First, I want to thank any of you in advanced for your help and suggestions.

Now for my problems. I've had my 300 RUM LSS since the second year they came out. My problem is, I can't get it to shoot much better than 2" groups. I've tried 4 different bullets and 4 different powders, plus a couple boxes of factory ammo. After reading some of you guys loads with dime and half inch groups, I'm stumped as to what to try next. I was going to try Berger 185 VLD next, but now I'm wondering if I might have a bad barrel. I love the gun, and dispite the 2 MOA groups, i've killed two deer in the 500 yard range, but don't feel confident in the gun beyond that.

So what do yonz think... Is it time for a barrel, or havn't I found my load yet?

Thanks agian

First off Welcome to HuntingNut Alan300RUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a number of things that could be looked at. A few are recoil management, bench tecnique, scope, bedding, muzzle crown, and barrel channel on the stock. With you giving the right info I'll bet someone here will be able to help you. we've got some pretty smart guys around here and most are willing to help.

The first thing I'd do is let us now what you've already checked, if anything and what do your groups look like. Are they 3 or 5 shot groups. Do they go vertical or horizonal. Do you get what looks like flyers.(one or two shots straying from the group) The most important to me is what does the first shot from a cold barrel do.

I used to have a 300 RUM (700 BDL) and I was shooting under 2" groups with factory ammo. As for reloads, I was under 1". The powder was H4831SC or H1000, the primer was Federal 215M, but I can't remember the quantity of powder. I will look through my old notes.
IMO something is wrong somewhere...

I would suggest a heavier bullet, like a 200 grain or even a 220 grain.

I load for my nephews browning 300rum and it shoots three shots through one enlarged hole in the target. I use 99.5 gr. of Retumbo; 180 gr. nosler accubond; cci 250 primer; remington cases. Don't start at this load, start low and work up. Good luck!
Don

Well, more about the gun... Its basiclly a stock Remington LSS, its topped with a Luepold 6.5x20, with bases epoxy mounted. The trigger pull is set at 2 oz. I'm a big enough guy that the recoil is managalbe for me. I don't think my bench technique is the problem because I can cut holes with my old 270.

My current load is a Barns 180 XLC with 96.5 grains of R-25. While pattering this bullet, this was by far the best 5 shoot group with 4 at an inch group with the 5th at an inch and a half. Once I loaded up some more and run 10 more through the crono I ended up with 7 under a 2 inch group with the remaining 3 pushing out to 2.5 and 3.

For some added info I've tried different conbinations of Seirra 165 and 168 plus the Barnes with IMR 7828, R-22, R-25 and Rutumbo.

Thanks agian

I'm taking it that you run all your shots at one time without letting the barrel cool. (let me know if I'm wrong)
Anytime I'm working with deer rifles I always limit my shots to 3 for the group and let the barrel cool down befor shooting again. Thats what most guys do. A 300RUM will heat a barrel pretty quick. Heat usally starts throwing shots on sporter rifles.

I picked up a used 300RUM LSS this summer and worked at a load for it. It had only 2 boxes of ammo fired through it (too much recoil)?? His loss my gain.
The 2 loads are:
175 gr Berger VLD, 98.4 grs Retumbo, CCI 250 LRM primers - 3200 fps (3/4 in best group)
180 gr Barnes TSX, 95 grs Retumbo, CCI 250 LRM primers - 3320 fps. (also very good accuracy)
Note: I also wieghed out each brass and put them in groups of 5 that were close in wieght. I was really surprised at how much the Rem brass varied in the 300 RUM.

These loads were safe in my rifle but may not be in yours. I actually had some loaded hotter and the groups started to open up again so I went back to the ones above. Both loads are under an inch at 100 (5 shot groups). The barrel does heat up real quick so you have to do some slow shooting, timing between shots. My LSS has a pressure point between the barrel and the forend of the stock which I was not sure of. If you wrap your hand around it and push the barrel from one side to the other you can feel it move on that point woth a bit of a click?? If it didn't shoot as good as it does my next step would have been to float the barrel.
My 2 cents worth.

I load for my buddy who has the same gun. First I would look at recoil. To many guys have mocho head and think the can handle big case, when a 30-06 gives them about as much as they can take. Do you really need this much power. A 30-06 or 300 win mag. are never mistakes. Befor you go to far, keep you shooting trips short. Just shoot one shot every 10 mins. and only say 6 in one day. Take your 22. to fill in the time. If you find no improvment, I would find a good gunsmith and get the action bedded and the barrel floating. If your still no better read the article on OCW ( Optimal Charge Weight ) posted on this site. It souds like soud advice before you try somthing expensive like every powder and bullet, or rebarreling, or new gun. We found, 96gr. of H-1000 and 180gr. interbonds shot well, and at aboout 3200 f.p.s and change. I realy don't like this round but I can shot it well one or two at a time.

Thanks guys for all your help. I'll keep yonz informed of my progress.

I think I'm going to try working up one more load. Try a little heavier bullet, and a guy told me to try Federal primers. So I'll give it a try. If I don't find any improvement, I think I'm going to get a bedding job done.

Thanks agian.

Alan

Are you flinchin'.....?

You only need VihtaVuori N-560 and -570 powders. But it is hard to find them from Finland. So use Reloader 25, IMR 7828 or H 100 please.

If your action screws aren't properly torqued that will cause accuracy problems also.

I would suspect copper fouling. The big magnums need to be cleaned after 8 or 10 shots. You will spend more time cleaning than you will shooting. If you don't keep on top of it it's a bitch.

Brush wrote:

The big magnums need to be cleaned after 8 or 10 shots. You will spend more time cleaning than you will shooting. If you don't keep on top of it it's a bitch.

That's B.S.............................................