Best caliber for shooting 500 to 2000 yds?

[Twolf]

i was able to get a bunch of once fired 338 Lapua brass " 150- 200 pcs. ?this 338 Lapua brass was used to test fire military ammo , so ended up getting the brass free . seems to work just fine once i went thru this used brass . i only use Lapua brass in my rifle anyway. so for me that was dang cheap ,another friend gave me 100 brand new 338 Lapua brass cases . being a FFL dealer ,hand loader, gun nut and having my owned legal 100 yd. rifle range with a 10 foot dirt berm and heated shooting house all help. i have a couple of 300`s too great rifles also but that 338 Lapua is a true animal when you use it. so maybe the word cheap is the wrong word to use for me 338 Lapua brass is just easier to get for me.

 

[ATH]

When I shot matches that went from 1K to 2K, the biggest observation is that drop-offs in performance were not linear. Pretty much everything on the line, which was 7mm to 338, hung to 1600 yds. But there the 7mms fell apart quickly and could not stay on target, despite their wonderful BCs. The 30s did OK to 1700 and a couple hung in there at 1800. But with a minimum score requirement, no 30 made it beyond 1800. Only the 338s shot 1900 and 2000. If you were in the pits, you could call which caliber was being shot from the sound and energy on the receiving end.

I'm sure more exotic, high velocity chamberings in the smaller calibers would have gained another 100-200 yards of performance. But in those shoots the Lapuas and Edges were just a league above everything else.

We can't shoot those matches anymore because a 7mm pushed beyond its performance envelope almost nailed someone in the pits despite the berm and overhead protection. Best we can figure the shooter had been skipping them into the target at the prior range and when we moved out they skipped and came in near vertical.

I'd challenge myself to shoot my 300WM that far at rocks or similar but in anything serious I'd grab my 338 beyond 1500 yards.

 

[Longrangers]

When I shot matches that went from 1K to 2K, the biggest observation is that drop-offs in performance were not linear. Pretty much everything on the line, which was 7mm to 338, hung to 1600 yds. But there the 7mms fell apart quickly and could not stay on target, despite their wonderful BCs. The 30s did OK to 1700 and a couple hung in there at 1800. But with a minimum score requirement, no 30 made it beyond 1800. Only the 338s shot 1900 and 2000. If you were in the pits, you could call which caliber was being shot from the sound and energy on the receiving end.

I'm sure more exotic, high velocity chamberings in the smaller calibers would have gained another 100-200 yards of performance. But in those shoots the Lapuas and Edges were just a league above everything else.

We can't shoot those matches anymore because a 7mm pushed beyond its performance envelope almost nailed someone in the pits despite the berm and overhead protection. Best we can figure the shooter had been skipping them into the target at the prior range and when we moved out they skipped and came in near vertical.

I'd challenge myself to shoot my 300WM that far at rocks or similar but in anything serious I'd grab my 338 beyond 1500 yards.

What bullet would you recommend for a 338 for hunting? Berger, cutting edge, badlands etc for elk? I am just curious. I have been looking into it for my son and I am torn. I have had good luck with the Berger's so far in other calibers but now for 338 we are looking at wind bucking, energy, elevation in case we want to stretch it out. I was told that a 250 grain badlands would out perform the Berger 300 gr. But I don't know of anyone that has used them.

 

[Northkill]

What bullet would you recommend for a 338 for hunting? Berger, cutting edge, badlands etc for elk? I am just curious. I have been looking into it for my son and I am torn. I have had good luck with the Berger's so far in other calibers but now for 338 we are looking at wind bucking, energy, elevation in case we want to stretch it out. I was told that a 250 grain badlands would out perform the Berger 300 gr. But I don't know of anyone that has used them.

I'd say go with what shoots the best in your rifle. The Badlands BD-2's shoot very well if your rifle likes them. I've found them to be a little more picky to load than say the Hammers, but the much higher BC on the Badlands makes them attractive. I'm shooting the 150 gr BD-2 in my 7 Allen Mag at 3,711 fps. Crazy laser. Haven't had a chance to try it on game, but some of the hillbilly experiments we've done indicate it'll be nothing short of spectacular. If my twist was faster, I'd run the 160 Super BD. My sons 6.5 PRC just wouldn't take to the 125 BD-2's though. In the 338 I have no doubt the 250 or 275 (depending on your twist) Super BD-2 would be impressive - if your rifle takes to either of them. If you are really serious about extreme range, build a 375 CT around the 390 S-BD-2.

 

[Rum Man]

Well the 300 gr berger seems to be just Fine for all my 338's out to 1244 yards so far on a Elk !

