Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Casting for the .300 Winchester Magnum...

Just bought an old sweet Ruger No 1B w/26" Barrel in 300 win mag.

Does anyone have any experience here on the forum with casting for this caliber?

I have Lyman data for up to about 180 grain gas checked lead, but how far has anyone pushed the velocity curve w/home casting for this beast??

I have never loaded for the 300 Win. Mag. but regardless, I'll bet that it will be hard if not impossible to get much over 2200 fps with a 180 grain cast bullet. Personally, I'd be happy with 1800-1900 unless I went to the work of messing with paper patched bullets. As you will find when working with cast bullets, you just can't expect jacketed bullet performance in either speed or expansion for the respective cases. A 30-30 or 308 case gets about as much speed from cast bullets as you can get from any of the larger cases. The cast bullets will just not handle higher speed. So, just because you have a 300 Win. don't expect to get jacketed bullet speed. That goal will defeat you.

Thanks for the input Rolly,

I don't exspect to compete with a jacketed bullet on velocity,

I just wondered how hot anyone' pushed a lead bullet in the 300 Winny.

I'm goining to load the 1800- 2000 velocity loads with gas checks and

Lee bullet lube. I't will be great practice for getting used to the rifle, and

taking game in the woods at short range.

I do want to paper patch some, one of these days. That would be very cool. I've got the book on how to do it.

Smokewagon,
I'll have to look up my references tonight but I think you can up your velocity some. Col Harrision has an article for loading cast bullets in the 300 mag. They were able to get around 3000 fps using paper patch cast bullets.
I'll look though my books and let you know.

Yea, I think Sharps is correct if you paper patch the bullets. As I recall, you can get nearly the same velocity as with jacketed bullets.

Thanks Sharps,

That would be Great!!

Look forward to the info.

Smoke