Lapua Scenar Performance on game...

Sheldon · #1 03-01-2004, 10:32 PM

Hey guys.

I'm off to Namibia to hunt plains game from April 4-17th, and am taking my .338 Winchester. I have made some decent mid-range shots with this rifle and I've grown really fond of it for everything from coyotes to Elk. I have many other rifles, but this one is coming along. Nough said about that.

Anyway, I have shot various bullets with this rig, and the most accurate has been naked 250 Sierra Game Kings, with a BC of .565 over 2500 FPS. I am using 75 grains of H4831SC and the bullets seated out touching the lands, which is over SAMMI OAL, and over max in all the books. The bullets almost stack at 100 yards and make a nice cloverleaf. With a ballistic chart beside me, target turrets, a sitting bipod and a decent back rest, I can shoot this out to pretty damn far. This past Septmeber, I spine shot a caribou with this load at 304 yards (LRF1200 scan) freehand, while standing in a bog trying not to fall over. What I am trying to say is, I am comfortable with this bullet.

This past winter, I tried some 250 Scenars (molyed) and the BC is .675. The bullets shot as well as the Sierras and I found myself regularly hitting coke cans at 475 yards out of my truck window using a ballistics chart. I never did shoot a deer with them, (although I took a shot at a fleeing booney) so I never got a chance to see how they perform on game. I am thinking of taking them to Africa with me.... [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

To make matters worse, I got a notion the other day, and bought four boxes of Nosler 225 Accubonds. I have some glamourous ideas that I can push this bullet faster and that with the near identical BC as the 250 Sierras, and the bonded core, they might be just the ticket. Upon closer inspection though, it looks as though the .338 is one of those mystery cartridges, whereby the 250 can be pushed to the same speeds as the 225's, or should I say that you can't really push the 225's any higher than the 250's.

While several plains game are on the menu, there is a possibility we might get to take advantage of a problem lion permit. It still costs $5000 US trophy fee, but who knows what I might do if put in that situation. That begs the question, WTF should I stuff in my f-ing gun?? [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Thanks for allowing me to publicly vent.

[img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Perkules · #2 03-02-2004, 05:39 AM

Hi Sheldon, it looks like you answered your own question. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Use what you are comfortable with,the 250 Game Kings.

I´m not saying the other bullets are worse or better. I have shot one moose with 250 Scenar at 300+ with 338 LM , no problems, they are relatively hard and tough bullets and they like lots of velocity to open up. Now I use 300 MK:s for everything, I´m a "one load per rifle" -type of hunter. Find it,stick to it.

Accubonds are great too, probably more controllable on game but I doubt you have the time to get to know those or any other choices better than the Game Kings that you already know. GK:s are very good bullets. Peace of mind and confidence are important.

I´ve been in similar situations many times, much better to stick to known,reliable things instead of changing something just before a hunt. I think I know how you feel now, you will do just fine with Game Kings. There is no miracle bullet, it´s the hit that counts.

And forget the lion with that setup. Bigger holes and more power are needed.

Good luck,sounds like a great trip to come! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

thecowboyace · #3 03-02-2004, 01:14 PM

Petander is on the nose. Once you have your load for an individual firearm one should stay with it. If you have your hunting/target load use it for plinking and your hunting/target because there is a tendency to "Okay, I shot this load on my last trip to hunt/range" "I shot some flubbers and they did ...... hmm should I disremember what it did the last time I shot the gun or ..doggone, I hunted with it and I needed to hold it +/- inches at 160 Meters. Aw shoot. I wished I'd'a never used those flubber/plinkers!"

Sheldon · #4 03-02-2004, 09:17 PM

Yeah, that's the way I'm leaning. The 250 GK get the nod. If I had more time to play with the 225 Accubonds, I would probably have tried to see if I could get some decent accuracy increases over the 250's. As it stands, I also have to work up new loads for a Savage smokeless muzzleloader. They are sending me out with one of those new laimnates with the accu-trigger as I search for a world record animal with a smokepole. I feel like I'm going to be cheating with a muzzleloader that uses smokeless powder...

Thanks again.

DontKickDontKill · #5 03-04-2004, 12:49 AM

Really. Your experiences with the 250 Game King, and 225's are opposite of mine, I can't justify shooting the 250, because I just can't get the velocity up. Granted I have never shot the accubonds, but with 75 grains of H4350, I can shoot 225gr Speer Boattails into under an inch, and hovering right around 3000 FPS. Back it down to 74 grains and they are usually going into the same hole. (can't remember the velocity on that one though)

Anyways, I would just go with what you are comfortable with, and not worry to much, its shot placement that counts the most.