 

[Longrangers]

I'd say go with what shoots the best in your rifle. The Badlands BD-2's shoot very well if your rifle likes them. I've found them to be a little more picky to load than say the Hammers, but the much higher BC on the Badlands makes them attractive. I'm shooting the 150 gr BD-2 in my 7 Allen Mag at 3,711 fps. Crazy laser. Haven't had a chance to try it on game, but some of the hillbilly experiments we've done indicate it'll be nothing short of spectacular. If my twist was faster, I'd run the 160 Super BD. My sons 6.5 PRC just wouldn't take to the 125 BD-2's though. In the 338 I have no doubt the 250 or 275 (depending on your twist) Super BD-2 would be impressive - if your rifle takes to either of them. If you are really serious about extreme range, build a 375 CT around the 390 S-BD-2.

Thanks for the information. He is running a 9.3 twist

 

[Northkill]

Thanks for the information. He is running a 9.3 twist

Then he'd need to stick with the 250 S-BD-2 if going with Badlands. Still a high BC hunting option that'll be ok from close range out to about where it drops to 1,600 fps. Should be able to get good velocity out of the 250.

.338 250gr Super Bulldozer-2 - Badlands precision, LLC

Length: 1.873″ BC (G1): .800 BC (G7): .410 Twist: 1-10″ Price: 50/BOX

badlandsprecision.com

 

[Hunt_4life]

I've shot my 7 wsm out to 1400 yds. With a 183 smk at 2900-3000 or a 197 at 2800-2900 you can shoot pretty far. It is much easier to shoot that over a 33 cal but the 33 will be a bit better. Any magnum 7mm or 30 cal will work good.

 

[Longrangers]

Then he'd need to stick with the 250 S-BD-2 if going with Badlands. Still a high BC hunting option that'll be ok from close range out to about where it drops to 1,600 fps. Should be able to get good velocity out of the 250.

.338 250gr Super Bulldozer-2 - Badlands precision, LLC

Length: 1.873″ BC (G1): .800 BC (G7): .410 Twist: 1-10″ Price: 50/BOX

badlandsprecision.com

Thanks for the information once again.

 

[Longrangers]

Then he'd need to stick with the 250 S-BD-2 if going with Badlands. Still a high BC hunting option that'll be ok from close range out to about where it drops to 1,600 fps. Should be able to get good velocity out of the 250.

.338 250gr Super Bulldozer-2 - Badlands precision, LLC

Length: 1.873″ BC (G1): .800 BC (G7): .410 Twist: 1-10″ Price: 50/BOX

badlandsprecision.com

I was just wondering so that he could play with a bullet that gives him the best I guess for the buck as well help with the most humane shot. We won't take a shot unless we have some experience shooting that distance.

 

[Longrangers]

Then he'd need to stick with the 250 S-BD-2 if going with Badlands. Still a high BC hunting option that'll be ok from close range out to about where it drops to 1,600 fps. Should be able to get good velocity out of the 250.

.338 250gr Super Bulldozer-2 - Badlands precision, LLC

Length: 1.873″ BC (G1): .800 BC (G7): .410 Twist: 1-10″ Price: 50/BOX

badlandsprecision.com

I presume that they have a driving band. Is that true?

 

[Northkill]

I presume that they have a driving band. Is that true?

I haven't seen the big ones or a Super BD myself. Wish they would have photos for each load on their website. Kind of a limited-resource website they run. The standard BD's have a single groove. Somewhere I got the impression that the Supers might have more. Not sure though. Check this out:

Any experience with the Badlands Precision .338 270 grain Super Bulldozer?

Anyone shot this bullet? If so, how does the B.C. stack up compared to the advertised .803 G1 BC? Has anyone found an accurate G7 B.C.? I would figure if the G1 is actually .803 or close, the G7 would be between .400 and .410.....Also, has anyone else had any experience with the terminal...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Northkill]

..and this one:

Badlands Precision Bullets thread - From BC to terminal ballistics

There seems to have been rising interest in these bullets, but information is spread out and somewhat limited, so hopefully this thread will help consolidate information. I would like to keep this thread somewhat organized, accurate, and to the point. If you have first hand experience please...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Longrangers]

..and this one:

Badlands Precision Bullets thread - From BC to terminal ballistics

There seems to have been rising interest in these bullets, but information is spread out and somewhat limited, so hopefully this thread will help consolidate information. I would like to keep this thread somewhat organized, accurate, and to the point. If you have first hand experience please...

www.longrangehunting.com

Thanks for sharing