Ruger M77 & 300 WinMag

[PGJPJ]

It says in the Nosler Reloading Guide 5:

“The .300 Win.Mag. has a S.A.A.M.I. maximum overall cartridge length of just 3.340”, which allows it to be used in standard length actions. However, we do not recommend seating any of our .30 caliber spitzer bullets to the 3.340” O.A.L. as the bullet will be seated too deep in the case.”

That would be fine, except that the Ruger has a very limited magazine length. I’m not sure I can go over 3.340” at all. And the only other option would be to use the Partition Protected Point, but it has a relatively poor ballistic coefficient when comparing to other manufactures (or any of the other Nosler bullets).

So my question is what would be the consequence of seating a ballistic tip or AccuBond to 3.340”? Neither of my other two reloading manuals make any mention of this issue, is this only a problem for Nosler bullets?

Thanks for your time!
Paul

 

[Guest]

All that will happen is that you may find some charge weights too compressed to seat bullets to that length, and you may find pressure max well below max charge weight published. What happens is that you take up case volume with the heel of the bullet. It won't really affect the rifle as hunting goes, but it might have an affect on accuracy (but maybe not, I don't have any idea). It will affect pressure curves, as you are shrinking the area within which the powder has to expand initially, so start low and work up, carefully. Set your COL off the magazine or the rifle throat, whichever is shorter - that's what I do with just about everything I load for except lever guns and autoloaders. One other option is to consider a really tough, stoutly constructed 165gr bullet, which would potentially give you less bullet in the case but still fit in the magazine.

 

[old #7]

All that will happen is that you may find some charge weights too compressed to seat bullets to that length, and you may find pressure max well below max charge weight published. What happens is that you take up case volume with the heel of the bullet. It won't really affect the rifle as hunting goes, but it might have an affect on accuracy (but maybe not, I don't have any idea). It will affect pressure curves, as you are shrinking the area within which the powder has to expand initially, so start low and work up, carefully. Set your COL off the magazine or the rifle throat, whichever is shorter - that's what I do with just about everything I load for except lever guns and autoloaders. One other option is to consider a really tough, stoutly constructed 165gr bullet, which would potentially give you less bullet in the case but still fit in the magazine.

Exactly.
My Rem 700 in 300 win shot the 165 extreemly flat and accurate.
If you compare the ballistics of 165ab to the 180ab you will find the 165 is very close to the 180 in energy and trajectory and as a bonus recoil is less with the 165.

 

[JD338]

PGJPJ

Welcome to the forum.
The 180 gr PT PP was actually designed for the 300 Win Mag. Yes, the BC is lower but inside 350 yds, it really isn't going to make a tinkers dam.

The 165 gr AB is a good alternative. Load your bullets to just under the MAX OAL that your magazine will allow.

Keep us posted on your developments.

JD338

 

[Boresighter]

I load the 180 grain partitions and 180 grain accubonds to the max OAL that the magazine in my M77 will allow and have not had any problems. I have hunted with these loadings for a number of years. I have been able to load to the book max without any pressure signs.

 

[irocbarry]

Ditto on what Boresighter said, I'm at the max my magazine will hold and haven't had any problems in my M77. Just make sure you work your way up toward the upper loads.

 

[JDMAG]

Ditto on what Boresighter said, I'm at the max my magazine will hold and haven't had any problems in my M77. Just make sure you work your way up toward the upper loads.

+1 :wink:

 

[FOTIS]

All that will happen is that you may find some charge weights too compressed to seat bullets to that length, and you may find pressure max well below max charge weight published. What happens is that you take up case volume with the heel of the bullet. It won't really affect the rifle as hunting goes, but it might have an affect on accuracy (but maybe not, I don't have any idea). It will affect pressure curves, as you are shrinking the area within which the powder has to expand initially, so start low and work up, carefully. Set your COL off the magazine or the rifle throat, whichever is shorter - that's what I do with just about everything I load for except lever guns and autoloaders. One other option is to consider a really tough, stoutly constructed 165gr bullet, which would potentially give you less bullet in the case but still fit in the magazine.

Spot on!

 

[Guy Miner]

Dang! Twenty five years ago I had one of the ol' tang-safety Ruger 77's in .300 Win mag.

Loaded it with 180 grain Nosler Partitions and a stiff charge of IMR 4350 and it killed stuff dead just fine! No chronograph in those days, but it handled max level loads just fine. Decent accuracy and good power. Never recovered a bullet because it just shot right through things.

That was a good rifle. I think you've got all the rifle you need for North America. You just choose your Nosler, load 'em up and hunt until you've filled a trophy room.

Regards, Guy

 

[nomosendero]

The Ruger is a good rifle. However, the mag. length issue is one of the reasons I like the M700 Rem with it's "375 length action". If the throat is long enough they can be seated way out there if the bullet shank is long enough.

 

[PGJPJ]

Thanks for the replies!

I would like to stay with 180 grn bullet however, but if it doesn’t work out I’ll take a look at the 165’s.

It looks like the rifling starts at about 3.4” but my magazine will only allow for 3.350” so that’s what I’ll go with. At least I’ll be able to squeeze another hundredth over the max OAL.

I did pick up a box of ballistic tips to experiment with. I don’t think that will be my elk hunting load but that’s all Wally World carries for local reloading supplies. If it works out, I’d like to go with the AccuBond.

The two powders I’m going to try are RL22 and IMR 4350 w/CCI 250 primers. I’m hoping to tighten up my groups a bit. With factory ammo I’m getting about 1.5 MOA, not that it really means anything for elk hunting. It just annoys me at the range.

 

[Boresighter]

3.350" is exactly what my mag. allows too and my loads are plenty accurate in my rifle and I have not had a single problem with that OAL. Load em and shoot em!