Thread: Quick 300 WSM

Well this is an interesting one. My nephew just got a Rem 700 300WSM and we have been doing a bit of load development with different bullets and powder. The rifle is a good shooter with most combo's running around the inch group at 100 yards.
The load the nephew wants to run is using the 200 gr ELD X and RL 26 ( Fairy Dust as some call it) I loaded up several batches and even at the top load of 69 grains no pressure signs and no sticky bolt lift.
We run the loads through the Chrono and near fell over when they registered on the screen as they went through at an average of 3112 fps. I figured the chrono was playing up so I run some shots over it with my air rifle to see if they were similar to what I had previously had shot over it, they were similar. Also a low velocity 22 short registered close to a previous test so think it is OK.
This is a 200 gr bullet out of a 300 WSM , the speed it is traveling at is up there with my 300 RUM which burns 23 grs more powder to achieve that. Maybe that Fairy Dust RL 26 is magical?
I have access to another chrono so will double check the speed, then we will verify it at longer range using the bullet drop chart I have just done. I think the firing at 500 600 yards will sort it out one way or another.
Has anyone else seen these sorts of speeds with this powder and bullet out of there 300 WSM's ?
The load we used here was safe in the nephews rifle so work up to this compressed load starting several grains lower.

That is crazy awsome!

That’s very quick for 200gn pills. Have not tried RL26 in wsm but might do so. Have settled on Hyb100v gives me 3050fps with 180gn Berger VLDs

Originally Posted by chainsaw

That’s very quick for 200gn pills. Have not tried RL26 in wsm but might do so. Have settled on Hyb100v gives me 3050fps with 180gn Berger VLDs

They would still sting like hell.

The people that know seem to think that the RL 26 is a very good magnum powder and if this all pans out it will be so. I still want to see how the longer dialed shots go but the chrono appears to be working as it should so those velocities should be close.
This load generates 4301 ft lds energy so it will be pretty efficient to say the least.

If it's true, that'll be pretty unreal. What length barrel is it?

I ran the load on Quickload, using the data you supplied and assuming a 26" barrel length - it says 2965 fps with a pressure of just on 60,000 psi (max is nearly 64,000)

If you had a slightly fast batch of powder you might be running at 65-70,000 psi for velocity around 3100 fps - high but lots of guys do it and modern brass and rifles seem to digest it OK . . . .

Do you have any photos of the primers & case head Brian?

I send some through in a few minutes

R26 seems to be the ducks nuts in the WSM.
I got over 2900 with 215 bergers out of a 22in barrel during load development.
Ive read on some US forums of guys getting over 3000 out of 26in tubes without pressure issues

There is a slight crater but the primers look good not flattened out to edges, my 300 Rum has bigger craters than these and that is good no heavy bolt lift etc.

Originally Posted by wsm junkie

R26 seems to be the ducks nuts in the WSM.
I got over 2900 with 215 bergers out of a 22in barrel during load development.
Ive read on some US forums of guys getting over 3000 out of 26in tubes without pressure issues

That's what my nephew has been reading also. These figures are in a 24 inch barrel which makes me wonder a bit.

Originally Posted by McNotty

If it's true, that'll be pretty unreal. What length barrel is it?

24 inch

Blimey - that’s fast.
Have you measured head expansion?

I’m working up a 7RM load with 180s and RE26, so will be good to see how that goes. Haven’t pushed it hard yet, but already into mid-2800s and 11 fps ES.

Thats phenomenal! I shoot IMR4350 with the 200eldx pills out of a 26inch barrel at 2730fps. Don't like high pressure, but still. Ridiculous speed. Even if you can get 2950, maybe settle with that. Rather be safe than sorry