.300 win mag match bullets

Stats Shooter · March 8, 2017, 10:53 PM

So I have my .300 win mag put together and it is time to begin load development. I have a hunting rifle in .300 wm but this one is a match rifle I'm using in FPR matches (600 and 1k yards)

I have posted some questions about it already but it is time now to begin load development. I bought Norma brass and will be using CCI 250's.

Just a refresher: it has a 28" Shilen #8 (1" muzzle) 1:10 twist. I went and bought the Redding comp #6 shell holder set so I can idiot proof my headspace resizing and not screw around setting up my die. I bought an RCBS GMM bullet seating die to better control seating depth. ( I used to just use the RCBS 2 die set in my hunting rifle).

Anyway, I'm going to use H1000 powder. But I'm still not sure what bullets to try. I have AICS bottom metal and magazines which can handle an OAL of 3.625 (typical OAL of tangent ogive bullets in .300 wm is 3.340) So I can mag feed some longer secant ogive bullets. But I don't have any special throating in the chamber.

I am trying to decide between the Berger 215 hybrid, the Hornady ELD 212 or 208, the 210 smk, the 220/190 nosler custom comps, and Hornady BTHP match.

The issues with the Berger hybrid 215 are cost ($0.52/each) and Berger recommends a 1:9 twist.

I love SMK bullets and the cost isnt too bad but the g7's on them arnt spectacular.

The Hornady BTHP is similar to the smk.

I like the cost of the nosler custom comps but I wish there was something between 190 and 220 gr. I really want to be between 205 and 215 gr.

The Hornady ELD is also a secant ogive like the Berger vld 210 so probably jump sensitive, and they are less tested than any of the above bullets. (Though I hear the 208 eld and 208 a max are basically identical).

Any suggestions?

jski · March 9, 2017, 01:41 AM

I have have an actual relative who's an actual SEAL. And he some time back mentioned that the reason the SEALs didn't go with the .338 Lapua (v. the .300 Win Mag) is the new bullets. And he specifically mentioned the Berger bullets.

Jimro · March 9, 2017, 04:49 PM

I shot high power with one of the developers of the Mk248 Mod1 300 Win Mag load which was developed by NSWC Crane for SOCOM (ie, the SEALs).

Berger bullets were tested, the 220 SMK was chosen. The reason is transonic zone stability. Lots of high BC bullets are great above Mach 1.2, but destabilize as they transition through the sound barrier as wave drag functions compound against projectile and cause it to lose stability, hence the reason why the 220 SMK can get by with a 1:11.25 twist just fine (rechamber M24 barrels) and the 215 Berger recommends a 1:9 twist.

If you are shooting beyond the transonic zone of the round, you need to start ignoring BCs and 100 yard groupings, and start looking at how stable the bullet flies between Mach 1.2 and 0.8. That's the reason why we stuck with the 50 BMG for he heavy sniper rifle anti material role even after the USMC evaluated the 408 Cheytac.

If your range is limited to a known distance where your load is always supersonic beyond 1.2, pick whatever bullet you like. Otherwise, you are better off with a tangent ogive, low angle boat tail design bullet for long distance shooting based on accuracy beyond the transonic zone.

Jimro

jmr40 · March 9, 2017, 05:26 PM

Berger is going to be the natural choice. The price may seem high, but if you're gonna play, you're gonna have to pay. No sense in putting together an accurate rifle and not shoot the most accurate bullet.

That said, I've been experimenting with the ELD-X hunting bullets. I've been pleased with the results with their 200 and 178 gr bullets. These are hunting bullets, not match bullets, but overall I'm happy with them. It might not hurt to try some of them.

jski · March 11, 2017, 02:46 AM

Awhile back MidwayUSA sent me some Hodgdon H1000 by mistake. I had ordered H110 for reloading my .30 Carbine rounds. I called and MidwayUSA, being a 1st class outfit, quickly remedied the problem and sent the ordered 3 one-lb jars of H110. They also told me to keep the 3 one-lb jars of H1000.

