Hey all - was lucky enough to get drawn for both deer and elk in Arizona this year (unit 5)and will be heading home! That being said looking for some comments or advice on loads using 165 grain Sierra Gamekings in the 300. I have the Sierra book and load data, but curious if there is someone that's loaded these bullets in that caliber. This would be for a Ruger that shot ok with some factory 180's. Have a couple of brass options and cci mag primers as well as a access to several powder options.

Thanks for any advice.

why would you not go with a heavier bullet? a 300 should be able to hang in the 190-220 issue with no issues...

What is your max distance on a shot?

I have heard mix things on game kings. Nosler and Barnes are considered go to from what i have seen. I went with nosler on my 300 but haven't really taken it out yet

I'm not a sierra fan after having multiple issues with their on game performance.

However 165-180gr should do fine for both deer and elk.

My favorite powder for .270win and .300 is reloader 22 with a magnum primer; and for .300 I have found that 1 grain under max load usually gives me the best results for accuracy and on deer it truly shines....

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/p...p;cartridge=141

I'm sure you already know that every gun is different. One load that works great in my rifle may shoot like a dog turd in yours.

That said, I use H4831 in my 300 WM applications (3 different ones), two with 165 gr accubonds (74.5gr and 74gr) and one with 180 (73gr) accubonds.

If you go to the bigger bullets 190+ grains, look at Retumbo.

I run 168gr TTSX over 78gr RL22

Nothing wrong with a 165gr but I would sure look at some of the different bonded core bullets. Sierras are accurate but known for cup and core separation. Try 165gr Accubonds. I load 'em with 82.5gr of RL-25. Accuracy is great and gives better velocity than RL-22.

Thanks for the replies all. I have heard about some of these issues regarding Gamekings but have not experienced that myself. I will be looking at the Barnes as well. As far as shot distance until I know how this gun performs I can't say. My .270 I will take out to 400 but until I know how this performs with what I load I will wait and see what I feel comfortable with.

180 gr nosler partitions

Here is the IMR4350 Group

Good shooting. I run the 208 Amax over H1000 and it is "sub" sub-moa out to 600 yards so far. I shot 3 shots @ 2.34" at 600 yards. Chad with Dallas Custom Reloads is the 300WM wizard and he helped me immensely. My loads would not be what they are if I had not talked with him first. I hope he will chime in here!

The Sierra Gameking out of a .300 Winny might be a little fragile to be ideal for elk, IMO.

I have taken a Roosevelt elk and my best all-time mule deer with the 165 gr Accubond out of my .300 WinMag (82.5/R22/3210fps). I have also shot caribou and moose with the 165 Partition.

John Barsness has written that the Nosler Accubond is accurate like a Ballistic Tip and stout like a Partition.

I'm going with the 165 Accubond in two weeks on my free-range elk hunt in West Texas.

I sure hope you put the A-max over the powder.... Otherwise, Chad did not help you as much as you think he did!

LOL! Nice. Thanks!!

I have never shot an elk in my life, but when I get a chance to a 165 grain gameking will not make my list of possible bullet choices out of my 300.

LOL. Can't type today I guess.

Well apparently you can shoot pretty well

180 grain Speer Spitzer Boat Tail get's my vote for Elk out of a 300 WM!

I personally have not seen issues with on game performance from Sierra. I have taken 5 elk with my .270 shooting 130 grain game kings with no issue. The first three were cows (one with a bonus radio collar, elk was shot about 250 miles from where AZ game and fish had collared it), and the last two both bulls. Honestly the .300 will probably remain in backup status for both the deer and elk hunt.

I did finally get a load with the 110 grain accubonds to group in my .257, so I am excited to see if I can test their on game performance this year.

I tend away from traditional cup and core bullets for hunting. Im picky I guess I want an exit and good expansion for a blood trail because I know not all deer fall dead on the spot. Every cup and core bullet I have ever shot has at one point in time failed to do so. A nosler partition or equal or better build bullet has never failed to do what I want so I don't shoot cup and core.

My FIL shot a 90-100 lb doe with a 270 and 130 or 140 grain sierra game king last year behind the shoulder 100 yards, no exit and a big blown up mess on the inside... which I gutted. Ill pass on them, but feel free to shoot whatever you feel confident in. Pretty much the only cup and core bullet I use is a pro hunter. If I have a undesirable result with them I will probably quit.

This!