I'm looking for a target load (1" or less for 3-5 shots at 100 yards) for my 300 Win Mag. I would also like to reduce the recoil in this load to extend my shooting sessions and keep the barrel from heating up. Should I try a minimum load of a normal Mag powder like R22 or H4831, or go with a powder made for reduced loads?

I would also like some bullet reccomendations. I want to use a "standard" 150 gr bullet from a major manufacturer to keep cost down to a reasonable level. I am not sure what kind of accuracy I can get out of bullets less than 150 grains. Has anyone had good luck with lighter bullets?

We don't load any powder as slow as IMR 4350 or slower any less than 10% of the maximum load. There is a theoretical danger called SSE or whatever and some sort of detonation is supposed to occur.



In any case a faster burning powder can get the pressure up and that will improve ignition anyway. What I don't know is to what velocity you want. You could try my reduced load formula for light bullets in a cartridge. It uses 1/2 the full charge for that cartridge by weight with 4759. Thus a full load of slow burning powder in a 300 WM might be 76 grs so use 76/2 = 38 grs of IMR's SR 4759. Such a load with say a 125 gr bullet gives about 2700 fps in most cartridges.



Speers manual shows loads as light as 29 grs of 4759 for about 2000 fps.



If you have some powder in the burning rate of 3031 or 4895 you can reduce that without the theoretical danger they say.



As to the bullets a 150 Corlokt would be about the least expensive. Sierra's really don't cost all that much however. To reduce recoil I would use their 125 gr.



http://www.imrpowder.com/pdf/IMR_rifle.pdf

Velocity isn't much of an issue. I want to shoot paper at 100 and 200 yards. Anything from 2200-3000 fps should be fine.

You give any thought to cast bullets?

I've definately considered cast bullets, but am not sure if they'll meet my accuracy requirement without a lot of load development etc..? How easy are they to load?

I am most interested in an accurate load with less recoil. Cost and velocity are things I'm going to consider, but overall accuracy is the goal.

It's been a while since i looked at the targets, but the Hodgdon Youth Loads did a great job for me. I recall better than 1" with 5 shots.

130gr Hornady RN
45gr H4895 & WLR Primer
3.250" OAL
+/- 2400 fps

Barrel still warmed up pretty quickly, so you'll still have to be patient. Start with the recommended Hodgdon load, you can swing a few grains over and under whatever they say.

Good luck. Reduced loads kick ass, but without the pain.

Thanks. I'll give this load a try. Did you use any filler material in the case to ensure that the powder is in a uniform location when fired?

I did not use a filler. I recall that the powder sloshed around quite a bit. But it you chamber each round roughly the same way the powder should be in about the same position. Also, I think maybe H4895 isn't as postion sensitive, especially in the quantities recommended by the Youth Loads, as other powders.



Good luck, start with the Hodgdon website for their data and go from there. FWIW, i did not have much luck using the 125gr Ballistic Tip. Just as well, the Hornady 130gr is much cheaper.

I would recommend you use a filler if you want some kinda uniformity from the load. At 45 gr. you are pretty close to 1/2 the case volume. When you level the rifle you may have powder laying below the primer and from base to bullet so thats awkward for ignition.It works better when you have about a 90% charge or the powder columned above the primer.