Deer Rifle

[Raider Nation Fisher]

250 on the Lapua. 180 in .308.

[retiredbosn]

How do you handle the recoil of the .338???? Depending on the weight of the gun the recoil is what around 50psi? I have always liked the ballistics of some of the magnums but the recoil has just been to much for me, I have too much metal in my neck to shoot those canons, lol. My earlier post I was thinking of sectional density of the bullets, an 180 grain 30 cal bullet doesn't open (mushroom) sufficiently in deer sized game, most of the energy of the bullet just passes through and is wasted on the ground on the other side. I grew up shooting deer with an 30-06 and found out the hard way that 150 grain out performs the 180 on deer. The .338 250 has a higher sectional density but it is offset by the hypervelocity of the round, the reason it is such a popular sniper round, the bullet opens up and causes massive damage. I hope you get to go on your bear hunt soon, going for grizzly or coastal browns in Alaska?

[Raider Nation Fisher]

The recoil is really not too bad. Its really not what you would expect from it. Never thought about the ballistics that way before. That is quite interesting. I'm gonna research furthur in depth than I have been on it.

[retiredbosn]

As you do your research what will really cook your noodle is when you find out the .260 remington will out penetrate the .300 win mag!!! All about sectional density, ballistic coefficient and velocity. I switched to ballistic tips for whitetail doin that allows the bullet to open quickly and drops all of the kinetic energy into the deer instead of having in wasted in the ground. I prefer the .260 or 6.5mm awesome round. A great site that will aid in your research is chuckhawks

[clayton86]

6mmbr.com is also a great site and will also show ya the .243/6mmrem is better ballistically out to 1000m then most rounds including 308

[retiredbosn]

6mmbr.com is also a great site and will also show ya the .243/6mmrem is better ballistically out to 1000m then most rounds including 308

Gonna depend on the category, if you are looking at terminal ballistics on living criters about the size of a deer then the .243 starts giving up ground and at about 350 yds lacks the punch to be reliable on deer. The .243 suffers from poor sectional density and doesn't penetrate sufficiently, I've shot deer at 100 yds with a 95 grain round from a .243 and the bullet didn't even make it half way through the deer, granted it was a quartering shot.

[clayton86]

Iv read reports of some far shots on black bear with the round hand loads pushing Berger and federal pills droping bear DRT out to 430yds I think was the farthest report iv seen. I haven't looked up the ballistics for the .243/6mm in a while I know what mine will do out to 500yds and can make it happen I don't shooting anything bigger then a coyote with mine. I know wind drift and drop is alot less then 7.62/.308 rounds at 1000. If I had 1000yds of line of site I'd try to shoot mine that distance but 550 is max shot for me ad that's with my feet in the horse pasture to max it out best I can lol.

[retiredbosn]

I hear ya, my father-in-law swears by his 220 swift, I have seen him take deer at close to 300yds with it, would never attempt it. But I love talking ballistics, and can bore you to tears with the ballistics of shotgun shells for example each pellet of #5 shot hits with 2ftlb of kinetic energy at 40yds assuming a 1 1/4 ounce load over 3 1/4 drams of powder!!! Yeah I used to be a big gun nut, lol, mainly shotguns due to my severe addiction to bird hunting. I actually put myself into the hospital at the end of a 5 day pheasant hunt in ND, I have some back problems and just would not quit to my detriment, that's why I quit bird hunting

[clayton86]

I hear ya, my father-in-law swears by his 220 swift, I have seen him take deer at close to 300yds with it, would never attempt it. But I love talking ballistics, and can bore you to tears with the ballistics of shotgun shells for example #5 shot hits with 2ftlb of kinetic energy at 40yds assuming a 1 1/4 ounce load over 3 1/4 drams of powder!!! Yeah I used to be a big gun nut, lol

I am to an extent but not crazy with numbers I don't have that good of a memory to remember all kinds of loads I know what my .243 can do my 20ga and my m4 the army issued me my.17hmr is finicky always shoots tight but seems to change each season I need to raise or lower POA a few clicks on scope.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I hear ya, my father-in-law swears by his 220 swift, I have seen him take deer at close to 300yds with it, would never attempt it. But I love talking ballistics, and can bore you to tears with the ballistics of shotgun shells for example each pellet of #5 shot hits with 2ftlb of kinetic energy at 40yds assuming a 1 1/4 ounce load over 3 1/4 drams of powder!!! Yeah I used to be a big gun nut, lol, mainly shotguns due to my severe addiction to bird hunting. I actually put myself into the hospital at the end of a 5 day pheasant hunt in ND, I have some back problems and just would not quit to my detriment, that's why I quit bird hunting

Just out of curiosity. I'm well aware that this round kills and destroys most every living thing it contacts or breezes by. What would the ballistic comparison to a 690 grain round from my 50bmg be compared to my .338 Lapua Mag.

I know its like comparing a nuke to a cruise missle, but I'm curious.

[retiredbosn]

What length barrel do you have on your bmg?? It matters, a gun with a 20inch barrel verses one with a 30 inch barrel will shoot almost 500 feet per second slower. Full metal jacketed round?

[Raider Nation Fisher]

30in. Barrel

Also they are full metal jacket.

