Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles R17 and the 300 WSM

What kinds of ES's were you getting with H4350? And with what cases and primers?

When I did a bit of testing last winter in terms of temp stability H4350 didn't do as well as I had heard it was supposed to. Can't recall the exact numbers but know that R17 did as well and maybe better in that regards. At least that's what my findings told me

What kinds of tests have you personally done Dave in testing the temp stability? I only ask this cause I hear a lot of people talk about that, but when I ask them how they conducted their tests it comes out that they didn't actually do any and were passing on what they'd heard or read.

Now I'm not saying that's your style but I would like to hear about the testing you did and how H4350 did for you in different temps?

Thx 4 your time

Dober

..............Although I could be mistaken, I was under the assumption that their new powder was temp in-sensative.

Their site says nothing about it and it isn't in the "Extreme" line of powders... seems to me if it were temp stable they'd be bragging it up. but I've been wrong before.

What, no love for the Barnes 180TSX and the 300WSM?

Mastadons are gone so no luv from me...grin

If I were to use a 180 it'd be the Horn or the Nozler Pt or NBT.

Dober

I have loaded the 300 WSM with 165 GMXs and RL-17

68 grains 3221 fps


24" 3 groove Benchmark barrel.

8mmwapiti

Fair questions Mark.

I tested at 80 degrees in late summer, and then again recently (January)at around 10 degrees. I'll have to check my notes to be sure, but I think I wasn't getting any more than about 30 fps spread witht the H4350.

In both cases we (two of us) had several rifles in the rotation with one bench shared. Ammo/rifles were in the back of the truck and were "acclimated" for lack of a better word.

Brass is Norma. Primers are Federal Match 215s.

Maybe not the most scientific approach, but enough to convince me the powder was the right choice for me.

Dave

Thx Dave-were you using the exact same brass, powder lot etc?

Thx
Dober

I was Dober. I bought three pounds of the H4350 from local Cabelas and 100 rounds of the brass at the same time.

Primers were a local reloading shop, but otherwise same, same.

For what it's worth, the results I had in my little lw Model 7 .243 were about the same witht the H4350.

Course, it was the same powder.

Kool news thx!

Dober

I've got a .280 Mountain Rifle on the way that I'm going to try that H4350 on as well with 140 ABs and 140 TTSXs. I'll let you know how that works out if you're interested.

I figure I owe you that much since you and Sam in large part talked me into the A7 that has treated me so well thus far.

Dave

That A7 is a Rock Star aint it!

Dober

Indeed. That thing is so boringly accurate that I almost can't stand it.

It's at McMillan being used for mold development as we speak.

AIN't that the truth!

I bought another one for my son and then picked up a 25-06.

I need to try some RL17. I don't have a lot of experience with the .300 WSM, but my current example struggles to do much more than 3000 FPS with 165s and Hunter, H4350 or RL22. It also seems to run more on the ragged edge of pressure than the Win Mag version. With that said, even at "only" 3000 fps, it is a great cartridge.

...................Appears like you just may have a slower bore? According to Alliant, 68 gr of RL17 using a 165 grainer, gets 3217 from a 24" barrel. Even if your bore is somewhat slower, I would think that you should be able to exceed 3150 fps with a 165 assuming you have a 23" or 24" barrel.

One of my RL17 300 WSM recipes and hunting loads that I worked up to is, 68.2 gr RL17 behind a 168 gr Berger VLD @ 3042 fps. Slow you might think? Well not really when you consider that this velocity is from a 16.5" barreled Ruger Frontier shorty carbine!..............

FYI-I've been doing a fair bit of testing with R17 lately and with the 150 Horn and 4 different primers 3200 is pretty much what I get with my 23" tube.

More to come on the testing, weathers been nice enough lately to warrant more range time.

Ciao

Dober

Mark, to me, the 23" 300 WSM and RL17 means 180's at 3,000, 165's at 3,100 and 150's at 3,200.

Sounds to me like you're right there.

BTW, did you locate any H4895?

Pretty sure you've got it pegged, wonder that you've got more 30 shorty mag experience than Olin and Win and all da others put together...

And so far 2 of 3 places don't have the H4895..go figure. Make it 3 for 3 hopefully this week down at Shedhorn. Yepper, just called them and they have it, go figure..

Dober

Guys thats about where I am with my 24" Tube. The loads that Alliant post are nutso in my rifle.
Havent shot in about two weeks...got to get out as spring is sorta here in Colo.

LC