.300 BLK load thread

[Yondering]

No, I'm not going to shoot a deer with a varmint bullet.  I'd rather have a no expansion pass through than blow fragments 5" under the skin.

I've done my research and have spoken with folks that take several deer and hogs a year with the 300 BLK.  My 1st choice is still a 150g bullet - 2nd choice would be the 125g SST that I posted about earlier.  Nothing lighter than that.

You should do some better research then. The two best 300 Blk hunting bullets available are the 110gr Barnes "black tip" and the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Both penetrate deeply and expand well without fragmenting within the 300 Blk's velocity envelope.

I'm still curious why your first choice is a 150gr bullet for this cartridge. What is that choice based on?

Don't be so narrow minded as to just think "varmint bullet = bad". So called "varmint bullets" for high velocity rifles are built with the lighter construction needed for normal expansion at the lower velocity the 300 produces. Not all, but most of the 30 cal "varmint bullets" act like traditional hunting bullets at 300 Blk speeds and penetrate deeply. And if you rule out something like the 110gr black tip just because of the weight, you're misunderstanding a lot.

Also do not confuse the black tip Barnes bullet with the blue tipped option of the same weight; that one is designed for higher velocity and is a completely different bullet, and not really appropriate for the 300.

[mountainman]

No, I'm not going to shoot a deer with a varmint bullet.  I'd rather have a no expansion pass through than blow fragments 5" under the skin.

I've done my research and have spoken with folks that take several deer and hogs a year with the 300 BLK.  My 1st choice is still a 150g bullet - 2nd choice would be the 125g SST that I posted about earlier.  Nothing lighter than that.

You should do some better research then. The two best 300 Blk hunting bullets available are the 110gr Barnes "black tip" and the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Both penetrate deeply and expand well without fragmenting within the 300 Blk's velocity envelope.

I'm still curious why your first choice is a 150gr bullet for this cartridge. What is that choice based on?

Don't be so narrow minded as to just think "varmint bullet = bad". So called "varmint bullets" for high velocity rifles are built with the lighter construction needed for normal expansion at the lower velocity the 300 produces. Not all, but most of the 30 cal "varmint bullets" act like traditional hunting bullets at 300 Blk speeds and penetrate deeply. And if you rule out something like the 110gr black tip just because of the weight, you're misunderstanding a lot.

Also do not confuse the black tip Barnes bullet with the blue tipped option of the same weight; that one is designed for higher velocity and is a completely different bullet, and not really appropriate for the 300.

Look at some of Mr. Mileks load data of low velocity varmint bullets in the Herret and the TCU chamberings. Low velocities, the "varmint bullets" shine on big game!

[CP]

I have no debate that sst will work for deer 100 yards and less,anything over 100 yards I don't think you will much expansion.

Here's a artical I read awhile ago on the set for 300blk.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.outdoorhub.com/amp/index.php/breaking-5-different-300-blackout-loads-terminal-ballistics

This is a 300blk forum maybe your a member already but if not lots of info,and people they say it does work.

http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/index.php

This is from hornadys website which says expansion is best a higher velocity.

The Hornady® SST® is designed to deliver tremendous shock on impact while expanding quickly and reliably, particularly at higher velocities.

Hope any info helps I'm a member on 300blk talk tons on info there Good luck.

Thanks Hunter399 - I wasn't aware of that forum.  Looks like a lot of info there.

I have read that Outdoorhub article.  His velocities are on the low side e.g. 1915 fps for the 125 SST.  I’m getting:
125 SST – 2350 fps
110 Barnes – 2410 fps
150 SP – 2010 fps

This guy has some great data on expansion if you haven't seen it:
https://thebulletterminal.weebly.com/

No doubt the Barnes bullet expands great, but if the Chuck Hawks KPS method has any credence they made in too light.  I've never been a fan of light bullets.

This is what I'm getting:

                  KPS @ 200y
150 SP          15.0
125 SST        14.9
110 Barnes    10.7


The 150g SST should come in even higher given it has a better BC. 

[CP]

I'm still curious why your first choice is a 150gr bullet for this cartridge. What is that choice based on?

This, in part. 

