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Duplicate load for old 300gr Winchester factory loads - How old are these?

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18 July 2008, 14:15
Johanv
Duplicate load for old 300gr Winchester factory loads - How old are these?
Someone gave me 2 boxes of these, very old ammo to try. Took them to the range and what a surprise. For back ground - this was my first outing with my new .338wm Weatherby Vanguard, did not know what to expect as far as recoil or accuracy is concerned. After sighting the scope, took 3 shots at 100m - measured 24mm (0.94") then Since the area where I've booked a hunt was very dense, I tried them at 75m(82y), 3 shots in 8.8mm (0.34"). Fired both boxes and went back and bought the other 3 boxes he had left, for my trip. Shot a Impala ram at 171m. one shot kill. Would like to reload similar ammo, what should I use?

Pics are of the pacaging of the old Winchester ammo. Any idea how old the could be?

Front


Back



Side

18 July 2008, 18:14
butchloc
not that old - probably in the mid 60's
18 July 2008, 19:45
Johanv
quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
not that old - probably in the mid 60's


In general - What would the shelve life of loaded ammo be? Are there any safety issues with old ammo? These were super accurate, managed a 0.6" group at 100y the weekend.
19 July 2008, 13:35
PaulS
I had to go back to one of my oldest manuals to even find a 300 grain bullet listed.......
It lists these maximum loads:
68.5 IMR4831
65.0 N205
59.8 WW760
I would bet that you could duplicate the factory round using 58.1 to 58.6 grains of WW760


Speer, Sierra, Lyman, Hornady, Hodgdon have reliable reloading data. You won't find it on so and so's web page.
19 July 2008, 17:38
Johanv
quote:
Originally posted by PaulS:
I had to go back to one of my oldest manuals to even find a 300 grain bullet listed.......
It lists these maximum loads:
68.5 IMR4831
65.0 N205
59.8 WW760
I would bet that you could duplicate the factory round using 58.1 to 58.6 grains of WW760


Thanks, I'll have a look into it!
Johan