140gr in a 300WSM

[Coues24A]

I am getting started in reloading and was wondering if anyone has ever tried this combination for Coues?

[firstcoueswas80]

I do not recall any 140 grain pills in the .308 caliber.. I could be wrong thogh. I believe there is 130 (Barnes TTSX) and numerous 150 grainers. I would shoot a 165-168 grainer. High BC and more than enough weight to whack em.

[Red Rabbit]

Probably not, as there are not many 140 grain 30 cal bullets made by various manufacturers. Barnes has a frangible bullet for the AR platform.

[Red Rabbit]

Maybe Scout'M will post the ballistics of the various bullet weights for a 300 WSM he was sent.

Basically, the 130 TSX will have a flatter trajectory and less recoil, but the 180 will have less wind drift. It is easier to correct for drop with a rangefinder and turrets or ballistic reticle than it is for wind drift.

[scoutm]

Here's the ballistics information Red Rabbit shared with me when I was talking to him about the 130 grain TTSX bullet in 30 cal. The difference in wind drift amazed me. I think i'm going to try a 165 grain bullet in my 300 WSM based on this info.

 

 

"I just ran the Ballistcs with the 130 TTSX @ 3500fps and the 150 Scirocco @3250 and 180 Scirocco@ 2960fps.

Drop at 800 yards with 250 yard zero is respectively: 106", 111", 125"

10mph Wind Drift @ 800 yards is: 47", 39", 36"

Energy at 800 yds is 971, 1223, 1423 ft/lbs

Velocity at 800 yards is 1834, 1916, 1887 fps (I think Barnes lists 2000 fps for proper expansion"

[jeffcros]

I shoot a Nosler 125 gr BT in my 300wsm, I get great groups and velocity is somewhere around 35-3600. Thats what I'll be using in Oct. Gotta remember a couse is 100 lbs There have been alot of bucks killed with a 22-250 shooting 55 gr bullets.

[Coues24A]

I noticed that Barnes, Hornady and Sierra offer a 130gr. Nosler a 125gr. Anyone ever try these?

[firstcoueswas80]

I shot a coues with a 125 gr ballistic tip from a 30-06. I was not impressed!

[Bird Dog]

I would have to agree. Lighter bullets are tough on the teeth when you eat that little fella. I shot the 168gr Nosler Ballistic Silver Tip at 3275fps. It doesn't come appart and if anything it seems rather hard when I have done various recovery tests. It has not torn the coues in half I have shot. I know in a 300 win mag the 150gr. can be a bit violent and this is why I have stayed heavier. I have never been a fan of solid type bullets but I hear they sometimes shoot good. The gain in trajectory will be marginal with a lighter bullet at longer distance because of the nice ballistic coeffiecent of your heavier bullets.

[youngbuck]

Some people argue about overkill with heavy bullets on smaller animals. I've seet and heard about more damage with fast, lighter weight, more frangible bullets than a good heavy bullet. I would rather my 180 grain stay intact through the animal than a 150 vaporize. I think it is hard to beat a 165/180 in a 30 cal magnum. Red Rabbit suggested suggested the 180gr .30cal accubond to me a couple years ago, and i haven't looked back. I've seen 4 coues taken with a 300rum loaded with those bullets. Not one of them was torn up from bullet over-expansion. I think it ruins less meat than using a super fast lighter projectile. I save my barn burner loads for varmits and such (4000+ w/a 55g v-max)

[youngbuck]

Just for conversation sake, isn't there a 110 horady v-mav in 308? Anybody ever stuff one of those into a mag of some sort

[DesertBull]

I shot an antelope at 100 yards with a 140 grain Winchester Ballistic tip from a 7mag. Not a pretty site.

[firstcoueswas80]

That is the way the ballistic tip is designed. Thin jacket, for rapid expansion (most of the time EXPLOSION). I am not a fan of them as I like my bullet to expand to a point, and have high weigh retention for more penetration. Most of the time with NBT's, if you hit bone they simply explode ( and Vmax as they are the same basic design). I had a Vmax from a 25-06 blow up on the shoulder of a coyote. Did nothing more than blow a 3-4" path of hair off.

 

I have had NBT's (125 grain .308) blow up on the shoulder of a coues from over 400 yards fired from a 30-06 with a 22" barrel.

 

If you want massive damage, and a bullet that is designed to basically blow up, the NBT is the bullet for you. With a good, or half way decent shot this bullet USUALLY ends up in the animal being DRT. However, if you like pretty mushroomed bullets that pass through with one little hole, the NBT is USUALLY not the best choice.

 

[Coues24A]

It looks like I will stick to 150gr. Ballistic Silvertips. I've shot two Coues with the Winchester load one at 328yds. and on at 407yds. Both performed well and left nice sized exit wounds.

 

Thanks Guys.