338 LM 215 Sierra

[mrbig]

looking for a short-medium range load to run through the Savage 338LM,,tried the 215 Sierra SBTGK and 92 grs RL22 today after work,BC of .485 and running 3225 fps it is a lot like shooting the 180 gr 300RUM but it seems like it smacks the steel at 500 yards twice as hard,,

I can`t imagine what that would do to a soft target,,

 

[JimGnitecki]

Re: 338 LM 215 Sierra

Here's some mtath that may explain what you are feeling.

"Experts" still disgree, hundreds of years after firearms were invented, what makes for better killing power: caliber (bullet diameter), momentum (mass x velocity), or energy (1/2 mass x velocity squared. All 3 schools of thought have advocates. Some or well reasoned and some are not, but forget that for a moment. Just accept that momentum measures the ability of a bullet to "knock over' a target, while energy measures how much disruption and damage the bulelt can do if it deforms properly and dumps that energy well into the target. A cutting laser is the ultimate example of low momentun but very high energy.

Let's just look at comparing the 215 load to a typical 300g load.

You've said the 215g load runs at 3225 fps.

My own 300 grain load runs at 2573 fps.

Let's forget getting all the units correct for moementum, and simply use bullet weight in grains x fps. if we do these for both loads, the comparison is valid, and we avoid having to do a lot of extra "units" math that does not add anything useful to the results.

"Momentum" of my 300g load is 300 x 2573 = 771,900

"Momentum" of your 215g load is 215 x 3225 =693,375. That's within 10% of my much heavier 300g load, because your bullet iws moving so FAST.

Momentum is basically the force that knocks over or moves the solid target. So, you're within 10% of mine on knocking over ability.

Let's look at energy now.

My 300g load is per a proper actual, units correct formula, =
300 x 2573 x2573 / 450,240
= 4411 ft lb of energy.

Your 215g load = 215 x 3225 x 3225 / 450,240 = 4966 ft lb.

So, your 215g load is packin' 13% more energy than my 300g load! That's 13% more energy to do damage with, if the bulelt is properly matched to the mission.

So, yes, your "little" 215g 338 Lapua load IS a "tiger", and it would indeed do serious damage to a soft target.

Jim G

 

[X-fan]

Re: 338 LM 215 Sierra

Among long range hunters there are two general trains of thoughts with regard to 338 bullets, but that the bullet must expand and penetrate enough to get the job done are always the primary considerations.

The first group is those that hunt out at a thousand yards or so. These guys mainly prefer the 300SMK. Wind performance being the key driving feature, but at impact distance the bullet MUST expand or the animal is lost. The300SMK is a well proven 1000yd performer and tends to kill game like nothing else at that distance. Fist to double fist sized holes are the norm out to about 1100 yards. The downside to this load is it becomes unpredictable with regard to penetration on game inside 500-600 yards...Not a problem killing broadside animals, but definitely an issue if the animal is large and the shot angle means penetrating a few feet. More so if you intend to eat the animal. I shot a black bear at 640 yards and not only was the far side of the animals shoulder completely gone (the missing shoulder and cape hole was unrepairable) the near side was completely and utterly bloodshot and fragged.

If ever there was a bullet I do not want to be shot with... It would be the 300SMK.
The modest starting velocity lulls noobies to sleep, but this bullet creates tissue devastation of epic proportions...More so than anything I have seen.

I fall into the second group of long range hunter that prefers to shoot inside 600-800 yards or so (I try to stay within 600). LR hunters in this camp tend to prefer the 225gr Accubond. The primary reason is its BC of .550 and the much higher velocity it can be driven. The secondary reasons are its proven performance on large (larger than deer) game. If you intend to shoot large elk, bear, or moose from point blank to distance this is (IMHO)the way to go. My load (not Lapua) starts the 225AB at 3350fps and has proven electrifying on game yet meat damage is minimal, accuracy is very good, and if I have to shoot the South bound end of a North bound elk at 20 yards this bullet will penetrate enough to get the job done. Not so with the match or Berger bullets.

The problem with the 215Sierra is you have no idea what it will do in game.

You should be running the 2000Accubnd in the 300 Ultra BTW

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: 338 LM 215 Sierra

I love Accubonds. Never had one fail in any way...a 225gr Accubond at 3350 has to be an absolute wrecking ball. If you can get it that fast it would probably be better to shoot a 250 or 275gr Accubond, if they would make them, so you could get even better penetration. At 3350 even a tough bullet like the Accubond is gonna be tempted to overexpand, or maybe it doesn't.
Have you recovered one at those velocities? I wonder if it would act more like a ballistic tip at that speed.

 

[X-fan]

Re: 338 LM 215 Sierra

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYpatriot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love Accubonds. Never had one fail in any way...a 225gr Accubond at 3350 has to be an absolute wrecking ball. If you can get it that fast it would probably be better to shoot a 250 or 275gr Accubond, if they would make them, so you could get even better penetration. At 3350 even a tough bullet like the Accubond is gonna be tempted to overexpand, or maybe it doesn't.
Have you recovered one at those velocities? I wonder if it would act more like a ballistic tip at that speed. </div></div>

No, the 225 AB stays together just fine.
You don't recover very many. My buddies and I have shot several monster moose, a few elk, and lots of deer with this bullet with no issues at point blank range.
I also took it to Africa (at 3200fps) and took 16 animals with it..each with one shot....It is a very tough bullet...Even my PH was impressed!
If you know African PH's they are bullet performance freaks.

If you run the numbers on the heavier 250 and 300gr Accubonds you quickly find why it is the favorite LR hunting bullet. The 250 never really catches up and IIRC the 300 doesn't catch up until about 900 yards. Wind drift is near identical, but the fast 225 lets you zero at 250-300 yards without getting goofy high at 150yds...Risking what would be a simple shot in the process.

 

[mrbig]

Re: 338 LM 215 Sierra

I like to shoot this rifle here at home and around 800 is max range ,,if can shoot these bullets and get used to them I may use it as a stand rifle this deer season at a place I can glass and spot deer out to around 900 yards,,

the fact that they are about half price is a big plus,,shooting inside 1,000 with 300 gr bullets at .65 $ a bullet is borderline insane ,