Bullet queation5

[ShadowDelta]

So, my father in law and I are going hunting in CO unit 81/80 i think, and im bring my Tikka T3 in 300 wsm.  I live in TX, and got the gun to go Barbary sheep hunting in NM. Currently i have 2 round, Federal Fusion 150, and Barnes Factory Loaded TTSX in 150.  When i started shooting the barnes, no shit, i was get like 4 FOOT GROUPS at 100yds.  It just didnt seek to like that copper bullet, idk why.  That hurt cause they were like $50/box.  Got some fusion, and boom, average around just about 3/4" at 100yds.  Got to reading, and found several forums say unless you hit the tradition kill zone on the animal, the 150gr fusion may disappoint.  What grain range should i be looking for?  Also, to help with my Tikkas lite barrel, im sending it off to Teludyne Tech to have their Straight Jacket System put on, and maybe then i can shoot copper bullets or similar non lead core bullets threw the barrel

 

[backcountry_hunter]

I would maybe try the barnes in a 180.... In that caliber I don't know that I would ever shoot a 150 grain for any reason out of a 300wsm. a 150 will be much shorter with a significantly less ballistic coefficient. the wsm is already sending a 180 pretty fast, a screaming 150 might not be stabilizing well. Personally if you can afford not to, I wouldn't shoot fusions. They will fragment and out of something screaming like a 300 or 7mm it's bound to come apart. Soft tissue you'll have adequate results at best, you connect with a rib or leg and you'll be wishing you spent a little extra $$. I know there will be people that say you can do it with fusions and I don't dispute that, but if you can afford a better bullet, you should. Anything bonded or something like a partition should do what you're looking for but in all honesty you're already shooting (what I consider to be) the best in a TTSX, just gotta find one that works.


Tikka is famous for producing ridiculously accurate guns for the money.... Before I had aftermarket work done I'd search for another load.

 

[ILbowhntr]

Personally, I prefer a 180 bullet in a .30. I load the Swift Scirocco for my '06 and .300SAUM. Get sub MOA groups out of both. I feel better with a little extra weight heading out. I'd pick up 2 or 3 boxes of 180 grain ammo and see what happens. Nosler makes some great ammo. I've never been able to get any Barnes bullet to group for me.

 

[ShadowDelta]

I would maybe try the barnes in a 180.... In that caliber I don't know that I would ever shoot a 150 grain for any reason out of a 300wsm. a 150 will be much shorter with a significantly less ballistic coefficient. the wsm is already sending a 180 pretty fast, a screaming 150 might not be stabilizing well. Personally if you can afford not to, I wouldn't shoot fusions. They will fragment and out of something screaming like a 300 or 7mm it's bound to come apart. Soft tissue you'll have adequate results at best, you connect with a rib or leg and you'll be wishing you spent a little extra $$. I know there will be people that say you can do it with fusions and I don't dispute that, but if you can afford a better bullet, you should. Anything bonded or something like a partition should do what you're looking for but in all honesty you're already shooting (what I consider to be) the best in a TTSX, just gotta find one that works.


Tikka is famous for producing ridiculously accurate guns for the money.... Before I had aftermarket work done I'd search for another load.

I have a few boxes of different in route in the 180 to 200 gr ranges.  As to Tikka, i have 2 currently, and like a fool sold a t3 varmiter in 22-250 when i was in the army.  I slayed so many Pdogs when i was stationed at Ft Carson. 
The Straight Jacket system is scifi level stuff, they are turning old Mosin/enfields into sub MOA tact drivers with surplus ammo.  So this could only improve my chances of a hit if i dont goober it.  Im really trying to find federal ammo new Edge TRL ammo....but its not out from what i can find

 

[ShadowDelta]

I also used a fusion 150 gr on a Tx white tail last year, and it ruined one shoulder in terms of meat.  It was over kill.  He dropped so fast, that i didnt see the other deer that was near by, and thought i missed as the other deer ran off.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

The Straight Jacket system is scifi level stuff, they are turning old Mosin/enfields into sub MOA tact drivers with surplus ammo.  So this could only improve my chances of a hit if i dont goober it.  Im really trying to find federal ammo new Edge TRL ammo....but its not out from what i can find

I'm well aware of the SJ system.... and really if your heart is set on it then by all means, it's your money. I was simply saying that it's probably not needed for all hunting purposes. If you were building a 1000yd benchrest or something where long range precision really comes into play maybe but IMO you already own a <1MOA rifle, it just simply doesn't like one of the rounds you picked (not at all uncommon). You're gun is likely a better shot than the shooter behind it in it's current state (not criticizing you, it's just the case w/ 99.9% of rifle/shooter combos), it's just a matter now of finding a round it likes.


On all my mountain rifles I try to keep things as light and least cumbersome as possible. The cost vs. gains of a SJ on your tikka wouldn't be there for me but like I said, if it works for you that's the only person you need to worry about.


as far as ammo I would try a partition, scirocco or possibly the new accubond long ranges in 190's.... Although accubonds wouldn't be my first choice above the other 2, it would have a higher BC with the added weight/longer bullet and might make your gun a real tack driver.

