Berger 245 EOL Best Cartridge

[treillw]

I want to build a rifle to shoot the Berger 245 EOL. I've read lots of old threads on the subject, but they were from last year when the bullet was new. Now that the bullet has been out (and unavailable lol) for awhile, is there any consensus on what the best cartridge is for these bullets. I've shot some 245s at 2694 fps from my win mag and see reports of nearly 3000 fps with larger cases. I'm looking at the rum and prc the most, but will consider anything really. All the options on 30 cal magnums is kind of overwhelming. I'd like to keep the barrel length on the shorter side - 24" or maybe 26" max. Wind drift is my primary concern in ballistics. It's easy to adjust for gravity. What would you chamber it in? Why? What velocity would you expect? Barrel twist?

Thanks!

 

[drop_point]

I'm kind of thinking .300 PRC or .300 Norma would be a good place to start.

 

[Tucker65]

My buddy uses them in a 300 prc and is getting 2950 fps with H1000 out of a 30" barrel. Shoots bug holes at 100 yards and ballistics have been great out to the 1000 yards we have shot it.

 

[Nealm66]

I shoot them in a 300 prc. 2940 out of a 26” barrel with bergers suggested max of n570. I used an amd tuner and they shoot extremely good. There’s also a 30 Sherman variation that’s supposed to gain a bit.

 

[B23]

30-338 Lapua Improved

 

[FeMan]

If you have or want to go to a Lapua bolt face, I would say 300 Norma. Otherwise I'd go with the 300 PRC. It is a very efficient case and is very close to the performance of the 300 RUM with 8% less powder and a shorter OAL.

 

[284winner]

I want to build a rifle to shoot the Berger 245 EOL. I've read lots of old threads on the subject, but they were from last year when the bullet was new. Now that the bullet has been out (and unavailable lol) for awhile, is there any consensus on what the best cartridge is for these bullets. I've shot some 245s at 2694 fps from my win mag and see reports of nearly 3000 fps with larger cases. I'm looking at the rum and prc the most, but will consider anything really. All the options on 30 cal magnums is kind of overwhelming. I'd like to keep the barrel length on the shorter side - 24" or maybe 26" max. What would you chamber it in? Why? What velocity would you expect? Barrel twist?

Thanks!

I'd have to pick the 300NM or 30 Sherman Mag (300PRC improved) for that heavier bullet. Leaning toward the 30SM myself for my next 308 build.

 

[treillw]

If you have or want to go to a Lapua bolt face, I would say 300 Norma. Otherwise I'd go with the 300 PRC. It is a very efficient case and is very close to the performance of the 300 RUM with 8% less powder and a shorter OAL.

I'm surprised to see people saying the PRC is almost equivalent to the rum and getting such high velocities with it.

Depending on what you read, you will see a lot say that the) PRC is the same as a win mag.

Thoughts?

 

[treillw]

Wind drift is my primary concern in ballistics. It's easy to adjust for gravity.

 

[B23]

Is this going to be a single shot or repeater? Those 245's are very longggg and a 300RUM build will have you single feeding. That's not necessarily a bad thing but something to keep in mind.

If this is a repeater build a 30 Nosler or 300 Norma or maybe even 300 Norma Improved will be good choices.

 

[treillw]

I should add that I want this to be a packable rifle as well. I will carry it hundreds of miles. Carbon fiber barrel. Ti action. Anticipating 8.5 pounds, dressed for dinner (I know it's going to recoil). I'd like it to not be a single shot, but might be able to live with that if it's worth it.

For a gun that I don't want to carry, I might as well get a 16 pound 338.

 

[rhovee]

I wouldn’t build a packable rifle around the 245’s. There is a big recoil difference between them and even the 230’s. Especially the 215’s. You won’t be able to see impacts on animals at 600 so that’s a big deal to me.

 

[B23]

With those build specs I'd build a 300WSM and shoot the Berger 215's or 230's.

 

[Tucker65]

I wouldn’t build a packable rifle around the 245’s. There is a big recoil difference between them and even the 230’s. Especially the 215’s. You won’t be able to see impacts on animals at 600 so that’s a big deal to me.

This^^^^

I just shot a 300 prc rifle I finished up the other day with 230gr Bergers that weighs just under 10 lbs. scoped. Recoil was noticeably more than my 300 Norma Imp. that weighs the same shooting 215gr Berger's.

 

[Nealm66]

I'm surprised to see people saying the PRC is almost equivalent to the rum and getting such high velocities with it.

Depending on what you read, you will see a lot say that the) PRC is the same as a win mag.

Thoughts?

It’s surprising for sure. Lots of fuss over the matter. It could be the ADG brass and the n570 combination that’s causing the higher speeds without the normal signs of excessive pressure. Whatever it is, it shoots out to long ranges without the normal problems with high pressure loads. Also found n570 to work with the 156 Berger’s and 153 Atips in 6.5 prc and 6.5-300 bee with eyebrow raising results. Throat erosion and brass life aren’t the best and personally I reserve the combo for hunting. To each his own though

 

[treillw]

It’s surprising for sure. Lots of fuss over the matter. It could be the ADG brass and the n570 combination that’s causing the higher speeds without the normal signs of excessive pressure. Whatever it is, it shoots out to long ranges without the normal problems with high pressure loads. Also found n570 to work with the 156 Berger’s and 153 Atips in 6.5 prc and 6.5-300 bee with eyebrow raising results. Throat erosion and brass life aren’t the best and personally I reserve the combo for hunting. To each his own though

This is a quote from another forum regarding this topic.

"Anybody getting 3000 FPS with 245's in a PRC is either lying or about to win a Darwin award face first."

I believe everybody when they say it, but not everybody can be right. Haha. Just makes me throw my hands up in the air.

Maybe the is some magic to the N570 and ADG brass like you mention??

 

[treillw]

I'm not trying to attack anyone personally by any means, just saying that there is a major discrepancy and I don't know who to believe lol.

 

[Nealm66]

It’s definitely not a lie and I don’t feel unsafe personally shooting it. I’m waiting on some dies for a 30-378 for a friend and it seems weird that I’d have to change barrels and single feed to beat the prc performance. I don’t think it’s a big secret anymore and definitely near impossible to find 245’s

 

[Orr89rocz]

300 prc or 30 nosler with a 215 berger probably a better hunting rig in those specs

but id also agree on a 300 wsm. 210 vld or 215 would work well especially if mag box is extended in a short action

i also just dont see how a prc can compete with a throated RUM in same length barrel

 

[FeMan]

I'm surprised to see people saying the PRC is almost equivalent to the rum and getting such high velocities with it.

Depending on what you read, you will see a lot say that the) PRC is the same as a win mag.

Thoughts?

The 300 RUM has about 15% more muzzle pressure which equates to more blast and recoil. I have reloaded for both and the 30-28 Nosler. The RUM is great but comparatively inefficient. When my 30-28 is shot out I will probably go to the PRC.