your 300WSM, though you may wish to play with the loads a bit to find a reduced velocity, if you have issues with the bullets not holding up as you'd like on coyotes or other varmints. I suspect even at reduced charges (closer to the start charge) these bullets will perform well and have excellent trajectory out to the range most folks will be hunting coyotes. If you need further velocity reduction, consider the Hornady youth loads available on their site. I believe they list some 125-130gr H4895 loads at sharply reduced velocities that might be useful if you're having too violent an expansion on the varmints.

 

[BalisticsNut]

Very interesting read. Thanks for the responses. I would think the lighter bullet with the lighter loads would produce less damage then a higher velocity heavy load. I would think with the right load and bullet, the .300 could produce minor pelt damage. This was my hope anyhow.

 

[Guest]

I suspect you will get some pelt damage if you're using a rapidly expanding varmint style bullet, but nothing too terrible as long as you don't push them over moderate velocities. Check out this link for some very interesting possibilities:

www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

In theory, one could work up from the listed loads to the max loads for full power loads using H4895 and be fine anywhere along the curve the loads were accurate. That's a lot of flexibility and should offer you the ability to find a bullet and charge that will not do too much damage to the pelt, while still retaining enough punch to penetrate appropriately from any shot angle you might need to take on a yote.

 

[Guy Miner]

I don't remember the particulars, but there's a fellow who has made considerable waves on the 'net with his long-barrel .300 WSM varmint rifles, pumping 125's out at crazy fast velocity. Those would whack a 'yote hard, but I doubt they'd be fur-friendly.

 

[BalisticsNut]

I have no doubt that the .300 wsm and a 125gr bullet could reach speeds in excess of 3400 fps. That being said, that velocity would rip apart that animal pretty grouesomly. I had intended to use my rifle earlier this year but my buddy would have no part of it on his hunt. So I was hopeing that I could find out if, lets say a good 115 gr bullet at velocities around 2600 FPS would take out a yote without taking out his hide. My rifle seems to like really fast bullets or less than 3000 fps.

 

[Desert Fox]

Richard Franklin had been building rifle on this cartridge using a slow twist barrel. He called it 300 Varminter. He either use 110 V-Max or Nosler 125 grain Ballistic Tip and pushed it at a blistering speed of 3900 to 4000 fps. The brass is toast after every 3 firings.

Here's the link http://www.richardscustomrifles.com/fav ... rifles.htm

 

[DrMike]

Wow! Certainly not fur friendly. However, that might be a ton of fun. It could get pricey quickly, though.

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks, that's the guy, and the rifle I was thinking of.

I've never loaded anything under 165 grains in my .300 WSM - but the thought of zipping some 125's through it and destroying a few coyotes brings a smile to my face. Our coyotes take a toll on the mule deer population, particularly in winter and early spring. I don't shoot them to save the fur/hides, I shoot them to kill them. One less coyote means more deer for me and my sons in the fall.

Besides, the 'yotes are fun to hunt. Smart little rascals!

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, coyotes are indeed wily.

 

[Guest]

I've heard that wily coyotes are super geniuses.

 

[DrMike]

Not when chasing road runners! :lol:

 

[chet]

I used 150gr FMJ (I think speer) @ 3000 fps for a few years out of a 300wm.
A slowed down e-tip might do the trick as well.

Also I have shot alot of 125BT's @ 3500....... It litterally ripped coyotes in half, jackrabbits would vaporize. Shot a doe pronghorn, left with very little edible meat.