I want a new 338 bullet!!!

[yorke-1]

Any news on the 329 grain Berger?
Or maybe a 300 grain ELD?
Seems the 338s are not getting any love lately.

I think the problem is that most 338's out there are either 9 or 9.3" twists. When you start getting over 300grs with a long VLD style bullet you'll have stability problems.

I am at the point in a build and am looking at bullet selection. I have the eld m 285 and the 300 grain elite hunters. I would like to pic up a little velocity, but to me going to the solids or monolithics doesn't seem like a great idea on a ling range hunting rifle. Hear a lot about them not opening up and just penciled through. I was hoping the 285 would get just a bit more velocity, but open up a bit better at range with less velocity at the target than the 300 berger.

If you haven't looked at the Hammer bullets yet, give them a look. In my testing of low velocity expansion, the Hammers did really well. I'd expect the 304gr bullets to expand perfectly out to around 1000 yards when fired at about 2800 fps. I'm going to actually test them at 1000 yards when I get time this summer.

 

[calib]

I think the problem is that most 338's out there are either 9 or 9.3" twists. When you start getting over 300grs with a long VLD style bullet you'll have stability problems.



If you haven't looked at the Hammer bullets yet, give them a look. In my testing of low velocity expansion, the Hammers did really well. I'd expect the 304gr bullets to expand perfectly out to around 1000 yards when fired at about 2800 fps. I'm going to actually test them at 1000 yards when I get time this summer.

How is the bearing surface compared to a 300 Berger? Rite now I am building my pressure strings to see where I can run, but I can do 3000 no problem, little bit of pressure up to 3050, but that was with retumbo. Trying rl33, n570 and h50bmg to see if we can get 3100+ with not much pressure.

 

[gohring3006]

The 300 OTM is stable with a 10 twist, so I think there is some length to be had for the 9 twist guys to utilize. The problem becomes weight with a standard 338 lapua. Much more than 300 grains and velocity starts to impede on BC. If I can't get a 300 grainer above 2700 fps then a 285 is a better option, or at least a viable option.

 

[yorke-1]

How is the bearing surface compared to a 300 Berger? Rite now I am building my pressure strings to see where I can run, but I can do 3000 no problem, little bit of pressure up to 3050, but that was with retumbo. Trying rl33, n570 and h50bmg to see if we can get 3100+ with not much pressure.

The bullet is longer but there's less bearing surface because of the design on the Hammer.


I use an extra 1.5gr of powder in my 338 SnipeTac to get the Hammers to shoot to the same velocity as the 300gr OTM.

 

[calib]

I would think somewhere around the 285 grain area there could be some very good bullets made with high b.c. as well as performance on game. When I run on my ballistics app a 285 and 300 berg at near the same speed or even the 285 a bit faster there is little advantage.

 

[calib]

The bullet is longer but there's less bearing surface because of the design on the Hammer.


I use an extra 1.5gr of powder in my 338 SnipeTac to get the Hammers to shoot to the same velocity as the 300gr OTM.

Have you ran those on game at all? Also I am running a 1:9.4 rock creek barrel 32" long I should be able to stabilize correct?

 

[yorke-1]

I haven't used them on game yet; I use them as target bullets out of my two 338 SnipeTacs. These should stabilize fine out of your barrel. My rifle is a 9.3 twist and the pistol is a 9 twist and both barrels shoot them well out past 1 mile.

 

[calib]

York, you see they are putting out the 329 soonish?

 

[Farmerbrown32]

Ya that is gonna be great fun to try out in the 338 RUM 1-9

 

[gohring3006]

I'm probably going punch my chamber to 338L AI.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I'm probably going punch my chamber to 338L AI.

If you do a 40* shoulder variant on your 338 lapua you will find it very worth while. This cartridge is one of the best candidates for improving.

My 338Lap imp with 30" barrel will run our 285g Hammer Hunter at ~3250fps. That is with a 9" twist Lija. The calculated bc on this bullet is from my shot drops at .357g7.

I think we have chased the bc about as far as we can in our hunting line of bullets and still maintain exceptional terminal performance. We run a 1.5mm hollow point where many other makers run with 1mm hp. It is a handicap that we are not willing to get rid of since terminal performance is most important when it comes to hunting bullets.

Just had back surgery yesterday so hopefully we will be moving forward very soon with plans for target bullets. Here we will chase the high bc without regard to terminal performance. Who knows, maybe we will come up with an ogive design that helps with the long range hunting line. There only so much that can be done with physics. So far have not been able to defy it. Have a couple of ideas though.

Steve

 

[gohring3006]

If you do a 40* shoulder variant on your 338 lapua you will find it very worth while. This cartridge is one of the best candidates for improving.

My 338Lap imp with 30" barrel will run our 285g Hammer Hunter at ~3250fps. That is with a 9" twist Lija. The calculated bc on this bullet is from my shot drops at .357g7.

I think we have chased the bc about as far as we can in our hunting line of bullets and still maintain exceptional terminal performance. We run a 1.5mm hollow point where many other makers run with 1mm hp. It is a handicap that we are not willing to get rid of since terminal performance is most important when it comes to hunting bullets.

Just had back surgery yesterday so hopefully we will be moving forward very soon with plans for target bullets. Here we will chase the high bc without regard to terminal performance. Who knows, maybe we will come up with an ogive design that helps with the long range hunting line. There only so much that can be done with physics. So far have not been able to defy it. Have a couple of ideas though.

Steve

Definitely looking forward to the target bullets Steve!
I think the 300 grain bullets is almost to heavy for the Lapua in "standard" barrel lengths.
I don't think I would gain anything with a 329 grain. The velocity wouldn't be there to out run the 285. At least not enough to switch.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Definitely looking forward to the target bullets Steve!
I think the 300 grain bullets is almost to heavy for the Lapua in "standard" barrel lengths.
I don't think I would gain anything with a 329 grain. The velocity wouldn't be there to out run the 285. At least not enough to switch.

Yep. It is the tortoise and the hair. The tortoise always wins if the race is long enough. The heavier higher bc bullet will have a wind advantage for much of the usable down range but suffer with slower impact vel. Often the wind advantage is only 2-3 inches at extended range. It becomes a homework assignment that everyone that is working at long range should do to determine what is the best bullet that fits their true hunting range and needs.

When it comes to terminal performance vel is not overrated.

Steve

 

[Pdvdh]

My realistic longest hunting range has been reduced over the last couple years. In my mind. Not the actual field conditions. I still hunt the same location. Just came to a comfortable acceptance that I'm not going to be shooting past 1000yds at game animals. And I'm good with that.
Which means I no longer concern myself with identifying and purchasing the highest BC bullet available. Has to be good. Not higher than all the rest.
Terminal performance is more important, IMO. Good enough is good enough, with respect to BC value.