I thought I'd share. I was almost out of my previous load with 225 accubonds and had a ton of brass prepped to be loaded. Thought it might be interesting to load up some 300 gr Berger OTMs with RL-17. Seating depth was limited to the Ruger M77 Tang safety's mag box, which is an altered 3.050". Didn't bother to measure the jump to the lands. Worked up an max load with 54 gr of RL-17 for a velocity of 2350 fps with the 22" barrel. Quite accurate and much to my surprise even though an internet recoil calculator says 33.8 ft/lb, the recoil on the bench is quite manageable.
Down range it has plenty of drop but energy is quite high. I looked up some low velocity performance and found a thread of Broz's reporting on friend who made a long range kill using a 300 Lapua with the 300 gr elite hunter bullet. The bullet killed a cow elk at a stunning distance of 1600 yds . The bullet was moving at 1665 fps. Wound channel 22" with full penetration. He reported the bullet had good expansion see his results here:
http://www.longrangeonly.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-282.html
Broz's own experience with the 300 gr OTM had good performance as low at 1966 fps.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/berger-230-and-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results.80283/page-2
I have a bull elk hunt this Dec and may use this rifle. I am considering switching to the elite hunter bullets but based on Broz's earlier results it may not be necessary.
Even with its low velocity it still is going 1980 fps at 625 yds, not that I would shoot that far. Most of my elk kills, 23, have been 150 yds or closer. If I use this bullet I would certainly try to break bone knowing the bullet would penetrate and most likely exit.
trajectory
1/2" high at 100 2287 fps 3485 ft/lb
.9" low at 150 2257 fps 3392 ft/lb
4" low at 200 yd 2226 fps 3300 ft/lb
9" low at 250 yd 2195 fps 3211 ft/lb
Should a longer shot present itself:
450 yd MOA comeup 10 MOA with 2076 fps and 2872 ft/lb wind drift in 10 mph crosswind 6.5"
Hope this has a few 338 RCM or 338 win mag owners thinking......
Down range it has plenty of drop but energy is quite high. I looked up some low velocity performance and found a thread of Broz's reporting on friend who made a long range kill using a 300 Lapua with the 300 gr elite hunter bullet. The bullet killed a cow elk at a stunning distance of 1600 yds . The bullet was moving at 1665 fps. Wound channel 22" with full penetration. He reported the bullet had good expansion see his results here:
http://www.longrangeonly.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-282.html
Broz's own experience with the 300 gr OTM had good performance as low at 1966 fps.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/berger-230-and-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results.80283/page-2
I have a bull elk hunt this Dec and may use this rifle. I am considering switching to the elite hunter bullets but based on Broz's earlier results it may not be necessary.
Even with its low velocity it still is going 1980 fps at 625 yds, not that I would shoot that far. Most of my elk kills, 23, have been 150 yds or closer. If I use this bullet I would certainly try to break bone knowing the bullet would penetrate and most likely exit.
trajectory
1/2" high at 100 2287 fps 3485 ft/lb
.9" low at 150 2257 fps 3392 ft/lb
4" low at 200 yd 2226 fps 3300 ft/lb
9" low at 250 yd 2195 fps 3211 ft/lb
Should a longer shot present itself:
450 yd MOA comeup 10 MOA with 2076 fps and 2872 ft/lb wind drift in 10 mph crosswind 6.5"
Hope this has a few 338 RCM or 338 win mag owners thinking......
