Confused about the 300 WM

Roach300 · October 14, 2007, 03:23 AM

I just purchased a box of 168 HPBT Match Kings from Sierra to use in my 300, now from what I have been reading, Im confused, see where I hunt, Ill be lucky to shoot more than 150 yards. Now I heard stories on how 150 to 180 Core lokt rounds pass threw white tail and do minimal damage, so I wanted a hollow point, thinking that it would litterally explode inside the body. It would make a mess but thats exceptable. Is this a mistake to reload these bullets for hunting? I live in Pa, so there is no big field shots. But descent killing range. Another ? I have is Im going to be hunting in Kansas, what would a good bullet be for out there, were talking 4 to 500 yard shots. Some one help me before I wound a white tail.
Thank you.

Red_Eagle · October 14, 2007, 04:01 AM

The boat tail hallow points you selected will definitely wound game. Those are match bullets, not hunting bullets. Sounds like the pass throughs your friends were getting was because the were using elk bullets instead of deer bullets. If you loaded some Sierra 165 gr game kings or Hornady 165gr SST's to about 3,000 f/ps you'd be fine for your east coast hunting. For your trip out west you could load to just under max, and if you realistically believe your really going to have to make a 500 yrd, you might even think about switching to a 180 gr load.

Roach300 · October 14, 2007, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the advice.

castnblast · October 15, 2007, 04:13 PM

I had real good luck w/ hornady & Sierra GK's in 165 btsp's. The 150's tended to blow up. I would not use the SST's. You'll get some pretty serious splatter fest at those velocities. My powder of choice was RL22, and H4831.

Ry-guy · October 15, 2007, 07:48 PM

I live in Saskatchewan in Canada and it is a huge place for deer hunting. Quite a few guys around here use the Nosler Ballistic Tip for deer hunting. I do the same and have great expansion from 40 yards to 325. My favorite hunting bullet.

crowbeaner · October 15, 2007, 09:13 PM

You definitely want a softpoint, not a hollowpoint match bullet. Try the Hornady 165 gr. BTSP with 67.0 of WW 760, or Hornady's factory ammo. You'll be good to go for any deer anywhere. I miss my 300 and the BOOOM. CB.

ZeroJunk · October 15, 2007, 09:32 PM

The Sierra Game Kings are soft and do a good job on deer.The ballistic tip type should work well also.For Elk size animals Nosler Partitions or Barnes X bullets would be better.It may take a little work to find a reduced load that shoots well.Some of the 3000 FPS 150 grain loads I tried were pretty sloppy

nra_guns_winner · October 16, 2007, 01:10 PM

I'm born and rasied about 80 miles south west of Kansas city and I've hunter all over several 200 acre farms of friends and family. I've never had to take a white tail at more than 130 yds. Now I've only shot eight or nine but where I grew up they were all over. The long distance shots were not nessary. Of course go ahead and pratice a few just in case. Just be able to make the first shot count.

Roach300 · October 16, 2007, 03:47 PM

I appriciate all the tips and advice you guys have given me, I have decided to go with a 168 Game King at 69.5 of IMR 4350, I just got back from the range and was getting nickle size 3 shoot groups at 100 yds, now I also loaded up some Nosler Silver Ballistic tip in 168, with the same powder, It hits like not even an 8th of an inch low, but still nickle size with a slight drifter to the 5 o'clock position. Now I must go rest my shoulder, thanks alot guys.
Happy hunting.

October 14, 2007, 03:23 AM	#1
Roach300 Member Join Date: October 14, 2007 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 18	Confused about the 300 WM I just purchased a box of 168 HPBT Match Kings from Sierra to use in my 300, now from what I have been reading, Im confused, see where I hunt, Ill be lucky to shoot more than 150 yards. Now I heard stories on how 150 to 180 Core lokt rounds pass threw white tail and do minimal damage, so I wanted a hollow point, thinking that it would litterally explode inside the body. It would make a mess but thats exceptable. Is this a mistake to reload these bullets for hunting? I live in Pa, so there is no big field shots. But descent killing range. Another ? I have is Im going to be hunting in Kansas, what would a good bullet be for out there, were talking 4 to 500 yard shots. Some one help me before I wound a white tail. Thank you.

October 15, 2007, 04:13 PM	#4
castnblast Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2006 Location: Corpus Christi TX Posts: 1,148	I had real good luck w/ hornady & Sierra GK's in 165 btsp's. The 150's tended to blow up. I would not use the SST's. You'll get some pretty serious splatter fest at those velocities. My powder of choice was RL22, and H4831. __________________ VEGETARIAN...old indian word for bad hunter

October 15, 2007, 09:13 PM	#6
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	You definitely want a softpoint, not a hollowpoint match bullet. Try the Hornady 165 gr. BTSP with 67.0 of WW 760, or Hornady's factory ammo. You'll be good to go for any deer anywhere. I miss my 300 and the BOOOM. CB. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

October 14, 2007, 04:01 AM	#2
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	The boat tail hallow points you selected will definitely wound game. Those are match bullets, not hunting bullets. Sounds like the pass throughs your friends were getting was because the were using elk bullets instead of deer bullets. If you loaded some Sierra 165 gr game kings or Hornady 165gr SST's to about 3,000 f/ps you'd be fine for your east coast hunting. For your trip out west you could load to just under max, and if you realistically believe your really going to have to make a 500 yrd, you might even think about switching to a 180 gr load.

October 14, 2007, 10:18 AM	#3
Roach300 Member Join Date: October 14, 2007 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 18	Thanks for the advice.

October 15, 2007, 07:48 PM	#5
Ry-guy Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Proud to be Canadian Posts: 47	I live in Saskatchewan in Canada and it is a huge place for deer hunting. Quite a few guys around here use the Nosler Ballistic Tip for deer hunting. I do the same and have great expansion from 40 yards to 325. My favorite hunting bullet.

October 15, 2007, 09:32 PM	#7
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	The Sierra Game Kings are soft and do a good job on deer.The ballistic tip type should work well also.For Elk size animals Nosler Partitions or Barnes X bullets would be better.It may take a little work to find a reduced load that shoots well.Some of the 3000 FPS 150 grain loads I tried were pretty sloppy

October 16, 2007, 01:10 PM	#8
nra_guns_winner Junior member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 121	I'm born and rasied about 80 miles south west of Kansas city and I've hunter all over several 200 acre farms of friends and family. I've never had to take a white tail at more than 130 yds. Now I've only shot eight or nine but where I grew up they were all over. The long distance shots were not nessary. Of course go ahead and pratice a few just in case. Just be able to make the first shot count.

October 16, 2007, 03:47 PM	#9
Roach300 Member Join Date: October 14, 2007 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 18	I appriciate all the tips and advice you guys have given me, I have decided to go with a 168 Game King at 69.5 of IMR 4350, I just got back from the range and was getting nickle size 3 shoot groups at 100 yds, now I also loaded up some Nosler Silver Ballistic tip in 168, with the same powder, It hits like not even an 8th of an inch low, but still nickle size with a slight drifter to the 5 o'clock position. Now I must go rest my shoulder, thanks alot guys. Happy hunting.