Hi, new to this board and it looks like I might have stumbled onto a place to help. Going to Africa in 2004, got a new gun. Beautiful Sako Finnbear Delux, Just starting to work up loads. I got Barnes X 200 gr to shoot about an inch but dont like the fouling with these bullets. Now trying Trophy Bonded Bear Claws $$$$. Does any one have a pet load and in particular hwo far off the lands do you seat. I have already used H-4831 without much success and am trying RL-22 next. Is 200 grs ok or should I go down to 180's.

Thanks

I like the 200g combination with the 300 Win Mag. My best load was RL19-73g @ 2960fps. Groups in the 6's. This is the only caliber in which RL19 has outperformed RL22 for me. Also the only combination in which one of the Reloader propellants shot better for me with a magnum primer. That load used a 215M. Bear in mind Alliant DOES NOT recommend magnum primers unless they specify them. That usually happens at capacity over 80g.

I also did well with N160, N560 and H4831, but none approached the accuracy and consistency of RL19. Best performance was .010" off the lands and the bullet is a Nosler Partition.

I would recommend using the coated 180 XLC BT's. They seem to cut down on fouling and have a little better ballistic coefficient (probably not enough to make too much of a difference) than the 200's. I would guess that the greater velocity you can get would offset the 20 grain advantage of the 200's.

[ 02-27-2003, 06:52: Message edited by: busdriver ]

200gr bullets are about ideal in the 300WinMag. I'd even suggest 220gr if you're not shooting much past 250 yards.

RL22 does well for me. And AA3100 has been an excellent performer as well. both of these powder give me 1MOA whenever I get within a few grains of the max listed loads.

Personally, I wouldn't mess with coated bullets. I just don't have desire to be stuck cleaning all kinds of crap and not being to switch between bullets on a whim. I'd save Moly and all that for the target shooter.

Good luck

Depends on the game you plan to hunt on the dark continent. Eland are about as big as they get there. The big four require you use no less than the 375 HH mag. Your guide will make every effort to get you as close as possible before they move you into position for a shot. I would us the flat shooting 165 grain PSP Partition bullet by Nosler if your rifle will group well with them. I doubt you will take 250 yard shot.

Most African game animals are no different than shooting a good sized buck deer. The smaller antilope and gazzels are thin skinned and easy to bring down. There are few African animals that reach over 350 pounds on the hoof with the Eland being the largest at around 1000 pounds. None of those animals are prone to charge the hunter. Perfect shot placement with a well constructed 165 grain bullet from a 300 Winchester magnum case should do the job and with less recoil to the shooter. The 165 grain bullet at 3000 fps from a 26" barrel should produce exceptional results. If your rifle will produce MOA groups at 100 yards taking an animal at 250 yards is duck soup. The 165 grain bullet nearly equals the 180 in BC+SD. In my view the the .308 diameter bullet is the ideal game getting bullet for any thin skinned game animal. Test your shooting skill by shooting gallon plastic jugs at the farthest distance you will be shooting your game.

The choice is yours and confidence in your shooting stick is paramount. Sight the rifle in to strike 2" high at 100 yards and no hold over will be needed out to 250 yards. Only the big four require extra special care and attention when it comes to the bullet weight and power the case your using will deliver.

76 gr rl22 180 bullet . this load usually shoots well in every 300 I have tried it in . I have used Hornady and nosler bt's .

For Africa I would definately use the 200 gr. Nosler, Woodleigh, or North Fork or the 180 gr. GS Custom in any 300...

I will assure you a 150 or 165 will not do as well on a going away shot on Eland as the 200 will, and that only makes since...I have shot a number of Eland going away with the 260 gr. Nosler and 250 gr. Noslers in 375 and 338 and they were stressed to the core to make it into the kill zone..Keep in mind one who hunts much at all will sooner or later settle on long for caliber bullets and will take going away shots at probably wounded game or because he is prepared to deal with that shot by having the proper bullets in his gun....

Rel 66,
I don't know where you get your information but I have to respectfully disagree, many animals in Africa go 350 or more, in fact the majority do, like Waterbuck, Hartebeest, Kudu, Gemsbok, all breeds of Zebra, all breeds of Wildebeest, bongo, and some others...

Also I have shot Eland that weighed as much as 2473 pounds and know of some that beat that,and many bulls that topped 2000, not 1000 as you suggest, and I have seen these light bullets that you suggest fail on more than one ocassion....