I am working up loads for my Savage model 116 in .300 Win Mag.
It shoots factory Nosler 180gr E-Tip fairly well. I have enough once fired brass to start working up my own loads to tighten up the groups a bit.
My question pertains to whether I should be concerned about group size versus velocity/energy for hunting purposes.
Current base load info: Nosler case, Fed LRMP, 180gr E-tip. From there I'm experimenting with powder charge and OAL.
Hodgdon puts H4831SC at 67.8gr on the low end and 71.8gr on the high end. At the low end I get 1/2moa groups at 100yds at 2637 fps.
On the high end I get 3/4 moa groups at 100yds at 2855 fps. As I get near the top of the powder charge range the group POI climbs 1-2 MOA but stays together. Nosler factory 180gr E-tip ammo runs 2900fps (on my chrono).
OAL listed for .300wm max is 3.34. The factory ammo I'm using varies from 3.30-3.315. I'm experimenting at 3.327 which is giving me my best groups.
Don't ask how far off the lands. In this rifle, to get the OAL such that it seats the bullet near the lands the round wouldn't fit the magazine nor would it be secured well in the case. By my calculations I'm about .18 off the lands.
Anyway... groups or velocity/energy?
I'm not looking for one hole groups (would be nice) just minute of elk at 400 yds.
My wife thinks I'm being too anal. Well it is a belted magnum so I'm being pretty anal about the loads.
Thanks for any insight.