300 WSM LA bullet ideas for Africa

[CamoManJ]

I just picked up my semi-custom Tikka T3 Long Action 300 WSM w/ 20” carbon fiber barrel to be used with a dedicated 6.75” Diligent Defense suppressor.

In the past and with my former 300WSM, I used the Barnes 165 TSX Federal Premium factory ammunition with great success EXCEPT for a poor old Nilgai that refused to die peacefully, even with well placed boiler & spine shots.

Starting new from scratch after many years of self imposed exile from hunting, I’m ready to develop my new set up & this time for next year’s first trip to Africa. I’m the kind of guy who expects and tries hard for for excellence done right the first time with “sack of potatoes” dead right there shots. I do like the challenge of reasonably long shots within my practical abilities, typically less than 300 yards but want the ability to easily & confidently shoot out to 600 yards. My scope will be a dial & shoot custom turret set up for the longer precision shots. I know I can shoot well, just need to know the bullet will do it’s part for the game intended. I also do realize that the rifle itself will ultimately decide what it likes…hopefully the one of popular opinions and experiences from Africa. 160’s vs 180’s and bullet designs?

That said, my objective to effectively kill Eland, zebra, oryx, waterbuck sized animals. This time I have a custom reloader who has volunteered to do load development for me. Keep in mind that I have a long action setup to accommodate a more potent round to accomplish my goal, perhaps longer bullets seated further out, more powder, etc. I am not very knowledgeable in reloading. I’m guessing the COAL is around 3.2-3.4? Advice is appreciated. I’d like the set up to be fast, hard hitting, accurate, deadly & I'm not recoil shy. (Doesn’t mean I like recoil either)

The question is which bullet should I try for those animals listed above?

Ideas so far:

Barnes 168 TTSX
Barnes 180 TTSX

Hammer 163 HHT
Hammer 182 HHT

Winchester Brass?

Please feel free to opine.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Just get some 180 or 200 gr Swift A Frames and you’re good.

Question for you: I’ve never owned a 300 WSM but thought it was a short action cartridge. You mentioned the Tikka is a long action. Is this common?

I just looked at the Swift bullet website and they have 30 cal, 200 gr bullets in stock.

 

[mdwest]

a 180 gr TTSX is going to perform much like a 200gr projectile from most other manufacturers (its longer and got a greater BC than your typical cup and core or bonded lead core bullet)..

TTSX also likes speed.. the 3000+ FPS youre going to get out of a magnum 30 shooting 180gr weight projectiles lends itself very well toward the TTSX sweet spot for performance...

There isnt a species of PG I wouldnt hunt with a 300 WSM shooting a Barnes 180gr TTSX..

 

[kdenn]

Wife used 180 gr TTSX in her 300WSM with great success on PG last year.

 

[mdwest]

Just get some 180 or 200 gr Swift A Frames and you’re good.

Question for you: I’ve never owned a 300 WSM but thought it was a short action cartridge. You mentioned the Tikka is a long action. Is this common?

300 WSM is definitely short action.. I've owned both a 300 WSM and 7mm WSM in the past..

Ive since moved on to other calibers (300 H&H.. and no 7mm's in the inventory at the moment)..

I dont know how common it is to find a WSM on a long action specifically.. but.. Ive got a couple of short action calibers built on long action.. for the most part its just because I happened to have a long action on hand, and a short action caliber barrel on hand at the time.. and just mated them together... Ive got a 308 built on a military mauser 98 action.. a 358 Winchester built on a long action savage 110 action, etc..

 

[YancyW]

I would any of those 4 listed on plains game, if they all shot the same, I would go with heavier versions.

 

[RLL]

I just picked up my semi-custom Tikka T3 Long Action 300 WSM w/ 20” carbon fiber barrel to be used with a dedicated 6.75” Diligent Defense suppressor.

In the past and with my former 300WSM, I used the Barnes 165 TSX Federal Premium factory ammunition with great success EXCEPT for a poor old Nilgai that refused to die peacefully, even with well placed boiler & spine shots.

Starting new from scratch after many years of self imposed exile from hunting, I’m ready to develop my new set up & this time for next year’s first trip to Africa. I’m the kind of guy who expects and tries hard for for excellence done right the first time with “sack of potatoes” dead right there shots. I do like the challenge of reasonably long shots within my practical abilities, typically less than 300 yards but want the ability to easily & confidently shoot out to 600 yards. My scope will be a dial & shoot custom turret set up for the longer precision shots. I know I can shoot well, just need to know the bullet will do it’s part for the game intended. I also do realize that the rifle itself will ultimately decide what it likes…hopefully the one of popular opinions and experiences from Africa. 160’s vs 180’s and bullet designs?

