300 grain 338s

[J E Custom]

Amongst all the kaos of finding loading componants I had a week moment(I don,t panic buy)
and found some 300 grain Accubonds in 338 cal.

I have the Berger 300s, Hornady's 285s,Sierra,s 300 grain SMK and just bought the 300 grain
Accubonds.

The BCs reported on these bullets run from 0.700 to 0.818 and experance has taught me that
most of the time these numbers are inflated a little and the true BC can only be found by
shooting the bullet atdistance in your rifle.

With that said : all of these bullets are beautiful and having used the Accubonds in many other
calibers and weights there performance has been great, both in accuracy and controled expansion
at all distances I was just wondering if anyone had used the 300 grain Accubonds at very long
distances and with what success.

Theses bullets should be an asset to long range hunters if there rifle/cartrige can push them
fast enough.

Any comments would be welcome on there performance.

Thanks
J E CUSTOM

 

[Nimrodmar10]

There was a discussion on another thread saying Nosler says the long range Accubonds would expand reliably down to 1300 fps. If that is true, they would work out to 1400 yards with my Lapua. I may have to give them a try.

 

[J E Custom]

There was a discussion on another thread saying Nosler says the long range Accubonds would expand reliably down to 1300 fps. If that is true, they would work out to 1400 yards with my Lapua. I may have to give them a try.

Thats the case with all of the 300 grain bullets. They will all drop below the recomended velocity
at 1300 to 1500 yards.

Even then the big bullets will kill if placed in the right place beyond 1500 yards. How far?
is the question.

The 300s loose around 100 ft/sec per 100 yards at that distance so I don,t think I would try
an Elk At more than 1400 yards with any of the 300s and 3000 ft/sec velocity.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Nimrodmar10]

The 300s loose around 100 ft/sec per 100 yards at that distance so I don,t think I would try
an Elk At more than 1400 yards with any of the 300s and 3000 ft/sec velocity.

J E CUSTOM

In that case, what bullet would you use beyond 1400 yards?

 

[blackdog]

Any comments would be welcome on there performance.

My buddy from Bend picked up a bunch of blems from the factory when these first came out and his .338 Lapua was being finished. It's all he's shot out of it so far and he seems to like them. Accuracy has been really good for him out to 1200 I think. Hasn't killed anything but rocks, steel plates, and paper so far.

 

[J E Custom]

In that case, what bullet would you use beyond 1400 yards?

As I have said before. I limit my shots on big game to a combanation of minimum recomended
energy for a given animal or bullet design minimum velocity or both.

So if I wanted to kill Elk beyond 1500 yards I would use the 300 grain at a higher velocity than 3000
ft/sec.

To get an impact energy of 1500 ft/lbs you would have to push the 300 grain bullets to 3300
ft/sec just to shoot 1600 yards. (Tough to get).

There is no doubt that less energy will kill an Elk but 1500 ft/lbs is my lower limit. (Note: this
is with a traditional shot placement) not a head or neck shot.

Pigs are a different thing. I will try and hit them at any distance Just to make them squeal.

For targets or gongs these velocities are not required and distance is what ever I can hit
with reasonable consistency.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Nimrodmar10]

To get an impact energy of 1500 ft/lbs you would have to push the 300 grain bullets to 3300
ft/sec just to shoot 1600 yards. (Tough to get).

There is no doubt thaJ E CUSTOM

Do we have a gun/cartridge that will fire the .338 300 gr. bullet 3300 fps?

 

[AZShooter]

JE Custom,

Interesting discussion. I am wondering what ballistic program and elevation you are using to support your claim? "Thats the case with all of the 300 grain bullets. They will all drop below the recomended velocity at 1300 to 1500 yards."

I used the JBM program with 7500 ft as that the minimal elevation where I have hunted elk over the last 25 yrs. Every elk I have ever shot at was found at least 7500 ft elevation with some close to 10,000 ft.


