Bigcountry-95gr of reloader 25 is the load for one of my rifles but the other one actually uses 92gr of reloader 25.Both are pac-nor barrels but different chamber reamers were used for the two barrels.As a result one barrel has a much longer throat and in spite of 3 grains more powder actually produces the same velocity as the other rifle. I actually was using 95gr of an old batch of reloader 25 for my first rifle but had to cut it back to 92 with the new lot.The load development for the other rifle was done with the new lot and 95gr works well with no pressure signs.The 3 grain charge difference with the same velocity shows how much barrels and chambers can effect pressure and velocity.

I will concur with stubblejumper. I have loaded several hundred rounds for my 700 and a buddy's 700 using Ballistic Tips in front of 95.0 gr. of Reloder 25. I have gone up to 97.0 gr. with no adverse pressure signs but did experience degraded accuracy. My info came from a Rick Jamison article in Shooting Times before any other load data was available. Both rifles shoot sub m.o.a. with this load. Partitions shot approx. 1.5". Awesome and devastating results on whitetails.

Now for a question of my own. Does anyone else suffer from case neck splits after four or five loadings? I know that this load is brutal to brass, but is there anything I can short of reduced loads?

After trying some more 180gr accubonds this morning with the new batch of reloader 25 I have finally been able to get three shot groups to average 3/4" in one of my ultramags.The charge weight was 92gr and the velocity 3350fps.As such,I will probably be trying them in this rifle this fall for elk.The other rifle still averages 1" or more so it will still be shooting 180gr ballistic tips this fall.I have never witnessed a split neck with my ultramags.

I am having a problem getting an accurate reload with the 300RUM in a Browning Stainless Stalker. The Remington 180gr Swift Scirroco did a good job, right out of the box (1 1/2" @ 100yds and 3" @ 200yds). I had several boxes of 180gr Grandslam and 180gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullets, so I began loading with those bullets. Once I got up close to the MV of the Scirroco bullets (3250fps), the groups became very erratic with both the Grandslam and the Bear Claw. An "expert" at the range has told me that the stainless barrel will begin to fail within 800 rounds when firing the 300RUM. I have put 400 rounds through the Browning. Anyone concur? Any suggestions?

Ask the "expert" as to how many 300ultramags that "he" has shot until the accuracy went away.The accuracy life of a barrel depends on several factors such as how hot the shooter allows the barrel to get before letting it cool,how much pressure the loads are developing and the cleaning methods being used.As with any high powered rifle,rapid firing will cause barrel temperatures to rise quickly and will drastically shorten the life of the barrel.As such ,I shoot no more than three shots before letting the barrel cool.Using maximum or above maximum loads continually will also shorten the life of the barrel considerably.Lastly improper cleaning can shorten the life of the barrel.With these factors in mind the life of your 300ultramag could vary from as low as a few hundred rounds up to well over 1000 rounds.It will however be noticeably shorter than the smaller capacity cases such as the standard magnums or non magnums with the same usage and maintenance.

Quote:"Ask the "expert" as to how many 300ultramags that "he" has shot until the accuracy went away."
At this point, I am not worried about the correctness of what the "expert" said. What I need to do, is to establish if the bore is shot out or not, as elk season is only 5 months off. I have not fired the barrel hot. I fire 4 rounds and allow the barrel to cool for 20 minutes. I swab the bore with Hoppes #9 and dry same after every 12 rounds.
What I am looking at, if bore wear is the problem, is if I am loading the bullets close enough to the lands. I also need to tear the rifle/scope down and make certain that all is tight. I also need to have a gunsmith look at the chamber to see if I have already caused excess erosion.
In hindsight, I did not research the 300RUM enough, before I bought. I put at least 200 rounds per year through any hunting rifle that I own. Given what has been reported here, I would shoot out the barrel in five years! This is unacceptable, in terms of needing to rebarrel and begin the entire exercise of loading up a good round for a new barrel every five years. In the past, I have put more then a thousand rounds through rifles chambered for 30-06 and 270Win. I have loaded hot and have never experienced a loss of accuracy from those rifles. Losing accuracy within 1000 rounds is not worth the increase in range.
Any other suggestions?

You don't mention a copper solvent.If you aren't using one(such as sweets or cr-10) you will likely have a serious copper buildup after a couple of hundred rounds.This could seriously affect accuracy.

First off the Swift Scirroco bullet and the trophy bonded bullets are not known for great accuracy good enough accuracy for most calibers/ranges is the best you'll probably get. Since the jacket on a Swift is copper you probably have a bunch of copper built up in your bore and that has to be removed somehow. Hoppes #9 has a great fragrance but will not cut it for removing copper fouling and is inferior to other solvents out there. Stubblejumper made a very good point about barrel life. The life is determined by rate of fire , outside temperature, cleaning frequency and method of cleaning , powder used and bullet used. You'll will witness throat erosion with this cartridge like you would with any high velocity cartridge but you have to realize that when you purchase/build the gun. You can detect erosion by using a bullet seating tool like a Stoney Point OAL gauge. In your scenario I would try a different bullet probably a Nosler Accubond, Barnes Triple Shock or something of that nature .. get it shooting the way you want and then make up some reduced handloads to practice shooting with and familiarizing yourself with your rifle. I seriously doubt your rifle is anywhere shot out..just get a good copper cleaner and go at it you'll be amazed at what comes out of that bore.

Wow, I am shocked you got 3200fps with TBBC. Usually they build pressure so fast that 3100 or less is where you will be at. Besides a guy on here "GAHunter", I don't know anyone that has great luck with grand slams. My groups with Grand slams are usually 1.75" groups with 93gr of H1000 at 100 yards. Not good enough for me. I suggest you find another bullet. These two have low success rate if you are looking for .5" groups but terminal performance of the TBBC, is undisputed.

If you wanting a bullet that has a good reputation for accuracy, better stick with Sierras around 200gr. They might not hold together the best at close ranges, but hey, its 200gr's coming at them. You got alot of premium options, these days. Accubonds, Interbonds, partitions, Barnes. All these bullets I have seen shoots decent. I got best results from 180gr swift A-Frames. But shoot to use Barnes due to cheaper, I believe perform just as good as A-Frames for less of a price.

They are finicky, but if you have the pleasure to find a load that works, barnes is the bullet that RUM's all should be shooting. I found a 180gr Triple X load that works great at around 3190fps with 88gr of RL25. Seating makes a huge difference with barnes. I tried 3.580", 3.600", and 3.625", 3.650" COL, and 3.625" got clover leafes.

As far as the expert. All the ranges have these experts. You can decide for yourself if you research his "statement". Then you can judge everything else he says after that based off that decision. By the way, I have shot out a 300RUM. You can see accuracy drop after 1500 rounds but very slowly. Some sooner, some much later. I had it rebarreled, but it was still a 1.5MOA gun before rebarreling.

Doesn't really sound like the 300RUM is for you if you expect to shoot it 5000 rounds with MOA accuracy.