Pushing 300 ultra mag to the limit.

mr renwick · August 2, 2010, 10:16 PM

My friend owns a farm which is where we do all of our long range shooting at. He also owns a 300 ultra mag remington 700 with a 26" fluted barrel. He has been wanting to see how far he could reach out there with it so I would like to get some input on recommended loads/projectiles that will facilitate getting the most range possible. His barrel has a 1 in 10 twist. Also what do you think the peak range will be? His longest field is over a mile long so we should have all the room we need.

Thanks again for your input.

Loader9 · August 2, 2010, 10:33 PM

I shoot a 30/338 mag bench gun which is in the same ballpark ballistically as the 300 RUM. I'm shooting a 190 hpbt at 880 measured yards and am hitting with every shot a one gallon anti-freeze bottle. The bottle has an orange sun on it and is fairly easy to see with the scope. Hitting the sun is the idea. It happens most of time but I'm not totally disappointed if I don't hit the sun. It takes lots of practice to hit a target at that distance so don't have great expectations until you get the fundamentals of distance shooting down. First thing I would do is start closer, like 300 yds and learn to use the flags and read the heat waves. Then work yer way out.

mr renwick · August 3, 2010, 06:38 AM

Last time the corn was cut I shot about a 15 inch group at 940 yds with my 308 once I figured out where I was hitting. Shooting at 940 gave me such a respect for the snipers that pull it off on their first shot. One my friends was a Vietnam sniper and he has been working with me on my rifle skills. He said they went 10 for 10 in a 5inch V at 1000 and their rifles weren't near what mine is. Practice practice practice lol.

wncchester · August 3, 2010, 06:58 AM

Rifles differ. Only way to learn what the max load for any one might be is to increase the charge maybe a half grain at a time until it blows. Then back off about three quarters of a grain and you'll be there.

jmorris · August 3, 2010, 09:40 AM

Back when I was young and didn’t know any better I “maxed” out rounds now a days I just use the next bigger one. I can tell you an inexpensive way to practice for your long range endeavor, take a good .22lr and bench out to a 300 yard range. Your drop at 300 yards will be around 156” or about what a 308 is at 1000. You will also have to deal with wind and such.

AlaskaMike · August 3, 2010, 10:54 AM

Jmorris has a good point.

I would be far less concerned with velocity and bullet drop and much more concerned with consistent accuracy. What gives a 2" group at 200 yards will look like a shotgun pattern at 500 yards or more. The longer the distance the more exaggerated the variances will be.

Basically, it sounds like you're interested in benchrest shooting.

Mike

mr renwick · August 3, 2010, 03:54 PM

Thats funny you mention the 22 we shot them a bunch last time we were out. We were shooting at a 12" plate at 200 and that wasn't much of a challenge once I found where they were hitting. I understand that consistency is more important than velocity however that is something I practice on the range. That being said my purpose for this post was to get load info on a caliber that I have little experience with. I told my friend I would help him work up a good load for his rifle so I wanted to see what is working for you guys. Thanks for the input.

AlaskaMike · August 3, 2010, 04:11 PM

You might want to look at some of the newer powders that have just come out. I don't have any load info, but most of them claim to give 100 - 200 fps greater velocity. As long as you get the accuracy you want it should help you reach out a little further, or maybe buck the wind a little better.

Mike

mr renwick · August 3, 2010, 05:04 PM

Do you know any of their names?

kdog70 · August 3, 2010, 05:42 PM

jam a case with some retumbo or similar slow burning mag powder put a Berger 210 vld or a SMK 240gr and let er fly. You want a heavy bullet to buck wind, you should be able to push to 3000 plus fps.

With the right spotters and optics on top you should be able to dial to a mile (1740 yards) give or take some yards of course for your elevation you live at. I've read reports of 2000 yards.

I shoot a 300 win mag and make to 1400 ish depends on wind and number of spotters, made hits to 1700 but not consistent. Since you should be able to get 200 plus fps on me.

AlaskaMike · August 3, 2010, 06:50 PM

The only one that comes to mind immediately is Hybrid 100V, which I think is Hodgdon's. I know that there's also a new one in the IMR line, something like 8208. I'm not sure on anyone else's new offerings.

mr renwick · August 3, 2010, 09:00 PM

Thanks for the info. I have been hearing good stuff about retumbo. I have had great results with the seirra match kings in my 308. Seems like a lot people use the 210 Bergers.

bullspotter · August 3, 2010, 09:38 PM

Back when I was young and didn’t know any better I “maxed” out rounds now a days I just use the next bigger one. I can tell you an inexpensive way to practice for your long range endeavor, take a good .22lr and bench out to a 300 yard range. Your drop at 300 yards will be around 156” or about what a 308 is at 1000. You will also have to deal with wind and such.

The 308 is only dropping out 156 inches at 1000??? What is the zero on that?

escard · August 4, 2010, 12:48 AM

While the .300 RUM cannot top a good .300 Wby with 180 grain bullets (tested all possible powder/bullets combinations!), because of the heavy "overbore", the .300 RUM will really shine like a completely other cartridge while using 200-grainers!!
Try it, it is really worth the mess!

