Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting When will hunting bullets of 358, 9.3, and 375 caliber get some BC love?

The 6.5, 7, 30, 338 calibers have all had really good ballistic coefficient developments for hunting bullets over the years. But the best BC's of these bigger calibers seriously drop off after 338. Will the bullet manufacturers ever see the potential market there?

I realize there are a couple boutique companies making some of non traditional construction, but I'm looking for a more traditional bonded lead type core. Nosler Accubonds for example: they make a 300 gr 338 cal but their biggest 375 cal accubond is also 300 gr. Come on.

Barrel twist rate is the stumbling block

The 250 AccuBond in 9.3 isn't to bad at 0.494 and the 286 Partition at 0.482. Good BC's for hunting bullets.

If your looking for BC's in the 6's and 7's in medium calibers you will be looking at 300 to >400gr bullets, to drive these at meaningful speeds, 2800 fps or more then you are looking at burning 100gr of powder +.

Generally not practical for most game animals. Further more a high BC smaller diameter bullet like the a 243,264,284 and 308 can be very manageable ,which insures more consistent precision, which negates the requirement for uber power as the bullets can be surgically placed. There is a balance though.

Most animals that are regularly hunted only require a precision hit with a bullet between 24 and 30 caliber thus the high BC's for long range.

It seems like the best BCs and SDs in "ordinary" but good performing stuff are 7mm and .338. I really like the Hornady .338-250 for example, and it seems like you can't duplicate its BC and SD with an "ordinary" but good choice in any larger caliber. In .30 I would be looking for something around 208 gr, and there isn't much. I know that some of the "modern" specialties are supposed to give penetration and stay together with lower SDs but I'd rather stay with a SD over .3 and a BC over .4.

Insufficient market demand. Someone mentioned twist rate. Like the .270, standard twist rates don't support the long bullets. Given the usual use those calibers get, the bullets currently available are just fine.

Sorry to say, the potential market is only in your mind.

I didn't think about the twist rate, that makes sense. One more hurdle of different thinking that would need to happen.

I guess I should put my interest into context. I'm not really interested in super magnum ultra fast magnums for extreme long distance. I am thinking for the 375 H&H class. A 0.6-0.7 BC could extend the range that hunting bullets could reliably perform on game. For example, a 375 H&H would send a 300 gr accubond (bc .485) out around 2500 fps and drop below 2000 around 300 yds, which is starting to fall into questionable territory. It would be really nice to be able to reach to 400 with comfort that shooting skill is still the only challenge. Knowing that a 338 caliber accubond has a bc of .72 just eats away at me.

I know I may be looking for a way to have my cake and eat it too, but I have a wonder if these cartridges can have the flexibility like the 338 does. I hunting in Alaska with one rifle, at least one rifle per hunt. I love having my 375 for stuff less than 200 yards but you never know when the vegetation and terrain won't allow that.

Never, because there is no market there. Even the 338 Lapua is overkill for most, a fast 30 is all the "heavy" rifle any LR shooter needs, unless you have a responsibility for punching hole in SCUD missle tanks or the like. That is a small group and they are already adequately supplied, I think.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. This isn't about greater power it's about better efficiency. I also see 338 Lapua as overkill, and frankly, not a good use of all that powder. I'm looking for simply a hunting bullet development that extends the range for normal 358, 9.3, and 375 hunters, which may not be as many 30 caliber hunters, but we are still a noticeable portion of the market.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/14...iameter-350-grain-hollow-point-boat-tail
Here is the only viable Mid caliber(heavy) High BC bullet for your tastes that is not a machined bronze bullet.....
Would probably kill most anything you wanted and really needs a large case to get decent velocity, say a minimum of a .378 weatherby case. A .375 CHeyTach would be better.....

I wouldn't consider an SMK a reliable hunting bullet

Believe it or not a 3/8" diameter bullet weighing 350 grs.even if it manages to expand only a tiny bit will kill the heck out of anything 99.99% of the game animals ever taken on this planet.
The calibers you stated .358, .366 and .375 generally are 1-14" twists and most .358 are 1-16", you are gonna need some one to make barrel suitable for a limited need. Then having to put up with either a really heavy gun and or muzzle break, the recoil is gonna preclude serious long range accuracy for most. Or just spent 10k for a Cheytac and have all you would ever want.
JMHO

All things being equal, a controlled expansion bullet beats an SMK. And like you say, that 350 SMK is designed for the 100+ powder grain cases. I'm not asking for something like a 0.8 BC anyways. Something like 300-315 grain .375 around .6-.65 would be sweet. Seeing that Nosler can make 260 grains be around .47, it may be possible without complicating things like appropriate twist rates.

How about .338-250 accubond at 2500 from .338-06 for moderate recoil and most of the other features you want.

no kidding man. Been waiting for a .5 and above BC for my 378 Bee

hahahahahahah ! wow ! just hahah wow ! a .600 bc bullet in the tired old anemic 375 H&H.... really and do what exactly ? shoot at 211 yards ? thanks for da laughs....

44 magnum bullets need some BC love but I wouldn't hold my breath.

akmtnrunner, I feel your pain! I've been begging Barnes to make a .375 TTSX at around 290 to 300 grains. Should give it a BC somewhere around .500. Which should be a good performer in many of the .375's. I finally gave up at went to the 250 TTSX,so now they'll probably build it!! I would guess that I'm not the only one that would like to see a better long range "hunting" bullet for the .375's. It appears that Barnes is not listening! memtb

Think one of the problems is those hole sizes represent a miniscule number of rifles sold. The other being bullet weight goes up and powder charge realistically goes up with it. BC isn't much good with large rock trajectory so your into recoil which most seem to be trying to fix, not increase. Jm2pennies.

W

Its a myth that these calibers have rock trajectories. For example a 260 grain AB (BC 0.473) from 375 Ruger is actually 2" higher at 300 yards than 225 grain AB (0.55) from a 338 Win Mag despite it's BC disadvantage.

One thing good about big heavy bullets in 375, you can lobe them in and they are pretty consistent even with some wind thrown in. Another plus is they really plow through the brush and stay on track.