CamoCop

i don't know anything about reloading but i am trying to improve the set up that i am using now. i am currently shoting a weatherby .300 mag. with 180 gr. ballistic tip bullets. what i am looking for is, a cartridge set up that shoots faster/flatter to reduce the "rainbow" in my shots. i am wanting less "bullet drop" at greater distances. the furthest i can imagine ever shooting would 450-500 yards. i sight in for 250-300 yards now. i am trying to reduce having to elevate my rifle so much for further shots without having to de-elevate (i think this is a word) for my 100 yard shots.

i know you can't have the best of both worlds, but i would like to find out if there is a better "happy medium" for me.

the smallest bullet i have found for the wby. .300 mag. is a 150 gr., which is closer to what i'm looking for but not quite. would a 130 gr. be too light for the load and cause inaccuracy or is it just not safe...and if the it is safe and accurate why can't i find it for purchase?

RedAllison

CC if you are talking about the new Barnes Triple Shock in 130grn I would say GO FOR IT!!! You should be able to jack that mother up too the 3600+fps range. It will be a "lasergun" too 300yds. For 400yds will probably have around 8" of drop and at 500 probably twice that. If you really want to shoot that far (and the gun is certainly capable of it) I would recommend you look into a mil-dot setup. They make long range shots simply a matter of hitting your target with a laser rangefinder and then putting the appropriate dot on em and pulling the trigger.

Now the "flaw in the slaw" is wind drift. That is the great unknown and truly the biggest booger of the long range shooter. In actuality the couple of inches you gain by light bullets is given up too fact that as they are lighter they therefore are effected by wind more than their heavier counterparts. That is why most guys shooting 30 cals over 600yds will typically be shooting 180, 200 or even heavier bullets. Compensating for drop is a known variable and easy. Compensating for wind (just because it aint blowing atthe boredoesn't mean it aint blowing 500yds downrange) is what seperates the good ones from the also rans. That takes simple time and practice. That is why I typically won't shoot either my Warbird or my 300Wby at deer that are over 600yds. Powerwise either gun has the "stuff" to kill deer at 1k yds. But getting the bullet there reliably is another matter unto itself.

Safety wise the bullets weight has nothing to do with that. A 30cal bullet is a 30cal bullet and if you stay within safe reloading limits you wont have a single problem. As for the performance of the TSXs, IMHO they are simply THE finest bullets going for the magnum shooter.

The 300Wby is a sentimental favorite of mine as well. It's also the ORIGINAL "super mag" 30cal,
RA

ps
Most 30cal shooters wont shoot 130s so the market for them (over the counter) is low so you probably wont find typical ammo makers ever offering them for the 300Wby. But check out www.cpcartridge.com they do offer it. My only gripe with them is they want a minimum order of 5 boxes per caliber when ordering Wby calibers. If you decide on trying some out lemme know, I might split an order with you and we can both try the 130s in our 300s.
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pss
I just checked Connellys site and they dont yet offer the 130TSX in the 300Wby. But they are a custom loader so I know they will do it if you send them the stuff. Give em a call and see what they say. I know they do FINE work!!!

mossy33oak

the problem with the 300 rum (and possibly weatherby) is from what I have read, the lighter bullets seem to over stabilize. I have often thought about "how fast could I push a 125 gr Nosler" with my 300 rum, but most of the books recommend against it. I think stubblejumper on here shoots a fairly light bullet in his 300 rum (150 I think) to acceptable accuracys maybe he can offer more of a help. I dont think I will try the lighter bullets in my 300 rum since there are so many fine 180-200 gr bullets out there. When you are looking at bullets try to find one with a higher BC this may help.

vangunsmith

Your trying to change the laws of physics from 100 yds to 500yds. Good luck. The 300WBY is a great cartridge but it can only do so much.What are you shooting for? Learn more about loading i would suggest also,and look up what a lighter bullet might do for you! vangunsmith

handloader1

What kind of game are you trying to kill with a 130 gr. bullet? The 130 gr. bullet only has a SD of .196. Barnes suggests a 130 gr. bullet for pronghorn, deer, and sheep. Their elk bullet starts at 165 gr. Good luck.

CamoCop

i hunt strictly southern whitetails and hogs. so i think i can get away with the lighter projectile.

Highpower

I'm loading the Sierra 165 HP Gamekings pushed by IMR 4831 for the 300 WBY and it's been working great for several years now. Getting good groups past 300 yds and shootn pretty flat. Just hammers deer at any range and my buddy carries the same bullet even for elk and has been doing very well.

stubblejumper

I actually use the 180gr tsx in my 300 ultramags because they are more accurate than the168gr tsx in my guns.

Duckbutter48

I load 110grn Sierra HPs in my 300WBY. They have alot less kick. I have them over 4000fps. They are not made for those speeds and are not recommended by sierra.
I can tell you they are monsters when they hit a deer. I only hunt whitetails with them. Ive used this load for about 12 years now and have killed about 15 or so deer out to about 350 yrds and have NEVER had a problem. I dont think they even hear the gun go off. Its like a train hit them.
Ive also used 125 grn Nosler Balistic tips also and had good luck with them. My bud uses them in his 300Win Mag and will go on for hours how much he likes them.

Roskoe

Another bullet you might consider is one of the lighter Accubond's. I think they are making it in a 150 grain now - very high B.C.