favorite 300 rum loads for elk

[bigshot]

Hello comrades, I just purchased a Remington 700 SPS SS with a Leupold VXIII scope at a great price. I placed a Bell Carl, stock on it and had some work done to the trigger. I'm planning on sending the scope off to have the CDS dials installed soon as I make a decision on the load I plan to hunt with. I want to make this my long range elk rifle. The recoil does not bother me I've been hunting since I was five (Started my career as my dads bird dog and retrieved his birds, lol) and now am 43. I've been hunting elk and Deer in Colorado and Utah. I killed a nice 5x4 deer and 5x4 bull this past season in Colorado with a Rem, 700, 7mm Saum. It did good, but just wanted something that will hit harder at long range.

So far the rifle prefers 92 gns of RL-25, Nos AB, Fed 215GM primers, Rem brass, and a OAL 3.670. The best group I got was .825 inches three shots at 100 yards with a stiff 10 mph wind. The rifle did not care too much for H-Retumbo with the same bullet and primer combos. The best group with the H-Retumbo was 1.2 inches three shot group at 100 yards the same day. I have not tried any other powders with this caliber yet. I'm looking for a good load 180 grains and heavier prefer 200 grain. I have several 7mm mags and smaller (270 WSM, 30-06) that shoot great and work great for our small frame California animals.

Anyone have any pet loads for their Rem, 700, 300 RUM, similar to mine? If you do can you list the details....If they are max loads I will work up to them, safety first.

 

[Drhorsepower]

congratulations, be sure to chronograph your loads and not go by the book numbers for muzzle velocity, you will be surprised of the difference, also, you will also probably want to shoot the rifle in non wind environment and play with your oal, charge, and primer selection to find "the load". It sounds like you are off to a great start with that group but the wind is too big of a variable to work up a load. I would take your load and load, shoot it through a chrono and see how consistent it is and if it is very consistent, I wouldnt change, powder charge, I would load up 10 rounds right on the lands, 10 .010 off lands, 10 .020 off lands and ten .030 of of the lands, see what groups best the dial your oal from there, lets say it is the tightest between .020 and .010, then same process .013, .016 .019 etc... It takes alot of time to work up the load but in the end it is worth it. good luck and be safe.

I shoot the same action as you but in a 7mm rem mag, I love it!!! i have put in countless hours at the reloading bench and field time before work to get it where it is. I had over 400 rounds down range through this weapon to find my load.

disclaimer, I take no responsibity for the loads you create or the advice i have given. I am not a professional and attempt at your own risk! This has simply worked for me.

p.s. check out kenton bullet drop compensators. I really think they make a great product.

 

[bigshot]

Thanks for the info, hopefully I will find a super good load prior to shooting four hundred rounds.

Been thinking about trying some 185 and 195 grn Bergers, but my max OAL is only 3.380 (Magazine length), not sure if that is long enough to make an accurate load for my rifle. They say the Bergers must be up against or into the rifle lands to for an accurate load.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

Thanks for the info, hopefully I will find a super good load prior to shooting four hundred rounds.

Been thinking about trying some 185 and 195 grn Bergers, but my max OAL is only 3.380 (Magazine length), not sure if that is long enough to make an accurate load for my rifle. They say the Bergers must be up against or into the rifle lands to for an accurate load.

I run the Berger 185 VLD hunting out of my RUM. I will have to find my data book, but I think my load is something like 97 gr. RL25. fed 215 & nosler brass. start low and work up. If you email Walt Berger (visit Berger's website's contact us webpage) he will email you recommended data.

 

[bigshot]

Thanks, I'm gonna order some Bergers and see what kind of groups I can muster up. I've been itching to try them out...Please advise, If you find the OAL on your bullets.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

Thanks, I'm gonna order some Bergers and see what kind of groups I can muster up. I've been itching to try them out...Please advise, If you find the OAL on your bullets.

I seat them as far out as I can and still get them into the magazine.

 

[bigshot]

k thanks, I'll try that.

 

[Elkoholic307]

My first choice for the 300 RUM is the 200 LRX. Second would be a 200 AB. Try H1000 if Retumbo isn't working for you.

If you want to use Bergers, go for the 210 or 230 otm. Anything less than 200 grains is a huge waste of powder, in my opinion.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

My first choice for the 300 RUM is the 200 LRX. Second would be a 200 AB. Try H1000 if Retumbo isn't working for you.

If you want to use Bergers, go for the 210 or 230 otm. Anything less than 200 grains is a huge waste of powder, in my opinion.

Hmmm ... waste of time?

