230 Hybrid or 215?

[jfields]

I asked over in the Reloading Depot, But maybe this is a better place... I'm wondering about bullets for the 300 Norma Mag.

I'm about out of 230 Hybrids and need to buy some more. The 230s have performed well, but it seems like I have seen somewhere that the 215s were better. Does anybody have any data or experience with both? This is an AI AX with a 26" Broughton barrel. The 230's leave the barrel at 2930. I'm just shooting steel at 1,500-2,000 yards.

 

[Yerman]

I heard the same thing. Something about the 215s transitioning to subsonic better, but no experience. I’m going to try the 230 SMK. The are stating a 0.800 BC. What twist are you running?

 

[SAPenguin]

i recently did a ladder test with the 230 and 215, and my findings were that i could push the 215 only 50fps faster than the 230. Which is about what you need for them to return similar windage results at 2000 yards anyway. So I'll shoot the 215's until throat erosion produces too much jump, and then switch to the 230. i *think* the 230 Sierra actually has less bearing surface than the 230 Berger, but requires quite a fast twist.

 

[jfields]

Barrel is a 9 twist. I think that is supposed to handle just about all the heavy .30 cal bullets. I may try to just get a few 215s and see how fast I can get them going.

 

[Bravo6niner]

@Gilly what are you running in your 9 twist 300nm?

 

[Gilly]

28” 9 twist 300 Norma mag 230 smk at 2950-2975 using retumbo

 

[Yerman]

28” 9 twist 300 Norma mag 230 smk at 2950-2975 using retumbo

Have you ever tried H1000?

 

[Gilly]

Have you ever tried H1000?

Yes I started with that as I had 16 pounds of it on hand at the time. I hit pressure before I could get speed out of the 2800’s. Retumbo has worked well I got over 3000 before I saw any pressure signs. rl33 and n570 are the other popular options I’ve seen but never used either of them

 

[223762]

I know your wanting info on the Berger 215 and 230. But, look at the Hornady 225 ELDM. They shot every bit of good as the Berger’s. They had a little less wind drift then the 215s also. Not sure of the 230s. I shoot them at 1200 regularly. They do good at a mile also. And they are cheaper then the Berger.

 

[Clearlight]

I’ve run 225 ELDMs , 230s and 215s . I like the 215 out to a mile or so, the 230 further than that. Both Berger
bullets tracked close to their G7s and drag curves . For whatever reason, the ELDM was impacting quite low
at 2000 last time out. For the first time ever , AB’s drag curve didn’t fit out of my barrel . Think it was 2.5
Mils low, had to go back to using G7 and tweaked it down a fair way. This is using AB on a 701 Garmin .
Edit : the 230 worked best for me way past transonic range, loopy but very predictable.

 

[223762]

The g7 I’ve been using for the Hornady is .367. Everything looks to be holding at that. The Berger’s are great bullets. The 215 for me shot very close to the 225. I have some 230s to try, but never did cause the g7 of the 225 and 230 are almost the same. Just figured they’d be about the same. I point the 215 and that upped the g7 a little. Shoot what works for you.

 

[jfields]

I originally tried Retumbo, but ran into pressure trying to get to 2950. I think the jug that I have is hot as I had similar problems with .338 LM. I’m using RL 33, but I may try something else when I’m out as it will not meter in the Prometheus.

 

[DIBBS]

@jfields are you finding RL33 pretty sooty/dirty? Besides the metering problems, how is it shooting?

 

[towerofpower93]

I’m using RL 33, but I may try something else when I’m out as it will not meter in the Prometheus.

Nothing to add here on the caliber/powder front...but the idea that a Prom won’t meter an exact charge is odd.

I say this as an Auto Thrower/Trickler owner who thought the Prom was the ultimate in automated powder dispensing.

 

[Alpine 338]

The 215's have a better Form Factor than the 230's. I shoot the 215's in my 300WM, work great out to a mile. I shoot the 230's in my 30 Nosler, and so far only tested to 1330-yards, and so far so good.

 

[jfields]

Nothing to add here on the caliber/powder front...but the idea that a Prom won’t meter an exact charge is odd.

I say this as an Auto Thrower/Trickler owner who thought the Prom was the ultimate in automated powder dispensing.

The PMII is outstanding, and I'm sure if I was willing to buy an extra trickler plate from Bran, I could modify it to run RL33. I Still have my Redding thrower and trickler set up, so I just dedicated that to 33. I'm not loading hundreds of rounds for the 300NM. I think RL 33 is a little dirtier than H1000 or Retumbo, but I'm not sure how much. I clean the big magnums more often that the smaller calibers just as a matter of course.

 

[Lynn Jr]

Let the bullets make your decision for you.
If the 230's at 2930 are shooting 1/2 moa try a box of the 215's to get the accuracy and velocity numbers then plug that into your ballistic calculator.
If the accuracy is equal take the one that is ballistically best.