All-around .300 WSM bullet?

[Guy Miner]

Okay, now that the long-lost .300 WSM is back in my stable... :grin:

What do you guys recommend for a good, all-around bullet for it? Tasks will include primarily mule deer, but also black bear and elk. I want to develop and use ONE good load for everything, never mucking about with the scope or re-zeroing between seasons.

I've shot some Berger VLD's from it (190's & 210's mostly) with excellent results, but am thinking a little tougher hunting bullet might be in order.

180 AccuBond maybe? The rifle likes both H4350 and Ramshot Hunter.

Thanks, Guy

 

[JD338]

Guy,

I would start with the 180 gr AB. :wink:

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Guy,

Almost everyone I load for asks for 165/168 grain bullets. I shoot 180 grain, and recently I've been working with 200 grain Sierras and ABs. I get excellent accuracy and the velocities are within spitting distance of the 180s. My 300 has taken its share of moose, elk, mule deer and black bear, and the 180s have never let me down. It really made no difference if I chose PTs or TSXs, they all killed very well. I confess, I am using the last of my Fail Safe bullets, and they continue to work very well indeed.

 

[SJB358]

I would think the 180/200gr PT would be the top of the heap. I like the Accubonds alot also, but I have been able to get more accuracy, a little easier with the PT's and since they are a little shorter, you can get max power behind them, and know you have about the best all around load you can get. Scotty

 

[onesonek]

My 2 choices start with 180 gr. AccuBond and the 180 gr. Nosler Partition. Then narrow it down to which is the most accurate. But there would be a couple scenarios I can envision on Elk, that I would prefer the Partition above all others.

Dave

 

[Teknys]

+1 for the 180 PT. My son has taken Whitail and Elk with this round and I have it loaded about in the middle for velocity. This year since he is growing I will bump up the velocity and find the high end in his Savage Stainless.

 

[Alaska]

The 165gr Barnes TSX with H4350 works well.

Note:

165gr TSX and 168gr TSX

These bullets have different ogive geometries. The 165-grain TSX incorporates a shorter tangent ogive in the nose profile. It’s designed for cartridges with short magazines such as the .300 WSM and .300 Win Mag. The 168-grain TSX BT has a tangent ogive which lengthens the nose profile and has shown superb accuracy downrange. It offers the best of both worlds because it’s also a premium hunting bullet offering exceptional terminal performance. It is best suited for cartridges such as the .308 Winchester, .30-06 and .300 Weatherby.

 

[Desert Fox]

That rifle meant to stay with you... forever.

Load it with 168 Barnes TSX and IMR 4831. This is the load combo that I concocted for friends Super Shadow.

This was the bullet that we recovered from a California Mule deer last year. Frontal shot at a distance of 200 yards. The bullet entered the chest cavity, traveled the whole length of the deer and was recovered behind one of the ham. Weight retention was 99.9%... bullet mushroomed perfectly. The deer dropped where it stand.

 

[Elkman]

I have been using 180 gr. Nosler Partitions for 50 years for a reason, they work from real close to real far, and they work every time. Over 100 head of big game can't be wrong!!!!

 

[big rifle man]

Guy, I've used both the 180 Partition and the 180 Sierra Pro hunter in my .300WSM. Both work excellent and have accounted for deer and Elk (and everything in between). For whatever reason the pro hunter likes IMR4831 and the Partition likes Re22, go figure. Accuracy wise the pro hunter is a hair better but the animal on the receiving end will never know the difference.

 

[6mm Remington]

180 grain Accubonds or Partitions. Whichever one shoots more accurately in your rifle! You will be completely satisfied with either one. Just pick the one that your rifle likes the best. Good luck. :grin:

 

[3006savage]

I would try the 168 grain etip. It has a .503 BC and 95+ percent weight retention while still producing large wound paths. It expands down to 1800 fps and outpenetrates most 180 grain bullets.

Velocities approaching 3200 fps should be posible with RL17 and when you run a ballistics table for wind drift and drop it out performs every bullet I have compared in the 165 to 180 grain range.

They are not cheap for sure but they would do everything from up close to 700+ yards very well on everything from antelop to elk.

 

[30-338]

I've had pretty good luck with 168gr TSX in my 300WSM for deer/elk haven't tried it on any bears. I finally settled on H-4350 the new 300WSM I got last thurs just working on some loads using R-17 and 165gr Accubonds/168gr TSX haven't chronograph any loads in that rifle yet.

Well good luck glad you got the rifle back.

 

[DrMike]

I had some excellent groupings with 168 grain E-Tips today, and with 200 grain Sierra SPBT in my 300 WSM. I'll try to post some pictures when I get a chance. I'm rushing out the door to direct a reloading class right now. This certainly opens some new possibilities.

 

[russ808]

Guy, I like the 180 PT and A-bond

 

[Mighty Peace]

180gr Accubonds get my first vote then the 180 in a TTSX. In factory ammo - Winchester Supreme 180 AccuBond CT's

Reloads I used were with Retumbo / H1000. I was going to try 7828SSC and WS 780 but never got round to it prior to selling my 300WSM to a buddy in our mosse hunting group.

Been using the 180gr Accubonds in my 300WM, plus 3 two others in our moose group in their 300WM. LOVE the bullet.

Only bullet I use in my 270WSM in 140gr and 225gr in my 338-06AI (but I must say the 225gr TTSX shoot great also)

 

[lefty315]

Guy, I have had awesome results with the 200 grain AccuBond. I don't think there is much it wouldn't do for you.

 

[Guy Miner]

Roger that Lefty. Had your hunting experiences in mind when I picked up some 200 gr Accubonds a couple of days ago... Already had a box of 200 gr Partitions on hand too... :grin: