Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Scenar vs scenar l?

Internet research hasn’t helped me. What’s the difference? Thinking of trying the 155s in a 30-06 for deer.

Your google foo is diminished grasshopper. From the Lapua website:


"The Scenar-L has the refined qualities of the original Scenar bullet with higher standards of jacket wall concentricity, weight variation and dimensional uniformity."

I've shot both and while I'm sure the attributes of the "L" would tend to make it more accurate, the plain old scenars are so accurate I couldn't tell a difference.

The difference in ballistic coefficients tells the story between the two versions. One has more empty jacket in the nose.

Thanks I guess my google skills are lacking!

Yep. 155’s in my 308 print one hole groups quite consistently.

how are these bullets on game. Do they explode like target bullets, similar to Amax and VLD, or do they hold together a bit more?

They seem to hold together pretty well. There's a thread somewhere titled "Deceased via Scenar." I think it's on the general big game forum but I couldn't find it. It goes back a few years, at least to 2015. Has many pages of photos of big game animals shot with scenars.

I've used the 139gr and 136gr L on pronghorn and deer out of a 260 Rem. I can't tell a difference in on game performance or on a target. Nothing but good things to say about each. I'll likely not use a different bullet out of that rifle.

I have used the 155 Scenar on a bunch of elk and mule deer. They work quite well. Only once has one ever been recovered, and that was on a longer shot. My little .308 has a 20" barrel on it, and the bullet was caught in the offside hide.

I have never found any reason to switch to anything else in a .308. The 155 Scenar/Varget in a .308 simply works.

I am switching from Ham-Bergers to Scenars. I think the original may be less frangible due to less air space in the nose but this is speculation. The original slightly more rounded ogive is closer to the Hybrid shoulder rather than an 8+ degree VLD ogive so I am hoping they are easier to find a good load for. This has been true with the Hybrid Hunters in my rifles.

Before I get flamed by the Berger Boys let me say I rarely shoot game past 400 yards, but I kill rocks out to 6-800 and like to practice with my hunting loads.

My current WT Creed load is with 136L Scenars. I was wondering what difference you saw with them vs. the 139, which I also like. You noted not much difference regarding terminal performance. My Creed shoots sub half MOA with the 123 Scenar. I went with a slightly heavier bullet for WT's, just never killed one. Too many other projects. Maybe I should stick with the 123's. I had a bad experience with a 90 gr. Scenar at .240 Wby speeds turning a WT's chest to soup. At least the Creed isn't pushing these nearly that fast. That's the reason I was looking for a slightly heavier Scenar for the Creed.

My Swede seems to prefer 139's over a stiff load of MRP. It's more finicky than the Creed, but does shoot this load sub MOA.

DF

I'd try the 123 on deer for sure. I haven't shot a lot of animals with it out of my .260 but it worked great on a sheep, a pronghorn and a deer.

Thanks for that info.

As well as this Creed shoots that bullet, that may definitely be an option.

DF

I'd not be scared of the 123gr on deer with what I've saw out of the 139/136gr versions. I only tried the 136gr as I hadn't gotten my loading stuff set up after a move/remodel so bought some Berger ammo with the 136gr L (unfortunately now discontinued). It shot well and I've had complete penetration, except for one, and more than ample wound channels on deer/pronghorn from 347yds to 70yds. The one bullet I caught was a spine shot on a doe whitetail at 150yds. Found under offside hide after smashing through the spine. I'm happy with it even though my groups aren't as small as yours...

Good info, thanks.

Well, it was just a 3 shot group....



DF

But a nice Creed rifle. Shilen barrel, McWoody Mtn Rifle stock, pillared, bedded and free floated, NF SHV 3-10x42 in Talley LW's.

I could hunt that and it'd cover a whole lot of what I hunt. Very nice.

Yeah, I really feel sorry for DF and those rifles he has to hunt with......

About ready to put together the same blueprint for my daughter. What contour on the barrel?