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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PrairieGhost" data-source="post: 108635" data-attributes="member: 704">While I was on vacation this thread sure took an interesting turn.  I agree that the 300 WSM can be finicky.  I expected the opposite when I purchased it.  There was a lot of hype about the short fat case which is more accurate, and the lack of a belt.  They also touted less recoil, but it's usually found in a light rifle that kicks the snot out of you.I started shooting Barnes X bullets back in 1989.  Although they have less diameter to the wound channel they have deeper penetration which often results in more cubic inches of destroyed tissue (direct from early advertisements).  I shot them in every caliber I had for about 15 years.  I started shooting long range and gave them up because there are bullets just as deadly today with better ballistic coefficients.  As mentioned above the X bullet will reach vitals from any angle and not to many will do that.  Anyway back to the picky 300WSM.  I have been reading about the new Hornady ELD-X and now have shot about 400 of them.  Previously my 300 WSM would only shoot the 150 SST and 180 Nosler Partition with acceptable accuracy.  The 178 ELD-X will keep a group of five under 1/2 inch with R19.  When loading drop a couple of grains from what the manual tells you.  The ogive is long on the ELD-X bullet and it puts more of the base into your case, resulting in higher velocity, but also higher pressures.  I am 1/2 gr under max and getting 3000 fps with the 178 gr.  Different manuals will give you different max loads so as I mentioned start out a couple of grains low.Edit: darn it's been so long I forgot I posted on this thread already.  Oh well one difference is I have the ELD-X down under 1/2 inch.  Also a warning about threading a deer rifle down to 1/2 inch.  It depends on the caliber and barrel diameter.  Small barrels that are 30 caliber can not be threaded down to 1/2 inch and still have enough steel to be safe.  Your smith will advise you if you can do that or not.Edit again:  Hey Kurtr I tried a different powder in my Creedmoor.  Lucky I dropped two grains because I had high pressure even then.  However, I was at 2992 fps with a 143 gr.  Wow glad I backed off.  I don't know how that load got in a manual, or if it's because of the 143 gr ELD-X or my tight chamber, what.  Now that I am back home I am in hopes of developing a safe load with that powder (and accurate or it's no good).  I am hoping to get 2800 fps or maybe even 2850 fps which would be crazy out of a Creedmoor.  I think I need to chronograph more before I believe what I am seeing.  I did shoot 10 rounds.  2992 was the highest and 2958 was the lowest.  Don't know.  Hard to believe and maybe I don't yet.  I am wondering about the suppressor focusing muzzle blast ahead of the bullet and the chrono reading it.  Of course it doesn't do that with 140 VLD and H4350.  Speaking of H4350 I seen a bundle of it in Bob Wards in Missoula Mt, but didn't buy any.  That was dumb.</blockquote>

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