Well, i’m super bummed because after months of looking forward to testing the 200 grain Federal Edge TLR bullets with my Christensen Mesa with a 1/10 twist barrel, i’ve realized that they’re just too long for my barrel and had trouble getting under 1.5 in groups

Already, spent $100 buying bullets (not factory) and it took forever to find them, so I’m back to the drawing board. Basically, I just want a bullet that will leave a good blood trail on elk or any African plains game. From my research, loved the Edge TLR’s performance and ability to provide a good blood trail because of the combination of being able to penetrate while expanding enough to create good exit wound. That said, I’ve gotta be able to shoot sub MOAs.

All that said, do you think i could get away with a lower grain/shorter bullet like a 180? If so, which one? I know Precision Hunters (ELDX) are popular, but worry they expand too quickly. Also, i guess they’re 200 grain. I guess Barnes ain’t bad either, but they done expand enough.

If you want a blood trail try the barnes TTSX they expand better than the TSX and you could go with a 165gr if you're not shooting long distances.

200 gr are too long for your magazine?

He said too long for the barrel. I’m not sure what he’s referring to, in this particular case.

Not sure what you mean by too long but you might look at the 175gr in the same bullet. They shoot very well from my 300 WSM and at 514 yds blew thru both shoulders of a cow elk and left a great blood trail. I have not shot them further than 650 but they shot good groups out to that distance.

Closest thing to a one rifle one load solution that will absolutely produce exit wounds.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001616820?pid=865531

That's why I asked about the magazine hoping he miswrote what he meant to say.

I was stating that to say that my barrel has a 1:10 twist rate which causes longer bullets not to shoot as precisely. The TLR is a pretty long bullet as is, and with a 200 grain bullet, my gun doesn’t seem to like it. If my gun had a different twist, I think it would probably shoot better.

What makes the TTSX expand better? Every thing i read on them is that they really don’t expand much, especially over 300 yards, and have like a 90%+ weight retention because their copper make up. Like I said, i want a good exit wound, which I fear won’t be the case and they’ll be the size of a dime and not the half dollar I’m looking for.

1:10" .30 cal is MADE for longer bullets. You can run past 220 gr if you want to.


Do a google search for "barrel twist rate chart".

You will see one from Lilja barrels and one from Shilen barrels.

No as FG said you should be fine with that twist rate. I shoot 225’s from a 1/10.5 twist and they shoot great.

How far off the lands are you? If you really want to use those bullets I would experiment a little and see if you can tune them to get what you want.
How many different loads have you tried?

Do you have a proven load to confirm you do not have an issue with the rifle or scope system?

I'm running a 212 ELDX right now-- I shot it in a 26" Christensen Ridgeline @ 2950fps, shot around .7" for me, same load showing promise in a 24" Rem 700.

https://dallasreloads.com/product/212-grain-eld-x-norma-brass/

This entire comment is 100% false. If your rifle is a 1:10" twist and is making nice round holes (meaning your bullet is 100% stable), then it can be made to shoot accurately. There are a few rounds that I can say I know intimately, and the 300 WM is one of them. I shot competition with a 300 WM for many years and burned out several barrels shooting the heavy bullets in a 1:11" twist (slower twist than yours). Longer bullets in a given twist rate do have less RPM's with slightly less stability than a shorter/lighter bullet going faster. But they are all still 100% stable and can be made to shoot very well with the right load.

"My gun doesn’t seem to like it" comment is correct and false at the same time. Yes, your gun currently does not shoot that bullet accurately. But what your gun does not like is the load used with that bullet, not the bullet itself. I could 100% dial in that bullet in your 300 WM with the right powder and powder charge when loading ammo with tight powder charge consistencies. Factory ammunition often has large powder charge variances inside the case and causes consistency and accuracy issues. I see this all the time.

The most common twist in a 300 WM is a 1:10", and will easily stabilize and shoot accurately other heavier and longer bullets, like the 230 Berger and Hornady 225 ELDM.

If you have a certain bullet you want loaded, let me know and I can load it. The 300 WM ammo I make is some of the best ammo I can produce. The calibers that I personally shoot and test often is some of the best tuned ammo I can make.

That bullet is 1.622" long. Running the stability calculator, it's at 1.31", which is in the marginal stability range, but certainly within good limits and should easily be made to shoot well.

https://bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

https://www.federalpremium.com/reloading/bullets/edge-tlr-component-bullet/11-PB308ETLR2.html


Also, are you loading your own ammo, or factory ammo? If loading your own, what powder and powder charge, and what is your COAL?

Also, describe the groups of your rifle? Were they stringing? The CA rifles often have trouble maintaining consistency once they start to heat up.

Listen to Chad, he has shot more .300 Win Mag than most people do in .22LR. fwiw - I used a 210 Berger in a 1:11” and they worked fine.

200 grain Accubond or Partition. I've found regular Accubunds easy for load development.

reloaded my bullets again and backed the seating off the rifling a little bit. What’s been your experience with that? Any better luck?