August 2, 2010, 10:16 PM	#1
mr renwick Junior member Join Date: January 10, 2008 Posts: 42	Pushing 300 ultra mag to the limit. My friend owns a farm which is where we do all of our long range shooting at. He also owns a 300 ultra mag remington 700 with a 26" fluted barrel. He has been wanting to see how far he could reach out there with it so I would like to get some input on recommended loads/projectiles that will facilitate getting the most range possible. His barrel has a 1 in 10 twist. Also what do you think the peak range will be? His longest field is over a mile long so we should have all the room we need. Thanks again for your input.

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August 2, 2010, 10:33 PM	#2
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	I shoot a 30/338 mag bench gun which is in the same ballpark ballistically as the 300 RUM. I'm shooting a 190 hpbt at 880 measured yards and am hitting with every shot a one gallon anti-freeze bottle. The bottle has an orange sun on it and is fairly easy to see with the scope. Hitting the sun is the idea. It happens most of time but I'm not totally disappointed if I don't hit the sun. It takes lots of practice to hit a target at that distance so don't have great expectations until you get the fundamentals of distance shooting down. First thing I would do is start closer, like 300 yds and learn to use the flags and read the heat waves. Then work yer way out.

August 3, 2010, 06:38 AM	#3
mr renwick Junior member Join Date: January 10, 2008 Posts: 42	Last time the corn was cut I shot about a 15 inch group at 940 yds with my 308 once I figured out where I was hitting. Shooting at 940 gave me such a respect for the snipers that pull it off on their first shot. One my friends was a Vietnam sniper and he has been working with me on my rifle skills. He said they went 10 for 10 in a 5inch V at 1000 and their rifles weren't near what mine is. Practice practice practice lol.

August 3, 2010, 06:58 AM	#4
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	Rifles differ. Only way to learn what the max load for any one might be is to increase the charge maybe a half grain at a time until it blows. Then back off about three quarters of a grain and you'll be there.

August 3, 2010, 09:40 AM	#5
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	Back when I was young and didn’t know any better I “maxed” out rounds now a days I just use the next bigger one. I can tell you an inexpensive way to practice for your long range endeavor, take a good .22lr and bench out to a 300 yard range. Your drop at 300 yards will be around 156” or about what a 308 is at 1000. You will also have to deal with wind and such.

August 3, 2010, 10:54 AM	#6
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	Jmorris has a good point. I would be far less concerned with velocity and bullet drop and much more concerned with consistent accuracy. What gives a 2" group at 200 yards will look like a shotgun pattern at 500 yards or more. The longer the distance the more exaggerated the variances will be. Basically, it sounds like you're interested in benchrest shooting. Mike

August 3, 2010, 03:54 PM	#7
mr renwick Junior member Join Date: January 10, 2008 Posts: 42	Thats funny you mention the 22 we shot them a bunch last time we were out. We were shooting at a 12" plate at 200 and that wasn't much of a challenge once I found where they were hitting. I understand that consistency is more important than velocity however that is something I practice on the range. That being said my purpose for this post was to get load info on a caliber that I have little experience with. I told my friend I would help him work up a good load for his rifle so I wanted to see what is working for you guys. Thanks for the input.

August 3, 2010, 04:11 PM	#8
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	You might want to look at some of the newer powders that have just come out. I don't have any load info, but most of them claim to give 100 - 200 fps greater velocity. As long as you get the accuracy you want it should help you reach out a little further, or maybe buck the wind a little better. Mike

August 3, 2010, 05:04 PM	#9
mr renwick Junior member Join Date: January 10, 2008 Posts: 42	Do you know any of their names?

August 3, 2010, 05:42 PM	#10
kdog70 Member Join Date: September 18, 2008 Location: Marquette,Mi Posts: 89	jam a case with some retumbo or similar slow burning mag powder put a Berger 210 vld or a SMK 240gr and let er fly. You want a heavy bullet to buck wind, you should be able to push to 3000 plus fps. With the right spotters and optics on top you should be able to dial to a mile (1740 yards) give or take some yards of course for your elevation you live at. I've read reports of 2000 yards. I shoot a 300 win mag and make to 1400 ish depends on wind and number of spotters, made hits to 1700 but not consistent. Since you should be able to get 200 plus fps on me.

August 3, 2010, 06:50 PM	#11
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	The only one that comes to mind immediately is Hybrid 100V, which I think is Hodgdon's. I know that there's also a new one in the IMR line, something like 8208. I'm not sure on anyone else's new offerings.

August 3, 2010, 09:00 PM	#12
mr renwick Junior member Join Date: January 10, 2008 Posts: 42	Thanks for the info. I have been hearing good stuff about retumbo. I have had great results with the seirra match kings in my 308. Seems like a lot people use the 210 Bergers.

August 3, 2010, 09:38 PM	#13
bullspotter Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 308	Back when I was young and didn’t know any better I “maxed” out rounds now a days I just use the next bigger one. I can tell you an inexpensive way to practice for your long range endeavor, take a good .22lr and bench out to a 300 yard range. Your drop at 300 yards will be around 156” or about what a 308 is at 1000. You will also have to deal with wind and such. The 308 is only dropping out 156 inches at 1000??? What is the zero on that?

August 4, 2010, 12:48 AM	#14
escard Member Join Date: April 20, 2010 Posts: 44	While the .300 RUM cannot top a good .300 Wby with 180 grain bullets (tested all possible powder/bullets combinations!), because of the heavy "overbore", the .300 RUM will really shine like a completely other cartridge while using 200-grainers!! Try it, it is really worth the mess!