300 WM guidance for plains game - powder and bullet size

[Jetjockey]

Yes. IMO, the Terminal Ascent is a tougher, and all around better bullet. Higher weight retention at high impact speeds, better expansion at lower speeds, high BC’s, and accurate. Problem is I couldn’t find any for a year before my hunt, so I went with the Accubonds. Many people are starting to say it might just be the best overall hunting bullet on the market, and with my limited experience, I can’t say Id argue that.

 

[62flint]

Contact barnes about expansion velocities. I hear a lot of people say barnes wont expand at low velocity etc. The TTsx is supposed to help with expansion. I have never had a issue with expansion with one even at slower speeds.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I received some excellent feedback and guidance on the 375h&h cartridge for Africa on this thread:
375 h&h guidance
Trials are in development.

I'd like to ask the group for similar guidance on 300 WM.

Background:
Just last week, I shot a 148 lb wild pig with a 300 WM 178gr Eld-M. Entered right shoulder just below the ball joint and shattered the bone. But it stopped about 2" short of the (human terms) humerus bone on the opposite side. Absolute disintegration of the bullet. Not enough penetration for Elk, moose, bear, or Africa thick skinned plains game.
Thus, I'm looking at TSX or TTSX and A-frames for a more heavy bullet with more penetratioOon. I'll try both in the rifle but here's the rub:
It appears that a 165/168gr bullet is best served with H4350 or RL22 whereas a 200gr bullet would be better with H1000.

Looking at the ballistic chart, they're about equal so typically I'm in the "bring enuf gun, son" camp and would lean toward the 200gr.
With barnes and other mono's, they are typically using smaller bullets and more velocity.

Any guidance so save me from buying 2-3 extra types of powder just to try it out?





Generally, I'm wanting a load that penetrates.

I received some excellent feedback and guidance on the 375h&h cartridge for Africa on this thread:
375 h&h guidance
Trials are in development.

I'd like to ask the group for similar guidance on 300 WM.

Background:
Just last week, I shot a 148 lb wild pig with a 300 WM 178gr Eld-M. Entered right shoulder just below the ball joint and shattered the bone. But it stopped about 2" short of the (human terms) humerus bone on the opposite side. Absolute disintegration of the bullet. Not enough penetration for Elk, moose, bear, or Africa thick skinned plains game.
Thus, I'm looking at TSX or TTSX and A-frames for a more heavy bullet with more penetration. I'll try both in the rifle but here's the rub:
It appears that a 165/168gr bullet is best served with H4350 or RL22 whereas a 200gr bullet would be better with H1000.

Looking at the ballistic chart, they're about equal so typically I'm in the "bring enuf gun, son" camp and would lean toward the 200gr.
With barnes and other mono's, they are typically using smaller bullets and more velocity.

Any guidance so save me from buying 2-3 extra types of powder just to try it out?





Generally, I'm wanting a load that penetrates.

On my last safari I took my .300 WM. The load was 71 grains of RL-22 behind a 200 grain Accubond. I shot a waterbuck and an nyala at less than 50 yards, a bushbuck at about 200 yards and an impala ewe at about 300 yards. The load is very accurate (in my rifle), everything died right there, and every bullet was a complete pass through. I didn't take an eland or giraffe but I have every confidence that with decent shot placement they would have died as well.

If I hadn't had a heart attack last summer, I would have used this same load for elk last season. It's a good one.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I think the .300 WM is at its best with a 200 grain bullet.

I like the Swift A Frame myself. Reliable penetration and expansion at all ranges. I don't hand load. Remington used to load it in their Safari Load. I've used it on about 20 animals from 20 to 400 yards with great results.

Good luck to you my fellow hunter.

 

[sgt_zim]

180 gr bullets are great for 30-06, but WM I think is just begging for 200 gr pills. And at 200 gr, you get an SD of a little over .3

a 200 gr A Frame at 2800 fps is still north of 2k fps at 400 yards.

I've never shot any Hammer bullets, but my buddy worked up some pretty stellar loads for his 280AI. I believe there are a couple guys on this forum who swear by them.

The pressure bands on Hammer bullets is supposed to mean a bit more velocity at lower pressures, they say 100 - 150 fps faster all else being equal.

They make a 196 gr Hammer Hunter; with MV of 2900, looks like you should be able to reach 500 yards and still be above 2k fps.

If you're looking at Hammer, just pay attention to the caveats. That 196 gr needs a 10 twist, but the 199 gr one says it needs a 9.25". Just pay attention if you shop with them.

Worth a look, I think.

 

[RayAtkinson]

I've had excellent results o both large and small Plains game with the 200gr, Nosler Accubonds, partitiions, both gave the same performance on both small and large with the 30-06 and the 300 Win mag and H&H..

 

[AimSmall]

180 Barnes w/RL22

 

[JINKLE]

No issues here with 180gr TTSX out of a 300 WM