That said, my objective to effectively kill Eland, zebra, oryx, waterbuck sized animals. This time I have a custom reloader who has volunteered to do load development for me. Keep in mind that I have a long action setup to accommodate a more potent round to accomplish my goal, perhaps longer bullets seated further out, more powder, etc. I am not very knowledgeable in reloading. I’m guessing the COAL is around 3.2-3.4? Advice is appreciated. I’d like the set up to be fast, hard hitting, accurate, deadly & I'm not recoil shy. (Doesn’t mean I like recoil either)

The question is which bullet should I try for those animals listed above?

Ideas so far:

Barnes 168 TTSX
Barnes 180 TTSX

Hammer 163 HHT
Hammer 182 HHT

Winchester Brass?

Please feel free to opine.

Hammers all the way. You can’t go wrong with either weight as they shine with speed. I’ve not tried the HHT’s yet but I’m pushing the 124 and 154 Hammer Hunters and at 3600 and 3200fps respectively, out of a 20in barrel 300 WSM.

Last safari the lads and I used Hammers exclusively in a 7mm REM mag -160 gr., 300 WM 154gr and 375 Ruger - 299 gr. All had devastating effects. A lot of single shot kills. A few animals took a couple marginal shots and that’s where the Hammers shined IMO versus other bullets I’ve used in the past. Not a wounded animal went very far for very long…I’ve got a report from this summers hunt in that forum.

I’d also suggest strongly looking at the CEB Raptors or the Maximus line as well…work through load development and chose what’s right for your rifle, distances and quarry. My 2 cents.

 

[112Savage]

To those that don’t understand, all tikkas are long action, and all hold 3 cartridges in the magazine with a maximum magazine length of 3.4”. This is why the medium length magnums shine. There is room to lengthen the throat and go from 2.83” to 3.2” or more. This allows long bullets to be seated further out and not intrude on case capacity. I think I would choose your bullet based on where you are hunting. Eastern Cape = softer sleeker bullet, Limpopo = tougher bullet. You could have your cake and eat it too with the HHT’s or 200gr accubond, terminal ascent etc.

If they’re accurate for you, I’m a big fan of the terminal ascent in my factory tikka 300WSM

 

[shootist~]

Tikka's have different bolt stops to accommodate different length cartridges. All have the same action as @112Savage pointed out.

Also several different internal length magazines. For example the internal length of the 308 Win magazine is not as long as the 7mm-08/6.5CM magazine.

 

[Jetjockey]

Use the KISS method and shoot 200gr Accubonds or Terminal Ascents. If the Terminal Acent shoots in your gun, use it. The 200gr bullets have much higher BC’s than the 180’s, and will punch much harder the further out you go. Plus, the Terminal Ascent doesn’t need to be driven nearly as fast as the TSX, so you'll get better expansion, yet still get phenomenal weight retention at any speeds. I’ve used the TA on elk, and 200gr Accubonds on kudu, puku, waterbuck, and zebra. I much prefer the TA over the Accubond, but both work very well. Btw. John Barsness debunked the large bullet myth of the 300wsm many years ago.

 

[WI-2021]

Just get some 180 or 200 gr Swift A Frames and you’re good.

Question for you: I’ve never owned a 300 WSM but thought it was a short action cartridge. You mentioned the Tikka is a long action. Is this common?

I just looked at the Swift bullet website and they have 30 cal, 200 gr bullets in stock.

The .300 WSM is a short action cartridge, but just barely. Due to the case design and length of a short action, heavier bullets tend to need to be seated fairly deep, which limits powder space. The newer medium length custom actions (typically about 3.2" COAL) basically exist to allow the use of heavier bullets in the WSM and RSAUM cases without reducing powder space. The 6.5 PRC is also sometimes built on a medium or long action. The Tikka "long" action (really just a specific bolt stop and magazine, since they're all the same basic action) allows for a COAL of about 3.4."

Medium or long action .300 WSM's are generally a custom or semi-custom creation for handloaders who don't want to be limited to factory COAL's.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Btw. John Barsness debunked the large bullet myth of the 300wsm many years ago.

What myth was that and does it apply to just the 300 WSM?

 

[Fryeguy]

I used a 300win mag last year in Limpopo with 180accubond, if memory serves me well right at 3,000fps. I left last year killing everything I shot, but some required multiple shots. A zebra acted like I missed it first shot, so as it ran straight towards me I center punched it right in chest. Again we thought I missed. No animal reaction at all. Then it saw me reloading, and as it ran off I could see blood pumping out side from first shot. I had several animals that I didn’t get pass thru shots with. I would want a heavier bullet, at least 200 grain in accubonds. Honestly I would choose a Swift aframe or Norma oryx. After last year, knowing I wanted an eland this year, I went with Aframes but in a 9.3x62. Another guy we hunted with also shot an Eland, with a 300wsm and 180 accubonds. I definitely wouldn’t take the long range accubonds, except for small stuff. I really like aframes.

