300WM?????
 

I have a Ruger M77 MkII 300 Win. Mag. that I bought to hunt elk in CO. Since I sold my 270 to help pay for this, I've been shooting 150g CoreLokts in it for whitetails. I sighted it in at 200 yards using this ammo. I took it to KS to hunt whitetails last week. I had a buck walk out in front of me at 250yrds and stand there broadside to me and I missed him 3 times! It was pretty windy (20+ mph winds out of the South), but I was shooting into the wind. I had a solid rest on the round bales that made up the blind I was hunting out of. I didn't see where the first 2 shots went, but the 3rd shot went into the dirt at his heels. I was aiming at the top of his front shoulder. Could the wind have been swirling as it came over the trees and cause the bullet to go that far off course? Would I have had better luck in the wind with a heavier bullet? Should I have just stayed in the house that afternoon and drank beer instead of going hunting?

RE: 300WM?????
 

Did you shoot the gun to confirm zero before you went off hunting?Or have you shot the gun since? Are all of the screws tight on the scope and mounts? I would go to the nearest range and check that zero again. Also, check all screws. One little bump could have set those crosshairs off enough to miss.

RE: 300WM?????
 

something is wrong.. it should only drop about 1 or 2 inches at 250 yards.

RE: 300WM?????
 

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/results/default.aspx?type=centerfire&cal=32

RE: 300WM?????
 

I checked the zero when I got to CO and it was fine. I didn't check it when I got to KS, I figured if it made it 2000 miles from NC to CO and was fine, it should make the 600 mile trip to KS ok. All of the guns were in padded cases in the car and I am very careful not to bang them around when I put them in the car. I haven't been to the range yet since getting home. I spent the weekend trying to recover from the drive back home. I'll try to get out sometime this week and see if the zero's still good. I double checked the screws when I got to KS and they were all tight.

Thanks for the input so far.

RE: 300WM?????
 

did you tighten the screws before the hunt? That could be a world of difference.. It only takes a slight movement to throw off your zero.

RE: 300WM?????
 

any chance you got buck fever and pulled the trigger instead of holding steady and squeezing??? I got a case of buck fever this season and also missed a long range shot.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I checked the screws when we went out that morning and they were all tight. I haven't had a case of buck fever since I was 16 shooting at my very first deer. I never miss at that range, so when I did, it made start thinking about why I missed what I thought was an easy shot. My only guess is maybe the scope got knocked out of whack a little during the trip or the wind was doing some weird things to the bullets. As soon as I get the chance, I'll check my zero again to eliminate that possibility. Would a heavier bullet fared better in the wind?

RE: 300WM?????
 

Heavier bullet? I have no idea.. I just got a ruger MK 2 in the 300 win mag this season.... anyone else have any ideas?

RE: 300WM?????
 

http://www.eabco.com/Reports/report03.html
this page shows a 30-06 150 gr moving at just over 2900 fps would have a wind drift of 3.3" at 200 yds and 7.9" at 300 yds in a 10 mph crosswind. I would suspect that if you were using factory ammo, your result would have been similar. So if it was a 20 mph crosswind that would have put your bullet about 7" - 15" downwind.But not at his feet. The wind would have to have been blowing about 50 mph straight down???? A 180 gr bullet bucks the wind a bit better than a 150. I suspect that either your scope was off or your "solid" rest. If you had your barrel resting on a solid surface your POI would change dramatically at that range. But you said you rested your rifle on bales? It had to be either your scope or you. Sorry about your miss.

RE: 300WM?????
 

One thing a guy should never do is tighten scope ring screws during a hunt without going to the bench to check zero. Also the difference between Colorado and Kansas zero is 1.5 to 2" lower in kansas because of air density. This I have checked out personally. If you sight in for kansas you will be off in colorado. I make all my clients zero when getting to colorado for the hunt.Might explain alittle difference but not enough to hitas low as you were saying.Might have bumped the scope.

RE: 300WM?????
 

black elk, thats true. I always insist on checking my zero when I arrive in a hunting camp. On my last hunt in WY (I live in PA) my 270's zero moved about 1 1/2" high and and inch left from my PA zero, while my friends '06 moved 1 1/2" high and slightly right. I'm not sure why the left to right, but I understand the vertical movement.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I zeroed at sea level in NC, just checked it when I got to CO. Since it made that trip without moving the zero, I figured it would still be ok in KS it was in the same case loaded in the same spot in the car both times. I only checked the rings to make sure they were tight after the 3 misses. I'm going out tomorrow and check the zero(haven't had time since I got home). Assuming it's still zeroed, my only guess is the wind was tossing the bullets around like a ping-pong ball. It just stumped me because I don't miss very often and never at that range(I'm zeroed at 200), and haven't suffered from buck fever in 16yrs. Thankfully mom had a bunch of meat in her freezer that she gave me, plus the buck that she got in KS, so I atleast brought meat back with me.
Wife might have been a little unhappy with me if I came home empty handed after I drove 2000 miles each way and stayed gone for 3 1/2 weeks. Thankfully, she realizes this is an addiction for me and doesn't get mad when I have to get my fix.

RE: 300WM?????
 

Sounds like a case offlinching to me. How long have you been using the .300 wm ? It has a lot more recoil than a .270.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I dont think the wind would move the bullet that much Ive shot deer with both my 300's when its been windy and have had very littie poi change.You may have just pulled one we all do it. But I do feel that any time you drive that far to go hunting you should check your zero no matter how careful you are.

RE: 300WM?????
 

