215 Hybrid Short Range Terminal Performance

[Tumbleweed]

Did some short range (100 yard) terminal ballistics testing this evening with the 215 Berger Hybrids. My goal was to try and simulate what the bullet would encounter striking the shoulder bone of an elk. Everybody knows Bergers aren't any good at close range right? For the test I used a large piece of good solid fir wood (4 inches thick) with three milk jugs full of water placed behind it back to back to back. Distance 100 Yards. Bullet is leaving my 300 RUM at 3,140fps. As you'll see in the photos the bullet cleanly penetrated through the wood leaving an exit hole slightly larger than a quarter. The first milk jug was obliterated and in two pieces, second jug was also destroyed and a piece of jacket made it cleanly through the third jug. If we don't count the third jug total penetration was 16". Questionable penetration at close range after hitting bone? Don't think so! I always tuck in behind the shoulder but I wanted to know what to expect if a shoulder shot at close range was all that was available.

Below is the exit hole in wood block just to the right of the quarter

 

[Topshot]

The exit in the timber looks like it was hit with a shotgun. Would have made a mess of a shoulder.

 

[bigngreen]

Excellent!!!! I think some of the 215's will see some air time from a 30-338 and 300WBYgun)

 

[Tumbleweed]

The exit in the timber looks like it was hit with a shotgun. Would have made a mess of a shoulder.

Actually my 9 year old son had been chipping away at the back side of that block with one of my screwdrivers and a hammer. I guess that's what kids do for fun sometimes? There were lots of holes from that and the surface of the wood was loosened so that when the bullet came through it brought out some of those pieces with it. The spots out around the bullet exit are not bullet fragment holes but holes from one of daddy's screwdrivers. The bullet came through in a column no wider than 1.125" at it's last exit in the wood. You're right, I'm sure it would not have done an elk shoulder any good. However, it told me what I needed to know, it would cleanly take the elk even through heavy bone at close range.

 

[blackdog]

This is good to hear. I've got a box of the same I'll be trying in my .300WM very soon and plan to see how they perform on a Wyoming antelope or two in early October, then perhaps on a bull in your neck of the woods a few weeks later.

 

[BULLBLASTER]

I am using those in my rum at 2950. They are very accurate for me.
Any chance you will run the same test at 500+?
I would like to see for comparison.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I am using those in my rum at 2950. They are very accurate for me.
Any chance you will run the same test at 500+?
I would like to see for comparison.

I thought about doing the same test at 1000 yards. Although, the penetration will only get better beyond 100 yards as the bullet slows.

 

[clambdin]

I would like to see the same test with the 208gr Amax to see how they compare..

 

[beretzs]

Great test! Thank you for showing the results. Be cool to see the jugs lined up and actually catch one of them. It is a whole lotta mass, I imagine it might be pretty cool.

 

[BigBboy25]

I did this one with the 215 hybrid a while back. You fella's might like it, if nothing else it's kind of fun to watch.

215 Berger Hybrid 'jug' test, .300 Win. Mag. 450 yards - YouTube

and yes, the one camera was ruined making this . . .

 

[blackdog]

Very cool video!

 

[elkaholic]

Here is how they perform accuracy wise......Rich

 

[Broz]

Here is how they perform accuracy wise......Rich
]

Holy crap Rich, nice shooting!! gun)

Are you at 3000 fps?? Gotta be close.

Jeff

 

[elkaholic]

Holy crap Rich, nice shooting!! gun)

Are you at 3000 fps?? Gotta be close.

Jeff

The 79 gr. load is just short, but I can reach almost 3100' with a max load of Retumbo. H1000 will make just over 3000'......Rich