Berger 230 vs 215 for Hunting

i had a 300RUM built last year and did load development for the 215 Hybrid. I shot an elk and numerous deer with the 215 and it performed great internally but almost never exited.

I am thinking about switching to the 230 to try to get better penetration while keeping long range accuracy. My question is...how does the 230 perform compared to the 215 if at the same velocity on game? Does anyone have good, real world hunting experience with both bullets? Thanks in advance for any advice!

Just more of a good thing.

IMO the 230 will be a better choice for closer shots on elk.

I shot a bull and a cow with the 230 from my 300 RUM. A friend shot a cow. While all the the shots were 300 yds and under, with muzzle velocities running 2735 for his 300 WSM and 2800 for my Rum. My cow was a high shoulder shot broadside at 250 yds exiting with 1 1/2" hole , DRT. Bull was quartering facing me, put bullet between shoulders, exited ribs back a ways through offside 2" hole. Friend's cow was a broadside shot behind the shoulder exited with 1 1/2" hole. She stood still for 5 seconds and stiff legged went over like a felled tree. I will continue to use this bullet for elk.

Here is a report from Africa posted here :
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/230gr-berger-used-in-africa-with-success.138852/

Broz reported on his results here:
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/berger-230-and-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results.80283/

AZShooter said:

IMO the 230 will be a better choice for closer shots on elk.

I shot a bull and a cow with the 230 from my 300 RUM. A friend shot a cow. While all the the shots were 300 yds and under, with muzzle velocities running 2735 for his 300 WSM and 2800 for my Rum. My cow was a high shoulder shot broadside at 250 yds exiting with 1 1/2" hole , DRT. Bull was quartering facing me, put bullet between shoulders, exited ribs back a ways through offside 2" hole. Friend's cow was a broadside shot behind the shoulder exited with 1 1/2" hole. She stood still for 5 seconds and stiff legged went over like a felled tree. I will continue to use this bullet for elk.

Here is a report from Africa posted here :
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/230gr-berger-used-in-africa-with-success.138852/

Broz reported on his results here:
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/berger-230-and-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results.80283/

Click to expand...

Are you sure you were running the 230gr at 2800 on a 300RUM, just wondering if that was a typo.

Not a typo.

The rifle is post 64 push feed model 70 in a McMillan stock. Barrel was a 24" Rem takeoff barrel in 300 Win mag. I rechambered it myself. Rifle weighs 8 1/4 lbs with scope.

At one point I tried RL-33 and found an accurate load with 100 gr, velocity was 2950 fps. I found that a bit unpleasant and not necessary as the 21 elk I had killed up to that point were never further than 300 yds.

I decided to use H-1000 and found a comfortable load with 86 gr. I realize a long barreled 300 win mag can duplicate this velocity. I had the reamer, the dies, tons of brass and a lathe.

Ok , thanks.
In my mind I was kind of thinking "must be a lightweight rifle".

I ran the 215 Hybrid out of my .300RUM @ 3105fps for a few years. Killed some great elk with it. I only had one that did not exit though. 432 yards, broke both shoulders and shattered a vertebra before lodging under the offside skin. Elk dropped at the shot without a twitch.

I switched to a 230 Hybrid @ 3113 just to try out. Similar results. Really dead elk. Have only used it on two so far however.

That Broz thread is a classic that has me definitely headed in the direction of load development using the 215 in both .300 Winnie and its Big RUM brother—though I have to agree that if I were shooting an animal at relatively short range, I would prefer the 230 grain.

Broz is the authority on this. The 215 shoots so accurately in 300RUM for me I've only started loading the 230 after three years of the 215. Also began load work with the 230 in my 30/378.

I really love that 215, ran it in multiple cartridges. I killed a bear this spring with it. I've had several people tell me I should try the 230. Running the numbers, ballistically speaking, the 215 keeps up with or even out performs the 230 in every category except energy on target. Even at that, it's not a lot of difference though, and the 215 is faster which equals flatter trajectory. Anyway, I've not seen enough to make me go away from that 215. It's a proven performer.