Federal "High Energy" loads

[M.T. Pockets]

I wrote to Federal Catridge company when I found out that they were discontinuing a particular load that I really like. I commented on how I think I thought it was the best factory load available, and asked if the load would ever be available in the future.

Here is the answer I got back, in it's entirety.

"Sorry"

[fabsroman]

Don't you love people like that?

[rem 700]

Perhaps Hornady light mags can take up the job now...

[M.T. Pockets]

It would be a great opportunity for Hornady to expand their line. The load I liked was Federal's .300 Win Mag with the 200 grain Noslers. Not many factory loads available with Nosler partitions since there are so many "new & improved" technical bullets that can almost think.

I always thought the real advantage of a .300 Win. Mag over a .30-06 was it's ability to shoot 200 grain bullets as flat as the .30-06 shoots 165's.

I imagine with all the new chamberings coming out there isn't room on the shelves for as many selections in the existing rounds and something had to give.

I don't reload, and even if I did, it's not possible to load anything with the velocity of the High Energy loads.

I'll spend the summer tinkering with different loads, now I'm leaning towards Winchester's 180 grain Fail Safe.

[kutenay]

Well, I have been at this since '58 and started handloading in Jan.'68, I am VERY disappointed by Federal's decision to discontinue this and other really useful loads.

The .300 Win. with this 200 NP load and the .338 Win. with either the 225 TBBC-HE or the 250 NP-HE (my favourite) are the best loads (that I have ever seen) for all-around B.C.-Yukon- NWT hunting and many guys I know use them because they cannot load ammo that good or often don't have time due to work, etc.

I have five .338 Win. rifles, a Dakota 76 and four P-64 Alaskans and use 250 NPs for all my serious hunting; I have shot quite a bit of Federal-HE ammo with excellent results and really regret the loss of the .300-200 NP load. My partner has a Dana Campbell "Mountain Rifles of Alaska" rifle in 7STW which he wants me to buy and I wanted to re-barrel it in the .300 Win. and use this very load....p**s me off!!!!

[Ol` Joe]

I don`t know, but just as a thought on the subject. Federal is now owned by ATK industries as are Speer, Alliant Powder, and Trophy Bonded. it could just be they have decided the TB or Speer bullets fit the same nitch as the Nosler did and are staying with their own in house product now. I know this "should" result in haveing a better handle on QC and will be cheaper in the long run.
Then too Winchester isn`t marketing the T/C bullets manufactured by Nosler any more either. Nosler could be dropping out of the supplier side of the business and going exclusive with their own line. Nosler now markets a line of "Custom Ammo" with their own bullet, and brass components for sale.

As I said I don`t know the reason, this is just speculation on my part.

http://www.noslerammunition.com/

[Skyline]

MT Pockets............let me know how the loading with the Fail Safe bullets goes. While they do penetrate well I havenever known anyone that got very great accuracy with them. I'm sure some guys do.....I just don't know any of them.

[M.T. Pockets]

I live in Minnesota and have always tried to support the hometown boys at Federal, but was a bit dissapointed with their one word reply.

I've shot a few elk with this load, plus a couple caribou, good performing round with better than average factory accuracy.

It feels comfortable walking around the grizzly alders too.

I've shot an awful lot of factory loads in .300 Win. Mag. and have found various results. Right now I'm going to get a box of Remington's Safari line in 200 grain Swift A-Frame and see if my rifle likes them. Like I said earlier, I think the main advantage of having any .300 magnum is being able to shoot 200 grain bullets at the same trajetory as other .30's shoot lighter bullets. I'll give a little trajectory for the advantage of a 200 grain bullet driving the distance on a big animal at whatever angle he chooses.

I've shot more than a couple boxes of Fail Safes through my rifle too. As far as accuracy goes, they're comparable to the Noslers. We're not going to win any contests but we'll hit elk in the ribs out to 400 yards if I do my job.

I'm a long ways from an expert, but my experience with Nosler is that they can break apart if they hit too much "stuff" in a big animal and all you're left with is the back part. I've shot some elk with a Fail Safe and found that they'll punch a hole right throud no matter what the angle, but they don't do much damage. It's like the petals break off and you've got a solid running end to end on an animal. Don't get me wrong, they'll leave an exit wound and kill, but the maybe are more efficient at punching a hole through an animal than they are at killing it fast.

This is about as dangerous as arguing religion, but I'm going to lean towards a bullet tougher than the Nosler, but not quite as solid as the Fail Safe. I'll let you know how I do.

I'm still a more than a little disappointed with Federal. I thought the "High Energy" Load left them a step ahead of the competition, especially with the 200 grain load in the .300 Win Mag. The only other factory factory load in 200 grain that I know of is Remington's Swift A-Frame that I'm going to try as soon as my order comes in.

Like I mentioned earlier, I think the main advantage of having any .30 cal. magnum is the ability to shoot a 200 grain round at the same trajectory a .30-06 shoots a 165 grain. But, who the hell am I. Good hunting everyone, and I hope to put one single shot through a bull this fall in Wyoming's Thorofare. Got an elk tag in my safe.

[PJgunner]

M.T. Pockets said, "I don't reload, and even if I did, it's not possible to load anything with the velocity of the High Energy loads."

I may have to beg to differ with you. I have a 200 gr. bullet load for the .300 Win. mag. using the 200 gr. Speer hot Core and WMR powder that delivers 2950 FPS chronographed from a 26" barreled winchester Model 70 and two different Ruger #1 rifles, also 26" barreled. The only problem is finding WMR powder and winchester in their infinite stupidity dropped it about five years ago without rhyme or reason. I have my suspicions, but I will only discuss them privately with the caveat that they are just that, my suspicions. It's just that the more I play with that powder, the more i think I'm on to something.
FWIW, my load will place three shots under a nickel if I do my part. it wouldn't be too hard to use the 200 gr. Nosler in place of the Speer.
Paul B.

[Stonewall]

I do agree that the 200 gr Nosler in a 300 Win between 2830 -2950 fps is a great combination.I loaded 72.5 gr H-4831 in WW brass and Fed 215 primers for a friend to shoot plains game in Africa twice and was most impressed with results on all sizes of game.This load clocked 2830 in an older Ruger and shot extremely well ( well under .5 for 5 @100 ).The second time I also loaded 74 gr @2950 also but told him that could cause problems in hot weather( load worked up at 80 degrees)-every case in this lot had expanded primer pockets when shot in hot weather in Africa. He is a lawyer so I did say "I told you so." The other brass was loaded 6 times more.I also used 200 gr Swift bullets later with the same results .
Glenn

[deermeister]

MT;

I don't reload either, but I found a company not far form here that seems to be able to work up any load that you want.

If you get the chance, check this out:

www.brasskingsammoII.com

As an aside, has anybody ever called Hornady's toll free number?
Gives me a chuckle every time.