300WM question Now with Range Report

[Kells81]

So I have a Kimber At 300WM that wont hold a 1" group to save its f---in life. I really wanna push some heavy pills in this rifle but the best groups I have gotten were from 165 Nosler Ballistic tips, 5 shot 5/8" group. Anything 190 etc seems to be +1" or more. Thats with Sierra and berger match bullets.

I was looking through my bullet stash earlier and figured I would try this. I have bullets from 165 up to 190. I have a load of RL-22 that seems to work in every 300WM I have ran accross but havent tried it in this one. Soo I took the same powder charge checked it in the books on each load to make sure its not over max. I prepped 100pcs of brass and loaded 10 rounds of each.

165 Sierra Gameking
165 Sierra Gameking HPBT
165 Nosler Bt
168 SMK
168 Nosler custom comp
168 Nosler Ballistic tip
180 Nosler ballistic tip
180 SMK

Had to drop a grain off these to stay under Max
190 Berger VLD
190 SMK

I also loaded 20 rounds of my old Favorite flavor 300WM load that has served me well in at least 4 other 300WM's. I know this might be an out there way to do this but hell at this point I cannot think of much else to do. I have tried certain bullets with diff combo's of powder and weights in a similar fashion. My last chance to make it to the range before I head back tot he box and I figure this is the best way to get the most out of it. Any thoughts?

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

It sounds like you have a good choice of different projectiles. RL-22 has done very well for me in most 300WM loads. But you might want to try some IMR 4350. It works pretty well.

 

[mavrick10_2000]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

I agree with Victor on the 4350. That was my powder for .300 WM projectiles 180gr and less. Although I used the Hodgdon flavor (H4350) WLRM primers in Win cases.

Also you might want to go a little heavier and try the 208gr Hornady Amax. Your rifle is 1:10 twist correct?

 

[Kogapsp]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

Depending on the rifle and twist what is your jump to the lands. I find that mine works best jumping .030-.040 off the lands. I find that some of these rifle are throated for longer bullets this can also be an issue.

kn

 

[Kells81]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Victor N TN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It sounds like you have a good choice of different projectiles. RL-22 has done very well for me in most 300WM loads. But you might want to try some IMR 4350. It works pretty well. </div></div>

In previouse trips I have tried IMR 4350 and H4350 worked in .5 grain differences over 4 grains. I know .5 is alot but if something was there it would have shown some promise for adjustment.

Heck at this point I have 120 rounds loaded up so something has to give I hope. Already dropped the bones for pillar bedding, checked the scope mounting twice and adjusted my cleaning habbits to less. I think only getting 2 range trips this time home is a real killer.

 

[chain]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

In my rifle RL-22 works for 180's and down but for the 200's, 208's and the 210's I shoot H-1000 with everything touching the lands. I was using 200 Accubonds but I loaded some 210 Berger's for an elk hunt in Wyoming, because my range work showed they bucked the wind a little better. I killed a nice bull at 411 yds with a lung shot. The Berger hit a rib going in and going out and made mush out of the top of both lungs. I really like the way the 210 Berger performed and I was getting 1/2 MOA with 76 gr H-1000 and fire-formed RWS brass with a Fed 215m primer.

 

[bigwheeler]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

The gun should be a 1:10 twist. You can't really complain about a lightweight rifle shooting an inch and a half. They come up and point very fast and natural for most hunters and are a nicely finished rifle. I believe they make their own barrels. I have
never heard anyone claim super accuracy for Kimber rifles though. They build hunting
guns.

 

[Kells81]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigwheeler</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The gun should be a 1:10 twist. You can't really complain about a lightweight rifle shooting an inch and a half. They come up and point very fast and natural for most hunters and are a nicely finished rifle. I believe they make their own barrels. I have
never heard anyone claim super accuracy for Kimber rifles though. They build hunting
guns. </div></div>
Since Kimber AT= Advanced Tactical I would say its not much of a hunting gun. I have a Longmaster classic, Varmint, 2 84M selects and an 84M Super America. The others shoot lights out but this 300WM isnt quite there. BTW for $2500 bux 1.5" groups would and should not be even close to the standard. Hell for a Remy 700 1.5" is a bad day with a shitty shooter. I dont think I could take a weapon into the woods if the best I could do with it is 1.5" groups. Alot of bad shots get made by people who consider hitting a paper plate at 100 yards accurate enough.

