Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 300 wsm RL 17 vs Superformance

A few weeks ago I tried to work up a decent load for my 300 wsm using the new Superformance powder and the discontinued 168 gr barnes xlc bullets, best speed I could get was 3167 with 74 gr of the stuff but bolt lift was stiff. While attending the SCI convention in Vegas I stopped at the Barnes booth and picked up a box of 165 gr ttsx bullets, talked to Ty Herring who is one of the technicians, they have not played with this new powder yet so I was on my own. To make it interesting I decided to work up a load using Superformance and RL 17, I have posted the results below.

My rifle is a model 70 with a 24 inch Bbl.
Hodgdon Superformance Powder, Winchester Mag primer, twice fired cases Temp 52 degrees

68 gr 2976

69 gr error

69.5 g 3033
3037

70 gr 3044
3058

70.5 gr 3129
3086

71 gr 3108
3144

71.5 gr 3123 stiff bolt lift

I had two rounds loaded with 72 gr but due to the stiff bolt lift I decided to stop, primers with the last three rounds were flat as a pancake.


RL 17 powder, CCI mag primers, cases used were fired four times
Temp 54 degrees

64 gr 2996

65 gr 3016

66 gr 3122

66.5 gr 3144
3152

67 gr 3169
3174

67.5 gr 3197
3197

68 gr 3205 stiff bolt lift
3220 stiff bolt lift


Looks like RL 17 gets the prize and Superformance gets the trash can or duty as spring lawn fertilizer. The number produced by Rl 17 are the fastest I have ever got using 165 gr bullets in my 300 wsm, I noticed that there was a spike in velocity between 65 and 66 grains, but then it began to calm down and the loads became very consistant, other than the stiff bolt lift I did not notice any signs of excessive pressures, primers did start to get flat with the 67.5 gr load.
I am thinking of going with the 66.5 gr load and see how accurate it is, if anybody has any suggestions or comments I would be glad to hear them.

66.5 RE17 with a 168 TTSX for 1/2 MOA @ 3100 fps

Freddy....Good info. I would say that for the most part and based on my reading about Hodgdon Superformance results from the 300 WSMs, it appears that this powder may not really offer any real advantages over RL17. Haven`t tried the Superformance for myself yet.

Your 67.5 gr RL17 loading @ 3197 fps looks to be your max without a stiff bolt. You should be very pleased with 3197 fps. Your 67.5 gr max RL17 loading, nearly duplicates my Ruger Frontier`s max of 67.7 gr of RL17 behind a 168 VLD @ 3042 fps.

A more accurate RL17 loading in my rifle using the 168 VLD is 66.2 gr @ 2989 fps, which based on your above #s would offer you about 3130 from your longer barrel.

You just may have saved me some time and effort in trying the Superformance. No real advantage over RL17 imo....Thanks!

Personally, I'd go down 1-2 grains from your gun's max with both powders and see which was more accurate.

I have Superformance on the shelf although I have not tried it in my 300WSM yet. I had a miserable experience every time I tried RL17 in my 270WSM and 300WSM getting stiff bolt lift at least a grain below max. I have 2/3 a can of RL17 that I will pass on to a buddy who uses it.

I would not chunk the Superformance, you may find it useful in another cartridge.

Your are not alone, my 300 is the only rifle that I own that will hit book max or just under book max without having a stiff bolt, I would give RL 17 another try.

...........Even though you had stiff bolt lifts with a grain or two under the listed R17 maximums, what kind of speeds and accuracys were you getting after you reduced your R17 charges? And could your bullets have been seated a little too close to the lands which helps to increase pressure? Maybe a little more adjusting before you give away your 2/3rds of a can?

My 300 WSM just loves R17.

And you just love to lie..

..........Well Loco? You are certainly welcome to come out from behind that keyboard of yours and prove it.

But you and I both know, that any courage you have, will never go beyond the bounds of your computer screen! Very easy to type insults and name call from a keyboard now isn`t it?

Have fun using your boyish immaturities trashing this thread too.

and another kung foo internet threat.

you'll just never use up all that stupid in you..

...........Threat? You can call it whatever you want there Loco. But whatever definition you wish to use, it is one invitation that you`ll never accept!

Maybe one of these days you can kick "all that stupidity" out of me.

C'mon guys, I did not start this post so that you guys can make stupid comments or threats.

A little off topic, but my "06 really loves a load of 56.5 gr R-17 pushing an hornady 165 btsp at 2820, in win brass, fed 210 primer, yielding a 4 shot group of .65" at 100 yrds. The jury is still out on my 300 short mag. Not overly impressed with accuracy so far in the wsm.

.....Yeah I know. Some like following me around and in the process trash the threads I happen to post on as well.

As usual, no provocation from me.

Thanks for the info. I have gotten rather boring over the last year, as I used the same rifle all hunting season a .300 WSM. It is a Savage Weather Warrior, not one of the best looking rifles I own. It shoots one hole groups at 200 and does wonders on deer and hogs.
Good shooting,
Marcus