Hello I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm in the process of building a custom long range rifle chambered in .308 Norma Magnum. I'm trying to find the ultimate long range bullet that has a great BC, amazing terminal performance, and able to make kills on elk out to 1000 yards. I have looked at Hornady's 178gr and 208gr AMAX and really like the 208 but think it may be a bit too heavy. I have a few boxes of 190gr Sierra Match Kings that are more of a target bullet but my uncle has killed mule deer and elk with them but I don't want to chance it. I'm really wanting the new Nosler 190gr Long Range Accubond bullets but on Midway's sight they keep saying that they're coming soon. So thats why I'm asking you guys. My rifle is nothing high tech just an old Model 1917 Enfield action that I'm putting a 28" Hart stainless barrel on with a 1:10 twist and a #4 contour, Leupold 6.5-20x scope, thumbhole stock, and a cock on open kit and Dayton TriStar trigger. My uncle and I are working on it right now and its mainly going to be used for deer, elk, and varmint/predator hunting out to 800-1000 yards but able to be carried into the mountains without having to wheel it around on a carriage haha.
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Best Long Range .30cal Hunting bullet
- Thread starter Jud96
- Start date
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Based on what Broz showed us last year the Berger 215 match hybrid target is THE bullet for your 30 cal rifle.
The very long thread on the 215 hybrid starts here:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/index12.html
IIRC there were over 20 animals taken with that bullet using a 300 win mag.
Besides the high BC of .696 hybrids are not finicky about seating depth.
Another choice which worked well for Broz and friends was the 230 gr OTM tactical. There is another thread on LRH showing how well it took care of around a dozen animals . I have the 230 gr match hybrid target loaded in my 300 RUM and if things go right I'll be shooting an elk this winter.
Let us know how it shoots for you.
The very long thread on the 215 hybrid starts here:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/index12.html
IIRC there were over 20 animals taken with that bullet using a 300 win mag.
Besides the high BC of .696 hybrids are not finicky about seating depth.
Another choice which worked well for Broz and friends was the 230 gr OTM tactical. There is another thread on LRH showing how well it took care of around a dozen animals . I have the 230 gr match hybrid target loaded in my 300 RUM and if things go right I'll be shooting an elk this winter.
Let us know how it shoots for you.
That is a bit heavy for the .308 Norma and fear velocity would be really low and besides they are unavailable everywhere I look. I'm really leaning towards the 208gr AMAX which has a BC of .650 and have read about great DRT performance with them but I haven't tried them so can't vouch for that. What would be the minimum energy you'd recommend for taking elk?
trebark
Well-Known Member
Advice on the 215berger hybrid is good and would be my preferred bullet on elk. Take this from a guy that has a 300RUM shooting the 208amax at 3275fps. I would not be confident in the Amax to take down an elk. The bullet is pretty fragile and I would look for a tougher bullet. If you can't get the bergers or you think you can't get the ballistic signature you want, then I'd look at the accubonds.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-300rum-mcr-70809/#post494570
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-300rum-mcr-70809/#post494570
To me it is all about BC for minimized wind drift. Retained energy is better with a heavy high BC bullet than a lighter faster bullet after several hundred yards. You can compensate for drop but drift can get you into trouble.
Energy? I can't say for sure but maybe 1500 ft/lb? Guys kill elk with far less but shots have to be well placed.
I think you should compare the performance of the 215 hybrid, the 208 or 178 A-max and on a ballistics program.
One of my rifles would seem a real looser but it has down range performance that is quite amazing. It is a long throated 338 RCM that shoots the high .818 BC 300 gr Berger hybrid.
Velocity is a deceivingly slow 2550 fps. BUT it sure works downrange. I used it last year on a coues wt hunt. Killed my buck at 400 yds. It still had 3344 ft/lb of energy with 5.5 inches of wind drift in a 10 mph crosswind at our 4000 ft elevation. The bullet exited and the buck died soon there after. It retains 3000 ft/lb at 550 yds/2214 ft/lb at 1000 yd but I wouldn't shoot at an elk that far.That is a long shot with any of my rifles and I am not willing.
