I am busy looking up loads for the 300 WSM. The rifle I am reloading for has a 24" barrel, 1:10 twist. The components I am intending to load are:
- Bullet: Barnes TSX 165gr
- Norma Brass
- Powder: H4350 (because it is what I have)

So far the load data I have gathered is:
Barnes: Start = 62.4 Max = 69.4c
Hodgdon: Start = 58.0 Max = 62.0c
Hornady: Start = 57.0 Max = 67.5c

Obviously the Hodgdon data is the more conservative of the bunch and is what I'd like to work with.... the Barnes data seems really hot.... What is your experience with this round and what loads have worked best for you - even if the components are different...

Your Hodgdon data is for the 165gr GMX bullet which like the old original Barnes copper bullets has to be reduced from cup and core bullets. I am a bit surprised at how high Barnes lists powder charges, especially at the lengths of their bullets compared to cup and core bullets.

Look at the Hodgdon data for the 165gr Partition and you will see more inline data with what you might expect at a max of 66 grains Max.

Start low and workup. Myself I would prefer H4831 with that cartridge and bullet but these days we work with what we have or can find.

Hey Kmon1 - I actually have some H4831 too and think it would be a better choice but couldn't find any load data..... do you have anything I could run with ?

Just worked up a load for my 300 WSM this past weekend. Using all copper 152 gr Hammer Hunters I went with my standard H4350 powder that has been great with Berger bullets.
My barrel is only 20 inches but 66.5 gr gave me 3120 fps and while I have only shot enough to check speeds and run a ladder test I did take my last round and nailed a 3 inch sticky dot at 654 yds

H-4831 or H-1000 is the potion for .300 WSM

Save that H-4350 for something else.

Every charge you show with the 4350 data is compressed at max. 4831 is slower, I would think for the lighter bullets your using the 4350 may be best bet.

I'd start at the bottom of barnes data and work up.

Have you loaded for 300 WSM before?

No I have not.

.300 WSM, .300 Win Mag, 7 WSM, 7 Rem Mag, and pretty much all magnums, compression is a good thing. That's where they start to shoot well, very frequently. It's not a hard rule, but it is more common than not.

Learning that, many moons ago, has made me select powders that fill the brass. Ammo just tends to shoot more consistently. As an example, you could use H-Varget (faster burn) in 6.5 Creedmoor. It is one of my staple powders, I love the stuff for many applications. But H-4350 is the go-to for 6.5 Creedmoor. H-Varget will not fill the brass. You'll get to pressure before you fill the brass, and you've got to stop adding powder. When you get a 6.5 Creed to shoot well, with H-4350, you've pretty much got the brass full of powder.

That tends to be more important on anything"Magnum".

Hey Jason -

Do you or Kmon1 have any load data for H4381 ? I searched last night but did not find anything I want to rely on... and based on my experience with my 7mm's I agree its a better choice than H4350.

I have lots data with 165 gr but not Barnes bullets specific

My manuals show with 165 weight class H4350 gives more speed with less powder than H4831 but it’s close.

None of my manuals show H1000 as a good choice for that weight class.

With heavier bullets H1000 and H4831 start looking like better options.

All copper bullets bullets being lighter for size length the bullet makers tend to recommend slightly faster burning powders.

Personally I would work a load with both and see what she does

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/node

You will find it on their site.

I load 66 gr of IMR 4350 for my 165 gr Grand Slams.
The rifle is a Sako A7 Tecomate 300 wsm with a 24 " barrel.
It performs well on everything I hunt up here from pronghorn to cow bison so far.

Unless I go to a heavier bullet, it shows H4350.... I could be missing it... wouldn't be the first time..

BULLET WEIGHT 165 GR. HDY GMX

Starting Load Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Hodgdon H380 BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 57.0 2,800 52,500 PSI 61.8 2,993 62,300 PSI
Hodgdon H414 BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 58.0 2,860 53,400 PSI 62.5 3,043 62,900 PSI
Hodgdon H4350 BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 58.0 2,821 52,400 PSI 62.0C 2,986 61,300 PSI
Hodgdon H4895 BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 47.0 2,700 51,900 PSI 51.0 2,887 63,300 PSI
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 58.0 2,867 51,600 PSI 63.0C 3,099 63,300 PSI
Hodgdon Suprform BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 64.0 2,952 51,600 PSI 69.0C 3,169 62,700 PSI
Hodgdon Varget BUY NOW 0.308" 2.840" 51.0 2,810 56,700 PSI 54.5 2,948 63,600 PSI

I seen the powder / weight trade off before with the Hammer Bullets.... just not messed with copper bullets much...

I received load data from Federal for 300WSM with some bullets I got.
They recommended Reloder 16 which is a little bulkier than H4350 so I bet it would be good too. My buddy who reload for his thinks Hybrid 100 is THE powder for 300 WSM.
All things considered you can’t go wrong with H4350. Start there and if it doesn’t shoot then move to next powder.
Of course it could be the bullets

Super Performance burn rate number is 138
H-4831 burn rate number is 137

Super Performance is making the most velocity.

Just because H-4831 is not listed, does not mean it will not work. I know it will work.

Got those dots connected?

Nothing wrong with working up a load with H-4350 and another with H-4831, if you don't mind doing two load work ups.

Ahh... ok I see what your doing... I don't have time to get them both up and running.... I'm just going to choose one and go....

If your barrel is 24" or more, and if you brought me the rifle and both powders. H-4831 is what I'm picking. Back to the case fill topic, mentioned earlier.

H-1000 is my usual go-to powder for WSM. So far I've loaded it in 270 WSM, 7mm WSM, and .300 WSM with great success across the board. You're going to run lighter bullets, than what I typically put in 300 WSM, and H-4831 is a faster burn rate than H-1000, so I would find it very appropriate.

But, if you use H-4350, I won't say bad things.

Yup.... I'm getting these last pieces together and I'll probably be reaching out... putting it together for a friend who drew a Nilgia hunt...on his first try... while I get to stay home with 18 to 20 points on my draws .. oh well...

Had to go back to range today to check a friends 284 Win.
I threw the 300 WSM in the vehicle because I cleaned it down to squeaky clean bare metal.
Fired one shot at 100 just to check zero and hit the top of the X so just dialed on out to 654 and aimed center on the big steel plate….. ready for elk.

The Hammer Bullets are awesome. You can buy sample boxes of 15. Great guy owns it. Don't let the lighter weights fool you, they are pure death.

I’ve loaded a bunch of Sierra 165 and 168’s in 300 WSM for a Rem model 7. In that rifle IMR 4350 shoots exceptionally well. That is a cup and core bullet though. I’m not comfortable posting the powder charge I settled on as it was a little above published data. H 4831SC and RE 22 also yielded acceptable results. I never tried H 4350 in the 300 WSM so I can’t comment on it. Loading lighter Bullets in 7mm and 300 magnums, 4350 accuracy has shined for me.

I have some I haven't had time to work with yet... what gets me is the weight to twist rate trade... I like the heavier bullets but it looks like they might not stabilize in my 7mm's. The box I have are 140gr / 1:9.25 and I am looking forward to seeing what they will do...

Nice !!