Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Alex4200 on April 06, 2020, 04:13:01 PM

Title: 300 win mag question
Post by: Alex4200 on April 06, 2020, 04:13:01 PM: I have been thinking about having my dad’s old hunting rifle upgraded to a 300winmag. Just because I don’t want to get rid of it and it does need some work done to it anyway. The new caliber would give me something different in the safe, but really no other reason. I have been reading a lot of comments on here about recoil with the 300 wm. This got about something we did when I was a kid. One of our hunting buddies had a 300 H&H and I remember shooting factory loads in that thing. Not something you wanted to do for very long at range. He brought it down here when he moved here from Alaska. He used it mostly for elk hunting. He didn’t use it for deer because he thought it was a bit of over kill. We talked him into working up a load with 150 grain bullets that had basically the same ballistics as a 30.06. That gun was a real pleasure to shoot at that point. Just needed to adjust sighting based on what load you were going to use.

So here is my question, so have any 300 wm shooters out there come up with lighter loads based on what you are targeting???
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: jackelope on April 06, 2020, 04:19:28 PM: I shoot a 9 pound .300 win mag rifle with a muzzle brake on it and love shooting it. The recoil isn't horrible...the noise kind of is. I've been shooting Nosler trophy grade ammo w/ 180 grain Accubonds.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Oh Mah on April 06, 2020, 04:22:09 PM: I tried light loads to sneak up on accuracy nothing in the 30-06 range would fire very accurately.I did same with my h-h and 30-06 load in the h-h is awesome.??? don't know why though.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: bobcat on April 06, 2020, 04:25:04 PM: You could shoot 150 grain Barnes bullets (or any 100% copper bullet) from a 300 Win. Mag. on just about any animal out there. I'd even be confident with that for use on a grizzly bear. Wouldn't even need to be the highest possible velocity either. A couple hundred feet per second less than max and you'd be just fine. You might consider a 300 Win. Short Mag. too if that's an option.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Igor on April 06, 2020, 05:04:56 PM: I've had two .300 Win. mags, and loved them both. I currently shoot 180 gr. premium ammo.

My advice would be to NOT use 150 gr. ammo. I have a friend who has had a .300 Win mag forever, and he only shot 150 gr. ammo for years. The amount of bloodshot meat on the deer he killed was amazing. Once he switched over to 180 gr. premium ammo it really made a huge difference.

Just my 2¢.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Alex4200 on April 06, 2020, 05:11:14 PM: Quote from: Oh Mah on April 06, 2020, 04:22:09 PM
I tried light loads to sneak up on accuracy nothing in the 30-06 range would fire very accurately.I did same with my h-h and 30-06 load in the h-h is awesome.??? don't know why though.

Very interesting, thanks for the input
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: bobcat on April 06, 2020, 05:16:14 PM: Using a lighter bullet is how you reduce recoil. Like in my 338 Win. Mag. I've been shooting 200 grain bullets. Shot an antelope with it and it wasn't any deader than normal and the meat was fine. You do need to be a handloader though, if you want to keep the velocity down. It's the higher velocity that damages meat, not the fact that it's a lighter bullet.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Alex4200 on April 06, 2020, 05:20:04 PM: I am not worried about recoil in the gun I am considering, it is a very heavy gun. Mostly just wondering if anyone has come up with a lighter load for the 300 wm that works well. Could be any weight bullet. Just looking to compare results with what we saw with the 300 H&H.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Igor on April 06, 2020, 05:21:26 PM: Quote from: bobcat on April 06, 2020, 05:16:14 PM
Using a lighter bullet is how you reduce recoil. Like in my 338 Win. Mag. I've been shooting 200 grain bullets. Shot an antelope with it and it wasn't any deader than normal and the meat was fine. You do need to be a handloader though, if you want to keep the velocity down. It's the higher velocity that damages meat, not the fact that it's a lighter bullet.

