Gotcha, thanks PRM. Which do you prefer out of the two, Scenar or Berger?
Minor edge to the VLD. Maybe... The 139 penetrates more, the VLD does more damage. The shot with the 139 was broadside lung and the bullet had not expanded by the first lung entry, but had by the second lung. Buck ran a bit (50-60 yds?) and died. They both work but it would probably take many more animals to really discern any meaningful difference. Neither results in the same response by the animal as being hit with a .338 bullet.
I recently got 2800fps with a 175 Hammer Hunter using 47gn of AR-Comp. The issue is that at 48gn it is filled to near the top. I got 47.5 to work with the 175 but it is really compressed and hard to seat bullet. With 180/200gn bullets I got quite a bit less speed than Alliant's data. Ex: 2699 with 48gn and a 180 AB.
I use both Federal and Starline. After firing and full length resizing they are virtually the same volume. Starline 55.1 and Federal 55.2 grains of water.
I recently got 2800fps with a 175 Hammer Hunter using 47gn of AR-Comp. The issue is that at 48gn it is filled to near the top. I got 47.5 to work with the 175 but it is really compressed and hard to seat bullet. With 180/200gn bullets I got quite a bit less speed than Alliant's data. Ex: 2699 with 48gn and a 180 AB.
I suppose 8208 will likely get in that range too with 175's, or be pretty close.
This thread is amazing, I’ve read every post and some twice. Haha. Became a member to thank PRM and the others who’ve taken the time and now add my findings for those who may find them interesting. I bought a semi customized tikka t3 that had the throat lengthened, a mag length bolt stop added and the long action mag to accommodate the big long heavies seated out I’ve yet to find the max OAL but am able to seat any bullet as far out as possible. I found some part boxes of appropriate projectiles and went full bullet nerd checking velocities and performance at 100 yards with water jugs and wet newspaper. I also used both large rifle primer and lapua small rifle primer brass and found there to be no difference so far with CCI 450s, primarily because here in Canada the primer situation is very grim and i happened to have plenty of the small magnum primers for 6.5 and 308win. I have tried the following projectiles and powder combos. 160 TTSX - 53grains AA2230 Palma brass OAL 2.994” average of 3005 FPS. 3/4” MOA 180 AB - 50grains win748 OAL 2.881” average of 2575FPS 230 ELDX - 45.5grains N140 Palma brass OAL 3.070” average of 2410FPS. This combo has shot a five shot group of 1.75” at 300 yards. Keep in mind my findings are unique because of the lengthened throat but this is quickly becoming my favourite rifle. I have also tried 185 TSX, 185 GMX, 200 Accubond, 225 Accubond, 225 Deepcurl, 200 HotCor and 225 partitions. All reasonable accuracy, I wish the 225 Deepcurl was still in production as it had extremely good penetration and expansion. Factory fusions performed very well too but factory ammo isn’t nearly as fun. Hopefully this thread continues as new projectiles and powders become available.
With deer season coming up soon I've been thinking about using "Old Thumper" with this load I developed years ago. I'm just not sure about using the Nosler 180 Ballistic Tip, does anybody have any experience with them on whitetail?
Bullet: Nosler 180 gr. Ballistic Tip Powder: IMR 8208 XBR 48.0 grs Primer: CCI-BR2 Case: Federal LOAL: 2.895 (2.250 base to ogive with Stoney Point) Avg. Velocity: 2768.83 fps Spread: 20.29 Std Dev: 6.63
I shot a 110lb doe with a 180 accubond last year. Load is at 2700fps. Was a hard quartering shot from behind ribs and exited offside shoulder. No recovered bullet and she made it a sliding 10ish yards. I believe your load will be an awesome whitetail load!
I’ve shot piles of deer with the 180 accubond at 2785fps and it performs perfectly, lots of 120lbs does to 250lbs whitetail bucks. Have only recovered 1 and it looked like a nosler advertised mushroom. Took a bull elk with a 200gn ballistic tip out of a 338WM and have shot some deer with them in the 338fed and they work great too so I’d be comfortable shooting the 180bt at them also.
