Range Report factory .300 wm

P

PaulStafford

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Minuteman
Jul 31, 2010
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NW Montana
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#1
My apologies if this is the wrong part of the forum.

I am new to LR precision rifle shooting. As such, while I realize that handloading can produce the best results, I don't want to introduce another variable as I am in early learning mode. Once my shooting is fairly consistent, I'll spend the $$ and learn reloading...

I am looking for suggestions as to the best factory loads to start with in my .300 wm. My reading has turned up Black Hills and Fed GMM as good manufacturers. Looking on Midway's site, 190gr SMK is available from both (although a lot shows backordered....). That bullet appears to have good BC, although I guess the 200 or 220 would be even better.

I'm also looking for the best online ammo dealer.

I did see one company offering to take your rifle and test for the best loads, then you could buy in bulk from them. That sounds doable after I start to improve.

any other suggestions?

 
#2
Re: factory .300 wm

Paul,

If you're going to use a 'factory' load, look at HSM. They are just south of you in Stevensville. IIRC, they make a MK248 Mod 1 clone which uses the 220 SMK as well as a 210 Berger loading.

Either of those will kick tail on any 190 SMK loading after 600 yds.

John
 
#4
Re: factory .300 wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">many here have won matches with the 190's.......its all about the Indian and not always the bow </div></div>

All depends on the distance and the wind... Some bows make some indians better. Bolt, I know you know this... but when it's windy and we're shooting at the 1500 yd. plate, my shooting partner is lucky to hit it twice in a row (he's shooting 200 SMK's) and once I get my wind, I can usually hammer it repeatedly (208 Amax's).

You'll be the more talented indian if you learn to shoot the 190's in the wind, but some industrious bastard will clean your clock with 210 Bergers.

John
 
#5
Re: factory .300 wm

ah yes indeed......but and however.....MATCHES like the one i referenced above, are usually won at much much lesser distances

playing the long distance game ...yes you are absolutely correct and right big boolits with a high BC trumps all others of a lesser ilk....
 
#6
Re: factory .300 wm

Good advice on the front already..

HAND LOADING is your friend...

600 Plus 210's All The Way For Me..some Like To Mag Feed And If That's A Need And Your Mag Wont Allow Vld's Then Berger 210BT ,,208 Amax Or Sierra 210's Or 190's Would Do Well.. all in that order IMHO..

If Your Racine Yourself Anything Is Fun!

All Things Being Equal Shooter Ability.. Good Weapon/scope And Such..If Your At A Match High BC will be all around if its Long Range so you will need to be (SNIPER BOB) TO make up the lost BC and wind call like CNN weather man..Now if Your Buddy Shows Up With Streamline High Bc Pills Then You Will Be A Hater Or 190's..if Its On And Off Windy Or Switch Back Aaagg...

Gold medal match 190's is good starting AMMO pricy though!

That HSM sounds good if it shoots for you well...If you shoot alot you will soon be out enough coin to have bought the loading parts and equipment to be loading custom ammo yourself..
 
#7
Re: factory .300 wm

Sounds like you've already got some great advice here.

When I first got my 300wm set up, I started messing with a MK248 loading using 220gr SMK and H1000. It was a pretty good all around load that would buck the wind in a reasonable way and it was fairly accurate and it wasn't super picky about seating depth with the SMK.

I'd second that recommendation for you if you have access to someone that loads this that you can purchase them from.

That being said, VLD and AMAX is the way to go when you load them for your rifle.

Don't wait too long before taking the dive into reloading... however long you wait, you will be sorry you waited even that long when you finally see what your stick can do with an AMAX or VLD.

Good luck and, Welcome to the sickness. LOL
 
#10
Re: factory .300 wm

Paul,

I believe he's referring to the fact that VLD's are sometimes very fussy about seating depth. Secant ogive bullets can have trouble aligning squarely with the bore if the jump to the lands is large. Tangent ogive bullets, like almost all SMK's are far more forgiving.

HSM ammo will be loaded to SAAMI length. It should *feed* from your mags, but the VLD's might not shoot very well due to the jump. All you can do is try. The 220's should be fine (which, by the way,is exactly why the military chose the 220 over any of the 210's, despite the fact that the 210's fly flatter and further... sometimes more is not always better).

FWIW, I had this conversation with Swampy at JLK bullets and he told me the same thing. I loaded some JLK 210's to 3.4" COAL (about a .25" jump) and they shot .3" the first loading. Don't know til you try.

John
 
#12
Re: factory .300 wm

As Jrob said IT BEST ABOUT THE POINTY VLD description. they tend to be longer than Mags in a 300wm when pushed in the lands they may be to long to mag feed if the chaimber was set up outside the donut..They where design to be in the lands..Some guns jump them well,Most do not... and if they do its not for long and must be reajusted/seated often to keep them happy..

There is also the 210BT berger with Hi BC and its a JUMPER.... I never ran 220's Long in anything,always to much or to little for there weigth vs B.C. for my tast..They do get the Job done non the less...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PaulStafford</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one last question- ASM1- you mention if VLDs won't feed from a mag I have to use alternatives.

I am using AI mags in my XLR chassis. Do you happen to know if the VLD loaded at a typical OAL will feed from these? </div></div>
 
#14
Re: factory .300 wm

If I understand the OP question it that you is not ready to reload and are seeking a good source to buy. I would suggest you at least try the SW in 190 and 220 and see if it doesn't work great. Having shot literally 1000s of SW rounds I will have to say I am nothing but a fan. This is just my own personal experience.
 
#15
Re: factory .300 wm

I have had great success with the 190's from black hills. They are IMO just a bit better than the FGGM 190's
I shoot them out of a 1-11 twist though.
 
