230 Bergers and 300 RUM

[Doublezranch]

I am going to order some as we speak. The only thing I have killing me in the back of my head is that Berger labels them as target bullets. I thought I saw a post of someone who has hunted with them with success. Should I worry or isn't it a problem.

 

[Broz]

I am going to order some as we speak. The only thing I have killing me in the back of my head is that Berger labels them as target bullets. I thought I saw a post of someone who has hunted with them with success. Should I worry or isn't it a problem.

Can't say for sure as I haven't used them yet. Like with any new bullet I test, I will start with antelope in OCT. If I like what I see there I will take them to deer and elk. The first elk will be 400 to 500 yds and on from there.

Now, if I were in your shoes, and shooting a RUM instead of my 300 win. I would be ordering 230 OTM's hands down. We have taken antelope, deer and elk (both cows and Bulls) with the 230 OTM Hybrid. All one shot kills DRT. My recent experience with a friend testing these 230's in a 30-378 wby has me excited with results. It seems to me the larger case of the 30-378 and the 300 RUM is a very good match for theses 230's. Plus a Hybrid Ogive is less sensitive to the seating depth so the freebore of the RUM and Wby will not be an issue. So why not take advantage of the .711 BC of the 230 and the extra energy ?

Jeff

 

[Doublezranch]

Good points Jeff. I changed my order. Now, to just get a powder range to start with. Any ideas? My remmy loves 7828 but I have Retumbo, H1000, and so on and so forth. If I could stick with 7828, that would be great.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I am going to order some as we speak. The only thing I have killing me in the back of my head is that Berger labels them as target bullets. I thought I saw a post of someone who has hunted with them with success. Should I worry or isn't it a problem.

I posted this quote by Walt Berger in another thread a few weeks ago but don't remember where, so here it is again. This is a direct, unadulterated statement from Walt Berger in response to some questions I had about hunting with the hybrid bullets.

"Hi Jesse,
I am not in a position at this time to make any positive statements on the 230 grain Hybrid bullet for hunting but from what I have seen I would not hesitate use either the 230 Hybrid Tactical or the 230 Hybrid target for hunting. hope this helps a little bit."

You can draw your own conclusion about the 215. If you're like me, I'm not a bit concerned to use them on game after hearing Broz's and others' reports with the 230 OTM and how Walt seems to feel. There is supposed to be a Hunting labeled Hybrid line of bullets coming our soon, the 215 is among them.

 

[Broz]

Good points Jeff. I changed my order. Now, to just get a powder range to start with. Any ideas? My remmy loves 7828 but I have Retumbo, H1000, and so on and so forth. If I could stick with 7828, that would be great.

I have loaded them in a 300 win and now a 30-378 but not the 300 RUM, so I have no first hand data for you. But, if I loaded them in your rum it would be with H-1000. I don't like the spike that comes with Retumbo and IMR powders are to temp sesative for my climate and long range hunting

Jeff

 

[CENTURY]

I am trying to decide on the 215 or the 230 bergers in a 30-378. Shots will be 1000 yd and under. Please help me decide. Have been shooting Lost River Ballistic bullets on elk with great success out to 750 yards but want to try heavier bullets and extend my range.

Thanks

 

[Broz]

I am trying to decide on the 215 or the 230 bergers in a 30-378. Shots will be 1000 yd and under. Please help me decide. Have been shooting Lost River Ballistic bullets on elk with great success out to 750 yards but want to try heavier bullets and extend my range.

Thanks

The 230 OTM, start with 94 gr of H-1000 and seat them at 3.800"

Jeff gun)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[CENTURY]

Thanks Jeff,

I was leaning towards the 230 but after reading earlier posts that the 215 has less drop, same windage and basically same energy was not sure which way to go.

 

[Broz]

Thanks Jeff,

I was leaning towards the 230 but after reading earlier posts that the 215 has less drop, same windage and basically same energy was not sure which way to go.

I tend to select the heavier offerings as I know some of the bullet will faragment into the vital area and I want a good sized portion to pass on through. So far it is working flawlessly for us. We place them in the crease behind the shoulder and watch em fold up. 99% of the time we get complete pass throughs even at 1000 yds.

The 30-378 has plenty of case volume for a 230 gr bullet. Plus it will be a little friendlier to the throat.


Jeff

 

[Footsore]

.. I don't like the spike that comes with Retumbo and IMR powders are to temp sesative for my climate and long range hunting

Jeff

Hi Jeff. What is the spike that you are referring to. I have just bought some 230 gr Hybrid target bullets for my 300 RUM and am planning on using Retumbo.
Steve

 

[Broz]

Hi Jeff. What is the spike that you are referring to. I have just bought some 230 gr Hybrid target bullets for my 300 RUM and am planning on using Retumbo.
Steve

Hi Steve, I have used Retumbo in the past a lot. Especially is larger Magnums like the 30-378. I could get good accuracy and velocity , but if I ws running it anywhere close to a max load there would always be the time where I would get a hard bolt lift and that one would go high. It seems to me that Retumbo has a very fine line as to where max is, if you dont stay well below it you will get this spike. Like, you will shoot 3 and all is fine then the next one goes hot. It drove me crazy. I was very careful to make sure I was not over pressure but I just got tired of it and switched to H-1000. I have never felt I gave up anything going to H-1000 and it has become my go to powder. I will add that I have seen this complaint many times from other shooters too. So, if you use it be aware of this, especially if you plan to run close to a max load.

Jeff

 

[Footsore]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that. My rifle shoots 200 AB best with 92 gr of Retumbo which is a fair way below max but I will keep that in mind when loading up the 230 gr Bergers.
Steve

 

[Southwest Hunter]

Been wanting to extend my range and after reading the post I ordered a couple boxes of the 215 hyb. Thank you to everyone that shares knowledge. This is very addicting !

 

[Tumbleweed]

Been wanting to extend my range and after reading the post I ordered a couple boxes of the 215 hyb. Thank you to everyone that shares knowledge. This is very addicting !

You won't be sorry you went 215! I finally settled on a load in my RUM with the 215's. It is 92.0 H1000, NC brass, Fed215GM running 3140fps with less than 10fps ES, it's hot but not danger zone hot. This is out of 27". The COAL is 3.880" which puts the bullet at .005" jump, in my rifle they like being close to the lands. These are very long and won't fit in my extended magazine box but that is not a concern for me. I have concluded that my barrel is on the way out with 1200-1300 rounds through it and settled on a .75-1MOA load at 300 yards. Could not acheive the .25-.5MOA that I used to get with the 210's no matter what combo I tried. I have shot one pair at 1100 yards and the vertical dispersion was less than 1". It required 2.25MOA less drop compensation than the 210VLD at 3120fps too. We'll see if my barrel will make it to and through this next hunting season