My JBM program, with the approximate velocity of a 338 Lapua, at 2800 fps with the theoretical BC of .720 for the 300 gr Accubond shows the bullet to be going 1300 fps at just over 2500 yds with 1500 ft/lb right around 2050 yds. This is much farther than you are suggesting.


The 300 gr Berger hybrid BC of .818 performs even better. It is slowing down below the minimum velocity of 1300 fps at 2800 yds with 1500 ft/lb of energy just past 2350 yds

I might be off slightly due to temperature/humidity input variances. It would appear that either 300 gr bullet shot from a 338 Lapua at 2800 fps will perform to your standards at distances well past your suggestions.


IMO this places the .338 300 gr bullet as very suitable with the 338 Lapua for very long shots on elk.

 

[J E Custom]

JE Custom,

Interesting discussion. I am wondering what ballistic program and elevation you are using to support your claim? "Thats the case with all of the 300 grain bullets. They will all drop below the recomended velocity at 1300 to 1500 yards."

I used the JBM program with 7500 ft as that the minimal elevation where I have hunted elk over the last 25 yrs. Every elk I have ever shot at was found at least 7500 ft elevation with some close to 10,000 ft.


My JBM program, with the approximate velocity of a 338 Lapua, at 2800 fps with the theoretical BC of .720 for the 300 gr Accubond shows the bullet to be going 1300 fps at just over 2500 yds with 1500 ft/lb right around 2050 yds. This is much farther than you are suggesting.


The 300 gr Berger hybrid BC of .818 performs even better. It is slowing down below the minimum velocity of 1300 fps at 2800 yds with 1500 ft/lb of energy just past 2350 yds

I might be off slightly due to temperature/humidity input variances. It would appear that either 300 gr bullet shot from a 338 Lapua at 2800 fps will perform to your standards at distances well past your suggestions.


IMO this places the .338 300 gr bullet as very suitable with the 338 Lapua for very long shots on elk.

Good point .

I use a standard ballistic calculator and there seems to be a discrepancy between the two.

All of my calculations are based on Sea level. (Worst case scenario).

I dont know which calculator is right or if either is right so my numbers could be conservative.
but they seem to match the performance fairly close.

I would like to think that a good 338 load would reach that distance and still have 1500 ft /lbs but
nothing I have seen in real world use supports much more than I have stated.

There is one more thing that falls into the equations tho, What can happen during the time of flight
of the bullet. so there are many limits on what even an experanced shooter can do or expect
from a good rifle cartrige.

As I said I hope you are right. It will probably not change my max distance for game animals, but it
will improve my confidence in the shots I do take.

Just like the advertised Ballistic coefient of bullets is normally not real world, and have to be proven by
actual use everything that is calculated needs to be proven if possible in my opinion. The distances that
we are talking about are very gray on performance so we should use caution when we are in these waters
IMO.

Thanks for the reply. It is never to late to learn something else.

J E CUSTOM

 

[AZShooter]

We are in agreement. I also verify my comeups vs the predicted ones that JBM suggests. Berger's BCs tend to work but I can't say that for other manufacturer's BCs.

I agree with your comment on flight time. I have had a few animals move slightly after the bullet was sent on its way and it is something I try hard to avoid.

It sure is amazing how well the 300 gr Berger retains energy with minimal wind drift.

Ross

 

[MT4XFore]

If I'm not mistaken, you can reach 3300 fps w/300gr bullets in a 338 Allen Magnum.

 

[Doublezranch]

You are correct sir...the only rifle (I know of)capable of 3300 fps is the Allen Ultramaxx.

 

[jwing]

What are your guys 338 rum loads with Berger 300 and 250 otm bullets. Been working with 88.0 h-1000 with 300 right at 2700 fps with 28 inch Kreiger 1-9.35 t.

Thanks

 

[MachV]

Couldnt get the 338Edge to like 225 or 250 accubonds but it does alright with the 300 OTMs @2840 and the bullistic chart works to 1250 yards so far. the program says it will carry 1500fp to just shy of 1700 yards @ 5300' above sea level.....I'll take its work for it as I sure going out there to catchem