300 WSM 179 ELDX Help

[rootacres]

I have a CA Ridgeline chambered in 300 WSM. It developed a load for it using H4831SC and Berger 175gr VLDs. They shot well but I wanted to move to a more consistent hunting bullet being that's what I will be using the rifle for. The ELDX seemed like a good option. Now I am struggling. Does anyone have any experience with this bullet/caliber and can offer any help. I went from ~3/4 MOA with the VLDs to ~2 MOA with the ELDXs.

VLD load was
68gr H4831SC @ 2.860 OAL (Winchester brass, Federal Mag Primers 215 I believe)

ELDX
68gr H4831SC @ 2.83-2.89

Can't seem to hold a group. I suppose the next thing I am boing to do is back off the charge some and see where that gets me.

 

[bow puller]

How far off the lands are you? I've loaded eldx's in 300wsm (200gr) and other cal's. Usually loading enough to group in .030 or .040 increments from just off the lands to .120/.150 off will show you a ballpark where to fine tune seating and powder charge. Start under max load for your rifle when doing ladder testing. Good luck

 

[Mosby]

My 300 WSM shoots extremely well with RL 17. I would buy a pound of RL 17 and try a different powder with the ELDX bullet. If that doesn't work or you want to try a different bullet, I would try the 175 gr Barnes LRX BT. Barnes TSX and LRX shoot 1/2 MOA in both my 300 WSM and WM using RL powders. I normally load pretty hot fwiw. I attached load data from Barnes below. RL-17 is their recommended powder for their 175 gr LRX bullet.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/300WSMForWeb.pdf

 

[Sawfish]

Best results with my .300 WSM were with the Barnes 168 TTSX and 58.5 of RL-15. Slightly over 3/8" at 100 yds. I used the RP 165 PSP Core-Lokt bullet over 68 gr of Accurate 4350 for my sight in/practice load. FYI, Federal's 165 Fusion factory load was the highest velocity most accurate factory load tested.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Mine shoots very well with RL 17 and 178 gr eldx.

 

[Wrench]

17 is the original standby in the wsm. Mine both shoot the 17/180 well. I just worked up a 65gr rl26 208eld-m that puts 5 into .6". I've had good luck with 7828 and 4831 as well.

 

[wind gypsy]

Have you tried different charge weights?

I like 4831 for the 200 class bullets and it should be good for 180 class too but I like H4350 a little better.

H4350, RL16 (RL17 burn rate but temp stable), and RL26 is where I'd play if you try alternative powders.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

180 grain AccuBonds and Ballistic Tips, shot real well, in my son's Rem 700, .300 WSM with H 4350 and RL-17 !
Easily, hitting Paper plates at,.. 1,000 YDS . AB's and BT's are NOT,.."Jump sensitive",.. Bullets !
The Bal Tip's will "shed" their Jackets at, CLOSE Range, tho !

 

[rootacres]

My 300 WSM shoots extremely well with RL 17. I would buy a pound of RL 17 and try a different powder with the ELDX bullet. If that doesn't work or you want to try a different bullet, I would try the 175 gr Barnes LRX BT. Barnes TSX and LRX shoot 1/2 MOA in both my 300 WSM and WM using RL powders. I normally load pretty hot fwiw. I attached load data from Barnes below. RL-17 is their recommended powder for their 175 gr LRX bullet.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/300WSMForWeb.pdf

Thanks, sounds like many prefer RL17. My 4831 just hasn't been consistent when I start bumping up hotter. It pushed 175 VLDs very well I'd just prefer to use an ELDX/TTSX style bullet. Gonna give RL 17 a whirl. You find that overall its pretty temp stable?

 

[Mosby]

Thanks, sounds like many prefer RL17. My 4831 just hasn't been consistent when I start bumping up hotter. It pushed 175 VLDs very well I'd just prefer to use an ELDX/TTSX style bullet. Gonna give RL 17 a whirl. You find that overall its pretty temp stable?

I have used it up in Alberta in below 0 weather without issue.

 

[rootacres]

I have used it up in Alberta in below 0 weather without issue.

Any experience in the higher temps? I’m headed to WY this year (first week of oct) but I do have a rifle hunt booked in South Central NM for fall 2020. We may see 90 degrees on that hunt.

 

[idig4au]

Another fan of RL17 for the WSM. It is the go to powder for the WSM's. I've had no issues with it in terms of temperatures stability.

 

[Mosby]

Any experience in the higher temps? I’m headed to WY this year (first week of oct) but I do have a rifle hunt booked in South Central NM for fall 2020. We may see 90 degrees on that hunt.

