Load suggestions for the 300 wsm

[rquack]

My buddy's son recently purchased a Browning ABolt in 300 wsm without the boss.

The young man [and his dad] are interested in getting into reloading for this rifle. I have invited them to stop by after the holidays and we would load up several rounds for his rifle to begin the load development process.

My dilemma: I don't know squat about the 300 wsm cartridge. He would like to load 150 or 165 grain bullets; the rifle seemed to like the Win factory 150's [with the CT 150 BT's] over a factory 180 grain load. His intended quarry is Michigan whitetail deer with shots available from 75 to 250 yards.

Can anyone suggest a powder to use for this cartridge?? Should I use a standard or magnum primer??

I have a few different 150, 165, and 180 grain 30 cal bullets around the house. I'd like to buy him a pound of powder and the dies to get him started and give him a few primers from inventory. Then usher him off to Cabela's [or Midway, Graf's, etc] to warm up his credit card.

 

[DrMike]

I use large rifle primers for almost all my loads, except when hunting in very cold temperatures (less than 0 F). The cartridge will thrive on medium burn powders. Among the powders I've used with 150 and 165 grain bullets are RL15, IMR4831, IMR4350 and H380. These will not necessarily give the highest velocities, but they are reasonably efficient and they yield the best accuracy in almost every rifle I've tested.

 

[wildgene]

...I load all my short mags w/ RL-17. 68grs. (Max Load!!!)/ CCI 250/ 165gr. GrandSlam or Sierra HPBT both chrono'd @3200fps have worked pretty good for me on deer & elk. I check my Zeros @ 5000/ 7000/ 9000' elev. & temps. between 0-80* & haven't had any problems...

...200yd. "Zero" check...
(...ignore the 2 way off to the left, that's the .325...)

 

[R Flowers]

Well, lets try this again. I just tried to reply to this post only to be told I had been banned from the forum. I hope this is an issue that goes away.

I have loaded ammo for six rifles chambered in the 300 WSM. A standout load in each of them has been a near maximum load of H 4350 behind a Barnes 168 grain TSX. I use Winchester cases and Fed215M primers exlusively. I find the Barnes bullets like a jump to the lands, so I just load to magazine length.

Prior to the lead bullet ban here in this part of CA my favorite 300 WSM load was exactly the same but used the 165 grain Nosler AccuBond.

 

[FOTIS]

Use the 180 gr for everything and sim0ify your life.

Cartridge : .300 WSM (CIP)
Bullet : .308, 180, Nosler AccuBond 54825
Useable Case Capaci: 70.116 grain H2O = 4.553 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 63840 psi, or 440 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

