I'm working up a load for my Browning 300 WSM using 180's. What do you all recommend? Thanks.

Hawk,

I used 70 grns. of re-19 and 180 Nosler Partitions to good effect for several years....then re-17 came out.

The area where I lived also changed to a lead free zone to save the condors...so I switched to 168 grn. Barnes TTSX, and haven't looked back.

The re-19 load gave good accuracy at about 2950 fps...with classic partition performance. Many shots were pass throughs; the slugs I recovered were all just under the hide on the off-side expanded back to the partition, sometimes with a little bit of lead left in front of the partition, sometimes not. Retained weight was just like the commericals, low 60% to low 70% depending on hom much front core was left. An absolutely reliable bullet, the .30 cal. 180 grn. partition.

I am also happy with the 168TTSX load at 3150 fps. This load is 67.5 grns. of re-17 (I previously listed the load at 67 grns. of re-17, my mistake.) It shoots a bit flatter and I have not recovered a slug yet. All wound channels show good expansion and tissue damage. I think the TTSX is a good improvement over previous versions of the X bullet. Accuracy in my two 300 wsm's is better than the partition with re-19.

I start with re-17 in your wsm no matter which slug you end up choosing.

Have fun and good luck,

Manny

I have researched this quite a bit (tracked the number of times different powders were referred to as pet loads). Based on this "book/online" research I would recommend the following "top 3" (in no particular order )

H4350
IMR4350
IMR4831 (appears to be the most common recommendation for those shooting Barnes bullets)

However, RL-17 is becomming more and more prevalent.

Personally, I have tried RL-17, IMR4350, and H4350. IMR 4350 was the most accurate, H4350 was the most consistent (virtually the same POI for a variety of charge wieghts), and RL-17 was not so good. However, I will be retesting RL-17 - my loads were way too hot(i.e., Alliant's max load for 180 Speers was 66 - however, Quickload data suggests a max load of around 61 grains for Barnes 180 grainers). I plan on testing IMR4831, VV-N550 and VV-N560 this summer.

I am currently using RE-19 with Sierra 165 Gr. HP's. Don't remember the charge right now. I have just started trying RE17- MUCH better velocities but I haven't hit the sweet spot for accuracy yet. Interestingly, the RE 19 load groups about 3 inches to the left of other powder/bullet combo's I have tried. This is out of a Winchester Model 70. It's a great caliber.

The only load i have worked up so far for my 300 WSM is 64 gr. of IMR 4350 with 165 Nosler Partition. Accuracy with this load is decent but I think i can do better. I am about to work up a load with RE19 and 180 gr. Nosler solid bases. So we will see how that goes. I don't have a chrono so I couldn't tell you the velocities but I will let ya know how accurate the 180's are out of my Tikka.

I was loading w760 and h414 until I experienced the wild fluctuation of accuracy with temperature change. Going to Ramshot, just picked up a pound of big game. Anyone have any experience with Ramshot in the 300 wsm?

64-65 grains of R17

64-65 grains of H4350

Those are top-end charges, work up carefully!


I load 180 Partitions for hunting and 175 SMK's and 175 Nosler CC's for practice. They match up perfectly out to +400 yards using similiar charges.

what kind of chages did you get? i've been trying out h414 with 165s. back in early march(cooler weather), i shot OK groups with the combo. last week, in 90degree texas heat, i shot 3/8" groups. note, i did modify my rifles foreend pressure point a little between trips.

67.5 grns imr 4831 180 nosler partition or accubond , will shoot into same group at 100 yds in my rifle at about 2950 fps . have taken my last three elk with the accubond in that rifle with no tracking required .

I run 63-63.5 gr's RL17
63.5-64 gr's H4350

Both with 180's.

both 67gr and 69gr of RL-22 with a 180gr Accubond shot really well in my rifle. 68gr didnt shoot worth a crap though. 69gr is the max load in the book though.

Brad, (SamOlson)

What kind of velocities are you getting with you RL-17 loads?

I can't remember exactly(hate screwing with chronies) but one rifle went around 2950fps and the other right at 3000fps.
Either way plenty fast to match up fine with dots and the accuracy is great.

Thanks SamOlson,

Just what I was hoping to hear - I plan on retesting RL-17 in my .300WSM this summer. Initial testing using Alliant's data produced velocities that were way too high for my comfort level (66 grains, 1265 fps, 180 grain TTSX - only pressure indicator observed was slight shinyness from extractor). I stopped as I figured something can't be write. Quickload data suggests that 61 grains is the max load for FL17 and 180 TTSX/TSX (i.e., way below the 66 max I was using).

Your velocities appear to be reasonable. I read a Richard Mann article that suggests load development using RL-17 should stop when velocities exceed 50-100 fps over IMR4350 velocities (he also noted that pressure indicators are often not reliable when using RL17).

BearClan, Alliant's 66 grain load is HOT.
65 is pushing it in my rifles(as in max for me), 64-64.5 is just right and the accuracy is still there. I gained about 50-75fps(using like charges of both powders) over my H4350 loads so that matches up with Mann's article.