.300WM Hunting Rifle: 700 5R or Tikka T3x?

[Dirty Steve]

I know you wanted to shoot all of these 150's you had, but I stand by my previous statement that it wouldn't shoot 150's worth a crap. Try some 180's or better yet 210's. That looks like a shotgun pattern. Nice looking rifle though.

Dirty Steve

 

[bartonmd]

I know you wanted to shoot all of these 150's you had, but I stand by my previous statement that it wouldn't shoot 150's worth a crap. Try some 180's or better yet 210's. That looks like a shotgun pattern. Nice looking rifle though.

Dirty Steve

Yeah, there is that... I was hoping it would shoot them ok, because it's 1:11" twist. I doubt it'll shoot 210 coppers worth a crap, because 180's have a minimum barrel twist of 1:11", and the Long range hunter 180s are 1:10" minimum. It's also possible that this ammo was on clearance because the large tip doesn't like WM velocity, and they just aren't going to be worth a ****.

Mike

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[bartonmd]

Got it to the range with some (cheap) 180gr stuff, which was much more acceptable. The vertical string is just regular, and the more circular one is with one of those limbsaver barrel harmonic donut things on it. This is just on bags, not a lead sled or anything, so rest and holding variation applies with what is a pretty light rifle given the 300WM of it. Both the 165 and 180 Barnes loads I did were around 2" or a little better, but they were like 3-4grns down from max, so they won't be the same speed or harmonic as the factory stuff that tested well. I'll just go ahead and bed it at both mounts, and do some ladders with the Barnes and chronograph and find it.

Mike

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[bartonmd]

Just as a follow-up for posterity:

*in my best Canadian accent* Oh, she's a shooter, boys!

New deer rifle. 300 win mag Sako A7 loaded with leadless Barnes TTSX 165gr and 75gr of Reloader-22, at 3082fps. 5 shot group, 4 are in the right hole with one in the left. 3/8" tall, and 5/8" wide group, out of an 8.5lbs rifle, just on bags, not in a lead sled. I really never anticipated it would shoot this well, being so lightweight and in such a heavy caliber. I'm sure the bedding job I did last week helped, though.

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[Hohn]

Awesome! Glad you found a great load.

My experience with the Limbsaver donuts is that you need to “tune” them to the gun.

So you’d do your load development with it off, then install and slide up/down in tiny increments until it shows minimum group size.

 

[bartonmd]

Awesome! Glad you found a great load.

My experience with the Limbsaver donuts is that you need to “tune” them to the gun.

So you’d do your load development with it off, then install and slide up/down in tiny increments until it shows minimum group size.

Thanks! I'm pretty stoked about it, and I suppose I'm not going to mess with the donut, with this load.

I am probably going to mess with 180gr stuff for development, for the eventual elk hunting, in a couple years.

Mike

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[two70]

Thanks! I'm pretty stoked about it, and I suppose I'm not going to mess with the donut, with this load.

I am probably going to mess with 180gr stuff for development, for the eventual elk hunting, in a couple years.

Mike

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Why, the 165 grn TTSX will handle any elk without a problem and the load is already accurate to the point of making the search for a significantly more accurate one rather futile? I get the need to tinker, but......

 

[bartonmd]

Why, the 165 grn TTSX will handle any elk without a problem and the load is already accurate to the point of making the search for a significantly more accurate one rather futile? I get the need to tinker, but......

If I don't need to, that's better! Not looking for more accurate, at all, but I had just seen people say that you want 180gr+ for elk, with 30 Cal stuff?

Mike

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[Dirty Steve]

A 180gr bullet is not necessary for elk. I have piled up elk out to 426 yards with 165 gr bullets out of a 30-06 with ease.

Dirty Steve

 

[two70]

If I don't need to, that's better! Not looking for more accurate, at all, but I had just seen people say that you want 180gr+ for elk, with 30 Cal stuff?

Mike

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With conventional bullets 180s are a sensible idea but with the Barnes you will actually get better expansion and similar penetration stepping down a bit in weight. I shoot 150 grain TTSXs out of my .300 WSM and have taken a kudu which is about the size of a good bull elk as well as hartebeest and black wildebeest which are about the size of cow elk/spike bull with no problems. In fact the only time I didn't get a complete pass through was on the wildebeest, which is built like a 55 gallon drum with legs, where the shot broke both shoulders and stopped just under the skin on the far side.

 

[bartonmd]

Awesome, thank you guys! I'll stick with the TTSX 165 in this loading, then!

Mike

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