Berger 30. 230gr hybrid target or Tactical for hunting

[muleystalker]

I'm getting ready to build a 300WM and need to decide what bullet i'm going to shoot. i want to shoot the Berger 230gr Hybrid, only they do not make it in their hunting line. Was wondering if anyone on her has used them for hunting with good results, either the Target or tactical? I don't understand why Berger does not make them in their hunting lineup, they are far superior than the 210gr ballistically.

 

[trazman]

Well I would consider to go for 215 hybrid target bullec if you want to have the .300 win mag. I think that 230 are a little bit to have to get decent velocities with the win mag. You should consider a 300rum... Anyway what is the range you are planning to shoot?

 

[AZShooter]

My friend and I used the 230 Berger hybrid match target bullet on two cow elk the year in the fall 2013 hunt. He used a 300 WSM velocity 2720 fps. I used the 300 RUM with vel 2975 fps.

Don shot his cow at 300 yds just behind the shoulders broadside. The elk stutter stepped and fell over in slow motion after 5 seconds. Bullet exited with a 1 1/2 or so diameter.

My cow was shot broadside at 250 yds with only shot presented between the trees, a high scapula shot. Bullet went through both shoulders and elk dropped instantly DRT. Bullet exited with exit wound of around 2".

I see no reason why you couldn't use this bullet too.

 

[geo4061]

Love the 230 Berger hybrid in my RUM.

 

[Broz]

We have some of our data from the 230 OTM Tactical in a 300 win mag here. When decided to try them in my sons 300 win there was only the OTM version. That is why we tested them instead of the higher BC Targets. With what I know about them both I would have no problem hunting with either.

Jeff

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/berger-230-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results-80283/


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[jonthomps]

We have some of our data from the 230 OTM Tactical in a 300 win mag here. When decided to try them in my sons 300 win there was only the OTM version. That is why we tested them instead of the higher BC Targets. With what I know about them both I would have no problem hunting with either.

Jeff

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/berger-230-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results-80283/


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I was just going to refer you to Jeff's thread! Hunting + 230 Berger + 300WM = SUCCESS!

 

[muleystalker]

Well I would consider to go for 215 hybrid target bullec if you want to have the .300 win mag. I think that 230 are a little bit to have to get decent velocities with the win mag. You should consider a 300rum... Anyway what is the range you are planning to shoot?

Traz, if you look at the BC of the 230gr's they are much better than the 215gr. You can get 2850fps out of a 26" barrel with the 230gr, with that being said its right on the heals or the 338 Lapua with the 250gr. bullets. I should have added that I will be using on deer, bear and elk and shooting steel to a 1000'. The 500' plus is where my real concern about the performance lies.

 

[Broz]

Traz, if you look at the BC of the 230gr's they are much better than the 215gr. You can get 2850fps out of a 26" barrel with the 230gr, with that being said its right on the heals or the 338 Lapua with the 250gr. bullets. I should have added that I will be using on deer, bear and elk and shooting steel to a 1000'. The 500' plus is where my real concern about the performance lies.

The best we have ever gotten was 2775 from a 28" in the 300 win. I would be interested in your 2850 / 26" load?

The 215 we get 2900 to 3000 from a 26" and has a G1 BC of .696 the 230 is .743. Noticeable but not a ton of BC difference for a 200 fps gain. The reason I now shoot the 215 from my 300 win.

500' plus? I don't follow this?

Jeff

 

[muleystalker]

The best we have ever gotten was 2775 from a 28" in the 300 win. I would be interested in your 2850 / 26" load?

The 215 we get 2900 to 3000 from a 26" and has a G1 BC of .696 the 230 is .743. Noticeable but not a ton of BC difference for a 200 fps gain. The reason I now shoot the 215 from my 300 win.

500' plus? I don't follow this?

Jeff

I was referring to my concern for performance was in the 500' to 1000' area. And by the way I just read your tread, very well done one informative, thank you don't know how I missed it. The velocity I quoted was off of bergers web site for there loaded ammo from Bryan Litz ABM ammo. My buddy ran a load through my crono with the 230s and a 26" barrel 300 win mag and got 2835. I don't know what the load was I was fooling with my stuff at the time but I wi try and find out. I was looking at the 215 I was just thinking for close to the same trajectory if I can get alite more down range energy I'm all for that. Thanks for your help. Has your son tried the 230 hybrid target bullet that came out after the tactical, better BC, just curious?

 

[Broz]

Thanks for that info. I talked with Bryan early on and he was at the same velocity we were, but that was a few years ago. He obviously found something I did not.

We never did move on to test the "Targets" with higher BC. I went to the 215's and started testing them. Below is the thread on them. And my son has moved on to a 338 Terminator +P with a 300 Berger.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/


Don't get me wrong, I am all about heavy for caliber bullets especially with fragmenting bullets. But for our use the 215 having 200 fps more velocity it was our choice for inside the perimeters of where we would take elk and bear with a 300 win. Now it we were to use a 300 rum or 30-378 again we would have 230's in them for sure.

There are 20 some kill reports with the 215 from the same 300 win. Lots of elk and lots of different distances. Look it over and you should have an idea of if they are what you want. In the 300 win the only place I liked the 230's better than the 215 was 500 yards and under.

Jeff

 

[Pdvdh]

The best we have ever gotten was 2775 from a 28" in the 300 win. I would be interested in your 2850 / 26" load?

The 215 we get 2900 to 3000 from a 26" and has a G1 BC of .696 the 230 is .743. Noticeable but not a ton of BC difference for a 200 fps gain. The reason I now shoot the 215 from my 300 win.

Jeff

Jeff,
The loss of 200fps seemed excessive for a bullet that only added 15gr weight. I wouldn't have expected any more than 100fps difference. So I reviewed the bearing surface length of the 215 Hybrid Target versus the 230 Hybrid Target versus the 230 Hybrid Tactical OTM. This data from Berger's web site:

215 Hybrid Target - 0.419"
230 Hybrid Target - 0.495" _ 18% longer bearing surface than the 215.
230 OTM Tactical - 0.560" _ 34% longer bearing surface than the 215 _ 13% longer bearing surface than the 230 Hybrid Target.

I think you stated your son was shooting the 230gr OTMs? The 230gr Target bullets with their shorter bearing lengths should improve MV.

I'm going to try some 230s in my rifle. Based on the difference in bearing surface lenght, I'll purchase the 230 Hybrid Targets.

 

[Broz]

Good point Paul and the 215's ran faster for me that the 210 VLD. I attributed that to bearing surface too.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[Edd]

215 Hybrid Target - 0.419"
230 Hybrid Target - 0.495" _ 18% longer bearing surface than the 215.
230 OTM Tactical - 0.560" _ 34% longer bearing surface than the 215 _ 13% longer bearing surface than the 230 Hybrid Target.

Those numbers aren't from the current website, they are from an old spec sheet. The numbers listed on the website show....

215 Hybrid Target - 0.450"
230 Hybrid Target - 0.520"
230 OTM Tactical - 0.550"

There is only about 6% difference in the current 230 gr specs.

 

[Pdvdh]

Edd,
Can you provide a link to the Berger site you're getting your information from?

I just re-visited this Berger web site (see link below), and I find the same bearing surface lengths that I posted above.

The Berger Bullets Catalog | Berger Bullets