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300 RCM handloading question

hadjii
I am wondering what the concensus would be of down-loading the 300 RCM to say, that of a 308 Winchester for target shooting, or possibly light skinned deer hunting. My thinking is that if I coould down-load the round, then I would also have the capability of loading the round up to what it is capable of for heavier game such as Elk or Moose. Please don't suggest that I just buy a 308, that's not what I want to do. Thanks for the help
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6 comments

Date Votes
  • Ambrose
    Sure, why not. Just stay away from the slow burning powders (ie, IMR4831 & slower) as they have been known to create "pressure excursions" (read: BLOW-UP) in reduced loads. If I were doing it, I'd probably go with around 50 gr. of H4895, IMR4895, IMR4064, or Varget and either a 150 gr. or 165 gr. bullet. That would probably get you about 2700 fps or so. I think that's about what you're after.
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  • Hawkshaw
    Hello Hadji---I generaly agree with Ambrose, with a significant caveat!!!!! That being that I WOULD NOT go below any listed powder charge in the specific manual you are using. The high and low charges are there for a reason. HAWKSHAW
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  • WarGames
    What is a 300 RCM?
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  • nononsense
    WarGames,

    .300 Ruger Compact Magnum.


    hadjii,

    I'm not sure why you want to pursue this tact but it is possible to use 155 gr. Lapua Scenar bullets over either IMR-3031 or V V N-150 to lower the velocity and still maintain good efficiency and accuracy.

    Best.

    ADDED:

    Excellent!

    Thanks for explaining.

    Best.
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  • hadjii
    nononsense I have a young man here who belongs to a good friend of mine that I grew up hunting with. He is a wirey 15 year old, and a little light in the butt if ya know what I mean. He has shot ducks and geese since he was about 8, so I think he could probably handle the gun fine, but I thought it would be best to get him started with some light loads before I let him handle the full power factory or handloads.
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  • Ambrose
    I don't have an RCM or a SAUM but I just got a new rifle in .325 WSM which should get similiar results as your .300 RCM. I don't usually experiment with reduced loads in large cases like these since I have several rifles in .308, but your question has peaked my curiosity. I have not started loading for this rifle yet, as I am still accumulating the stuff needed to reload a new cartridge. I think I'll take the advice I gave you and start with 50 gr. of one of the medium burning powders and some 150 gr. bullets I have on hand. The negative results I will be looking for are poor obturation and/or wide extreme spread in velocity.

    Unfortunately, since my range is in wet, soggy condition, I may not be able to get back to you with results in time for any information to do you any good.

    Incidently FWIW: Free recoil, assuming a 9 lb. rifle/scope computes as: 150 gr. bullet @ 2700 fps w/50 gr. of powder=14.4 ft/lbs. Top loads with 180 & 200 gr. bullets are 23.4 & 23.5 ft/lbs. respectively.
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