180 or 200 gr 300WSM

ulysses · 02-28-2005, 09:33 AM

I am going on a plains game safari for a few of the larger animals ie., Hartman's zebra, Eland,Kudu,Gemsbok an wish to take my 300 WSM Ultra Shadow mdl 70. Any suggestions which bullet and wght to reload for it?

02-28-2005, 10:25 AM

I find the 300WSM really shines with 180gr bullets. And my RUM does excelletn with 200gr. I have yet to go to africa so can't say. But I know a bunch of my buddies who have taken all that mentioned with 165gr Bullistic tips in a 300 Win Mag. If he does it with a BT, I am sure a 180gr accurbond or something on those lines will be fine.

Slamfire · 02-28-2005, 10:29 AM

Jack O'Conner's wife Eleanor took her elephant with a 180 grain bullet out to a .30-06. She brained him, I can't imagine needing more penetration, and the 200 grainer just slows down your velocity, which is why you wanted a magnum in the first place.

Carpmaster · 02-28-2005, 06:41 PM

I would feel good with a 165 grain barnes or a 180 in allmost any "good" bullet!

newman1 · 02-28-2005, 06:43 PM

I would go with the 180 grain scirroco and be done with it

handloader1 · 03-01-2005, 11:13 PM

I would use a 180 gr. Barnes X, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, or Swift A-Frame. Your investing in a once in a lifetime hunt; use the best bullets avaliable. Good luck on your hunt!!

Gundigest · 03-02-2005, 05:48 AM

I would load up a Barnes 180gr tripple shock X bullet, the 180gr XLCs will shoot a .6" group out of my Ruger 77 Mk II 300 WSM at about 3000 fps.

Good luck on your hunt.

oldrgr · 03-02-2005, 12:25 PM

Good advice from the gents above. Any of the premium bullets noted above should work fine.
You may want to consult some loading manuals and compare terminal ballistics between the 180 and 200-grain bullets. All the premium bullets provide good penetration and weight retention, etc. so it comes down to shot placement and down range energy at point of impact.

Never having hunted Africa, I don't know what typical ranges are that game is taken at, but I'd look at 100 and 200 yards and compare the foot-pounds of energy.
Good luck!

swisslake · 03-02-2005, 06:16 PM

Go with 180 gr in a premium bullet. I used a 180 gr fail safe on a buffalo a year ago in Wyoming. One shot just behind the front shoulder & the bull went down. He stood up and started to wobbel, then "plop". I killed a mountain grizzly a few years ago with a bigger gun. I would probably feel ok using a 300WSM & the 180gr fail safe, but bigger is better when the animal can eat you.

PaJack · 03-03-2005, 08:09 AM

I would use a 180 "QUALITY" bullet if I was going on a hunt like that...