Take a gander at this load for 300WM

[ZLBubba]

While I do a lot of reloading, hunting season always seems to get to me quicker than I expect. I usually end up shooting factory loads since I can always find them whichever state I'm hunting in without having to ship the ammo. I'm turning over a new leaf this year though. For my 300WM, I'm going to try and find an accurate load for the 210 Berger Hunting VLDs that will be my go-to load for anything that's not thick brush hunting.

I've got a Remington 700 Titanium clone from Red Hawk Rifles that actually shoots 1/2moa with some ammo. That's more than I usually ask out of my hunting rigs but that's the kind of accuracy I'd like to find for these 210 Bergers. I know the rifle is capable with factory, so there's no reason it can't do it with handloads unless it just hates the bullets and/or the powder.

I know Bergers like to be crammed into the lands, so after experimenting, it looks like 3.645" is the length that gets me there. It's actually a little tough to close the bolt so I'm worried that I may be pushing the envelope. I've never jammed the lands before so should this issue concern me or is it normal? The good news is that at 3.645", the bullets feed just fine from the internal magazine.

The bushing that I'm using for neck tension is a .335, dead center in the recommended range of Redding. I'm using Norma brass, and planning on H1000, though I do have a bunch of Retumbo if it just hates H1000. Still, I have a hard time believing I won't be able to find a single accuracy node with H1000. That's what the poll is for, if you were me, would you start the load workups with H1000 or Retumbo? If you have experience with Berger 210 Hunting VLDs and either of these powder, I'd appreciate hearing how those loads worked out for you. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Cncjerry]

H1000. If you are hunting, I would get a factory crimp die and put on a light crimp so that when you pull the projectile you see a very light mark and no indentation. Contrary to some, this has given me the best consistency and accuracy without loading into the lands. Light crimping can be debated until the cows come home. The light crimp should make them ok for hunting out of a mag without banging the projectile into the case.

I assume you've taken game with 210s? I think it is overkill after talking to a friend yesterday at the range. His brother, whom I know and shoots a 300 next me me occasionally, took an elk in the shoulder at something over 100yds with a 210 and it took out a cone of meat after going in behind one shoulder and flaring out like a megaphone to take the other shoulder and leg off.

One other thing is 3.645 seems a little long but you did say you were jamming. I hit the lands at 3.575 though each rifle is different.

 

[nuclear_shooter]

I have found H1000 to be plentiful in my LGS and Wally World. I also don't think jamming bullets into the lands is recommended for anything other than target shooting (I say target shooting to exclude things like tactical matches). I definitely wouldn't recommend it for hunting. Another downside is you have to chase the lands as the erode from shooting.

 

[ZLBubba]

I'm planning on backing off .010" for a little bit of breathing space. My reasoning is that for hunting, I'd rather learn and trust one load (even if it's overkill), than have many different dope tables dancing in my head, especially when my blood gets up. This round will be mostly for my Western hunting; the majority of hunting that I do is in dense woods where I'm carrying my 16" 308.

 

[Aimsmall55]

I've taken a lot of white tails with the 210 vld. My go to load is 76.4 h1000, RP brass, fgm215, kissing the lands. 2850 fps out if a 26" bbl.
It is a little overkill for short shots. I mostly use them for 450 yard + shots.