300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

Heading out to Montana for the first time in a couple months to try for elk. I need to find a load for my 300 wby. I was thinking of trying the Barnes TSX or the Nosler Partition. I have shot the Barnes X bullet with good accuracy for this caliber (<1moa).Anyone with any experience with these bullets, or any other bullets that would be well suited for elk out of this caliber, please respond.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

either of those in 180 grains of heavier should be fine

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

That's what i figure. I wasthinking toward the 168gr TSX since barnes bullets hold together so well. I handload all of my own ammo, so i have room to play around. I was just looking for a good starting load, so i don't have to go out and spend a bunch on a couple different boxes of bullets.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I dont load for the 300 wby mag but i do load for 300 win mag. I dont have any loads to give you as a starter but i will say this anybody could give you a load to start with that may have done good in their rifle but wont neccisarilly do well in yours just keep that in mind. As for bullet choice I really would go with atleast a 180 grain TSX from my experience the lighter bullets dont do well in my 300 win mag its seems to prefer the 180 grain or heavier id imagine it would go the same for a 300 wby mag if you havent bought powder yet or have some H4350 around you might give it a shot I have had the best consistancy with it in my 300 win mag. good luck

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I never shot an elk with my 300 Wby but I will say that it likes Barnes Triple Shocks. The point of impact was similar to soft nose bullets of the sameweight also so I didn't have to spend as much money getting "on the paper". The 150 grain Barnes will weigh more than a 180 grain Nosler by the time it gets half way through the elk. 168 should be fine if they shoot well from your rifle. I use RL22 in my rifle for most loads and have good luck.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

Here's a load I like in my .300 Wby Sako:

168 gr. Barnes TSX
RL22 84grs.
Fed215M primer
Norma brass

If you choose to try this load remember to start out with less powder and work up. This is especially true if you substitute a different component. This is a maximum load in my rifle.

I've also hadvery good luck with IMR7828in my .300 Wby. Overall, ithas probably worked better than any other powder. H4831 is anotherone to consider.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

Bullet construction is far more important thant bullet weight.The 168gr tsx will work fine.It will outpenetrate any partition of any weight.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

Although the Barnes X and Nosler Partitions are great bullets, I would give the 180 Swift Scirocco's a whirl. If they will shoot in your gun, the terminal performance is impressive. Roskoe.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I have some good loads using H4831 and RL22 both, as i think these are the best two powders that shoot out of my rifle. I have a couple good loads for different bullets, but none of them i would trust for elk. I have never hunted elk, but i would imagine they can take a good hit, as a friend of mine demonstrated by hitting one in the "sweet spot" with an 8mm Magnum(200+ gr bullet) , and the elk ran off like nothing was wrong. He did find the elk about 100 yds from the original impact location, with a perfect shot.

how is the penetration on the Sciroccos?

Thanks for the info guys. A buddy of mine shoots a 300 RUM and he has a box of 168gr TSX bullets, so i'm gonna try a few.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

While most premium bullet manufacturers are trying to increase penetration over conventional bullets, the Swift Sciroccos appear designed to pancake out considerablywithout coming apart - and subsequently make a bigger wound channel at about the same level of penetration as conventional bullets. They will put an elk on the ground faster than anything I have seen so far,but still can break big bones if necessary.

One of my companions was completing the trigger squeeze on an elk about 350 yard away last fall - when it bolted just as the gun went off. The 180 grain Scirocco out of a .300 Min Mag hit the elk squarely in the pelvic bone. Elk dropped in his tracks. Bullet was found under skin on opposite side. Even after penetrating the biggest bone and heaviest muscle in the animal, it still was intact and weighed 166 grains. Not a pretty shot, but an impressive endorsement of this bullet's ability to hold together.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I would try a Barnes 180 gr. XLC BT. Good luck.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

That's impressive. I may have another one to try now. I know they have a higher Ballistic Coefficient than a lot of other bullets, allowing better trajectory at long ranges, I just wasn't sure of firing a lead core bullet at an elk at3200+ FPS. I would like to try different bullets on deer to get a rough idea of expansion/penetration, but i'm not going to have a chance because this hunt is before the season.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I have killed 13 elk, 4 moose and approximately30 deerwith lead core bullets launched at muzzle velocities from 3340fps to 3500fps.I have not had a single bullet fail yet.The heaviest bullet usedin .308" was 180gr.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

Ka-Pow:

If you can get your hands on some Norma MRP, I would go with a 200 gr. Barnes X, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, TBBC, or Winchester Fail-Safe. With Norma MRP it is possible to launch a 200 gr. projectile 3,150 f/s 4,406 ft/lb. Good luck.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I'm not a fan of the Swift Scirroco. It expands too much for my taste and fouls barrels worse than other bullets I've used.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I was just going to ask about Barrel fouling.
Thanks for the tip handloader, I would like to load bullets that will work well for deer and elk, so once my rifle is dialed in, i don't have to switch loads, and the hunt i'm going on is a Mule deer/elk hunt.

Stubblejumper: i wasn't saying that it isn't possible, and congratulations on your kills, i just thought the expansion would be too rapid.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

For the big game loads in .308 caliber I like the 200 grain A-Frames.

It's a lot of bullet and at speeds of over 2,800'/sec they shoot mighty flat and performance seems to be worth their cost.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

You may want to give the 200 grain accubond a try it has a .588 BC and will buck the wind better than anything out there on long shots. You can always rangefind your distance but it is a guess as to wind drift. My buddy uses them from a 300RUM and it is his most accurate load.It is also worthmentioning the 200 grain bullet is a whole lot of whoop ass out of a wby mag.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

Nosler 180 grain Accubond
84.0 grains of IMR 7828
26 inch Barrel Mrk V Accumark with Brake
Fed 215 M Primer
load long enough to fit in gun magazine
Shoots 3/4 MOA out of box rifle

I have been working on a load for awhile and this one would bea nice choice for Elk.
I am however going to now work up a load for the Barnes Triple Shock in .30 cal 150 grain. That should be fast and flat!!
Good luck
Read the latest Nosler reloading manual for the load above.
This is hot load and works safe in my rifle with no signs of pressure. That does not mean it will work in yours. Please load safely and double check powder and grians with manual before using.

RE: 300 WBY Mag Elk Load
 

I load for a friends 300 Wby, and all he shoots is the Sierra 165 HPBT Gameking. Bullet has a proven track record with both of us and shoots really tight groups in his rifle. I shoot the 180 Barnes TSX in my 300 RUM and have tried to get him to switch, but he wants no part of it, so to each his own. Shoot what shoots best in YOUR rifle.