I have recently picked up a Browning A-Bolt Medallion in .300 Winchester at a bargain. I never thought I would own a .300 Magnum, but at the price I gave for the rifle and scope, I couldn't pass. I won't have time to work up loads before I leave for a hunting trip, so factory loadings will have to do.

I am in search of an accurate factory loading that is flat shooting, but will not come apart at close range with the speed this rifle will be creating.

The loadings I have considered due to availability are Hornady Custom 165gr BTSP, Winchester Supreme 150gr or 165gr Failsafe and Federal Premium 180gr Nosler Partition.

Shots can vary from 25 yards in cutovers to as far as one is comfortable over agricultural fields. This will be a whitetail ONLY load, with average size in the 150-175# range.

The Winchester Failsafe and Hornady BTSP looks appealing, more so that the Partition. Anyone have any suggestions?

I personally hate the Failsafe's.Or any other moly coated bullet for that matter. Maybe if I had a shot out barrel or a rifle that would shoot NOTHING else, I might reconsider.

Out of the bullets you mentioned, I would assume the Partition would be a good bet.

You are probably going to have to try different bullets, and let the rifle tell you what it wants.

Hunting in the Carolinas is not like hunting out West. Typically smaller deer. Shorter shots.

If you reload, you may want to try SMK's. Thats all I will use here in the East coast.

Dont want to start WWIII over the virtues of the SMK NOT being a hunting bullet. Almost any bullet will kill a deer here. Almost like varmint shooting!!

If you feel uncertain of the ability of the SMK to thin out the local deer population, stick with the Partition, or Hornaday's you mentioned..sakofan..Good luck!!

In my current .300 Win. Mag., I load 180 gr. Nosler Partitions to just under 3100 fps., and I use this load for everything - whitetails included.

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I've had good results from the Hornady factory loads in several different calibers, including the 300 Winnie. Now that I'm reloading I'm still using the Hornady bullets for many of my loads.

If the 180 Partition shoots well you should be covered on all fronts. A box of 20 should get you sighted in with enough left over for a bunch of deer.

I have not tried factory loaded Partititions, but so far my handloads have shot very well.

As far as sheer accuracy goes, I've heard that the Hornady factory loads using their own bullets are second to none in most rifles. That said, I'd be leery of using any kind of conventionally-constructed boattail (especially in the 150-165 grain range) at .300 Winchester velocities. If you can get some Hornady factory 180-grain Spirepoint ammo, that may the answer to your deer hunting prayers as far as factory loads go.

The factory load with the 180 Partition is generally considered the greatest, most versatile .300 Winchester Magnum load of all. If it works for you, you've got it made.

Regarding the Winchester Supreme loading with Failsafe bullets. I'm normally not a huge fan of using factory ammunition. Last year I tried some factory Winchester Supreme .300 Winchester Mag loads using the 180-grain Failsafe that a friend had given me. Five shots averaged about 3150 over the chronograph. What's more, they grouped in slightly more than one inch at 200 metres! I stopped shooting and saved the rest for the next time I go hunting. I'd not hesitate to take any game in North America with that load. It's theoretically accurate enough for gopher shooting, and packs enough punch for grizzly. What more could you want? And it's FACTORY ammo no less!

I found the Hornady 165 gr BTSP to be very accuarte in my 300. I cant imagine a 165 grain bullet having any problems with Deer sized game.

I did have a 150 grain Remington Core-Lokt bullet fall apart when I shot an Elk at 75 yards. The bullet only penetrated 10" before breaking up, but I still got my Elk.

I use 180 grain speer grand slam in my Ruger 300 I tried a bunch of diffrent factory loads and found the speers shot the best. And its dropped everythink I have hit with it.

I have found the Federal Premiums to be the most accurate factory ammo that I have ever used, bar none and in all my rifles, that alone speaks well for it..I like the Noslers...

If it were me, I would be doing just as SakaFan suggested. In fact the 190gr SMK is what I will be using only in my handloads for my .300WSM. Try either Federal or Black Hills factory load with the 190SMK and I am sure one will deliver all the accuracy your rifle is capable of.

An outstanding alternative is Winchester Supreme 180gr Ballistic Silver Tip if you do not have faith in the Sierra Match King.

There are few poor bullet choices for use on whitetail or muledeer as long as you select 150gr or heavier. Wait for a shot that will put the bullet straight through the ribs in behind one shoulder and out behind the other and you will only loose a few pounds of jerky meat.

I use Federal classics in 180 gr. They use Sierra flat base bullets and group under an inch at 100 yards. I too have a 300 A bolt, actually I had 2 and they both shot this load well. The best part is they are half the money of the premiums. I also reload for this caliber and find that the Sierra's are the most accurate also. I cranked them up to 3150 fps for a hunt out west and shot a muley through both shoulders at 40 yards and the bullet held together just fine. Last year I shot a whitetail at 300 yards and the result was a one shot kill also. Why spend the extra money for the premium bullets when it ain't necessary? I tried partitions and Hornady's in this gun but it didn't like either of them.