Jus’ Thinking Outloud

[memtb]

I (we) have been very pleased with the performance of Barnes 225 gr. TTSX's in my Wife's .338 WM, but was thinking…… Very dangerous, I admit!

Has anyone tried the Barnes 250 gr. LRX in the .338 WM. The much higher BC interests me….a lot! I realize that it's somewhat longer than the 225 TTSX's and will use up much more case volume.

In limited research, it seems that velocities are pretty low. If I can push them fast enough……the downrange #'s are very impressive. So, has anyone tried them, and what were your findings? Thanks in advance! memtb

 

[HARPERC]

As much as I love a good .338 Winchester, and chasing velocity a bit, I think it tops out at 225's for the most part.

A place where more capacity is your friend.

 

[jjmp]

I'm a definite fan , but our friend above nailed it .not trying to discourage and I'm a huge Barnes fan ,hope more members chime in , my 26 inch 1/10 push's normal 250 s to 2,600 fps . Cheers

 

[memtb]

Probably just a fantasy! Crunching some #'s - if I could get 2750 mv from a 24" ……it would make an already good cartridge into a pretty impressive hunting cartridge!

At 2750 mv it appears, with our sight-in zero, it would be a bit higher at mid-range than her present 225 TTSX……but marginally so. Yet, at 500 yrds and beyond…..the numbers are pretty impressive. memtb

 

[MagnumManiac]

I have 3 338WM rifles, all are 26" barrels, 10" twist.
I ran a few 250's several years ago, Speer HotCor, Nosler Partition and Woodleigh PP. Average across the 3 rifles is 2770fps, my Kimber runs at 2800fps with ease, but I dropped the powder to be with the other 2.
I've run 225's for years now, but in the early days, I was running Speer 275g Semi Spitzer for bears, then they were dropped. I also used that bullet on Water buff, penetration is phenomenal.
I can't disparage the 250g LRX, if you can spin it fast enough, I see no reason for it to run less than 2750fps, unless I'm missing something…
I might even try them myself.

Cheers.

 

[Left Hand Dave]

Just a thought and it might not matter but it will also increase recoil if that is a concern.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Just a thought and it might not matter but it will also increase recoil if that is a concern.

I've never found a 338WM bothersome, even running 300g pills for fun. It doesn't come close to the speed from a 375 Weatherby's recoil pulse, it's so fast it twists the rifle in your hands…

Cheers.

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

Probably just a fantasy! Crunching some #'s - if I could get 2750 mv from a 24" ……it would make an already good cartridge into a pretty impressive hunting cartridge!

At 2750 mv it appears, with our sight-in zero, it would be a bit higher at mid-range than her present 225 TTSX……but marginally so. Yet, at 500 yrds and beyond…..the numbers are pretty impressive. memtb

I have a 24" barrel and can get 2750fps, and a bit more with some 250gr bullets but they're showing signs of high pressure. I usually settle for around 2660 - 2680. For heavy game the 250gr is a noticeable step up from 225gr bullets, to me it's about this weight where the .338's show a definite advantage over the the .300's.

 

[memtb]

Just a thought and it might not matter but it will also increase recoil if that is a concern.

We're presently running 225 TTSX's near 2950……while the wife doesn't "enjoy" shooting them from the bench, she'll do it. In the field, she does very good!

I suspect, though could be very wrong, the 250's at substantially less velocity should be a little less recoil!

With some load data, I could crunch the numbers to determine the difference! ! memtb