                  KPS @ 200y
150 SP          15.0
125 SST        14.9
110 Barnes    10.7

I've got a couple boxes of the black tips on my loading bench.  They don't impress me.  I haven't tried the Nosler

[hunter399]

They do have a 120 tac tx bullet from barnes, but I only see for factory ammo yet ,still pretty new .Also hornady full Boar works well and been told by hornady that it will expand down to 1400 fps.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016241554/barnes-vor-tx-ammunition-300-aac-blackout-120-grain-tac-tx-tipped-flat-base-lead-free-box-of-20

300 blk talk forum is so much info on bullets,pics of deer killed ,Glad u liked it.

[Yondering]

but if the Chuck Hawks KPS method has any credence

It doesn't. It's an arbitrary number made up by someone who doesn't understand what they're calculating. For example, the calculation includes multiplying sectional density by cross sectional area. Do you know what sectional density is and how that's calculated? It already includes cross sectional area. Whoever made up that formula just put some arbitrary factors together to support what they'd seen on game, ignoring bullet expansion probably because they assume it will happen.

You're completely ignoring whether or not the bullet will expand at all, and going by someone's arbitrary meaningless calculation instead. Awesome.

So you're "not impressed" by the 110gr black tip bullet - have you actually shot anything with them? Even done any penetration testing or anything like that?

The bullet you're choosing is likely to pencil through without expanding if the range is much farther than a pistol shot. Ignoring that because you're certain that bullet weight is more important is very likely to result in a wounded animal.

[CP]

but if the Chuck Hawks KPS method has any credence

It doesn't. It's an arbitrary number made up by someone who doesn't understand what they're calculating. For example, the calculation includes multiplying sectional density by cross sectional area. Do you know what sectional density is and how that's calculated? It already includes cross sectional area. Whoever made up that formula just put some arbitrary factors together to support what they'd seen on game, ignoring bullet expansion probably because they assume it will happen.

You're completely ignoring whether or not the bullet will expand at all, and going by someone's arbitrary meaningless calculation instead. Awesome.

So you're "not impressed" by the 110gr black tip bullet - have you actually shot anything with them? Even done any penetration testing or anything like that?

The bullet you're choosing is likely to pencil through without expanding if the range is much farther than a pistol shot. Ignoring that because you're certain that bullet weight is more important is very likely to result in a wounded animal.

You're probably right about Chuck.  And I'll do expansion testing as I stated earlier - I'll post the results when I get them. 

[Biggerhammer]

My style of expansion testing.

[hunter399]

If your really want weight with expansion I would look at these.I have shot water jugs with amax ,seemed ok.155 grain amax and its not a varment round.

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/a-max#!/

Then I think might even be better is lever ammo,140 grain and its says at bottom that it will expand down to 800 fps.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/leverevolution#!/

[Yondering]

My style of expansion testing.

Haha, always a good time with that kind! Sorta hard to measure the penetration though...

CP - if you really are stuck on using a 150gr bullet for a cartridge designed around 110-125gr, then your best bet is a 30/30 bullet. The FTX as mentioned above or Core-Lokt RN work for that velocity range. The performance isn't better than a 125gr BT, but it's decent anyway.

[hunter399]

The ones I'm talking about are the monoflex ,it's the 800 fps - 2000 fps with good expansion.

[CP]

Well I got all winter, spring and summer to figure it out.  If it doesn't work I'll find out and post whatever failure or success I come up with.  I've got 11 other .308 bullets from 110g to 220g on the bench to work with or one of the other suggestions above. 

I enjoy the process otherwise I'd just buy a box of ammo and call it good.

[CP]

Well this is not what I expected.  50 yard shot with the 150g  SP interlock.  Straight through 13" of gel, 2 sand bags, bullet lost somewhere in the sand trap but it's obvious there was zero expansion.  Minimal wound channel.  .30 cal exit wound.  Total failure.   

 

[CP]

The Barnes on the other hand was impressive.

[Biggerhammer]

That 110 will get the job done. I bet the 120gr Nosler Ballistic tip would perform well. Hard to beat the performance of that Barnes 110 though.👍👍 For volume shooting the Nosler would be a whole lots easier on the wallet.

If you keep checking the Nosler Seconds site. When the .30 120gr BT's come into stock, you can get them for 16.00 per 50.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosler-products/shopby/f/caliber/30/isAjax/1.html

They have the 220gr RN-Blackout Ballistic Tips in stock for Sub Sonic or Super sonic loads. $18.00 per 50.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosler-products/nosler-30-caliber-220-grain-ballistic-tip-rn-blem-50ct.html