Which bullet weight do you think would work best for longer range shooting. Nothing too extreme - say 350 to 500 yards?

The accubond 180 grain started at 3100 fps or the 200 grain started at 2900 fps.

I have not worked up any loads yet but I am leaning towards the 200 grain in front of some Reloder 22.

Also, IMR4831 is on of my favourite powders and works well in my -06. I am thinking it might work pretty good for the 180 grs - not so sure about the 200's.

Any suggestions?

The differences will be so slight that I would work up loads for both and see which is most accurate. I have, however, shot a lot of the 200 grain bullets from a .300 Jarrett for use on elk out to the ranges you have described. I wanted as much energy and momentum as possible at the longer ranges and the 200's shot very well in that rifle.

id say they could be hot loads if you achieve that sort of velocity. although i think i've had 165s doing 3200 - that was red lining it. with 190gr berger VLDs i was getting 2900fps but was pretty much on max. guess it depends on your barrel length and action you're using.

you could try some H1000 or maybe some IMR7828 or even some VV N-165 but i think RL22 would do fine for testing and if it doesnt deliver the velocitys you want then id consider changing it.

In my Remington 700 XCR chambered in 300 WSM I was not able to achieve 3100 fps with 180 grain bullets except with N 560 powder. I got over 3100 with N 560 powder but the groups were dismal.

IMR 4831 or H 4350 proved to be the best powders in this rifle with 180 bullets. With either one of these powders the best groups were with loads that got around 2970 fps, and they were pretty close to max.

I would not think the 200 grain bullets would be the best choice in this cartridge as the case capacity is not all that large. Even with the 180 Accubond the powder charge is very much compressed with max loads of IMR 4831.

In my .300 WSM I am shooting 168 gr Barnes TSX at 2900 chrono'ed fps with H4831. I get moa groups. I've shot one elk with that load, a cow at 292 yds. I got complete penetration, through both shoulders. sighted 2.5" high at 100 yds, my ballistic software tells me I get 32" of drop at 500. I use a laser rangefinder, so it's not hard to dial in the appropriate adjustment. The way these bullets perform, I chose this bullet over a more conventional lead core bullet for it's high BC and greater speed for long shots using this round. For long shooting I load for accuracy first, velocity second.

I have achieved excellent results with the 200 grain Accubond with 65.0 grains of Reloader 22. Three shots, one hole at 100 yards with my Blaser R-93. I have shot deer with it multiple times out to 284 yards.

In 2004, I dropped a nice buck at 150 yards that weighed in at 248 pounds. He was a 6 year old 9 point that scored 160" and change. My best buck ever and dropped like a rock with the 200 grain Accubond in 300WSM.

Dr. Tim

I haven't tried the AB's yet, but the 200 NP's with 68 grains of 7828 is very accurate in my 300 WSM.

I would check the accuracy of the two at 500 yards, then...

I would look at the impact velocity at 500 yards between the two bullets.
I would go with the one that had the highest velocity, assuming accuracy is similar, because at that range the higher velocity will give you the most expansion.

Play with both and see what shoots best. You nor the game will ever know any difference in kill ability.

In the short mags, my personal preference is a 180.

I am getting amazing accuracy from the 200 grain Accubonds in my Kimber 8400. IMR 4350 is putting me right at 2800 fps. H 4350 has put me at or over by 20 fps but I felt I was starting to get into pressure issues so I switched to IMR.

My Kimber 300 WSM consistently groups around an inch @ 100 with 180 Accubonds behind 65 gr. of H4350 in Winchester or Lapua cases....Have not chrono'd that load yet. Extraction is easy with it in my rifle.....

The 200 NABs are longer and will rob a good bit of powder capacity. The 300WSM performs best with bullets in the 165-180 weight range. I personally feel the extra velocity you will achieve with the 180 will slightly give you more performance at longer ranges.

Good Luck

Reloader

Woodhick, that load out of my Savage with a 24" barrel does 2983 fps. Like you, I'm not getting any pressure signs but I think it's pretty near a max load