LAST EDITED ON Nov-24-04 AT 10:52AM (MST)[p]Here is my two cents (plus another buck or two). I have a Browning A-Blot II Stainless Stalker with the Boss in 300 WSM. I have over 33 years of shooting experience. I am an Analyst by profession, but I work for Bass Pro Shops (just my fun job) as well. All the new Boss equipped rifles from Browning come with both the ported Boss and a Conventional Recoil Boss component. You can choose to shoot either the brake or the conventional recoil (without the excess noise). Both will allow you to tune your rifle to the bullet you choose to shoot.
As for the excess noise, there are several brands of amplified hearing protection on the market today that have an electronic cut off for noise that exceeeds a specified limit, usually about 85 db. Some hunters are wearing these to enhance their ability to hear. You can also use these devices to protect your hearing in the field, while still being able to hear approaching game, or your partner screaming in agony when he steps into a gopher hole and snaps his ankle. Just remember, if you are hunting with a guide, bring him a set to use as he may not own his own and won't appreciate the deafening effect of the Boss.
As to recoil management, the Boss makes the 300 WSM a pleasure to shoot. As to optimising accuracy, well, just how much work are you willing to do? There are published charts that may or may not include the round you choose to shoot. Even if the chart has your round, that was the sweet spot for a rifle someone else tested, using ammunition with a different lot number. Just as any two like riles will shoot the same round differently, any two Boss equipped rifles may shoot the same round differently. You have to do some work at the bench.
If you have a starting point listed for your round, you have somewhere to begin. With that starting point, you need to shoot a fouling shot, then two 3 or 5 shot groups; the clean the barrel, turn the boss up or down a little (1/10 to 1/4 turn)and shoot another fouling shot followed by two more 3 or 5 shot groups. Keep adjusting in one direction until you see the groups either tighten and then spread again, or if the shot groups immediately increases to an unacceptable level, switch directions and start over.
The one indepth test I have read was for one individual testing a 30 06, for one bullet type, hand loaded to his own specifications. He did a complete test of the setting from 0 to 9, in 1/4 turn increments. He shot 100 rounds a week for 5 weeks, followed by retesting the most promising settings. He came up with three sweet spots that produced shot groups under an inch at 100 yards. Obviously almost no one will put that ammount of effort, time or money into finding their sweet spot.
I spoke directly with technicians at Browning. From what I can tell, you will usually find a sweet spot at either end of the settings, somewhere between 1 and 3, and 7 and 9. Obviously, some rifles will settle in the mid-range, some will only group at one end or the other, or produce good results at various points along the scale. Given that the function of the Boss provides a dampening effect of the vibration in the barrel as the bullet travels up the bore, and these vibrations are sinusoidal in nature, each individual rifle and bullet combination will produce different results. But, instead of having to buy several different boxes of ammunition and picking the one that groups best, the Boss allows you to pick the specific bullet you want to shoot and tailor the rifle to the ammunition. Try the listed sweet spot, or try 1, 3, 7 and 9. If any one of those spots produce a shot group under 1 1/2 inches, you don't really need to go any further for normal hunting distances.
To sum it all up, the 300 WSM is a great choice for a big game rifle. Shoot what you want, protect your ears, regardless of whether you choose to shoot the Boss or not, pick the ammunition you shoot based on the game you hunt and the preformance you want out of the bullet. Spend a little time at the bench and find a sweet spot that allows you to group your shots at a level that is acceptable (generally 1 1/2 inches or better) and enjoy.
