Opinions on 338 bullets for elk within 500 yards

Swift A-frame or a 236gr Hammer Hunter.

Elkeater said:

I might suggest the 213gr or 236gr Hammer Hunter. With 33Nosler published data saying you can get the 225gr class bullets to 3000fps you should be able to run either of those bullets between 3000-3100fps. That would make a real nice elk thumper. Hammer bullets seem to run fast.

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Yeah I am leaning towards the 236 but just sent Steve an PM for some guidance

My 338 Winchester Model 70 1:10 twist liked the Speer Grand Slams,,, the Elk didn't like them at all...

Well past the 600 mark will stop them in their tracks...

Cheers from the North

Haven't taken an elk close with a 338 Hammer bullet but I have no doubt they would be excellent, have done many with a 300 gr Berger and they are like packing an elk death switch!!

I'm currently working on a load for both the 213 and the new 236. My only comment on the 213 is it has quite a long tail on it, with a short bearing surface. The combination hasnt left me much choice but to have atleast some of the bullet below the shoulder of the case (338SS).

But speed has been fantastic and accuracy has been awesome as well. So maybe no real issue.

Max speed was about 2890. Accuracy looks to be somewhere in the 2825 range for the 213 in a 22" barrel.

Shot my elk last year with a 236 Hammer Hunter from a .338 RUM at a mild 2950 fps. The shot was less than 100 yards, great penetration and terminal performance. My next favorite bullet is the 300 grain Sierra Matchking, it has been my go to bullet for elk and deer from a .338 for over 15 years. It has dropped everything with great penetration and terminal performance from real close to over 1400 yards. These (the .338's) are the only MatchKings I feel confident in using/recommend for hunting. The last elk I killed with one dropped on the spot at 1006 yards with a slight quarter away shot. Found the bullet in the hide of the off side shoulder with a perfect mushroom.

My longest kill ever was a cow elk at 487 yards. .338WM, 225g AccuBond launched at about 2742fps.

The 225g has a .550 B.C vs a 250g at .575 but with a 100fps higher M.V., giving it slightly flatter trajectory, about 3" at 500 yards. Wind drift is virtually identical at 500. This based on max velocity Nosler data.

I went with the .225g bullet and have been very happy with the results on 3 elk kills.

What about the 250 hybrid bergers

westcoasthunter said:

What about the 250 hybrid bergers

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The 250gr Berger Elite Hunter bullet easily shoots into less than .5moa @ 400yds in my 338 RUM. I have not used it on game animals because the 250gr Accubond won the coin toss on the last few moose hunts.

The 236 Hammer bullet shoots about the same and I expected to take a moose with it this year. Unfortunately, I went mooseless this time around.

Varmint Hunter said:

The 250gr Berger Elite Hunter bullet easily shoots into less than .5moa @ 400yds in my 338 RUM. I have not used it on game animals because the 250gr Accubond won the coin toss on the last few moose hunts.

The 236 Hammer bullet shoots about the same and I expected to take a moose with it this year. Unfortunately, I went mooseless this time around.

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I have access to thre boxes of 250 elite hunters, what fps are you running them?

Been very pleased with the 250 Berger's but haven't used one in anything close, we run them 3120 fps so I have been keeping them for longer ranges, guy pushing them slower have been very pleased at all ranges.

Laelkhunter said:

Barnes 225 grain TTSX. I shoot it out of my.340 Weatherby-It is an Elk Hammer !!

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Barnes 225 grain TTSX or Nosler accubonds 225 grains will both work superbly.

My 338 EDGE likes 250g SGKs with 100g of H1000: 3100fps. No plan to hunt eld but I have no doubt about a 500yd shot.

Lrreloader said:

I have access to thre boxes of 250 elite hunters, what fps are you running them?

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I'm running 89.0 RE26 under the 250 Berger with a Fed 215M primer. Velocity is 2,975 from a 26" Broughton bbl. Not sure if I recorded that velocity in a Rem of Nosler case.