Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 300WSM Factory Ammo

Which of these factory loads would you choose for Mule Deer and Elk at 400 yards and under? Before you say whichever shoots the best, I’ve shot them all and they were all pretty similar groups. I know I’d be fine with any of these but I have to pick one.

Barnes VorTx 150TTSX, chrono 3290fps, .350” group

Barnes VorTx 165TTSX, chrono 3110fps, .375” group

Nosler Trophy Grade 180AB, chrono 2930fps, .4” group

Federal Premium, 180 Trophy Bonded Tip, chrono 3040fps .4” group

These four shot the best out of my custom GA Precision 300WSM, I tried others but they didn’t do as well. Thanks!

I’d vote for the 180 Trophy Bonded myself. It’s been nothing but excellent for our hunting crew on deer and elk. All things being the same you can’t make a bad choice.

So, you are saying you confirmed the ammo shoots .4" at 100 yards, but you don't know how it does at your intended 400 yard range? Sorry, but I'd confirm at that distance and get back to us. Otherwise, use the federal premium. I don't trust the Barnes Vortex ammo. A buddy of mine used it and damn near blew up his rifle. I pulled the ammo apart and found the primer pockets to be oversized.. Your risk though.. Barnes makes awesome bullets, but they are severely lacking on their loaded ammo..

Man you are in fat city if those are your choices. They're all good. I'd be inclined to drop the 150 TTSX from your choices, given the others.I did kill one elk at 600 yards with a 300 mag accubond load; the bullet only made it through one shoulder and just barely into the other shoulder and I ended up shooting the animal again.

I would not say 400 is my intended range, I’d prefer to keep at 300 or less but if the conditions are right, I feel fairly comfortable at 400 yards. I’ve only shot these out to 250 yards and it was about what I expected, groups around 1.5” for all, it was a little windy and I didn’t have the best rest that day. (Honestly I did have one 2” group with the Nosler ammo but it was my fault)

At 400yds and under it doesn't matter. I've witnessed the lowly 308 win go break a large bull moose's neck at a confirmed 423yds destroying and shattering vertebrae and creating much carnage with bone frags using cheap Federal 180gr cup and core factory ammo. Cheap ammo and a rifle that wasn't a GA Precision and it couldn't shoot pencil lead groups. Still it worked from the hands of a highly disabled person and took down a big critter like a bolt of lightning as if his a switch was turned off.

Same person used the same 308win and rifle to take a nice bull elk at just past 300yds with a side lung shot. Success. That elk had two old bullets in scar tissue we recovered and two broadheads healed over in his spine. Little 308win took it down. I can only imagine the 300WSM being "more better" and being a Hammer on nearly anything with the loads you shot.

165gr TTSX!

Wow! The amount of pain that animal endured must have been incredible but it’s a testament to the tenacity and toughness of wild critters. Any idea what bullets (caliber & construction) were in the scar tissue?