.300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I've been shooting standard 180 gr core lokts in my .300 win and have not been impressed w/ the results from the last two elk I've taken. I am looking at Hornady's 180 gr spire point heavy magnum which sounds like a very hot load, Winchester Failsafe in 180 gr, or Federal Nosler Partitions in a 200 gr load which also sounds like a hot load. The only use this rifle sees is elk so I don't need a multi-purpose round. I know final say comes down to accuracy but I have been leaning towards Hornady due to price and ballistics but have been unable to hear any feedback on the heavy magnum load. I have a few buddies that have been shooting the failsafes and both w/ good results but if I'm going to make a switch I want the best round I can find w/in reason. Any input appreciated.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

The best factory load I have used was for my wifes 300-win mag. It was Federal Premium ammo loaded with 180-grain Nosler Partition bullets.This ammo groups well in both of our 300-win mags. (I shoot handloads but have tried her ammo in my rifle.) The Nosler Partition is also a good bullet choice for elk sized game.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I would go with the Winchester Fail-Safe, or Nosler Partitions. Good luck.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I would take a look at the 180 Grain Federal Barnes Triple Shock. They have a better BC than the Partition and TBBC and the downrage energy of the Triple Shock load is actually higher than the High Energy loads. There have been some recent posts with stellar results having 90% weight retention and 2 times plus expansion.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I think any of the loads you mentioned would work fine. I'm a Nosler partition fan myself, but thats just personal preference. You might consider reloading. It is very rewarding.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I appreciate the input, it looks like I might be going w/ the Nosler Partitions. From all I've read it doesn't sound like you can go wrong w/ them.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I have used partitions as well as several other bulletsfor elk and moosebut the most impressive by far has been the barnes tsx.More penetration and weight retension than a partition and great expansion as well.They also shoot more accurately in my rifles.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I prefer the 180 gr. Swift Scirocco or the Nosler Accubond. They will make a bigger hole through the lungs than a Partition or TSX, and still are tough enough to break big bones.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I reload my own ammo but with a .300 i use spire bullets. they work really well for me. They hold their together really well in flight and mushroom nice after contact. They are aslo a lot cheaper than others like nozler partitions. For faster shooting rifles though like a 7mm ultra mag they dont hold together really well but for a .300 the shoot really nice. if youve got some time and a little money to put up front youll save a lot of money and get better shooting rounds if you reload yourself. especially if you just neck resize your shells and not full resize. and with the .300 i would really suggest neck resizing because with the .300 being a belted casing youll only get maybe 2 reloads per casing because it wears that band apart after that.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I shoot the HORNADY SPIRE POINTS HEAVY MAGINUM and they work soo well in my .300 win mag. Try em out.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

As everyone has stated the nosler is a heck of a elk round but price can be a factor(35-40 bucks a box).I have had good luck with a cheaper brand,one you don't here much of in the elk hunting comunity.I shoot PMC 180 gr SP out of my 300 win mag,almost 3000 fps and plenty of knock down for elk.I have never had seperation of jacket and lead core and comlete pass through.I pay 14.95/box for PMC's,I do use noslers also in my other guns but these are handloaded custom rounds.
Try the PMC's I find them far better than Remington Core-loks.
BBJ

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

One of my customers was talking about the 180 grain PMC's the other day - how well they work for elk out of his .300 Win Mag. Not sure what bullet they use . . . does PMC make their own bullets?

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I am planning on using the federal 200 grain Nosler Partition load, whenever Uncle Sam decides to let me be in the states during Hunting season....

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

I have had great sucess with the trophy bonded bear claw. Personally would not recommend the fail safes, had marginal sucess with them. Stay safe till you get back. Just got back myself.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

Interesting how different bullets seem to work (or not) for different people. I have taken several elk using a 300WSM and 180r Failsafes. Complete penetration and2 of the 3 were 1 shot hills. Of course, one could probably have seen the same results from the good old Rem Core-Lokt. Just read on another site that Win is doing away with the Failsafes.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

Based on my testing in water soaked phone books, the Failsafe and the Lost River Ballistics are the two bullets that provide the most penetration and the smallest wound channel of any bullet that I have tested in 35 years of doing this. I guess what that means in practical terms is that they will give absolutely reliable penetration and sometime not kill real quickly on broadside rib shots where no bone is encountered. I'm surprised they are getting rid of the Failsafe - I thought they filled a useful niche, even though they are probably a waste for most thin skinned North American game.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

For me they did just what you said, great penetration, narrow wound channel, that was the problem they did not nock the bear down and both shots did hit bone. I recovered the bear but I really think they should have knock it down. Switched to Nosler and the trophy bonded and have gotten the knock downs.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

When it comes to knock down, some of the best bullets I know of are the Trophy Bonded, the Scirocco, and the Accubond.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

The new barnes tsx appears to provide a very good balance of expansion,weight retension and penetration.Unlike the original x bullet it does a good job of providing knock down power.

RE: .300 Win Mag elk load...Hornady?Win?Fed?
 

Thanks again for all of the input. I think I'm leaning towards the Fed. w/ Nosler but I am still researching and getting as much feedback as possible. The info on the PMC gave me another option and they were reasonably priced too.