RL19 and 180 AB in 300WSM

[West2East]

In a rush before deer season, I decided to load up some ammo for my 300WSM. I had 100- 180ABs and 8lbs of RL19 so I was trying to use what I had on-hand for this year. I found some recipes on here and other forums and landed on 67gr of RL19 (book max based on Nosler data). No pressure signs on the brass. Speed is 2825 based on truing to 630yds.
My best groups out of this load is 2-3MOA (10 shot groups) and I would say that the best groups out of all factory ammo I have tested out of this rifle is about that as well. I am certainly getting no groups in the 1.5MOA range that I would be happy with.
Based on that, Am I pushing these too slow? Wrong Bullet? Wrong Powder?
I don't want to spend a lot of money chasing this as I'd like to just buy off the shelf but 300wsm is getting ridiculous with the pricing for factory ammo with bullets I want to use. I know I could do all the testing but I figured someone had a better place for me to start than me poking in the dark.
Rifle is Win M70 300wsm classic
Thanks

 

[bradmacmt]

Are you using a chronograph or guessing on velocity? If you've chrono'd the load, you're definitely running the bullet slowly. RL19 will get a 180 into the mid/upper 2,900's. My favorite 300 WSM powders are H4350 and RL17. I have loaded for six or seven 300 WSM's and quit RL19 after initially experimenting with it in the early 2000's.

But more importantly, Accubonds are what a friend calls "bitchy bullets." I have found them hit and miss accuracy-wise, with mostly miss. Were I you I'd find some plain-Jane Hornady or Sierra Gamking 180's and experiment with those. Those bullets are typically very accurate, and will help establish an accuracy basis to be able to compare other bullets with.

 

[West2East]

Are you using a chronograph or guessing on velocity? If you've chrono'd the load, you're definitely running the bullet slowly. RL19 will get a 180 into the mid/upper 2,900's. My favorite 300 WSM powders are H4350 and RL17. I have loaded for six or seven 300 WSM's and quit RL19 after initially experimenting with it in the early 2000's.

But more importantly, Accubonds are what a friend calls "bitchy bullets." I have found them hit and miss accuracy-wise, with mostly miss. Were I you I'd find some plain-Jane Hornady or Sierra Gamking 180's and experiment with those. Those bullets are typically very accurate, and will help establish an accuracy basis to be able to compare other bullets with.

I took it out to 630yds IIRC and got the speed off of the correction from Strelok.
Thanks for the info, I figured I may try some other bullets

 

[Forrest.billy]

I’m also a fan of RL-17. 64.5gr and 180 accubonds at 2925 out of an 18” barrel with great groups. 4350 has worked well but less velocity.

 

[Legend]

In a rush before deer season, I decided to load up some ammo for my 300WSM. I had 100- 180ABs and 8lbs of RL19 so I was trying to use what I had on-hand for this year. I found some recipes on here and other forums and landed on 67gr of RL19 (book max based on Nosler data). No pressure signs on the brass. Speed is 2825 based on truing to 630yds.
My best groups out of this load is 2-3MOA (10 shot groups) and I would say that the best groups out of all factory ammo I have tested out of this rifle is about that as well. I am certainly getting no groups in the 1.5MOA range that I would be happy with.
Based on that, Am I pushing these too slow? Wrong Bullet? Wrong Powder?
I don't want to spend a lot of money chasing this as I'd like to just buy off the shelf but 300wsm is getting ridiculous with the pricing for factory ammo with bullets I want to use. I know I could do all the testing but I figured someone had a better place for me to start than me poking in the dark.
Rifle is Win M70 300wsm classic
Thanks

The 2 most important variables you can change are bullet and powder. Change one at a time and see how the gun likes it.

It is unlikely that changing powder volume or seating depth, etc. Will drastically improve accuracy that is already not good.

 

[LostWapiti]

You may be chasing bad money with good here. I haven’t heard of people using RL19 much. For a 180 bullet I always hear faster powders being much better like H4350 or RL16. Your velocity is low. I have some Norma Bondstrike 180 Factory ammo that shoots 3022fps out of my 22”. You could try upping the charge to see if it does better but you would be playing with fire. Considering your time I’d run to your closest store and grab a box of H4350 and see how that goes.

I’m using H4831SC with great success with 215s.

 

[Doc Holliday]

In a rush before deer season, I decided to load up some ammo for my 300WSM. I had 100- 180ABs and 8lbs of RL19 so I was trying to use what I had on-hand for this year. I found some recipes on here and other forums and landed on 67gr of RL19 (book max based on Nosler data). No pressure signs on the brass. Speed is 2825 based on truing to 630yds.
My best groups out of this load is 2-3MOA (10 shot groups) and I would say that the best groups out of all factory ammo I have tested out of this rifle is about that as well. I am certainly getting no groups in the 1.5MOA range that I would be happy with.
Based on that, Am I pushing these too slow? Wrong Bullet? Wrong Powder?
I don't want to spend a lot of money chasing this as I'd like to just buy off the shelf but 300wsm is getting ridiculous with the pricing for factory ammo with bullets I want to use. I know I could do all the testing but I figured someone had a better place for me to start than me poking in the dark.
Rifle is Win M70 300wsm classic
Thanks

I use RL19 and Nosler bullets in 270, 300 win, and 30-06, and all 3 have been consistent with the notes in the Nosler manual, including which loads were most accurate. I know its in our nature to always push to max, but how did it group at 63 grains? (That was their most accurate load, indicated by the *)

 

[West2East]

I use RL19 and Nosler bullets in 270, 300 win, and 30-06, and all 3 have been consistent with the notes in the Nosler manual, including which loads were most accurate. I know its in our nature to always push to max, but how did it group at 63 grains? (That was their most accurate load, indicated by the *)

View attachment 790054

I didn't look at any groups at lower charge weights. I loaded one each at 63,64,65,66,67 gr to see if I had any pressure. Since I found none, I went with 67gr and loaded out to what the mag and the chamber would allow.

Interestingly, I was @ 2.933 COAL and using a Hornady Comparator to make sure they are all the same.
I'm wondering if I am in an area where I bumped the bullet out further and now I have more case capacity and should up the charge weight to have more consistency.
But, Like I said before, I am not interested in chasing my tail. I'm thinking I may pull some bullets, up the charge weight and see how it groups at 67.5 or something higher. Based on my speed, I am at the low end and could gain a little by upping the charge weight.

But I'm thinking a different bullet or powder is the key.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

What COAL did you end up with? I think I would try Nosler’s preferred, the 63gr and see if it performs differently. If not, switch up something as mentioned above.

Edit: just saw your post above. That’s where I was going with the COAL question, but I also think that since Nosler got best results at the min charge, it would be good to check that.

 

[West2East]

What COAL did you end up with? I think I would try Nosler’s preferred, the 63gr and see if it performs differently. If not, switch up something as mentioned above.

I ended up at 2.933 so about 100 thou over book, it fed easily in the magazine and was about 20 thou from the lands.


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