139 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Norma MRP 106.6 71.9 4.66 3096 99.8 63840 11929 1.131 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 108.3 71.6 4.64 3083 97.7 63840 12153 1.129 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 108.6 74.6 4.83 3072 96.4 63840 12185 1.134 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 108.6 71.0 4.60 3061 99.1 63840 11720 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 108.6 71.0 4.60 3061 99.1 63840 11720 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 108.6 71.0 4.60 3061 99.1 63840 11720 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 106.6 70.8 4.59 3061 98.0 63840 11726 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 110.0 76.1 4.93 3061 98.3 63052 11889 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 110.0 75.9 4.92 3051 98.3 62423 11843 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 110.0 75.9 4.92 3046 98.1 62055 11849 1.136 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 107.5 70.3 4.55 3045 97.9 63840 11615 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 95.8 64.9 4.21 3037 100.0 63840 10517 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 109.7 70.4 4.56 3020 97.6 63840 11363 1.137 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 110.0 70.3 4.56 3015 98.6 60686 11621 1.161 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 104.4 67.1 4.35 3013 98.9 63840 11071 1.129 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 105.1 67.9 4.40 3012 98.9 63840 11148 1.137 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 100.5 67.1 4.35 3010 99.9 63840 10816 1.142 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 95.0 64.9 4.21 3006 99.7 63840 10841 1.144 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 95.0 64.9 4.21 3006 99.7 63840 10841 1.144 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 105.8 68.4 4.43 3005 98.9 63840 11065 1.137 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 102.5 65.9 4.27 3002 100.0 63840 10031 1.150 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 97.2 64.2 4.16 2988 100.0 63840 10481 1.154 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 100.1 64.0 4.15 2988 100.0 63840 10343 1.149 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation 100.1 64.0 4.15 2988 100.0 63840 10340 1.149 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 110.0 73.8 4.78 2986 97.6 60963 11332 1.145 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 102.8 66.5 4.31 2986 98.7 63840 10842 1.138 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 102.8 66.5 4.31 2986 98.7 63840 10842 1.138 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 99.6 66.5 4.31 2986 98.7 63840 10842 1.138 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 103.8 64.2 4.16 2984 100.0 63840 10300 1.165 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 106.1 69.3 4.49 2981 97.2 63840 10934 1.134 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 110.0 69.1 4.48 2978 97.1 58343 11503 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 105.3 68.8 4.46 2975 99.4 63840 10649 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 110.0 69.1 4.48 2971 97.1 63065 10903 1.141 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 105.0 65.0 4.21 2969 100.0 63840 10112 1.158 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation 110.0 72.5 4.70 2969 95.4 61472 11289 1.148 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot BigGame 93.4 62.3 4.04 2966 100.0 63840 9969 1.149 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 11 93.6 62.4 4.05 2965 100.0 63840 9956 1.149 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation 100.4 65.9 4.27 2963 99.6 63840 10461 1.151 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 103.4 70.4 4.56 2961 98.8 63840 10555 1.142 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 110.0 70.7 4.58 2954 99.9 54461 11309 1.207
IMR 4895 90.3 58.3 3.78 2953 100.0 63840 9869 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 103.6 66.0 4.28 2953 97.9 63840 10551 1.142 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070 99.6 63.7 4.13 2948 99.8 63840 10287 1.159 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP11 ~approximation 91.1 58.9 3.81 2947 100.0 63840 9836 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA11 91.1 58.9 3.81 2947 100.0 63840 9836 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-15 91.1 58.9 3.81 2947 100.0 63840 9836 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350 102.4 64.7 4.19 2946 99.4 63840 10258 1.145 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350 100.5 64.6 4.19 2946 99.4 63840 10238 1.145 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 102.7 64.2 4.16 2945 100.0 63840 9514 1.150 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380 92.4 61.0 3.95 2943 100.0 63840 9983 1.159 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203B 91.5 59.2 3.83 2943 100.0 63840 9759 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 NT ~approximation 94.4 61.6 3.99 2939 99.8 63840 9970 1.134 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 110.0 70.3 4.56 2939 99.1 62470 10342 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old 92.7 60.6 3.93 2931 100.0 63840 9603 1.170 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320 93.1 59.2 3.83 2929 100.0 63840 9487 1.143 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903 94.8 60.6 3.93 2926 100.0 63840 9519 1.170 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907 97.3 61.7 4.00 2925 99.4 63840 10114 1.155 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC 94.2 61.8 4.00 2925 99.4 63840 10106 1.155 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065 98.5 62.3 4.03 2924 100.0 63840 9898 1.160 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355 95.0 60.1 3.89 2922 100.0 63840 9540 1.164 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 110.0 68.2 4.42 2921 97.7 62805 10309 1.153 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S361 102.4 70.5 4.57 2919 97.2 63840 10326 1.153 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 NT ~approximation 96.0 61.7 4.00 2916 100.0 63840 9703 1.146 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon VARGET 93.9 58.7 3.81 2913 100.0 63840 9511 1.147 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2208 93.6 58.7 3.81 2913 100.0 63840 9511 1.147 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064 94.5 57.7 3.74 2904 100.0 63840 9317 1.152 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S062 92.1 57.9 3.75 2895 100.0 63840 9170 1.166 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 3031 90.4 54.6 3.54 2890 100.0 63840 8830 1.165 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064 96.6 58.3 3.78 2885 100.0 63840 9001 1.192 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R902 91.1 56.8 3.68 2878 100.0 63840 9018 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N150 100.1 61.0 3.96 2877 100.0 63840 8982 1.164 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2700 95.3 63.6 4.12 2875 99.3 63840 9534 1.159 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N540 90.9 59.4 3.85 2874 100.0 63840 9005 1.165 ! Near Maximum !

 

[SJB358]

Same here, RL19 and a good 180 will net you about 2950-3000 depending on your rifle and accuracy has been very easy as well. The new 190 ABLR should be flat out awesome in the 300WSM.

 

[rquack]

Thanks very much for the insight and load suggestions. I have a few of the recommended powders on the shelf and a few large rifle and magnum primers to try.

Finding the right load will, of course, require evaluating several variables: sonny boy's need for speed vs daddy's need for extreme accuracy. Dad is a former marine sniper; I think he will temper the boy's quest for the fastest possible, flattest shooting load. It will be insightful trading loading loading tips for shooting tips with these guys.

Again, many thanks for your valuable insights and recommendations.

 

[SJB358]

Chances are, with RL19 and some of the others, the speed will be great, along with accuracy. The 300WSM doesn't seem to hard to load for, once you find the powder it likes, and it seems to use many of them without issues.

 

[tddeangelo]

I am running RL19 and a 180PT in my 300WSM. I don't have the charge weight committed to memory, but I have room to go up yet if desired. My velocity was EXTREMELY consistent and averaged out at 2920.

I could probably work on it to touch 3000, but to be honest, I don't see the need. I have the same bullet at 100fps faster in my 300H&H and it made one heck of a mess of a buck I shot with it (the H&H) this year.