338 Bullet Choice Help

[AlaskaRed]

Well I just noticed a dumpster and decided that it needs to be let on fire. Recently I have been digging into S2H podcasts and listening/reading Form's thoughts on bullet choice.

Right now I was hoping to get some help on a bullet choice for my current status. I hunt in AK with big brown bears around. I have a 338 Norma I hunt with. Currently my bullet choice is the 250 gr LRX and the intent behind that is penetration on a frontal charging bear(not always but including big coastal brownies). I have been looking around at match type bullets like the ELDM but I am still skeptical of that close up 10-50 yard shot that also requires the bullet to penetrate deeply. Anyone with experience with big 338 magnums and bullet choice would be greatly appreciated if you chimed in.

P.S. I'm not interested in talks about switching cartridge choice or any sort of that. I understand the multiple schools of thought and when I want to switch I will. I am just looking to optimise my current situation.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

The 115gr nose ringed DTAC is a badass 6mm bullet and they offer it in 338. I would look at it.

.338 Cal 299 DTAC’s with NOSERING® TBN Coated - 200

299 grain 338 DTAC Bullet with Nosering

www.davidtubb.com

 

[180ls1]

I think you have a hammer that will kill anything at any angle, more or less. Not sure you need to change.

The match bullets would probably play a much more important role if stepped down in size.

 

[AlaskaRed]

The 115gr nose ringed DTAC is a badass 6mm bullet and they offer it in 338. I would look at it.

.338 Cal 299 DTAC’s with NOSERING® TBN Coated - 200

299 grain 338 DTAC Bullet with Nosering

www.davidtubb.com

Those look awesome. Great BC's. How has your experience been up close on shots?

 

[AlaskaRed]

I think you have a hammer that will kill anything at any angle, more or less. Not sure you need to change.

The match bullets would probably play a much more important role if stepped down in size.

Thanks for weighing in. That's what my thoughts are. I just wanted make sure I am not in delusion.

 

[waspocrew]

I’d go 250 partition or Accubond, or a 250 Swift.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Those look awesome. Great BC's. How has your experience been up close on shots?

I haven't used the 338 version. A bunch of people have killed lots of critters with the 6mm version. Even a giraffe.

Thread 'A Giraffe with a 6UM'

Sep 19, 2024

Over the past eight months, I've been criticized by numerous people who claim that a 6mm cannot kill a giraffe. They argued that it was unethical and that the giraffe may suffer for days or weeks before dying. One person even emailed me, insisting that a giraffe's hide is one inch thick and that the bullet would either bounce off or penetrate only a few inches. The professional hunter (a great human) was also very hesitant. However, two weeks after the giraffe was shot, several people contacted me to dispute my account. As a result, I will be sharing the unedited video below.

The...

• Ryan Avery
• Replies: 163
• Forum: Firearms

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[prm]

The bullet you have will work great, especially at the close ranges where impact velocity is high. In my experience that is where the Barnes excel. I have only used the much lighter 185 and 160 TTSX in .338, but been very impressed.

 

[TaperPin]

A heavy Partition has been the go to before the copper bullets came out and before the bonded bullets became popular. With any of those three you are better prepared than most. On game and in bullet tests, copper bullets retain weight real well and penetrate like crazy, but don’t dump as much energy as quickly as a Partition (from shedding the front 30%), or bonded bullets (from larger expansion).

I always felt like a 338 win or 340 wby is ideal with 250s, or a guy is better off shooting 200s out of a 300 mag. 300 gr Accubonds are interesting - if your rifle will shoot them that gives you long range performance and close range performance up there with. 375 H&H.

Partitions are a boring bullet - they shoot well and perform great. They lose some speed from not having a boat tail, but out to 500 yards nobody would be able to tell. They shed more weight than a bonded bullet, but that’s a feature and not a defect.

 

[keystone112]

If you can find them, I would look at the Swift A-Frame in 225 grain.

If I ever need to make up a new load for my 338WM, I’ll start with that.

 

[199p]

I run 300grn otm hybrids in my 338 edge, which puts big holes through animals

It doesn't seem to kill them much faster than anything else but it makes a big bang haha

Haven't taken it hunting in ages might have to dig it back out this roar

 

[Geewhiz]

I shoot a 300 grain berger elite hunter out of my rum. They break up into large fragments and penetrate like crazy. Most of the elk I have killed with it have 3 or 4 or 5 large exit holes

 

[112Savage]

I would first ask why you’re thinking of switching. Is this lack of a good outcome or pure mental masturbation? (Sorry about that)
I will say that “he who shall not be named” used a 338 ultra mag with 285ELDX or M on a bison in Alaska recently and has a podcast detailing the performance.
I really like heavy for caliber partitions for most game hunting. I don’t like their price/accuracy(sometimes)/availability

 

[2KHEARTSHOT]

My wife shot a cow elk broad side at 370 yards with my 338 Rum using 285 eldx which grenaded on impact and did not exit. The elk was dead before it hit the ground. I also shot a small Muley buck at 280 yards quartering to, and didn’t get an exit. Massive internal damage on both animals, the lungs were complete jelly.

 

[mustelid_master]

No experience with them, but i'd imagine the 285gr eld-m's would work wonderfully.