 

[Jetjockey]

What myth was that and does it apply to just the 300 WSM

When the 300wsm came out, many people said it couldn’t shoot 200gr bullets well because they had to be seated so deep that you lost powder capacity. John Barness researched it and compared it to the 300WM, because people said the 300WM could handle 200’s better. Basically, they shoot 200’s exactly the same with factory loads, and within about 50fps with hand loads, in a worst case scenario. 200’s are all I shoot in my 300wsm, and they work incredibly well. Kudu, Zebra, waterbuck, and puku were all 1 shot kills in Zambia two months ago.

 

[CamoManJ]

Thanks for the good responses so far, very good useful information. I have never considered going up to 200 gr bullets, however I might just have to try them, the gun will decide ultimately. Originally, I had thought of going from 165’s to 180’s with conventional bullets, but then this new bullet technology with Hammers & CEB’s has come along & like lighter/faster bullets that fragment with the shank continuing on as a solid. (Sounds like a pretty damn good idea) I have always respected the Swift A-Frames, their limitations are availability & low BC for the longer shots, they do kill very effectively. I do feel as the barrel is only 20”, that I have to make up in velocity with bullet weight selection. (?)

Tikka WSM long Action…same WSM cartridge built on a 7Mag long action, for reloading longer bullets seated further out was the custom design idea to make up for the short barrel suppressor setup & reloading custom loads.

 

[Jetjockey]

Thanks for the good responses so far, very good useful information. I have never considered going up to 200 gr bullets, however I might just have to try them, the gun will decide ultimately. Originally, I had thought of going from 165’s to 180’s with conventional bullets, but then this new bullet technology with Hammers & CEB’s has come along & like lighter/faster bullets that fragment with the shank continuing on as a solid. (Sounds like a pretty damn good idea) I have always respected the Swift A-Frames, their limitations are availability & low BC for the longer shots, they do kill very effectively. I do feel as the barrel is only 20”, that I have to make up in velocity with bullet weight selection. (?)

Tikka WSM long Action…same WSM cartridge built on a 7Mag long action, for reloading longer bullets seated further out was the custom design idea to make up for the short barrel suppressor setup & reloading custom loads.

If a kudu can do this to an Accubond, I’d be really concerned what a kudu could do to a ELD-X, or other bullets meant to fragment with the shank continuing on, and let’s face it, kudu aren’t the toughest animals in Africa to kill. With thinner skinned animals like deer, sure, but when you’re throwing tough African plains game animals in the mix, or N American animals like elk, I want penetration and controlled expansion. This kudu took a 200gr Accubond from about 150 yards, and it didn’t get full pass through. Pretty darn close though as you can see the bullet against the skin. It hit lots of bone some place along the way. Every PG animal I shot went about 50-100 yards and died with one shot, but none had that instant band flop. I’m perfectly OK with that on African animals where a lost animal equals a trophy fee.

 

[Fryeguy]

I wouldn’t even consider an ELDX. Our rep told us before we went about a couple of nightmare hunts involving ELDX bullets. One hunt involved a perfectly placed shot in low shoulder broadside shot, that should have taken out heart. They found it the next day still alive and on its feet, they shot it again with accubonds. The ELDX hit bone and completely exploded. Didn’t even break front leg bone. The accubonds penetrated and did the job

 

[YancyW]

I wouldn’t even consider an ELDX. Our rep told us before we went about a couple of nightmare hunts involving ELDX bullets. One hunt involved a perfectly placed shot in low shoulder broadside shot, that should have taken out heart. They found it the next day still alive and on its feet, they shot it again with accubonds. The ELDX hit bone and completely exploded. Didn’t even break front leg bone. The accubonds penetrated and did the job

I've had accubonds fail spectacularly, I have never had an ELD-X fail to preform extremely well on a game animal. Anecdotal evidence can cause all kinds of results. Just because I've had couple of very bad experiences with accubonds doesn't mean I don't use them, I just now you can get outlier results when you deal small sample sizes.

 

[CamoManJ]

I’ve had good results with 140 Accubonds in my former 270, all easy 1 shot kills out to 250 yards. I’m not much of Hornady fan for hunting, just for target shooting. This time around, I’d like to try something new…quite possibly the Hammers or the CEB & Terminal Ascent or Barnes TTSX. Just, which weight for those animals listed? 150’s? 165’s? 168’s? 180’s? (I don’t think I’m going to try 200’s, I prefer velocity for penetration) We plan to run hot as safely and accurately as we can with the longer setup.

 

[RLL]

If you’re gonna run them as hot as safely possible, then there’s really not much difference. 180s will carry a slight edge on kinetic energy if you have to shoot out past 2/300 yards. We had pass throughs on almost every hammer shank, except buff and eland, with the nose peeling off raidiating, slicing and dicing a volume of organs, arteries, etc..these Hammers and CEBs are a step change from other great monos like TTSX and Ascents. And I like to shoot them all!