300 WinMag - lead free

[VertigoBE]

Hello AH,

would anyone have any good factory ammo (preferably easy to source in Europe) recommendations for the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, but lead free. It should be useable on larger game as well, for when I take this rifle to Africa.

It is not yet an obligation here in Europe, but it likely will be sooner rather than later. I'd like to hear some opinions on this matter. Especially from Norma and RWS (as these are the most prevalent here), but I'm open to other suggestions.

Thanks!

V.

 

[mdwest]

I dont know the availability of Barnes factory ammo in Europe.. but if you have to go lead free, the Vor-Tx factory ammo is pretty hard to beat IMO.. especially in a magnum caliber (the TTSX and TSX bullets like speed)..

Barnes VOR-TX 300 Winchester Mag Ammo 180 Grain Barnes Tipped

Barnes bullets have historically had the reputation of offering quick, clean and humane kills. Now they are taking their highly regarded bullets to the...

www.midwayusa.com

I've used Vor-tx in a wide variety of calibers (270, 308, 30-06, 375 H&H, etc) and have loaded the TTSX and TSX bullets to Barnes factory speeds across many more calibers (7x57, 300 H&H, etc).. and have hunted everything from blacktail deer, whitetail deer, feral hogs, elk, etc in the US to probably 15-20 different PG species in Africa... Never once have I had a performance problem from any caliber on any species of animal I have used it on..

 

[375Fox]

Might consider trying Sako’s ammunition. Barnes ammo is really high quality. I was asked to bring some for my Spanish hunt. They’ve apparently stopped distribution in Europe, at least Spain, unfortunately.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello AH,

would anyone have any good factory ammo (preferably easy to source in Europe) recommendations for the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, but lead free. It should be useable on larger game as well, for when I take this rifle to Africa.

It is not yet an obligation here in Europe, but it likely will be sooner rather than later. I'd like to hear some opinions on this matter. Especially from Norma and RWS (as these are the most prevalent here), but I'm open to other suggestions.

Thanks!

V.

Barnes TSX

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Hi, Vertigo.

i’ve successfully used this in Denmark for red stag. Very affordable European brand.

300 WIN. MAG. – TXRG (V342092) – 180 GRS – Sellier & Bellot

www.sellier-bellot.cz

 

[YancyW]

I used Norma lead free ammo in a 7x64 I have. It shot well and I would have zero concerns about performance. Might be easier to find for you.

 

[PeteG]

Hello AH,

would anyone have any good factory ammo (preferably easy to source in Europe) recommendations for the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, but lead free. It should be useable on larger game as well, for when I take this rifle to Africa.

It is not yet an obligation here in Europe, but it likely will be sooner rather than later. I'd like to hear some opinions on this matter. Especially from Norma and RWS (as these are the most prevalent here), but I'm open to other suggestions.

Thanks!

V.

Based on my recent experiences, I would throw a vote in for the TTSX. I have been impressed with the performance on the last few animals.
A client using TSX (300wm 200gr) on his last safari had a number of shots go through without expanding. Not sure why.

 

[VertigoBE]

This is purely the website info. The lead free options for these four brands.

The Norma Eco Strike, RWS HIT and S&B Exergy Blue still look like the best ones on paper, together with the Barnes Vor-TX (that I'll likely will not be able to get a hold off)

 

[mark-hunter]

Significant drop in energy in Sellier Bellot on above table, and modest velocity. Approaching 30-06 level.
I wonder why?

 

[JimP]

Check this link for Barnes International Distributors. It doesn't mean that they have anything in stock but it will give you a start.

International Distributors - Barnes Bullets

Search Barnes Bullets distributors around the world.

www.barnesbullets.com

 

[Skshyk]

Barnes TSX

 

[VertigoBE]

Significant drop in energy in Sellier Bellot on above table, and modest velocity. Approaching 30-06 level.
I wonder why?

Some of them like the "Driven Hunt" from RWS, are setup for max expansion, lower penetration and have very wide tips. Good for short range. Others are setup with plastic tips and are more the aerodynamic versions.

 

[Inline6]

Based on my recent experiences, I would throw a vote in for the TTSX. I have been impressed with the performance on the last few animals.
A client using TSX (300wm 200gr) on his last safari had a number of shots go through without expanding. Not sure why.

My guess he reloaded them. They were not pushed fast enough for them to open at the distance used. Speed is your friend with mono bullets. He would have been better off using a 150gr. VS a 200gr. They need speed to perform.

 

[mark-hunter]

Except, Sellier Bellot have reputation of having a mild loads.

I use them rarely and only for target practice. Because S&B is cheapest on local market

But in the beggining I used them for hunting in semi auto 9.3, And last lot that I bought did not have enough power to cycle the bolt.
When round was fired, bolt moved aft and forward, casing ejected but next round was not stripped from magazine.
Since then I stopped them using in hunting at all. My semi auto, eats all other ammo without a problem

I was always lazy to measure velocity of S&B , but once I will, in order to compare with other factory ammo.
Sako amunition and norma have reputation of being hot, for factory ammo standard

 

[PeteG]

My guess he reloaded them. They were not pushed fast enough for them to open at the distance used. Speed is your friend with mono bullets. He would have been better off using a 150gr. VS a 200gr. They need speed to perform.

They were supplied by a well known maker.
I was surprised. I expected better.

 

[Inline6]

They were supplied by a well known maker.
I was surprised. I expected better.

Bullets don't control how they are loaded. We used 180 Peregrine in my sons 300wm. They were right at 3k fps, all pass through with the exception of a Bluewilder beast. Of the 11 animals shot with them only 2 were DRT. The bullets just do not do the same damage as cup-and-core.

 

[Inline6]

For reference.

 

[PeteG]

Bullets don't control how they are loaded. We used 180 Peregrine in my sons 300wm. They were right at 3k fps, all pass through with the exception of a Bluewilder beast. Of the 11 animals shot with them only 2 were DRT. The bullets just do not do the same damage as cup-and-core.

For sure.

I use peregrines too. Fantastic components.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Barnes TSX

Or TTSX.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Based on my recent experiences, I would throw a vote in for the TTSX. I have been impressed with the performance on the last few animals.
A client using TSX (300wm 200gr) on his last safari had a number of shots go through without expanding. Not sure why.

Yes, the TTSX bullet opens up a little sooner than the TSX. I shot 180gr. TTSXs out of my .300WM and took 12 animals on my one and only African PG hunt in June 2022. Only my impala (ran 100yds and died) and a blue wildebeest (ran 40yds and died) were not one shot kills. I hit the impala a little far back at 287yds. and just clipped the heart of the wildebeest facing me at about 150yds. Never had to take a second shot on ANY animal. Although I've shot all my elk with 225gr. Core Lokts out of my .338WM at less than 150yds., I'm now going with the TTSX bullet.