I haven't hunted with it in higher temps but I have shot it at the range without issue. I limit my shots to around 400 yds when hunting and I can't shoot more than 200 yds at my local range. At those distances, I haven't noticed any change in accuracy related to changes in fps. I don't use my Chrono most of the time, but if there is a change in fps, it seems like it is consistent change(my groups stay consistent) but might be more noticeable when going past 600 yds. Powders like IMR 4064 are supposed to be more stabile and I load that in my 30-06 sometimes for deer but my shots are almost always less than 100 yds and IMO, minor fps swings don't matter much. If I were to hunt in really hot weather, I might consider reducing my loads when using RL 17, to allow for increases in pressure. Hot weather would be more of concern than cold.

 

[Yote Klr]

I have a CA Ridgeline chambered in 300 WSM. It developed a load for it using H4831SC and Berger 175gr VLDs. They shot well but I wanted to move to a more consistent hunting bullet being that's what I will be using the rifle for. The ELDX seemed like a good option. Now I am struggling. Does anyone have any experience with this bullet/caliber and can offer any help. I went from ~3/4 MOA with the VLDs to ~2 MOA with the ELDXs.

VLD load was
68gr H4831SC @ 2.860 OAL (Winchester brass, Federal Mag Primers 215 I believe)

ELDX
68gr H4831SC @ 2.83-2.89

Can't seem to hold a group. I suppose the next thing I am boing to do is back off the charge some and see where that gets me.

Listen brother, I've tried ELDX in many calibers and cartridges. I've tried many different powders, primers, seating depths... this bullet is very inconsistent in accuracy.

What is so frustrating is I'll get a good group and it never repeated.
The best I ever got was a solid .6 moa load in a 7wsm with 7828. It killed well but I never trusted this bullet for accurate shots over 400 yards.

If at all possible try Bergers, Sierra or Nosler. My 300wsm settled on 150 Berger Classic Hunter and H4350.

 

[Yote Klr]

To add, I've tried sorting them several different ways and it didn't really help.
I think the jacket is too hard to make concentric to spin straight.

 

[rootacres]

I haven't hunted with it in higher temps but I have shot it at the range without issue. I limit my shots to around 400 yds when hunting and I can't shoot more than 200 yds at my local range. At those distances, I haven't noticed any change in accuracy related to changes in fps. I don't use my Chrono most of the time, but if there is a change in fps, it seems like it is consistent change(my groups stay consistent) but might be more noticeable when going past 600 yds. Powders like IMR 4064 are supposed to be more stabile and I load that in my 30-06 sometimes for deer but my shots are almost always less than 100 yds and IMO, minor fps swings don't matter much. If I were to hunt in really hot weather, I might consider reducing my loads when using RL 17, to allow for increases in pressure. Hot weather would be more of concern than cold.

If you don’t mind, what’s your recipe? I just picked up some RL17 and a chargemaster lite. I have some 179 ELDXs left and got some 180 Accubonds (my 308 likes accubonds). Going to make some up and let a rip tomorrow.

 

[Mosby]

The last several years, I use my WSM almost exclusively for deer and I use 70.5 gr of RL17 with Barnes TSX 130 gr bullets. It is a hot load but it consistently shots 1/2 MOA in my rifle. I know most don't use 130 gr bullets in a mag but I normally don't shoot past 400 yds, it has minimal drop and it works great on deer.

My other WSM loads are for 165/168 grain bullets and I need to go back and look at my notes. I don't normally shoot larger than 168 grain bullets in my WSM the past few years. I believe it is 67 grains of RL 17 for 165 grain bullets and when I shot 180 grain bullets, I believe it was 65 grains of RL 17.

As I have gotten older, I use specific rifles, for specific game and each rifle has a couple of specific loads, if that makes sense. My Win Mag is exclusively for elk and bear, mostly because it's a lot lighter than my WSM and my primary load is Barnes 175 gr LRX and 75 gr of RL 22 in that rifle, fwiw.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/300WSMForWeb.pdf

 

[MidGAHunter]

My CA Classic Carbon loves Barnes 180 grain TTSX with H4831SC. Just make sure to let that bullet jump a little.

 

[rootacres]

Hey everyone, thank you for all the help. I thought Id just share my findings, it may help someone else. After some back and forth on seating depth here's my results with recipes. I took the average of my last two 3 shot groups with both loads.

Nosler 180 gr Accubonds
60gr RL17 @ 2.835 OAL
.61" Avg @ 100 yds

Barnes 168 gr TTSX
62gr RL17 @ 2.835 OAL
.73" Avg @ 100 yds

 

[Mosby]

Hey everyone, thank you for all the help. I thought Id just share my findings, it may help someone else. After some back and forth on seating depth here's my results with recipes. I took the average of my last two 3 shot groups with both loads.

Nosler 180 gr Accubonds
60gr RL17 @ 2.835 OAL
.61" Avg @ 100 yds

Barnes 168 gr TTSX
62gr RL17 @ 2.835 OAL
.73" Avg @ 100 yds

Nice groups.