You said that the third shot struck at the bucks heels while aiming for the from shoulder,a difference of a few feet.At 250 yards a 20mph crosswind will move a150gr bullet out of your 300winmagaround 8", so I wouldn't blame it on the wind.

RE: 300WM?????
 

the prb of a 300wm is 0 to 375 does not matter where u zero sea level to pinedale wy it's always good to re zero but learn ur point blank range of ur gun &ammo and don't change with out re zeroing because each lot is different and it will cause a windage and elevation difference , thealtitude change should only effect the elevations but not to much

RE: 300WM?????
 

Thanks for all the replies! I still haven't had the time to go to the range. Work's been crazy and my weekends almost as crazy. I guess that's what I get for taking a 3 1/2 week vacation. My boss and I are planning on going to his farm to do some duck hunting next week and I'll toss the 300 in the back seat and check it's zero at his range.

I've had the rifle about a year now and the recoil doesn't bother me unless I spend a lot of time shooting it from the bench. After about 20-30 rounds, I start getting sore and it's not much fun any more. I limit my range sessions to 10-20 rounds.

Maybe I pulled 'em without realizing it, or wasn't as steady as I thought I was. Who knows? It's just agrivating to miss 3 shots at the same deer at a range that I can put 5 shots into less than 3 inches at. Maybe next season, I'll get to go out there again and have better luck. All around the trip wasn't very productive. I was hunting damage control for elk on one of mom's neighbor's place. Before I went out there, they'd been seeing 30-50 head in a bunch. Got there and didn't see a single elk. Gave up and drove to grandparent's in KS. Saw plenty of deer, usually running 5000mph at 500yrds. Missed the one that I did have a good shot on. Tried my luck on the pheasants and discovered I'd bought a case of bad shells. Only every 3rd round or so would actually fire. ended up driving 4100 miles round trip for 2 pheasants and 3 coolers full of meat from mom's freezer. But I had a blast and that's all that really matters I guess.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I finally made it to the range yesterday. It was a calm, cool day and shooting off a bench. I've come to the conclusion that my scope went south on me. At 100 it was shooting about 5 inches low(I had zeroed it to shoot 2 high at 100) I adjusted and it was where I wanted it, but groups were UGLY!! Moved back to 200 yrds and it was shooting about 3 inches low again. Made the adjustment and tried again. I'd get 2 shots almost touching and the 3rd would be 4 high and 3 right. Tried 2 differant brands of ammo with similar results. The last group was 4 shots with 150gr corelokts on one target and 4 shots 180gr partitions. I had 2 almost touching 1 high right and 1 I couldn't find with the partitions. All 4 of the corelokts hit the target but strung from the top of the target to the bottom perfectly centered left to right. We were using the 10in shoot-n-see targets. I guess that's what I get for putting a cheap scope on something that has that much recoil. Since it does have a lifetime warranty on it, I"m going to take it back and get it replaced. Then find something better to put back on the 300 and save the cheapie for something else.

Thanks for all the replies.

RE: 300WM?????
 

What kind of scope? I would stay with the 180 grain bullets for everything in the 300 Win Mag. Performance will be more consistant and you will get less excess meat damage.

RE: 300WM?????
 

It's a Swift Premier 4-12x40AO. I guess I should stick to the bigger name/higher quality scopes for the beast and save the cheapies for the rimfires. Oh well! Live and learn.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I would venture that you hurried your shot. At that distance it doen't take much to miss big. I have done the same thing only to find my gun dead on at the range afterwards. I would say 99% of the time it is shooter error.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I got a Nikon 3-9 x 50 to put on it now. I haven't gotten around to mounting it or anything yet. Too many things going on around the house, so my "toys" are pretty low on my list of priorities for the moment. As soon as I get the Swift back, I'll put it back on my 17HMR and leave it there. I've learned my lesson, only higher end optics for the centerfires from now on.

RE: 300WM?????
 

After I got the Nikon, I realized that it wouldn't work with my current rings. I bought a pair on ebay...OOPS! Didn't pay enough attention and got rings for a #1 not a M77MkII. Couldn't find any on ebay that weren't going for almost full price. I ended up ordering a set of high rings from Ruger. Why are their rings so ecpensive? Cost me $85 with shipping! As soon as they get here, I'll get the scope mounted and head to the range. Hopefully this will take care of the pattern vs. group issue. I know this gun can shoot fair groups as I've done it before. It usually shoots an inch or slightly more at 100 with cheap 150gr CoreLokts. I'm going to try some better ammo and maybe a trigger job to see if I can tighten the groups up some.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I think that the scope is a likely culprit. I did the same thing w/ my 300WM, the reticles broke loose. Every shot moves the reticles so the point of impact changes EACH SHOT. My wife (usually a great shot ) missed several shots in a row on a cow elk. I started to "encourage her" and she finally shoved me the rifle and told me to try. After several misses I finally got lucky and dropped the cow. Long story short only use top scopes on the magnums. I agree w/ JamesB the 180gr are the way to go w/ the 300WM. One load for all occasions.

RE: 300WM?????
 

Wood stock with no glass bedding? If so humidity changes from one place to the next would alter the point of impact if the barrel had unequal pressure on it due to a tight contact point with the stock. If the scope isn't the problem I'd look at the bedding next. Either free floating or full length glass bedding would solve the problem.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I finally got to take her to the range the other day. With the Nikon, she's back to shooting like she used to. 1.5" groups using 150gr CoreLokts @100yrds.

RE: 300WM?????
 

I have had several Swift Premier scopes. Never had a proble with them. However any scope can go bad.