Has anyone played with the 225 Accubonds much? I know the conventional choices are in the 160-210gr range but figured I would tinker a bit since I have enough on hand.
I just finished my 338 Fed project by rebarreling/restocking a Rem 700 in 308. Put a 10 twist Krieger on it finished at 21" and will be running it suppressed mainly because I dont like carrying ear plugs when I hunt. Primary use will be for heavily managing the pig population here on the Texas Gulf Coast both day and night but it could see some elk/bear/moose at some point especially as my boys get older. Shots over 200-250 would be rare.
Going to test two loads...first will be 185TTSX/8208 combo and then going to mess with the 225s to see how they perform on pigs. I have 8208, RL15, Varget, Benchmark, Xterminator, H335, and CFE223 on hand. Will post results as I go along.
Has anyone played with the 225 Accubonds much? I know the conventional choices are in the 160-210gr range but figured I would tinker a bit since I have enough on hand.
I just finished my 338 Fed project by rebarreling/restocking a Rem 700 in 308. Put a 10 twist Krieger on it finished at 21" and will be running it suppressed mainly because I dont like carrying ear plugs when I hunt. Primary use will be for heavily managing the pig population here on the Texas Gulf Coast both day and night but it could see some elk/bear/moose at some point especially as my boys get older. Shots over 200-250 would be rare.
Going to test two loads...first will be 185TTSX/8208 combo and then going to mess with the 225s to see how they perform on pigs. I have 8208, RL15, Varget, Benchmark, Xterminator, H335, and CFE223 on hand. Will post results as I go along.
I haven't but I'll be watching what you. 185 TTSX's and 8208 didn't shoot too bad for me a few weeks back. It's one of those loads I need to revisit when I have more time.
Tried 2 different powders today with the 225gr Accubond mainly just to see if I could get them up to a decent usable velocity in my 20-21” barrel. At 2400-2450 the energy is roughly equal to a 185gr at 2700 and you give up a bit in the trajectory department but inside 300 yards it’s minimal.
Loaded in new necked up Lapua brass with Fed GM210 primers @2.890” OAL which is about 15 thou jump in my rifle. Temp was between 65-70 degrees.
I loaded RL15 from 42.0gr - 45.5gr…Nosler data was 45.0 max with QL showing a bit higher.
I would call 43.5gr as max in my rifle and unfortunately accuracy was best at 43.9gr. Velocity gain really started to flatten out over 43.1gr.
My guess is the RL15 was a little too slow in the shorter barrel length and X-Terminator being a bit faster gave me close to 100% burn in my barrel. H335 and Benchmark might be next powders I try if I test any further. Accuracy with the 225 Accubond wasn’t what I would say was representative of what the rifle is capable of so my barrel may not like them, may not like the powder, or they may need some more jump.
Overall, a 225AB at 2400 is achievable but going to drop back to the 185gr and see if I can improve accuracy.
Dropped back to the 185gr TTSX and tried out IMR 8208 and X-Terminator in some cruddy weather conditions.
Loaded in new necked up Lapua brass with CCI BR2 primers @2.865” OAL which is 50 thou jump in my rifle. Hawkins flush mag limit is 2.880". Temp was between 50-55 degrees with a gusty 20-25mph wind in my face.
Accuracy was nothing to write home about but was best at 46.3gr and I did not fire the 47.3 or 47.8 loads as I was starting to get some ejector marks at 46.8gr.
Did not fire the 48.0gr load as bolt lift started to get stiff at 47.5 and accuracy was deteriorating. Accuracy was 0.75" or better from 45.0-46.5gr with 45.5gr being 1/2" 3-shot group and 46.5gr being 3 shots into one ragged hole measuring somewhere in the 0.150-0.200" range. Really doesn't matter what it actually measured as for my purposes its sub 1/4". Gave me a big stupid smile on my face all day as I think I have finished load development. I gave up a bit of velocity with the 20" barrel but there isnt an animal in N.America that will know the difference between 2650fps and 2700fps. Going to load at 46.3/46.5/46.7 to see how wide the node is but I was beyond pleased with todays range session and I most certainly have my hunting load.