I crunched the 215 on JBM's program for 7500 ft elevation and 2650 fps:
Wind drift is 10 mph in a 90 degree crosswind
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Velocity Energy
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (ft/s) (ft•lbs)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 2652.6 3358.5
100 1.9 1.8 0.3 2575.1 3165.1
200 -0.0 -0.0 1.2 2498.9 2980.6
300 -7.4 -2.4 2.8 2424.1 2804.8
400 -20.8 -5.0 5.0 2350.5 2637.2
500 -40.4 -7.7 7.9 2278.2 2477.5
600 -66.8 -10.6 11.5 2207.2 2325.4
700 -100.3 -13.7 15.9 2137.4 2180.6
800 -141.3 -16.9 21.1 2068.8 2043.0
900 -190.6 -20.2 27.2 2001.6 1912.2
1000 -248.4 -23.7 34.1 1935.6 1788.3
You asked for best bullet....perhaps Broz or some others will offer their thoughts.
Energy? I can't say for sure but maybe 1500 ft/lb? Guys kill elk with far less but shots have to be well placed.
I think you should compare the performance of the 215 hybrid, the 208 or 178 A-max and on a ballistics program.
One of my rifles would seem a real looser but it has down range performance that is quite amazing. It is a long throated 338 RCM that shoots the high .818 BC 300 gr Berger hybrid.
Velocity is a deceivingly slow 2550 fps. BUT it sure works downrange. I used it last year on a coues wt hunt. Killed my buck at 400 yds. It still had 3344 ft/lb of energy with 5.5 inches of wind drift in a 10 mph crosswind at our 4000 ft elevation. The bullet exited and the buck died soon there after. It retains 3000 ft/lb at 550 yds/2214 ft/lb at 1000 yd but I wouldn't shoot at an elk that far.That is a long shot with any of my rifles and I am not willing.
I crunched the 215 on JBM's program for 7500 ft elevation and 2650 fps:
Wind drift is 10 mph in a 90 degree crosswind
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Velocity Energy
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (ft/s) (ft•lbs)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 2652.6 3358.5
100 1.9 1.8 0.3 2575.1 3165.1
200 -0.0 -0.0 1.2 2498.9 2980.6
300 -7.4 -2.4 2.8 2424.1 2804.8
400 -20.8 -5.0 5.0 2350.5 2637.2
500 -40.4 -7.7 7.9 2278.2 2477.5
600 -66.8 -10.6 11.5 2207.2 2325.4
700 -100.3 -13.7 15.9 2137.4 2180.6
800 -141.3 -16.9 21.1 2068.8 2043.0
900 -190.6 -20.2 27.2 2001.6 1912.2
1000 -248.4 -23.7 34.1 1935.6 1788.3
You asked for best bullet....perhaps Broz or some others will offer their thoughts.
MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
Your thread reads "Best Long Range 30 Cal Hunting Bullet"
Out of my 300 RUM that is probably going to be the 230 Hybrid with a BC of .743, assuming the accuracy is good.
That bullet, IMO is the "Best Long Range 30 Cal Hunting Bullet" out there.
I would listen to what others have said regarding the 215 Hybrid and Broz's results with them.
The 208 Amax has an actual BC of about .63, similar to the 210 Berger and 210 ABLR. The 215 Berger has less bearing surface of either of those bullets and you can expect to get the same or a little more velocity from it with the same pressure and a much better BC.
For your 308 Norma Mag, my first choice would be the 215 Hybrid. The 308 Norma Mag is going to be a marginal 1000 yd elk hunter period. The 215 Hybrid is going to be the best option. Run the ballistics for yourself.
Out of my 300 RUM that is probably going to be the 230 Hybrid with a BC of .743, assuming the accuracy is good.
That bullet, IMO is the "Best Long Range 30 Cal Hunting Bullet" out there.
I would listen to what others have said regarding the 215 Hybrid and Broz's results with them.
The 208 Amax has an actual BC of about .63, similar to the 210 Berger and 210 ABLR. The 215 Berger has less bearing surface of either of those bullets and you can expect to get the same or a little more velocity from it with the same pressure and a much better BC.
For your 308 Norma Mag, my first choice would be the 215 Hybrid. The 308 Norma Mag is going to be a marginal 1000 yd elk hunter period. The 215 Hybrid is going to be the best option. Run the ballistics for yourself.
benchracer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2009
- Messages
- 1,659
.308 Norma Mag.
