250 or 300 Berger

Shooting a 338 edge and will use it for hunting elk out to 800.
Which bullet and why.
Both shoot very well in my gun and the only noticable difference is the recoil.

300gr

Used the OTM on a bear at 500yds this past season. Bucked a 8-10mph wind like it didn't care and left a fist sized exit hold in the ribs.

If you've got the juice to run it, 300gr all day. Plus I like a little insurance for covering my backside when the shot doesn't place as well as it should have.

Berger 300 OTM out of 338AI and 338 RUM just excellent for accuracy and penetration! The 250 does well in 330RUM but haven't shot anything with it. Does ok in 338 lapua but in the 338AI I have no intention to try!
Plan on trying some Hammers

If your doing a single shot I would run 300's. You can run the 250's fast enough that they keep with the 300's for a long ways. Get some ADG brass, H1000 and cci 250's. With the 300 EH it shot a 1.25" group in paper at 1k. Usually shoots 3-4" across multiple loads.

Rhovee said:

If your doing a single shot I would run 300's. You can run the 250's fast enough that they keep with the 300's for a long ways. Get some ADG brass, H1000 and cci 250's. With the 300 EH it shot a 1.25" group in paper at 1k. Usually shoots 3-4" across multiple loads.

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I'm loading at 3.9" and shooting a repeater. I think there's enough powder for the 300gr. Just wondering if the 300 is worth the additional recoil. If terminally the 250 equals the 300, then what's the point at the distances I'm hunting. But there's a wealth of real world experience on this website, so time for me to listen.
H1000 is showing the best accuracy thus far, but I use federal primers. Only FTF primers I've every had were CCI.

The otm's for me have held moa at 1550yds. I wouldn't hesitate to use them on game at any range.

I try and keep an open mind and I do value broz opinion as a SME. Who knows why they pencil ? Could be any number of variables, honestly I wouldn't be surprised if berger changed something in the MFG process, or in a given lot # that caused issues. Example : a higher Rockwell hardness/sheer strength level in the jacket, due to a new run on the machines. Sounds stupid, but honestly it doesn't take much to change metals properties. Is this fact?, far from.

I'm pretty sure no one has a bigger booboo lip than me this year. I drove 6000 miles to feed some wolves.

When Bergers have a problem, given the velocity is sufficient, its usually from a dinged tip or just not open from the factory. The Target Hybrids are not as likely to fail as the older vld style, IMO.
I always run a . 040" drill bit in them if there is any doubt.

I have gotten to the point I prefer the 250 over the 300 for hunting but I'm also looking at only using a big 338 once I pass 1000 yards, the 250's definitely open better and will flat pull the rug on an elk at any range. I've seen them ran from 2950-3120 fps and they flat hammer stuff. For normal ranges once the launch speed passes 3000 fps I'd switch to the 300 probably.

Does the answer change if we apply the same logic to the accubonds? 250, 265, or 300.

Not to jack the thread but what kind of jump are the 300 OTM proponents using? I can't get them to shoot better than about 1 MOA in my Edge but with a custom gun, I should able to do much better. I was going to try 300 Sierras and 250s next but there seems to be a number of 300 Berger fans on the thread. My gun is heavy and has a large break so recoil is not an issue for me.

Okanogan said:

Not to jack the thread but what kind of jump are the 300 OTM proponents using? I can't get them to shoot better than about 1 MOA in my Edge but with a custom gun, I should able to do much better. I was going to try 300 Sierras and 250s next but there seems to be a number of 300 Berger fans on the thread. My gun is heavy and has a large break so recoil is not an issue for me.

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Have you tried running them into the lands.

Try the 300 otm .015 in the lands. Elite hunters shot good for me .003 in or .025 off.

Wolf76 said:

Does the answer change if we apply the same logic to the accubonds? 250, 265, or 300.

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Different bullet. If you want to bring a NAB into the equation then its a target bullet vs a hunting bullet. I've shot the 250 and 300 hybrids. I will not go back.