I am going to try out some reduced loads in my 300 Win. I'm trying to get a reasonably accurate reduced recoil load for paper punching at 100 yards. I am considering SR 4759 and XMP 5744 for powder. Which would you reccomend? SR 4759 is available locally, I'd have to order the XMP 5744.

I would also like some reccomendations for bullet choice. The 110 grain bullets are less expensive, but I'm not sure how accurate they'll be in a .30 caliber. Would a regular 130 or 150 grain bullet work better?

A number of years ago I played with a 300 Wby and SR4759, using 150 R-P Core-Lokts. Pretty impressive grouping, at around 2200 FPS. If I recall correctly, the load ended up around 40 grains or so. I used F215 primers, even though 4759 and 5744 are both designed for easy ignition at low load densities.

The 300 WMag is close enough to the W'by capacity wise that starting at 30 grains or so will get you in the ballpark.

R-WEST

Only cartridge where I've tried them side by side was the .375 H&H (220-gr. Hornady FP). 5744 was a little more accurate & consistent. Also worked well in my .338 Win. Mag.

Have used both. However, I am fonder of IMR or Hodgdon 4198 for reduced loads. Like how it meters better than 4759.

Steve Riccardelli's site should have good info. 5744 seems to have a loud boom in it to me. Guess I am just fearful, ( with no justifications) or having it detonate like a light load of 4831 or so.

4198 gave me a lot better accuracy in all calibers than 5744 did. 4198 is probably a lot more readily available to most shooters than either of the two you mentioned. It is a great 223 powder! So it should be available anywhere

I've never seen any reduced loads for this powder. Can I get them from the manufacturer?

Nice thing about the IMR manual is that they list ALL of their rifle powders for all the cartridges. Therefore it's a great resource for reduced-velocity loads.

Hodgdon also has "reduced/youth" loads using H4895 on their website. Don't remember if they have .300 Win. Mag.

All, I've used both H/IMR 4198 and XMP 5744 for reduced (cast bullet) loads in a variety of calibers (and rifles) for years. However, in reviewing my loading notes last year (with an eye to putting them on a floppy disk), I was struck by how low and consistent the standard deviations were with 5744 when compared to 4198. 5744 has since become my favorite reduced load powder. Either brand of 4198 or even AA's 2015BR would be tied for second place IMHO. ...Maven

5744 seems to have a loud boom in it to me. That seems to be common with either 5744 or 4759. Instead of a sharp "crack", you get this loud, hollow "boom". I think it's just a characteristic of the powders. I've fired ~500 different loads using 5744/4759 in 300 W'by, 338 WMag and 416 RMag, and I've never had any problems.

R-WEST

So far I've tried two reduced loads in my 300WinMag.

28gr SR4759 behind 150gr Sierra ProHunter
Should be good for about 2000fps
Groups were about 1.5" at 100 yards, but that should be OK given the trajectory a round like this would have.

45gr H4895 behind a 130gr Hornady SP
About 2400fps. Groups were under 1" for 5 shots. This is one of the Hodgdon Youth Loads, which they also offer for the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.

Good luck with these.