#18
Re: factory .300 wm

thx, ordered a couple boxes .300wm 190gr from SW ammo.

Mike- I'm relatively new here. What constitutes a good review?

It would seem objective measurements (ie MV Std Dev) would be valuable. not sure what else, unless notes of problems. edumacate me
smile.gif
 
#19
Re: factory .300 wm

Can ask what powders you are using for the 190gr. and 220gr. SMK's?
Im guessing H-1000

If it is, im sure your around 77.0gr. of H-1000 with the 220gr. SMK to get 2900fps.

I have been wanting to order some of this ammo for awhile now for my .300WM but I keep forgeting.
 
#20
Re: factory .300 wm

I'm at 75.5 with H1000 on the 190's--right at 2900 from a PSS.

Is the 220 load described safe for a PSS? I ask because some mentioned in another thread that the "248" load was not safe for the 700 actions?
 
#21
Re: factory .300 wm

Mark raises a good point... 2900 is pretty hot for a 220, but it sounds like it is still slightly downloaded from Mk248 Mod1.

Mike I don't know if you're loading a Mk248 Mod1 "clone" or just a 220 SMK in 300WM... but there have been some serious pressure issues in civilian rifles with Mk248 Mod1. The MK13's and AW's seem fine with it, but tighter chambers of customs are showing dangerous pressure. FYI.

John
 
#22
Re: factory .300 wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mark raises a good point... 2900 is pretty hot for a 220, but it sounds like it is still slightly downloaded from Mk248 Mod1.

Mike I don't know if you're loading a Mk248 Mod1 "clone" or just a 220 SMK in 300WM... but there have been some serious pressure issues in civilian rifles with Mk248 Mod1. The MK13's and AW's seem fine with it, but tighter chambers of customs are showing dangerous pressure. FYI.

John </div></div>
Southwest Ammunition designs loads to maximize performances not clones. We do extensive testing with many rifle applications before introducing our products to consumers. We are a licensed and insured ammunition manufacturer (small compared to most) and do use ballistic programs and pressure equipment for all of our products available for purchase. If our product shows signs of dangerous pressures let us know.

We have received no negative feedback nor concerned users of our 300 Win Mag with signs of over pressure. We are always open for feedback even if it is negative. We are small so the feedback we receive is important, positive or negative and encourage it. (480)302-2233 is the number to call with questions and concerns.

Thank you,
Zack Proctor
 
#23
Re: factory .300 wm

Zack,

Sorry I thought it was Mike. (Mike..SWammo...)
wink.gif


I was not intending to bring your company into question in any way shape or form. I have been following this MK248 Mod1 discussion for a couple years and have been concerned since reading the specs that there could be issues in non-military rifles or if the brass was reused. Obviously, just because a 300WM load has a 220 SMK, does not make it MK248 Mod1. But the question was asked in this thread concerning the two...

You have obviously taken the high road and done due diligence. Thanks for the clarification. I will be shooting with Paul Stafford as soon as he gets his rifle and look forward to seeing how your ammo works out for him.

John
 
#24
Re: factory .300 wm

I appreciate the reply on the matter. It just "confuses" me when I see that it's mentioned that a "248" load is unsafe and there's a "clone"

Didn't mean to suggest that your loads are not good quality. I would like to pick up some to try soon.

Mark
 
#26
Re: factory .300 wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ida83704</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Black Hills Factory .300WM 190SMK's run 3000-3025 in my Rem700 w/26" tube. </div></div>

That's good stuff. Factory barrel?
 
#27
Re: factory .300 wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mark5pt56</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I appreciate the reply on the matter. It just "confuses" me when I see that it's mentioned that a "248" load is unsafe and there's a "clone"

Didn't mean to suggest that your loads are not good quality. I would like to pick up some to try soon.

Mark </div></div>

Mark,


The 220 SMK 300 win loads are loaded within SAMMI pressure standards. However, the bullets are seated slightly longer, averaging 3.400 oal. This is still short of the MK 248 mod 1 oal spec of 3.450-3.500. I believe one of the reasons that pressure issues are being experienced with the genuine military ammo is that the longer seating depth is jamming some bullets into the rifling on tight chambered or short throated match rifles, resulting in a pressure spike. Our ammo is seated long enough to create more case capacity, yet is still short enough to not be touching the lands.
 
#28
Re: factory .300 wm

John,

This is Mike
grin.gif
. We take turns monitoring the site, and replying to PMs and posts. Zach wasn't familiar with the term "clone" being used to match the performance of Military ammo. I did list it on our website. Sorry for the miscommunication on our part.

I did set out to clone the velocity and accuracy standards of the MK248 mod1 round. I found it was not difficult to do without approaching the very high pressures allowed by the specifications set by the military. My post above explains the differences between the two loads.

Mike
 
#30
Re: factory .300 wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mark5pt56</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ida83704</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Black Hills Factory .300WM 190SMK's run 3000-3025 in my Rem700 w/26" tube. </div></div>

That's good stuff. Factory barrel? </div></div>

yes, factory barrel
 
#33
Re: factory .300 wm

Hey Mark I dont know if you reload but it would be a good idea to get your throat measured. My new Sendero SF II 300 WM came out to 3.550 so I can even try the 3.450 or the 3.500 loads and the good thing is that they also fit the mag with no issues at all cause I have a 3.910 mag length. with my QL results I should be just fine with H1000 and Retumbo should be even better with a 220 SMK. Again check your throat length and that will tell you if you will have issues running a 3.400 or 3.450 load from SW Ammo.

Mike, Zach, and John thanks for all the info guys.

Regards Aron-
 
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