 

[ShadowDelta]

The Straight Jacket system is scifi level stuff, they are turning old Mosin/enfields into sub MOA tact drivers with surplus ammo.  So this could only improve my chances of a hit if i dont goober it.  Im really trying to find federal ammo new Edge TRL ammo....but its not out from what i can find

I'm well aware of the SJ system.... and really if your heart is set on it then by all means, it's your money. I was simply saying that it's probably not needed for all hunting purposes. If you were building a 1000yd benchrest or something where long range precision really comes into play maybe but IMO you already own a <1MOA rifle, it just simply doesn't like one of the rounds you picked (not at all uncommon). You're gun is likely a better shot than the shooter behind it in it's current state (not criticizing you, it's just the case w/ 99.9% of rifle/shooter combos), it's just a matter now of finding a round it likes.


On all my mountain rifles I try to keep things as light and least cumbersome as possible. The cost vs. gains of a SJ on your tikka wouldn't be there for me but like I said, if it works for you that's the only person you need to worry about.


as far as ammo I would try a partition, scirocco or possibly the new accubond long ranges in 190's.... Although accubonds wouldn't be my first choice above the other 2, it would have a higher BC with the added weight/longer bullet and might make your gun a real tack driver.

The extra weight added is just over a pound.  The gun is light as it is, so this was a consideration when hunting at 10k ft.
One of the boxes on the way are Nosler Partition.  I will try and find some swift bullets, i dont see them already loaded in factory ammo that often.  Seen the once in 300 UltraMag, but not much else

I just went to Swifts website, the dont make load ammo in 300 wsm in either the Scirroco or A Frame

 

[backcountry_hunter]

If you're not reloding, you could try an accubond 180 or a 190(what i'd try).... Their construction is very similar to a scirocco. They just don't retain quite as much weight. In my mind, a partition trumps them both but isn't quite as "sexy" as some of the new designs....


remington was making a factory 180 scirocco's but it looks like they're discontinued now? not sure if demand was low. If you're a reloader this caliber is getting to be almost as versatile as a 7mm. Some might even argue more.

 

[ShadowDelta]

If you're not reloding, you could try an accubond 180 or a 190(what i'd try).... Their construction is very similar to a scirocco. They just don't retain quite as much weight. In my mind, a partition trumps them both but isn't quite as "sexy" as some of the new designs....


remington was making a factory 180 scirocco's but it looks like they're discontinued now? not sure if demand was low. If you're a reloader this caliber is getting to be almost as versatile as a 7mm. Some might even argue more.

I have been looking alot of places found some factory loaded stuff, but all signs point to the 180 Nosler Partition as the no bullshit working mans bullet.  I do reload, but i dont have dies for 300 wsm...yet! Ha, my wife is going to murder me.  I will get some factory loads, and then explore some hand loads when all the needed accessories arrive. 
On a side not, i got to reading about 338 Federal....and feel i need that gun now too.  Anyone have experience with it?  On paper the round looks impressive

 

[backcountry_hunter]

I have been looking alot of places found some factory loaded stuff, but all signs point to the 180 Nosler Partition as the no bullshit working mans bullet.  I do reload, but i dont have dies for 300 wsm...yet! Ha, my wife is going to murder me.  I will get some factory loads, and then explore some hand loads when all the needed accessories arrive. 
On a side not, i got to reading about 338 Federal....and feel i need that gun now too.  Anyone have experience with it?  On paper the round looks impressive

dies for the 300wsm are cheap, I may even have an extra set. Partitions have been doing what new bullet engineers have been trying to duplicate for decades. They (in my opinion) are still king of the controlled expansion bullets, the all coppers don't fragment, have a higher BC and retain almost 100% of their weight which is why I've somewhat transitioned away but alot of the "old timers" still shoot (for good reason) these despite modern designs just because they simply work. My dad still to this day (in his 70's) still shoots partitions at everything from pronghorn to elk to Africa game.....


338 fed is a cult caliber for sure. I don't own one but have 2 different buddies that do, both in kimbers. For a while they were making their montana and possibly their adirondack in 338 fed. I'm not sure if they are anymore due to demand. Besides that I've seen a few tikka's in a 338 fed which might be your most economical way to go to that caliber. It's a cool little round, that hopefully is here for years to come.... It won't do what a bunch of my other guns will though which is why I never pursued it. The guys that have them love them, I think there's a bigger following with the alaska guys though.

 

[MT_mulies]

Well my whole family and I shoot 270s with bullets anywhere from 130-150. It might be a smaller gun, but that doesn't matter when you make good shots, only when you make bad shots, but I try to only shoot at animals standing still. I reload 140 gr barnes triple shock bullets. And they do just fine for big game. I haven't hit a shoulder yet with one, but I don't have any worries with the barnes bullet. I shoot a 1 inch group at 100. I could probably get it better, but I go by the 1/2 gr of powder and not down to the 1/10 gr for powder like a lot of people.

 

[Sask hunter]

I haven found 150's are too light in a 300 and don't penetrate well. If you have the Barnes try different lengths they can be sensitive. If not I would go with 180's