Let's see, you can run the 185 Berger to 3200 pretty easy with a BC of .549 G1. THe 200 Accubond at 2950 with a BC of .588 G1.

So you loose little in long-range performance, and reap the advantages of flatter trajectory. They perform well on elk, too.

I think I will be playing with the 210 though this year. Nice high BCs on those!

 

[Elkoholic307]

I said waste of powder. Not sure what you mean by waste of time?

I don't know where you're getting your numbers but they're inaccurate. You can easily run a 200 grainer at 3100 fps or even higher. With a 26" tube I should say.

Flatter trajectory sounds good but the BC on the Bergers really doesn't start to take over until you get waaay out there. Distances people will not be shooting; on this forum I should say. BC means very little to me anyway. I'll choose bullet construction over BC any day. That is why the 200 AB is such a great option for the 300 RUM. Quality bullet, and the BC is nothing to sneeze at. Also, it's rumored that Barnes' BC has been off on their bullets. The 200 LRX is supposedly supposed to be over .6 - If that's the case, the 200 LRX is the ONLY choice for the 300 RUM... in my opinion, of course.

But like I said bigshot, if you want to use Bergers, use the heavies. You'll want the extra weight in that kind of bullet because there's very little to no weight retention in them.

Bottom line: I wouldn't recommend using light-for-caliber bullets unless you have a ton of powder or if you don't shoot much. The 300 RUM is a very inefficient cartridge and a big time barrel burner... but still an awesome choice nonetheless

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

Good info, Elkoholic.

You are right about the waste of powder vs. time sorry about the misquote.

Those are great rumored numbers on the 200 LRX. If they are even close to .6, I am on board! I love those Barnes.

I have had great results with the Bergers on game, without penetration problems (only 30 cal., can't vouch for the others). I killed my biggest bull with 200 Accubonds, and like those, too.

I always appreciate your input, and I am sure Bigshot does too.

Edit:

Sorry, I forgot about where I got my numbers. I load for two different 300 RUM Senderos (26" barrels). Mine I run the 185 Berger VLD Hunting at a chronographed 3204 FPS average. My partner's I run the 200 Accubond at 2985 FPS average through the same Chrony. These loads in these guns have excellent, consistent accuracy. Both use RL 25. I did get some "WOW" muzzle velocities (near that 3100 w/ 200 accubond) in both rifles out of Retumbo, but could not get the accuracy either of us wanted.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I ordered some 200 grain Barnes LRX today (also back ordered the 7mm 168 grain). I will keep the EF updated on load development.

 

[Drhorsepower]

................

 

[Drhorsepower]

..................

 

[bigshot]

Thanks for the info guys, got a questions for elkoholic307;
Whats your recipe for the 200 grain Barnes LRX.....Im very interested in trying it. I loaded the 180 grain Barnes TTSX, Fed215 GM primers, 100 grains of Retumbo and a OAL of 3.680 (Magazine length). The average 3-shot group at 100 yards was approx. .900 inches. I made some more of the same loads, but just seated the bullets deeper. I'll be shooting them this weekend. From my experience, seems like the Barnes bullets prefer to jump into the rifle lands. With this load the bullets are traveling a little over 3400 fps. A barrel burner for sure.

 

[Elkoholic307]

My advice with the 200 LRX and Retumbo is to start at 87 and work up. You may find max to be in the 91-92 range.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My son shoots a .300 RUM and uses Reloader 25, 200gr bullet (can't remember the brand) with great results. Seems to me the load is about 90 grs. Shoots about as good as my .300 Wby, but uses more powder to do it!

 

[bigshot]

Thanks for the info Elkoholic.

Hey Colorado Cowboy, does your 300 Weatherby push a 200 grainer at 3100-3200 fps as well, just wondering. My buddy hunts with a 300 Weatherby Vangaurd, and he wants me to start reloading for him as well. He said the factory ammo is very expensive (approx. $80.00 for a box of 20). If you reload, can u PM me some of your proven loads or put them on here...

 

[Drhorsepower]

................

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Thanks for the info Elkoholic.

Hey Colorado Cowboy, does your 300 Weatherby push a 200 grainer at 3100-3200 fps as well, just wondering. My buddy hunts with a 300 Weatherby Vangaurd, and he wants me to start reloading for him as well. He said the factory ammo is very expensive (approx. $80.00 for a box of 20). If you reload, can u PM me some of your proven loads or put them on here...

I don't load the 200 grainer, as the 180 Nosler Partition I use is just fine elk and my rifle likes it. I'll pm you what I use.