19 October 2002, 07:27
RedsideBest powder for 350 Remington Magnum??
I just bought a Remington 700 Classic in 350 Remington Magnum. My question is which powder will give me the best balance between velocity and accuracy. I know that every rifle can be different but sometimes there are just certain powders that work best in certain types of cartridges. I want to use 225 Sierra and North Fork bullets.
Redside
19 October 2002, 08:05
RomagRedside,
I've had good luck with IMR-4320 and 225 grain bullets. Shot a couple of Quebec bears over bait with the Sierras which have a rep for being soft. One shot a piece, both bullets exited and did tremenodus damage. Both bears went about 25 yds on adreniline. I didn't have a chronograph back then, but I would guess 2500-2600 fps would be very realisiic.
Romag
19 October 2002, 08:55
<Fireplug>I have settled on 3031 for my M600, since a powder at the fast end of the spectrum of suitable powders allows a smaller charge for top velocity and thus reduced recoil. My M600 is only six pounds field ready, and like all M600s requires deeply seated bullets.
In a longer actioned heavier rifle 3031 has fewer advantages, but is still a good powder for the cartridge.
Fireplug
19 October 2002, 22:23
Jesse JaymesI found Varget to be the best in my rifle. I use 60.0 with CCI-250's and the Sierra bullets. These get me over 2700 fps. These are seated to 3.00" Ive only shot one animal, a Corsican Ram at 272 yards. No bones incurred and complete penetration. Not a big deal, but the only test medium I had.
20 October 2002, 02:05
R-WESTAnything in the medium-fast range works well for light (180 - 200 grain) bullets. Powders like AA2015; the 4895's; 3031; R12; etc.. With 225's and 250's, those powders still work okay, but 748, 4064, 4320, R15 and Varget are a little less pressure sensitive.
The load I've used for years in my 700 Classic is 59 H4895/F210M/200 H'dy Spire point for around 2600 FPS. Only used it on 3 PA whitetails, and none of them moved after the shot.
Has anyone else noticed the 350 RMag seems amazingly accurate? I'm impressed by the number of groups in my load notes that are 1-1/4" and under. Just about any combo in there gives acceptable hunting accuracy. All the "experts" say a short/fat powder column is needed for accuracy/efficiency, and, the 350 certainly fills that bill.
R-WEST
20 October 2002, 02:52
SlingsterMy friend used IMR4350 and I used W 748 with 225-grain Nosler Partitions and both of us got 2500 fps+ and excellent accuracy with our respective choices in Rem 700s.
I should also note that we both had mediocre accuracy and high pressure signs with Swift A-Frames in our rifles, so we stuck with the NPs and haven't looked back. These rifles and loads went to Africa in 1997 and took game with great efficiency if we did our part. Our PH was so impressed (he hadn't seen the .350 RM perform before) that he even commented that he'd hunt buffalo with one.
21 October 2002, 08:43
dan belisle4064 is the one powder that has been the most consistant performer in my 350's. Not the fastest, but the most consistent, in terms of accuracy and velocity. - Dan