300WSM - Reduced Load

[Teknys]

I purchased my son (14y) a 300WSM for Xmas last year. I'm about to make up a load for him. He's not recoils shy, (shoots Skeet 2 -3000 rounds a year). I use RL22 in my 270 WSM. I guess the question is how far below listed powder charges can I go. I'd like to be in the 2700 - 2800 fps range with the 180pt. I'm guessing about 63-64 gns of RL22. Is it safe to go below the printed powder charges?

 

[Big Squeeze]

I purchased my son (14y) a 300WSM for Xmas last year. I'm about to make up a load for him. He's not recoils shy, (shoots Skeet 2 -3000 rounds a year). I use RL22 in my 270 WSM. I guess the question is how far below listed powder charges can I go. I'd like to be in the 2700 - 2800 fps range with the 180pt. I'm guessing about 63-64 gns of RL22. Is it safe to go below the printed powder charges?

................For the RL22, I would not go below the minimum powder charges listed.

I also have a 300 WSM, but I only use starting loads when working up!

In my `08 Hodgdon manual, I see the following variety as starting loads for the 24" barreled 300 WSM, keeping your velocities at around 2700 to 2800 for the 180 grainer. They do not list RL22!

STARTING LOADS

Bullet: 180 gr. SFT SCIR

H-4831 65.5 gr. 2775 fps. 52,000 PSI
H-4350 60.0 gr. 2799 fps. 55,700 PSI
H-414 59.0 gr. 2801 " 54,100 "
H-380 57.0 gr. 2718 " 53,700 "
IMR 7828 65.0 gr. 2783 " 54,400 "
IMR 4831 62.0 gr. 2797 " 52,700 "
IMR 4350 61.0 gr. 2808 " 52,800 "
IMR 4007 57.0 gr. 2806 " 56,800 "
760 59.0 gr. 2801 " 54,100 "


In my Sierra Manual it shows;

Powder/Velocity> 2600 2700 2800

RE22 62.6 64.7 66.8


The reduced charges may offer better accuracy with the faster burners!

 

[Britz]

rather than going with a really reduced 180, why not try a lower end 150 or 130 grain bullet? I Shoot fairly hot loads of 110's and hot loads of 180's in mine and there is a major difference in recoil.