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

I say try it and record all your data just to see if it works. I have books of saved data that is a great resource for me and is info not found in reloading books.

 

[bigwheeler]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

I read right over the AT as a typo without even seeing it. I haven't seen any of
their tactical stuff up here in the stores let alone the ranges. I would be upset too
with a 10 lb gun shooting like that.

 

[Country]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

Don't forget to consider your scope may be on the way out.
The very first thing I do when a gun will not shoot as expected is swap the scope to a known performer.
Remember what Champion BR shooter Toni Boyer said " I spend most of my time looking for accurate scopes not accurate guns"

 

[jrob300]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

Looked up the stats on the AT, but could not find twist. If it is 1:10 (probably) it may not like lighter (<190g) bullets. My 300WM (not a Kimber) 1:10 really prefers the heavier bullets. (I can get 168's and 175's to shoot, I just have to run them waaaayyy slow. What's the point?)

I would try some 200g SMK's and either ladder or OCW with RL22 and H1000. The 200g smk has got to be one of the most forgiving bullets I've ever loaded for in this caliber. RL22 and H1000 show up every time talk of 300WM loads come up. I've tried all the others with spotty results at best.

Another trick I learned the hard way. When shooting a rifle that doesn't group, it's easy to start making little compensations, convincing yourself it's your fault (form, position). Take a rifle and load that you KNOW shoot and reaffirm yourself while the 300 is cooling. If you've picked up any little habits along this frustrating path, they'll show up on the other rifle.

I have a friend that shoots an LPT. It shoots 3/8" 3 shot groups with TAP @ 200 yds. I would expect more from your rifle, too.

John

 

[Kells81]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Country</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't forget to consider your scope may be on the way out.
The very first thing I do when a gun will not shoot as expected is swap the scope to a known performer.
Remember what Champion BR shooter Toni Boyer said " I spend most of my time looking for accurate scopes not accurate guns" </div></div>

the first scope I was using came off my 308 Rem. It is and was on, But this trip home I got a MK4 off another hide member. I was able to bolt it onto my 308 to check and see, its on and tracks fine also.

 

[Kells81]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

so,
Spent 3 hours at the range this morning and got to run 56 rounds through the rifle. I had 50 more to do but my FIL brought his wife and she was ready to go. Either way I was able to test my 300WM pet load. As I suspected it worked like a champ. 73.0 of RL-22 behind a Nosler BT seems to work in every 300WM I have come accross so far. 4 3 shot groups (i Know I know) all 4 were under 3/4" I kept the first 3 group off a cold clean bore, and the last 3 that were fired right before I packed it in just to see how it worked clean to dirty.

Next were the 165 offerings, I didnt keep the groups from these cause it was in the 2" range or so. The groups hit 4" high and were BAD..

168 SMK's were about the same as the 165's but hovered around 1.5"

168 Nosler BT's showed some promise though. I let my FIL shoot the other 5 shot group and I think he might need to work on it a bit. But here is my group. 5 shots

175 SMK's Shined really well
2 5 shot groups, I had taken the rifle to the tailgate and stripped the copper and fouling out of itbefore firing both of these groups. Barrel was warm with all copper pulled out. After the first group I adjusted the optic to get it closer to the dot since it was hitting about 4" off the dot.

For you that are not sure what the AT is, here is a pic of it, its the one with the Tan action.

Got some Dental work tommorrow but I hope to get to fire the heavy pills on Fri or Sat to see how they fair. All loads had the same type/weight of powder. CCI 250 Mag primers.

This is the first time since owning the Kimber I havent left the range completely disapointed!

 

[jrob300]

Re: Is my thinking Flawed? 300WM question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Poke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

This is the first time since owning the Kimber I haven't left the range completely disapointed!
</div></div>

I remember that day, only it was "Tikka" instead of "Kimber".

Well, that has got to make you feel better. At least now you have some combo's that shoot and you can play around a bit.

John