According to the above, the .308 Norma handles heavy bullets very well. You would do well to heed the advice of previous posters and take a hard look at the Berger 215 Hybrids or the new Nosler 210 ALR.
According to the above, the .308 Norma handles heavy bullets very well. You would do well to heed the advice of previous posters and take a hard look at the Berger 215 Hybrids or the new Nosler 210 ALR.
winmag
Well-Known Member
I personally like the Accubond for near, & far, & everything in between. All but Extreme LR, cause I don't shoot that far with what I've got. I won't shoot a frag bullet, for hunting, cause ill shoot one at 50 yds just as soon as ill shoot one at 750, & that's right where the Accubond is at home with my equipment.
Not saying a frag can't, but I am saying that's what the Accubond was designed for.
I won't talk bad about the Bergers, because I have not personally used them.
They have an incredibly good track record with many Extreme LR shooters here.
If your into Dedicated LR, & Extreme LR, check out Broz's threads with the 215 Bergers. Awesome amount of info, & experience with kills, & pics to back it up. He knows his 30 cal Bergers better than most. And has the experience, & street cred to back up what he posts about them.
Personally, I'd check out the 200gr Accubond, until you can get the 190's or 210 ABLR's. Great BC, & SD on a hunting bullet.
The ABLR looks very promising with its velocity window down to 1300 fps from the 1800 fps Accubond, but they haven't been "proven" on game at LR in high enough numbers to get good feedback yet.
From all reports I've read, here on LRH, & other places, the ACTUAL 210 ABLR BC is right there with the 210 Berger, & 208 A-Max.
I've loaded some 277, 150gr ABLR's for my dads 270WSM for Elk season this year, & hope to learn hands on about their real life terminal performance on Elk size game.
Not saying a frag can't, but I am saying that's what the Accubond was designed for.
I won't talk bad about the Bergers, because I have not personally used them.
They have an incredibly good track record with many Extreme LR shooters here.
If your into Dedicated LR, & Extreme LR, check out Broz's threads with the 215 Bergers. Awesome amount of info, & experience with kills, & pics to back it up. He knows his 30 cal Bergers better than most. And has the experience, & street cred to back up what he posts about them.
Personally, I'd check out the 200gr Accubond, until you can get the 190's or 210 ABLR's. Great BC, & SD on a hunting bullet.
The ABLR looks very promising with its velocity window down to 1300 fps from the 1800 fps Accubond, but they haven't been "proven" on game at LR in high enough numbers to get good feedback yet.
From all reports I've read, here on LRH, & other places, the ACTUAL 210 ABLR BC is right there with the 210 Berger, & 208 A-Max.
I've loaded some 277, 150gr ABLR's for my dads 270WSM for Elk season this year, & hope to learn hands on about their real life terminal performance on Elk size game.
Broz
Well-Known Member
If your velocity is down a little from the 300 win with the 215 Bergers it will only complement them at closer distances. The BC and short bearing surface of the Berger 215 Hybrid will catch up some of the velocity that the lighter offerings have and in the end the 215 will be faster than a 180 or 190 anything. These bullets have killed amazingly for us at all distances, on all sized game.
With it's ability to buck wind, The 215 Hybrid will not make you a better shot, but it will make a better shot easier with less error factor.
You asked for "The Best Long Range .30 cal Hunting Bullet" For me it is a 215 Berger Hybrid hands down. For what ever I am hunting to 1000 yards and beyond for antelope and deer.
Jeff
With it's ability to buck wind, The 215 Hybrid will not make you a better shot, but it will make a better shot easier with less error factor.
You asked for "The Best Long Range .30 cal Hunting Bullet" For me it is a 215 Berger Hybrid hands down. For what ever I am hunting to 1000 yards and beyond for antelope and deer.
Jeff
Thanks for all the help guys. Anyone know where I can find the 215s, might try a few top shelf bullets before deciding which one to settle on. I'm trying to stear clear of anything lighter than a 200 because the higher BC bullets really pass up the light slugs at the longer distances. Wish this stupid ammo crisis would end so I could just order what I want when I want Haha. Could also use a brick or more of Magnum rifle primers when I find them for under $100 a brick!
Sully2
Well-Known Member
190 grain Sierra boattail slug
