By Ray Tribble

April 27, 2016

I remember when I ordered my first 300 WSM back in late 2001. I had ordered two from Browning and one from Winchester. Ironically all three came in within two days of one another in late spring 2002 and arrived at the gun shop in Green River, Wyoming. I picked them up and started looking for load data. I finally settled on a healthy load of RL-22, Winchester Brass, CCI 250 primers under a Hornady SST bullet. I had multiple hunting trips planned for that year and was anxious to give the new round and at the time, new fairly new bullet a try. It was September 12th, 2002 as I sat on top of a hill overlooking Lake Real (pronounced Re-Al) in northern Ontario. I watch a large group of Caribou bulls walking the ridge top trying to take advantage of the breeze to help rid themselves of the endless swarms of mosquitos. At 240 yards, the Bulls I had been watching for twenty minutes gave me a broadside shot as I placed the crosshairs right behind his right shoulder. It was over in an instance as the bull toppled over from a well placed shot and the first notch was struck by my 300 WSM A-Bolt Hunter and the now tested Hornady SST 180 grain bullet.

Thank you for fueling the passion.