Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 300 win mag and the barnes180 grain tsx?

Howdy guys
Looking for a place to start here. My father will be mule deer hunting this fall and we are going to work up a load for his rifle. In the past I have used IMR 4350 with good results but have heard the powder is not consistent at varying temps? Looking for a powder that is consistent at cold and warmer temps. The bullet looks like it will be the barnes tsx 180 grain wondering if anyone here has experience with the bullet?
Thanks Chris

I wouldn't use a 180 tsx unless I had a freight train that needed killing.

I'd put the bigger moose species at the lower of of "need" for that bullet, though it might be an excellent choice if one wanted things slowed down just a bit. Then again, the 150 in the '06 might make even more sense for a slowed down load in 30 cal. for deer or elk.

If I fire up one of my 300 mags with a TSX it will be with a 150 unless something huge gets on the menu. If I couldn't get that one to shoot then I'd try a 165.

Unlikely though, since my 300 for deer is a mite smaller.

Used the 180gr TTSX in a 300 Win Mag this past fall.

Didn't have much time to work up a load so I only tried IMR 4831.

Browning X-bolt 26" barrel.

70.5 - 2970

Shot a cow elk trotting across broadside at 35 yds. Was another one with it, but it was so thick, never saw more than a glimpse of it. Only had a narrow window to shoot. Hit her right behind the right front leg. Hit a rib on the way in, right lung a lot of damage, turned bottom half of the left lung into pulp. Bullet exited. She went another 30-40 yds. Zero meat loss. Was impressed with TTSX.

Also, shot a small whitetail buck with it. Facing shot, looking down on me. 115 yds. Hit it in the neck. Dropped in its tracks. Fist size hole in the neck.

always had good luck withimr 7828 with heavy bullets in 300 win

I've killed animals from 70 to 1200 pounds with the 168 gr version and a 300 win mag.

My best results have all come with reloder 22.

FWIW, in a situation like that with this big bullet in a 300, it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry three or four tags in case there are "a couple extras" unseen beyond. (I soundly whacked two caribou with a 150 XBT years ago - with my '06. The bullet kept on going and I was wishing I had had a third 'bou to try to catch it. I was hunting for meat on a five-a-day limit.) A mono may not be the best choice for hunting herd animals if you are limited to a single tag.

It's was pretty thick. The shot was "long". Not usually a problem worry about hitting more than one. The biggest problem is trying to even get to see one - let alone get a shot. Never been fortune it enough to have to worry about filling more than 1 elk tag - with 1 shot - during gun season. I can see filling a few tags at once in big herd a of Caribou, thou.

Try a stiff load of H4831SC with that bullet. Mine shoots them really nicely. It shoots a LOT of bullets really nicely. Also shoots the 200 Nosler AB nicely with the same powder.

I view 4350 as a little to fast for the 300WM, I am a real fan of 4831SC, but got marginally better accuracy with RL22 in my 300WM with 180's. Either of these 2 powders seem to produce good speed & accuracy with 180 gr bullets.
I am not a Barnes fan, but those that I've trialed were very accurate. Hard to ignore the plethora of rave reviews & field results. However, I am a long time addict to Partitions.
I believe the 180 gr weight is perfect for the 300 WM. That TSX will get the job done. I would just use a powder that is a tad slower.

My first foray into loading the 300 WM was with 180 Hornady BTSP Interlocks and a real STIFF charge of IMR4350, which turned up good velocity (3100 +) and great accuracy -- just under 3/4" groups. The bullet came apart pretty explosively on a large 10 point buck, so I re-thunk the whole thing, and settled on a 168 Barnes TSX, and a moderate load of RL-22. All the accuracy, and most of the velocity. Killing machine that rifle - well out to about 300 yards anyway.

73-75 grains of H4831 and a 180 TSX is a great combo that I've used to take a bunch of big-bodied mule deer and elk.

I really like the temperature insensitivity of H4831 as I hunt in some very cold weather out west and have seen very little impact shift while traveling from the more moderate east coast.

The 180 TSX starts at about 3050 fps from my 26-inch barrel and has shown nice expansion and deep penetration.

Max charge of R22 worked out so well didn't test any other loads.
That is for Elk and everything else. If loading for Deer only I would try any of the Barnes from 130 to 168 first just for reduced recoil and flatter trajectory at medium ranges.

What about the H1000 ? It may be a tad slower than H4831 with a 24" bbl which may be best?
Thanks Chris

Though, not popular, I like H-1000 in the .300 Win. mag. Have gotten great accuracy and good velocity. And it is insensitive to cold.
Jim

Thanks I have heard that these bullets like to be seated back off the land as much as 30 thousands does this sound right?
Thanks Chris

I seat the TSX 168 and 180 gr. from .030-.050 off for my rifle. I started long and worked back until I hit the "spot".