[clayton86]

there are some awesome Ballistic calculator apps for most smart phones that are pretty spot on you can put in all the info and it does all the work I tested it on my .243 and my .17HMR. The .243 was always right what it said it would be the .17was off but mostly in the wind drift 5mph will blow them little 17gr bullets all over the place. I use Ballistic:FTE(Field Tactical Edition) because it has a lot of the military surplus rounds that my nephew shoots and I'v used it for my M4 to see if it was the same as whats set in the ACOG.

[retiredbosn]

Go to Hornady's website, on the left there is a ballistics calculator and you can get more info than what I'm able to post.

50 bmg ballistic coefficient .992 / bullet weight 690 / muzzle velocity 2900fps

.338 ballistic coefficient .67 / bullet weight 250 / muzzle velocity 2900fps

quick and dirty black print is the 50bmg red print .338 250yd zero

range velocity/energy trajectory

muzzle 2900/12884 -1.5

muzzle 2900/4668 -1.5

100yds 2895/1268 +2.5

100yds 2761/4230 +2.6

200yds 2713/11276 +2

200yds 2626/3827 +2.1

500yds 2477/9171 -29.1

500yds 244/2796 -31.9

The 50BMG has tons of kinetic energy, but then again you would expect that out of a round that can pierce armor plating, lol.

[backcast88]

270 WSM Browning X Bolt.

[deputybc]

The best deer rifle in the whole world is one that you fill confident in and you can hit the sweet spot every time. Guaranteed to put a deer on the ground.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

.270, .223 and a .22 magnum. But I prefer my Goldtips with a 100gr Grizz Trick. 

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Raider, for size comparison could you post some pictures of you holding the .50 and the .338 ? 

[MDBowHunter]

H&R 20 Ga. Ultra Slugger with a Leupold Ultimate Slam Shotgun scope. She's bad to the bone, 1.5" groups @ 200 yrds.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Raider, for size comparison could you post some pictures of you holding the .50 and the .338 ?

The .50cal was sold to one of my friends earlier this year. The .338 and my .308 are currently in a safe in my friends house down in Auburn. We are in the process of moving right now and I wanted them in a safe place until I can get my gun safe bolted to the floor of our apartment. When I go pick them up I will get you some pictures. The friend letting me store them at his house is the same one that bought the .50 from me. So it shouldn't be a problem.

[Mccallister25]

I like a .270, because thats what I started out with. I went out a little over a year ago, and bought a Savage .30-06 with the "accu-trigger". Its a good gun. Took it out mid season last year, and layed down three of em.

[gravestone]

 After speaking with some buddies up in Alaska, the guides will not let you hunt with anything less than a magnum.

 

Whatever guide told your buddies this aint worth hiring. Many of grizzlies have fallen to 308 & 30-06 bullets. Use a well constructed bullet such as a Nosler Partition or Barnes TTSX and you'll have a dead bear as long as put the bullet in the vitals.

[bigbill]

I have a one in a million remington 700 in 338wm. Using new over the counter Winchester 338 / 225 gr SP ammo "Betsy" can put two rounds thru the same hole at 100 yards benchrested. Standing up hand held with four rounds in non stop rapid fire as fast as I can run the bolt shooting at four different bullseye I came within one inch from each X ring. I don't shoot Betsy often because she is so accurate.

When Betsy sounds off it echoes thruout the whole town.

This year I may bear hunt with a new Russian AKM 47 in 308win. With the original iron sights she prints 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds.using surplus ammo. I'm sure it can do better with quality ammo.

For deer my Swede mauser in 6,5mm will do. Or I'll handgun hunt deer.

If your hunting grizzlys with a 30-06 just make sure you can run faster than everyone else. I seen my 338mg take out three ribs on the exit hole with black bears. I've hunted with my 30-06 for over 25 years.

I think he is right about the Alaskan guides won't guide unless it's a 338wm or bigger. I guess these guides aren't good at running too.

Think about with the big game hunters we see on tv who miss shots?

[jbsoonerfan]

I have a one in a million remington 700 in 338wm. Using new over the counter Winchester 338 / 225 gr SP ammo "Betsy" can put two rounds thru the same hole at 100 yards benchrested. Standing up hand held with four rounds in non stop rapid fire as fast as I can run the bolt shooting at four different bullseye I came within one inch from each X ring. I don't shoot Betsy often because she is so accurate.

When Betsy sounds off it echoes thruout the whole town.

This year I may bear hunt with a new Russian AKM 47 in 308win. With the original iron sights she prints 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds.using surplus ammo. I'm sure it can do better with quality ammo.

For deer my Swede mauser in 6,5mm will do. Or I'll handgun hunt deer.

If your hunting grizzlys with a 30-06 just make sure you can run faster than everyone else. I seen my 338mg take out three ribs on the exit hole with black bears. I've hunted with my 30-06 for over 25 years.

I think he is right about the Alaskan guides won't guide unless it's a 338wm or bigger. I guess these guides aren't good at running too.

Think about with the big game hunters we see on tv who miss shots?

 

 

I'm not sure what your profession is, but you may should consider the world of competition shooting. From the sounds of it, you may be a world champion. 

[gravestone]

Read on , taken off the Alaska fish and game website: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.firearms

 

If you can shoot a 338WM as good as you can a 308 or 30-06 by all means you should use it. Most cannot shoot larger magnums as well as they can shoot a 30-06. Recoil above 20 ft. Lbs. of energy is where your "average shooter" starts to loose accuracy.