Top BC .338 Bullet
- Thread starter Terry
- Start date
275 cutting edge ? do they have a heavier one ?
LA50SHOOTER
Sworn To Protect The Constitution.
The 300 & 302 gr. Cutting Edge MTH & MTAC is listed at .840 G1 / G7 0.407
The 300 gr. Berger OTM Hybrid is listed at G7 BC: 0.421 / G1 BC: 0.822
The New Hornady 300 gr. A-Tip has not been yet published but I'd presume they'll advertise numbers that are probably the highest of any based on the numbers they've put up on the other bullets in this product line.
Lehigh (https://www.lehighdefense.com/338-match-solid-245gr-bullet) shows a 245 gr. solid with a G1 of .896
Sierra 300 gr. HPBT Match King is listed at a G1 of .768
Ballistic Numbers don't tell the whole story and a solid monolithic bullet also poses some unique challenges at times to get it to shoot accurately. - I've been shooting solids since 2007 so I'm not making this up.
- Real world testing at the desired range IMO is the determining factor on any bullet.
- For .338 cal. ELR work I'll stick with the 300 gr. Berger OTM Hybrid until I find something better.
I'm not saying that some of the other bullets won't yield good / great results. - You'll need to do some real-world testing to determine that.
I'm hoping / waiting to try the new 300 gr. Hornady A-Tip when they become available along with the .375 & .416 calibers to see how they do.
- Ron -
The 300 gr. Berger OTM Hybrid is listed at G7 BC: 0.421 / G1 BC: 0.822
The New Hornady 300 gr. A-Tip has not been yet published but I'd presume they'll advertise numbers that are probably the highest of any based on the numbers they've put up on the other bullets in this product line.
Lehigh (https://www.lehighdefense.com/338-match-solid-245gr-bullet) shows a 245 gr. solid with a G1 of .896
Sierra 300 gr. HPBT Match King is listed at a G1 of .768
Ballistic Numbers don't tell the whole story and a solid monolithic bullet also poses some unique challenges at times to get it to shoot accurately. - I've been shooting solids since 2007 so I'm not making this up.
- Real world testing at the desired range IMO is the determining factor on any bullet.
- For .338 cal. ELR work I'll stick with the 300 gr. Berger OTM Hybrid until I find something better.
I'm not saying that some of the other bullets won't yield good / great results. - You'll need to do some real-world testing to determine that.
I'm hoping / waiting to try the new 300 gr. Hornady A-Tip when they become available along with the .375 & .416 calibers to see how they do.
- Ron -
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
A lot of truth and some very good information in the above.
I'm currently building an 33XC and I'm investigating about bullets for load development.
From what I can gather the 300gr Berger OTM hybrid is a reliable high end "classic".
Any feed back on the 285gr Warner Tool flatline? They are looking quite good on paper. But from what I'm reading they are not designed to perform past the transonic area. Any feedback about this ? Any truth into the "Tubb ring" modification improving this?
Any "boutique" brand to suggest? Over here in Europe, it seems that every body is starting to machine their own solids.
Any suggestion about load development approach ( solid VS jacketed) ? Like if one brand of solid is not working well, any point trying with others, or better be sticking to jacketed?
From what I can gather the 300gr Berger OTM hybrid is a reliable high end "classic".
Any feed back on the 285gr Warner Tool flatline? They are looking quite good on paper. But from what I'm reading they are not designed to perform past the transonic area. Any feedback about this ? Any truth into the "Tubb ring" modification improving this?
Any "boutique" brand to suggest? Over here in Europe, it seems that every body is starting to machine their own solids.
Any suggestion about load development approach ( solid VS jacketed) ? Like if one brand of solid is not working well, any point trying with others, or better be sticking to jacketed?
Terry
Gold $$ Contributor
I recently fired the 300 OTM, 285 & 256 Warner with 99 grains of RL 33 at 2100 yards. The 256 Warner shot 30 ft. Higher than the other two.
For cost reasons I did most of my load development with the Berger 300 OTM. Once I found what I wanted, making minor adjustments for the others is easier.
I have no reason to believe that the 285's will not preform in the transonic zone.
I did shoot 93 grains of RL 26 with the 256. 3250 fps. Not a max load in my rifle.
My short range testing with this produced 1 moa groups. Seating depth test from just off the lands, .050 off, and .100 off produced no difference.
For cost reasons I did most of my load development with the Berger 300 OTM. Once I found what I wanted, making minor adjustments for the others is easier.
I have no reason to believe that the 285's will not preform in the transonic zone.
I did shoot 93 grains of RL 26 with the 256. 3250 fps. Not a max load in my rifle.
My short range testing with this produced 1 moa groups. Seating depth test from just off the lands, .050 off, and .100 off produced no difference.
I shot some 225 grain Sierra hunting bullets while waiting on 300 sierras back when they first came out. At 300yds they were only slightly bigger than one bullet hole. The 300s shoot well in my gun, and I would like to try for a higher BC but I am worrisome over shooting solids and the coppering issues that come with them. Working out the tuning issues with solid copper or brass bullets that LA50 mentions would be like Chinese arithmetic to me. Does pointing the Sierras have any noticeable improvement?
That 245gr Lehigh bullet has a B of .689/.354 according to Applied Ballistics; so someone is definitely off the mark.
Realistically, the 256gr Warner Flatline might be one of the better solid projectiles out there to be paired with a 338 Lapua case. Or maybe even the 285gr Flatline.
The Badlands ICBM bullets might be another option worth looking at as well. One of my friends has had good success with them in his rifle.
Personally, I am sticking with the 300gr Berger's because of performance on game, and the fact that I can load them to fit in the magazine, and still get 2850fps out of them.
LA50SHOOTER
Sworn To Protect The Constitution.
So am I, based on performance @ 2000 yds.
The build is based on a 9" twist rate 33" long Bartlein barrel
I'll go out on a limb and say that the 300 Atip will be in the running.
I don’t think that will stabilize some of then super heavy solids. I have a 8 twist for mine.
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
Not just in the running, but actually crushing the competition. G1 .863. G7 .435.
Was kind of a facetious remark.
Terry
Gold $$ Contributor
Required twist rate?
I think I'll try:
)
- 285gr ELDM
- 286gr Flatline
- 300gr Berger
- 300gr A-tip
- 266gr TPM ( from France - https://balle-tpm.com/produit/tpm338xtld/)
- 275gr Lazer (if I can buy some)
)
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