I gave them to my brother in the hope it'd be used to reload 300 Win Mag rounds. Seems to be one of its primary targets.

How's the H1000 doing for you? I'd like to tell my brother.

T. O'Heir · March 11, 2017, 12:38 PM

Know a guy who regularly won 1,000 yard DCRA matches with a custom built.300 Mag. He used nothing but 190 grain match bullets. Hornady's, I think. No idea what powder he used though.
Kind of curious what the Berger bullet is a hybrid of. Look pretty much like any other HPBT to me.

Stats Shooter · March 15, 2017, 10:29 AM

I spoke with the folks at Hornady and decided Im going to try the 225 gr ELD-M with H-1000 powder. The bullet is 1.665" long with a G1 of .73 and G7 of .391.

FYI here are the lengths and info on the ELD's above 200 gr in .308 cal per the rep on the phone. For some reason this is different than the Website (lower) but I think it has to do with at what distance they are measuring the BC

208 ELD-M, Length 1.535, G1 0.67, G7 0.348
212 ELD-X, Length 1.597, G1 0.673, G7 0.334
220 ELD-X, Length 1.630, G1 0.650, G7 0.329
225 ELD-M, Length 1.655, G1 0.730, G7 0.391

The official length of the polymer tip is 0.175" if your bullet stability calculator has an input for that. If not, just deduct the polymer tip length from the OAL of the bullet and use that, it will be close enough.

Hornady suggests starting 0.020 off the lands and working your way into the Lands for ELD bullets.

The 225 was developed with the .300 WM in mind. A 1:10 twist or faster is required to get the maximum BC.

I should be able to easily get 2850 FPS, maybe more.....Of course it depends on what charge my rifle likes because as we all know, max velocity rarely equals max accuracy.

FIFW, for reference, the Berger 215 Hybrid is 1.598" and the 230 Hybrid is 1.668" long but neither of them have polymer tips...which means a 1:10 twist is a bit too slow for the 230.

March 8, 2017, 10:53 PM	#1
Stats Shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2016 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,636	.300 win mag match bullets So I have my .300 win mag put together and it is time to begin load development. I have a hunting rifle in .300 wm but this one is a match rifle I'm using in FPR matches (600 and 1k yards) I have posted some questions about it already but it is time now to begin load development. I bought Norma brass and will be using CCI 250's. Just a refresher: it has a 28" Shilen #8 (1" muzzle) 1:10 twist. I went and bought the Redding comp #6 shell holder set so I can idiot proof my headspace resizing and not screw around setting up my die. I bought an RCBS GMM bullet seating die to better control seating depth. ( I used to just use the RCBS 2 die set in my hunting rifle). Anyway, I'm going to use H1000 powder. But I'm still not sure what bullets to try. I have AICS bottom metal and magazines which can handle an OAL of 3.625 (typical OAL of tangent ogive bullets in .300 wm is 3.340) So I can mag feed some longer secant ogive bullets. But I don't have any special throating in the chamber. I am trying to decide between the Berger 215 hybrid, the Hornady ELD 212 or 208, the 210 smk, the 220/190 nosler custom comps, and Hornady BTHP match. The issues with the Berger hybrid 215 are cost ($0.52/each) and Berger recommends a 1:9 twist. I love SMK bullets and the cost isnt too bad but the g7's on them arnt spectacular. The Hornady BTHP is similar to the smk. I like the cost of the nosler custom comps but I wish there was something between 190 and 220 gr. I really want to be between 205 and 215 gr. The Hornady ELD is also a secant ogive like the Berger vld 210 so probably jump sensitive, and they are less tested than any of the above bullets. (Though I hear the 208 eld and 208 a max are basically identical). Any suggestions?

