300 Saum and Hodgdons Superformance Powder

Budweiser2 · Rookie Member Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 4

Has anyone used this powder with the 300 Saum? I am looking for 130 gr bullet loads and up. Don't have a starting point for the powder.

slimjim

Below are the only loading data I found on .30-cal cartridges for Superformance.

hodgdon.com/PDF/SuperLever.pdf

I would stack the 300 WSM data with the rest of Hodgdon powders for a 130 grain bullet then compare those to 300 SAUM and derive your load data. As an example, it looks like the 300 SAUM takes about 2.5 grains less of Varget than the 300 WSM. Thus you max load would not be more than 74.5 g and the min would be 66.5 which is where I would start. Work up very slowly and be wary of pressure signs. H414, H4350, W760 are about 2.0 gr less so the 2.5 gr delta is more conservative.

300 WINCHESTER SHORT MAGNUM
CASE: WINCHESTER
BBL: 24"
PR: WINCHESTER LRM
130 GR. HDY SP .308" 2.720" 77.0C 3645 62,600 PSI
150 GR. SPR GSSP .308" 2.780" 74.0 3410 63,500 PSI
155 GR. HDY A-MAX .308" 2.860" 73.5C 3405 63,500 PSI
165 GR. NOS PART .308" 2.860" 72.0 3273 63,500 PSI

300 RUGER COMPACT MAGNUM
CASE: HORNADY
BBL: 24"
PR: WINCHESTER LRM
150 GR. HDY IB .308" 2.830" 67.0C 3254 59,000 PSI
155 GR. NOS HPBT .308" 2.830" 67.5C 3250 60,800 PSI
165 GR. BAR TSX .308" 2.800" 65.0C 3126 60,600 PSI
168 GR. SIE HPBT .308" 2.820" 65.5C 3125 63,300 PSI

Budweiser2 · Rookie Member Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 4

slimjim
Thanks for the info. I downloaded all the powders from Hodgdons that the 300 saum and the 300 Wsm would use. Then I cross referenced the two. You are right on when saying they are about 2.5 grains difference. I will start loading a few 130 gr barnes tomorrow.

Thanks Again and Straight Shooting

Budweiser2

slimjim

Bud2, you are leading the way here. Let us know how this new powder does for accuracy and velocity. Are you really getting as much velocity increase as they advertize? I may just have to pick some up and give it a try.

BTW, welcome to HuntingNut!

slimjim

Bud2, I have been looking more into Superformance Powder. There are plenty of warnings out there not to reload without tested data. Seems Hornady has 30 blends of Superformance they use in their factory ammo. Hodgdon is only selling one blend and supposedly it only works well in the cartridges they listed. Beware.

slimjim

Found this letter from Hodgdon

Here’s the deal. Hornady uses many, many blends to load all of the cartridges in their Superformance line. We are introducing one of those blends. It has very limited application. It will not work in a 6.8 Remington. The only cartridges with Superformance powder data are:

22-250
243 Winchester
6mm Remington
243 WSSM
25 WSSM
300 WSM
300 Ruger Compact Magnum

There will not be any further cartridges used with this powder. At some point, if this powder is successful, we may bring out other blends but that is unknown at this time.

Mike Daly
Customer Satisfaction Manager
The Hodgdon Family of Fine Propellants

Budweiser2 · Rookie Member Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 4

slimjim
Thanks for the update.The 300 Saum is right in the same ball park as the 300 WSM an the 300 RCM. As of yet I have not made it into my reloading room. I will start loading this week if everything goes well. Been too busy bear hunting.

slimjim

Bud2, anything to report? I'm sort of waiting for you to start the ball rolling before I test the water. Got your bear skin rug yet?

Budweiser2 · Rookie Member Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 4

Well after a crappy summer .I finally have some results.
I started out at 68gr and ended up at 71 1/2 gr with all 3 bullets touching. I am very happy with the results and it did not show any signs of over pressure. Have not used the chrony yet ,but suspect they will be running around 3400 fps. This is in my 300 Saum with a 130gr Barnes TSX and all other rifles could be a little different . If you choose to use this data, reduce your loads by 10% and start low and work up.

Bud