Does this seem normal? 300 WM is slow

[archp625]

I have a Steyr Prohunter in 300 WM with a 25.6" barrel. I am using factory Nosler 180 grain Accubond ammo. I am getting an average speed of 2788 fps. That seems super slow to me. They are very accurate out of this gun but seem slow. By the end of the summer I should have everything I need to reload so it shouldn't be a problem after that. What are your thoughts on the speeds I am getting?

 

[Rob5589]

Factory ammo? I will take accuracy over velocity at average hunting ranges every time.

 

[wind gypsy]

Yeah, that's slow. Interested to hear how you measured the speed.

The only factory WM ammo i've chronoed is 200 gr ELDx and 215 Berger munitions. The ELDs averaged around 2950 and the bergers around 2900 from a 26" havak.

 

[Wrench]

I'd range validate your readings. I use the chronograph to get my ballpark and measure spreads, but long range consistency is where the rubber meets the road. Try to poke at 300, 600 and something way out and compare your notes. Any good program will allow you to input your target distance and impact points to get the velocity.

 

[excaliber]

I'm not sure what the Factory Nosler loads are rated at for speed but that does seem really slow. My reloads with 180 gr Nosler Accubonds were in the 3150 fps range.
Federal Factory loads with the 180 gr Trophy Copper were 2975+ out of my gun.

What chronograph are you using? That would be the first thing to check.

 

[archp625]

How did you get your velocity, under what conditions, and how many shots? Did you calibrate based on drops at ~ 400 - 600 yards?

I used my Caldwell Chronograph, I used 6 shots for my average. What’s interesting is I have shot to 500 and my drops are dead on. I just see all these speeds and think, man what I could do if I had those speeds.

 

[archp625]

Yeah, that's slow. Interested to hear how you measured the speed.

The only factory WM ammo i've chronoed is 200 gr ELDx and 215 Berger munitions. The ELDs averaged around 2950 and the bergers around 2900 from a 26" havak.

I set the chronograph 10 feet in front of the barrel and did 6 shots.

 

[archp625]

I'm not sure what the Factory Nosler loads are rated at for speed but that does seem really slow. My reloads with 180 gr Nosler Accubonds were in the 3150 fps range.
Federal Factory loads with the 180 gr Trophy Copper were 2975+ out of my gun.

What chronograph are you using? That would be the first thing to check.

It’s a $100 Caldwell. I used same chrono on my .270 and drop was accuarate as well. I can hit a 8” plate out to 500 with both guns. I’m getting 2965 with factory 130 grain ammo. That’s seems normal.

 

[archp625]

Here are my numbers. My SD is horrible.

 

[Ratbeetle]

I would not be happy with that velocity at all. I am pushing 175gr RDFs to 2725 out of a 20" 308 with no pressure signs. Another 5 grains out of a WM should get you more than 60fps.

 

[archp625]

I would not be happy with that velocity at all. I am pushing 175gr RDFs to 2725 out of a 20" 308 with no pressure signs. Another 5 grains out of a WM should get you more than 60fps.

This is factory ammo. I have two more boxes ordered to see if the speed holds. I don’t reload yet so I can’t add more powder.

 

[archp625]

Guessing at your environmentals & a couple other factors, the difference from 2788 FPS to 2950 FPS is ~0.4 MILs/1.3 MOA, which should mean a miss on an 8” plate at 500 yards - or at least low hit probabilities.

It would be interesting to get a few more rounds through the Caldwell. Did you have overcast or sunny skies? How confident are you that the chrono was squared up between your rifle & target? I use a Caldwell for baseline as well, but they can be finicky if setup isn’t correct....maybe you’re a little faster than you know.

Also, if the gun is new, your barrel will speed up a little bit too.

The day that I took the reading it was 45 F and overcast. This is a new gun. Only 60 down the barrel. I will keep shooting and see what happens. The good thing is by the time I get all the reload stuff I need I should have a bunch one nosler brass to work off of.

 

[archp625]

I may add. Here are my numbers with the Precision Hunter. My gun didn’t like this ammo . I was getting 1.0” to 1.5” groups at 100 yards. The accubonds I’m getting about 0.7”.

 

[Ratbeetle]

This is factory ammo. I have two more boxes ordered to see if the speed holds. I don’t reload yet so I can’t add more powder.

Sure, but there shouldn't be a factory 300wm load out there that won't best even a stout 308 handload by a significant margin. Especially when the WM has almost 6" more barrel.

I'm betting chrono issue.

 

[HonkeyMcGee88]

Is this a relativley new rifle? If so what's the round count?

How far is your chrono from the muzzle and what kind of weather conditions when you checked it?



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[HonkeyMcGee88]

The day that I took the reading it was 45 F and overcast. This is a new gun. Only 60 down the barrel. I will keep shooting and see what happens. The good thing is by the time I get all the reload stuff I need I should have a bunch one nosler brass to work off of.

Read this after I posted my question.

What myself and friends have seen when we rebarrel match rifles is often a barrel will speed up somewhere around 100 rds.

I dont know what powder Nosler uses but if it was that cold and the powder isn't pretty temp stable that could also be a factor.

Another thing I would try to do is check it with a Magneto Speed or a Labradar.
Those extreme spreads seem pretty wild even for factory ammo.

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[bbrown]

The Nosler “Trophy Grade” factory ammo has been pretty slow in my experience. .308 150gr Nosler AB were only running at 2735fps avg (advertised at 2875) out of a Tikka T3 SL where the same 150gr Nosler ABs from Underwood were averaging 2906 (advertised at 2950). In my 300WM Weatherby Vanguard the Trophy Grade 180 Nosler ABs are running at 2820 FPS (advertised at 2950) where the same 180 Accubomds from Underwood are pushing 3124 (advertised at 3150). Similar set up as far as the chrono and distance.

 

[Spoonman]

I’m a factory ammo shooter and I use a MagnetoSpeed chronic to verify all velocities in my rifles almost every time I’m at the range. My 300wm is a 26” 1:8 twist and here are some of my average velocities with different factory ammo, 20 shots min on each.

HSM Berger 185gr 3069fps 2” groups@100yd
Nosler AB 190gr 2933fps 1.5” groups
Hornady ELDX 200gr 2952fps 1.5” groups
Berger hybrid 215gr 2860fps .5” groups

 

[JigStick]

I'm not sure what the Factory Nosler loads are rated at for speed but that does seem really slow. My reloads with 180 gr Nosler Accubonds were in the 3150 fps range.
Federal Factory loads with the 180 gr Trophy Copper were 2975+ out of my gun.

What chronograph are you using? That would be the first thing to check.

3150fps with a 180? you have to be blowing primer pockets

 

[excaliber]

3150fps with a 180? you have to be blowing primer pockets

Nope, no pressure signs at all getting to 3150 fps with RL-22 I had several loadings with the same brass before switching to 200 gr ELD-X. No pressure signs there either.