March 9, 2017, 04:49 PM	#3
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	I shot high power with one of the developers of the Mk248 Mod1 300 Win Mag load which was developed by NSWC Crane for SOCOM (ie, the SEALs). Berger bullets were tested, the 220 SMK was chosen. The reason is transonic zone stability. Lots of high BC bullets are great above Mach 1.2, but destabilize as they transition through the sound barrier as wave drag functions compound against projectile and cause it to lose stability, hence the reason why the 220 SMK can get by with a 1:11.25 twist just fine (rechamber M24 barrels) and the 215 Berger recommends a 1:9 twist. If you are shooting beyond the transonic zone of the round, you need to start ignoring BCs and 100 yard groupings, and start looking at how stable the bullet flies between Mach 1.2 and 0.8. That's the reason why we stuck with the 50 BMG for he heavy sniper rifle anti material role even after the USMC evaluated the 408 Cheytac. If your range is limited to a known distance where your load is always supersonic beyond 1.2, pick whatever bullet you like. Otherwise, you are better off with a tangent ogive, low angle boat tail design bullet for long distance shooting based on accuracy beyond the transonic zone. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

March 9, 2017, 05:26 PM	#4
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Berger is going to be the natural choice. The price may seem high, but if you're gonna play, you're gonna have to pay. No sense in putting together an accurate rifle and not shoot the most accurate bullet. That said, I've been experimenting with the ELD-X hunting bullets. I've been pleased with the results with their 200 and 178 gr bullets. These are hunting bullets, not match bullets, but overall I'm happy with them. It might not hurt to try some of them. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

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March 9, 2017, 01:41 AM	#2
jski Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2016 Posts: 374	I have have an actual relative who's an actual SEAL. And he some time back mentioned that the reason the SEALs didn't go with the .338 Lapua (v. the .300 Win Mag) is the new bullets. And he specifically mentioned the Berger bullets.

March 11, 2017, 02:46 AM	#5
jski Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2016 Posts: 374	Awhile back MidwayUSA sent me some Hodgdon H1000 by mistake. I had ordered H110 for reloading my .30 Carbine rounds. I called and MidwayUSA, being a 1st class outfit, quickly remedied the problem and sent the ordered 3 one-lb jars of H110. They also told me to keep the 3 one-lb jars of H1000. I gave them to my brother in the hope it'd be used to reload 300 Win Mag rounds. Seems to be one of its primary targets. How's the H1000 doing for you? I'd like to tell my brother.

March 11, 2017, 12:38 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Know a guy who regularly won 1,000 yard DCRA matches with a custom built.300 Mag. He used nothing but 190 grain match bullets. Hornady's, I think. No idea what powder he used though. Kind of curious what the Berger bullet is a hybrid of. Look pretty much like any other HPBT to me. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 15, 2017, 10:29 AM	#7
Stats Shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2016 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,636	I spoke with the folks at Hornady and decided Im going to try the 225 gr ELD-M with H-1000 powder. The bullet is 1.665" long with a G1 of .73 and G7 of .391. FYI here are the lengths and info on the ELD's above 200 gr in .308 cal per the rep on the phone. For some reason this is different than the Website (lower) but I think it has to do with at what distance they are measuring the BC 208 ELD-M, Length 1.535, G1 0.67, G7 0.348 212 ELD-X, Length 1.597, G1 0.673, G7 0.334 220 ELD-X, Length 1.630, G1 0.650, G7 0.329 225 ELD-M, Length 1.655, G1 0.730, G7 0.391 The official length of the polymer tip is 0.175" if your bullet stability calculator has an input for that. If not, just deduct the polymer tip length from the OAL of the bullet and use that, it will be close enough. Hornady suggests starting 0.020 off the lands and working your way into the Lands for ELD bullets. The 225 was developed with the .300 WM in mind. A 1:10 twist or faster is required to get the maximum BC. I should be able to easily get 2850 FPS, maybe more.....Of course it depends on what charge my rifle likes because as we all know, max velocity rarely equals max accuracy. FIFW, for reference, the Berger 215 Hybrid is 1.598" and the 230 Hybrid is 1.668" long but neither of them have polymer tips...which means a 1:10 twist is a bit too slow for the 230.