"It's the higher velocity that damages meat, not the fact that it's a lighter bullet."
That's exactly right, and the point I was trying to make. If you shoot factory ammo that is the problem.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: WSU on April 06, 2020, 05:33:56 PM: Why a 300 win if you don’t want to shoot a 300 win?
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Oh Mah on April 06, 2020, 06:19:34 PM: Quote from: WSU on April 06, 2020, 05:33:56 PM
Why a 300 win if you don’t want to shoot a 300 win?
:yeah: what i was thinking,Just get a good 30-06.But you do you and that's all that matters.Everyone should always have 1 more.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Bob33 on April 06, 2020, 07:09:03 PM: Quote from: bobcat on April 06, 2020, 05:16:14 PM
Using a lighter bullet is how you reduce recoil. Like in my 338 Win. Mag. I've been shooting 200 grain bullets. Shot an antelope with it and it wasn't any deader than normal and the meat was fine. You do need to be a handloader though, if you want to keep the velocity down. It's the higher velocity that damages meat, not the fact that it's a lighter bullet.
Most major ammunition companies offer "reduced recoil" options in popular calibers.https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001689821 (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001689821)
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: jasnt on April 06, 2020, 07:31:10 PM: I’ve run some 125gr sst’s At 22/250 speeds for coyote. Made a mess but it was fun and recoil was nothing
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: ckr on April 06, 2020, 07:40:15 PM: 180 accubonds at 2900fps. Not crazy speeds or recoil but it’s the sweet spot for my Tikka. I tried lighter bullets but could never achieve the accuracy I was looking for.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: birdshooter1189 on April 06, 2020, 07:49:33 PM: I loaded up some 110 gr V-max's at 3,500 fps for my 300 win. Only shot a few rounds of them so far and don't have conclusive results, but the first few rounds seemed to work fine. Recoil was noticeably less. I have a heavy gun and recoil is mild to start with. 18lbs and 1 in 10 twist barrel.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: TooTallMike on April 06, 2020, 07:57:18 PM: I just finished load development for my 300WM

I'm using Barnes 168gr TTSX. They have been tested to expand down to 1500fps

I'm pushing 3175fps and not even near max loads recommended by Barnes.

At 800yds I'm still at 1135 ft/lbs

And it's shooting sub 1/2 moa

Really happy with it.

Btw I'm using R17
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: birdshooter1189 on April 06, 2020, 08:27:45 PM: Quote from: TooTallMike on April 06, 2020, 07:57:18 PM
I just finished load development for my 300WM

I'm using Barnes 168gr TTSX. They have been tested to expand down to 1500fps

I'm pushing 3175fps and not even near max loads recommended by Barnes.

At 800yds I'm still at 1135 ft/lbs

And it's shooting sub 1/2 moa

Really happy with it.

Btw I'm using R17

I picked up some TTSX's for my winmag too. I got 165's. I plan to use them for bear next fall if hunting is allowed by then.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Taco280AI on April 06, 2020, 08:29:08 PM: If you like the TTSX you should also try out the LRX. Great in the air and on game
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Alex4200 on April 06, 2020, 08:37:34 PM: I appreciate everyone’s input. Just gathering other points of view

Quote from: WSU on April 06, 2020, 05:33:56 PM
Why a 300 win if you don’t want to shoot a 300 win?

Truth is I want a gun with more “thwack” and most likely just shoot factory loads with it. Already have several 06s. My history with the gentleman with H&H just got thinking and made me go, hmmmm. 8)
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Igor on April 06, 2020, 08:51:31 PM: Quote from: Alex4200 on April 06, 2020, 08:37:34 PM
I appreciate everyone’s input. Just gathering other points of view

Quote from: WSU on April 06, 2020, 05:33:56 PM
Why a 300 win if you don’t want to shoot a 300 win?

Truth is I want a gun with more “thwack” and most likely just shoot factory loads with it. Already have several 06s. My history with the gentleman with H&H just got thinking and made me go, hmmmm. 8)

The .300 Win mag will give you as much "thwack" as you'll need, for sure. It's fun experimenting with new rifles and loads, anyway. Good luck, and be safe.
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: birdshooter1189 on April 06, 2020, 09:07:29 PM: Quote from: Taco280AI on April 06, 2020, 08:29:08 PM
If you like the TTSX you should also try out the LRX. Great in the air and on game

I live on the west side of the state and rarely get a chance to shoot past 300 yards anymore. Most of my shooting is inside 100 yards so I think the TTSX's will work fine for me.

If I start shooting further distances I might check out those LRX's
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: follow maggie on April 06, 2020, 09:27:45 PM: What caliber is it now?
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: Remnar on April 06, 2020, 09:54:12 PM: @ the OP what is the rifle chambered in now ?
Title: Re: 300 win mag question
Post by: TooTallMike on April 06, 2020, 10:08:13 PM: Quote from: birdshooter1189 on April 06, 2020, 08:27:45 PM
Quote from: TooTallMike on April 06, 2020, 07:57:18 PM
I just finished load development for my 300WM

I'm using Barnes 168gr TTSX. They have been tested to expand down to 1500fps

I'm pushing 3175fps and not even near max loads recommended by Barnes.

At 800yds I'm still at 1135 ft/lbs

And it's shooting sub 1/2 moa

Really happy with it.

Btw I'm using R17

I picked up some TTSX's for my winmag too. I got 165's. I plan to use them for bear next fall if hunting is allowed by then.

What I was told by Barnes is that basically any 30 and under TTSX will expand at minimum 1800fps with the exception of the 168 gr which is 1500fps. That's why I went with them to be able to get reliable expansion at distance.. you'll enjoy doing load development for it. Best of luck