Loaded up some 180 gr bullets in the 300 WM with various loads. Lowest velocity was around 2700 but I got my best accuracy with one max load that put 3 in one nice hole. I chronied two and they are running 3200+ which seemed fast but no signs of excessive pressures.
If they were running 3150 I would have never given it a second thought but now am curious as to what others are getting from 24-26 inch barrels with 180's.

I does sound fast, what's the powder and charge?

If you are running 180s from a 24-26 over 3100, make sure your life insurance is paid up!!!!!

The fasted load on hodgdons website shows 3045 fps from a 24 inch barrel. If it is truly going that fast and your barrel is 24 inches then your load is hot. If you have a 26 inch barrel you might get another 100 fps out of it.

It is unusual for a hot load to shoot that well. Are you sure your chronograph is accurate?

What load are you using?

I'm betting this is a chronograph error.

I've worked up some loads with 180 gr Nosler PTs behind MRP that gave over 3100 fps, but for trouble-free hunting loads, I think a guy should back off to around 3000 fps. Bob Hagel has published several loads that meet that mark from a 24" barrel:

78/H4831/3156 fps
78/N205/3195
75/?4350/3140
78/MRP/3142
79/WW785/3108
76/IMR4831/3139


Ken Waters gets close, also a 24" barrel:

77/H4831/3095 fps

These guys were old school and did their load development by the now-defunct case head expansion method. This is largely frowned upon nowadays. Obviously, YMMV.

The .300 Win. Mag. is under-loaded from the factory given modern powders. Factory 150 velocity is 3290, but it is possible to hit 3500. Factory 180 gr. velocity is 2960 but it *is* possible to get 3100 fps.

http://reloadersnest.com/query_bw.asp?CaliberID=61&BulletWeight=180

Frankly, I've found that it is easier to achieve 3000 fps with a 200 gr bullet than 3100 fps with a 180 gr pill, from 3 different rifles. But to repeat, I think a prudent shooter should back off around 100 fps for trouble-free hunting loads and good case life.

My 300 Win Mag load with a 180 AB runs 3160 fps in a 26" barrel. It's a max load, and shoots lights out. So, 3200 is not far off. I ran a 190 SMK at 3050 for years.

Not completely ruling out Chrono error but the Magneto-speed has not failed me yet.

Load was 75gr of 4000 MR which is max load from Alliant website and Hornady shows max of 74.4 IIRC and both sources seem to be conservative normally.

The new line of Alliant Power Pro powders are freakin' awesome- 2000MR and 4000MR. They will yield higher speeds. So, I think you are at the powder max and getting the most fps you can. Just watch for sticky bolt lift and shiny spots on the case head.

Went back again today just to double check speeds and see if accuracy was a fluke. Still no signs of pressure and these rounds were the same brass from before as I wanted to see if primer pockets were still tight.
Chrono


3 shots

Stick with it then. Can't beat the pattern.

Impressed enough with the performance in this gun and it's doing well in the 6mm CM so I picked up 8 lbs of the 4000MR yesterday,

I Also grabbed 8 lbs of IMR4007SSC.......have used IMR4007SSC in the 6.5 Creedmoor prior to it being supposedly discontinued but tried it again in the newer AR in the 6.5 and it shot great but only had a little left.

where did you find the powder?

Trainer Hale.

You might back off about 1 grain or so for when the temps increase so it does not bite you.

Possibly...... But I checked this powder back when temps were above 90 degrees and shot ammo that was abient temps then put the same ammo in ice water for a hour and shot it with no changes in velocity to speak of. Of course that was a different caliber/ gun but it does indicate to me that the advertised temp stability of this powder has some validity.
For sake of full disclosure this is the first caliber I have shot it in that has had such low ES/SD numbers though. I am still playing around with it in two other calibers hoping for good results as well.
Getting it for under 19.00 a pound has me hoping for the best.

I cannot find a website for them. Do you know if they ship powder. I would like to give it a try in my 300.

I am guessing they do not ship but unless they had more somewhere stored I got the only container they had.
They are in Marion, Tx and are a skeet range and sell mostly shotgun reloading supplies but carry all types of powder. They don't sell bullets brass etc.

Mine runs 3300 with 168gr ttsx w/78gr RL22 26" barrel