Berger .338 250 EH vs 300 EH for Elk

I'm wondering if anybody here has experience with both the 250 EH and the 300 EH shooting elk?

I've used the 300 EH and it hits like a sledgehammer, but considering using the 250 EH to get the flatter trajectory. But curious if anybody has any feedback on the terminal ballistics of the 250 in an elk? Looking for the same DRT performance that I've gotten out of the 300.

Also interesting, I ran the numbers and the faster 250 has less wind drift in my gun than the 300. Check out these screenshots from my Shooter app. Numbers are run with a 10 mph crosswind at 22.0 inHg.

Looking at your charts, I would stick with the 300 gr. You are only gaining about 1 less inch of drift at 1000 yards. That is minuscule compared to having more bullet and more energy going into the animal.

The trajectory difference shouldn't really matter as it won't even take you a second to dial the difference of the two.

I focus more on drift numbers then drop. Also sounds like you already have a good load for the 300 so why fix something that isn't broken, if results are only slightly better?

You guys are certainly right the wind drift between the two is the same.

I ran some more specific numbers and they really are very close. What I was going after was reducing errors from errors in muzzle velocity and ranging. Assuming a +\-5 yard ranging accuracy and a +\-10 FPS MV at 1100 yards, the 300 grain EH works out to a 12.1" group not counting anything else. The 250 EH is only 9.5". Not a huge difference but it certainly is flatter.

The 300 carries 100 ft lbs of additional energy, so an elk will not know the difference. So if the terminal performance of the 250 was very close to the 300 I would rather have the flatter trajectory. But I think considering it will perform just like the 300, just 50 less grains, the additional errors in the 300 are probably made up by a larger wound channel.

But the 250 would also have less recoil.

I think either way I'll see how they shoot and maybe the winner than goes hunting with me next year is the load/bullet that shoots better out of my gun at long range.

I'm also curious if there is anything noticeable in long range accuracy between a bullet with a long bearing surface like the 300 compared to one with a short bearing surface like the 250.

I'd like to hear about the 250s performance on elk.... Tag

Haven't had the opportunity for a long shot in game, but at 100yds and less the 250 is catastrophic. An entry wound in the chest that I could put my fist through, and no exit; just fragments in the opposite side of the rib cage.

Long range ballistic performance? I prefer it over the 300. Less kick and I can drive it fast enough that the drop in elr scenarios is less than that of the 300.

Wish I still had pics of that elk from a couple of years ago. It was something to see.

BigGrizz said:

Haven't had the opportunity for a long shot in game, but at 100yds and less the 250 is catastrophic. An entry wound in the chest that I could put my fist through, and no exit; just fragments in the opposite side of the rib cage.

Long range ballistic performance? I prefer it over the 300. Less kick and I can drive it fast enough that the drop in elr scenarios is less than that of the 300.

Wish I still had pics of that elk from a couple of years ago. It was something to see.

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I wish you had the pics too! How fast did that boy drop?

I've been real happy with the 250's, I've ran the 250 in a number of guns that were shooting the 300 and the 250's have shot more accurate even with a lot of jump.
They knock the sand out of an elk in brutal fashion, there is no doubt in any way you hit them and they get there fast, for the most part we've shot them in the 3100 fps range where the 300 was at 2800-2830 and it surprising how fast the 250 gets to 1000!

wilkup said:

I wish you had the pics too! How fast did that boy drop?

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We were in the dark timber. Snowy Range Wyoming. We were moving through the timber to get a vantage on a valley so we were more or less passing through to get to a glassing spot. We came across an aspen drainage, and I noticed a fresh rub while at the same time about 7-8yds downhill from me I heard a click. I knew it was my buddy switching the safety off on his 7-mag. I turned to ask him what was up, and he pointed across the drainage and said elk.

The bull was no more than 75yds from us, but in the dark timber it's pretty far. My pal shot as the bull was walking away from us but still broadside (not quite quartered away). When I picked the bull up I aimed in front of him and waited until the dark fur of his neck transitioned to light and shot. He only made it five more yards. I shot a second time to make sure he was anchored, but it wasn't necessary and didn't even connect (I shot an old 4-inch pine and cut it down lol).

They do their job for sure. No meat damage, and it turned his insides into vital purée. The internal damage was amazing. Any other gun and I'd use something more weight rententive, but a fragmenting 250 out of a Lapua? Penetration is never a concern.

I use the 250s elites on a couple of bears and a gemsbok. All dropped
In their tracks around 450 yd Shots. They will hammer an elk. Mine are going 3000 fps with 26 in barrel in 338 Rum. They do shoot flatter, plus there is A noticeable Recoil Difference from the 300s even with a break. I like them for lighter weight shortish barrels in the big 338s