Long Range Bullet

[newguy220]

Wanting to get some thoughts on this. What bullet do you think would be better for 500-1000yards on elk, .338 300gr AccuBond, .338 300gr Berger, or an .338 300gr match bullet? These will be shot out of a .338-378 Weatherby.

Thanks,
newguy220

P.S. I know there are people that against this, so if you don't have any opinion on this could you please not post about how you don't like long range hunting, thanks.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

You certainly don't want to use the latter because it's not a hunting bullet and it would probably be best to go on the Long Range Hunting website to ask a question like that, rather than having to put up a comment like you did since many of us don't care for the latest trend you mentioned. Many over there would probably say to go with the Berger if your gun shoots it accurately.

 

[woodtick]

Run the original Nosler Accubond!! They will be coming out with a 338 LR Accubond shortly per their Facebook page. I've washed my hands off the Berger's they don't hold together at close range with high muzzle velocities. Good luck!!

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I shoot Accubonds and the next bullet I will work a load up for is the Accubond LR (Long Range).

http://www.nosler.com/accubond-long-range/

 

[Retterath]

I have shot a few animals at short and long range with bergers and they worked a lot better at longer ranges, now I switched to the 150 LR accubonds

 

[Eberle]

What kind of problems did you guys have with the bergers? And also what distance?

 

[woodtick]

168 gr Berger VLD out of a 7mm STW blew apart on the ribs of an bull elk at 55 yards, I've never tracked an animal that far in my life. We never anticipated being within bow range but that sort of thing happens and I don't want to deal with something like that ever again. I've made close to the same shot twice since then with Accubond's @ around 3300 fps and they've both performed above and beyond my expectations dropping the animals in their tracks. And I have a friend who has had them come apart on the thick fur of an Antelope at 75-100 yards. If they work for you great, but I'll never use them again for big game hunting.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Barnes makes a Long Range bullet. I like anything Barnes, my guns like them. They work, they certainly hold together, retaining upwards of 90% of their loaded weight. Nosler AB's are good as well. What does your rifle like? And what animals are you Long Range hunting?

 

[Eberle]

I shoot accubonds as well, but I've got a buddy that shoots the bergers & he loves them. So I was just curious, not sure if he's shot anything under 300 yards though. He shoots a .300 win mag with a night force & 185 grain hunting vld with nosler brass.

 

[woodtick]

I shoot accubonds as well, but I've got a buddy that shoots the bergers & he loves them. So I was just curious, not sure if he's shot anything under 300 yards though. He shoots a .300 win mag with a night force & 185 grain hunting vld with nosler brass.

Oh they work great at anything over 150 or so, but there is always that chance something will pop up right in front of you! I'll never stray from Nosler, I used Barnes a long time ago and when they went away from the X-bullet to this TSX line we quit shooting them, the BC was horrible in the TSX's.

 

[Retterath]

I watched a buddy shoot a deer in the shoulder at 100 yards with a 190 Berger and the deer fell flat on his face then got up and ran off and never found it. I shot a doe with 210 Berger at 300 yards in the shoulder area and also never found it, yeah a 300 rum with a 210 Berger! Shot another doe at 600 yards one shot never moved a inch, performed perfect. So 75% of my shots are not over 350 yards so I decided to use the LR accubonds since they are a well bonded bullet and also have such a high bc I won't hesitate to shoot a animal farther than 350 yards. To me the LR accubonds seem more of a versatile bullet for closer range and longer ranges.

 

[woodtick]

I watched a buddy shoot a deer in the shoulder at 100 yards with a 190 Berger and the deer fell flat on his face then got up and ran off and never found it. I shot a doe with 210 Berger at 300 yards in the shoulder area and also never found it, yeah a 300 rum with a 210 Berger! Shot another doe at 600 yards one shot never moved a inch, performed perfect. So 75% of my shots are not over 350 yards so I decided to use the LR accubonds since they are a well bonded bullet and also have such a high bc I won't hesitate to shoot a animal farther than 350 yards. To me the LR accubonds seem more of a versatile bullet for closer range and longer ranges.

A big AMEN!!!

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I think the general idea is that mushrooming bullets that hold together are better for killing game at closer ranges, say 500 yards or less, where Bergers that fragment are better at longer ranges, say 500+. If you are shooting a mushrooming bullet at long range, you will just poke a hole through them due to lack of expansion. I've heard Bergers are best for long range broadside rib shots that blow up the vitals at long range.

I am definitely not an expert on this subject, just repeating what I have heard.

PS: Those yardages are just approximations.

 

[WapitiBob]

I use 180 bergers out of a 7stw. I have 300 175gr ablr's sitting on the shelf but I haven't read anything that gives me confidence they will do the job. They're as accurate as the bergers with the same load though.
UH, I think your summation is pretty accurate. Bergers and the ablr's come apart at close range and Barnes pokes a hole at long range.

 

[Eberle]

After reading the reviews on the bergers & if you decide to go with them, might consider a neck shot at close range?

 

[WapitiBob]

That's all I'm doing on antelope from here on out. The 180's knock them off their feet and absolutely ruin the front half. A baseball sized hole thru n thru.

 

[vince]

That's all I'm doing on antelope from here on out. The 180's knock them off their feet and absolutely ruin the front half. A baseball sized hole thru n thru.

Or you could do what I do.
25-06 with a handloaded 87 grain varmint bullet for antelope.
Works well.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[packmule]

I think the general idea is that mushrooming bullets that hold together are better for killing game at closer ranges, say 500 yards or less, where Bergers that fragment are better at longer ranges, say 500+. If you are shooting a mushrooming bullet at long range, you will just poke a hole through them due to lack of expansion. I've heard Bergers are best for long range broadside rib shots that blow up the vitals at long range.

I am definitely not an expert on this subject, just repeating what I have heard.

PS: Those yardages are just approximations.

Depends on BC of said bullets which contributes to the velocities they're traveling at impact & what they actually hit. Bonded bullets will always be better when bone is involved.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I have seen quite a few kills with Berger's Hunting bullet line (VLD and Classic Hunter), and from what I have seen they perform extremely well. I don't hesitate to load them in my hunting rifles. I had a nice one shot kill on a cow elk last year at a bit over 300 yards with the 168 CH in my 7RM. It passed through and the elk did not go far.

That said, I have also had great luck with Nosler Accubonds and Barnes TTSX. Both fine choices in addition to the Berger.

The Bergers definitely have the BC advantage which is nice at LR and also in the wind.

 

[newguy220]

You certainly don't want to use the latter because it's not a hunting bullet and it would probably be best to go on the Long Range Hunting website to ask a question like that, rather than having to put up a comment like you did since many of us don't care for the latest trend you mentioned. Many over there would probably say to go with the Berger if your gun shoots it accurately.

Topgun, I wasn't trying to offend anyone with that comment. I have just seen these threads turn into a big debate over shooting distance and you never get an answer to the question.

newguy220