338 250gr BTHP Hornady Match Bullet

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Mystic Precision

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HRN33361

That is the stock number for the new 250gr BTHP from Hornady. Of course, there is zero info on their website. A few of the larger US stores are offering this bullet. Estimated $30 to 35/100 (one site listed them in 50/box, two more listed 100/box????) in Canada when they finally make it up here.

If the quality and performance is anything like the AMAX, look out.

I knew that interest in the Lapua would start manf making more stuff. The race for new bullets and other components has just begun.

Listed BC is only 0.465 which is very low. I hope that it is underestimated or else there is little point to this bullet. Scenars and MK's are well over 0.6.

One more bullet to test...
Jerry
 
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That can't be the bullet that the Hornady rep was talking about on benchrest.com.

He was talking about an A-max in .338 weighing about 275g with a high BC.

I hope it comes out soon.

Canuck, you don't want lost river bullets. I figure that they'll make money if everyone has to try them once...
 
Canuck,
It all depends on the cartridge and the purpose.
For high accuracy target shooting you have to look at each calibre, the twist rate etc.
6.5mm the Lapua 139 scenar is great (260 Rem, 6.5-284 etc).
For .308 the 154 Lapua scenar also great.
7mm the Berger 180VLD is great, try also the 162 A-Max.
.338 the SMK 300g is OK, but needs sorting, and maybe meplat trimming.
.338 250g Lapua is good for a lighter bullet.
.510 (50BMG) the 750 A-max is good, custom solids at 800 grains are also good.
 
Richard, I am thrilled that an Amax is in the works. In that weight range, BC would be very competitive with the 300gr MK. Might even beat them in real world shooting due to increased BC of the Secant Ogive shape and poly tip.

The 250gr BTHP is just out now. Bizarre that they would make two but what the heck, more toys to try. My guess is that the OAL is kept fairly short so that 338 RUM's and Lapua's would have no issue feeding from the mag.

Saying that though, the 250gr Scenars fit fine and man do they work well. So really confused. Hornady must have their reasons. Printed BC is really low though????????

Lost River is a boutique bullet and pretty much have to order directly (not possible these days without a lot of paperwork). They are horridly expensive but do claim some amazing ballistics. I don't see them being used in the LR boards I chat on so can't say if they are real or just an expensive gimic.

Some of these shooters are well financed so I don't think $1 to 1.50US per bullet would slow them down IF they shot as good as claimed.

For a big case 338, the most commonly available bullets, until Hornady's come out, are the Sierra 250 and 300gr MK, and the Lapua 250gr Scenars.

The 300gr MK has the highest real world BC of any readily available/mass produced bullet outside the BMG. You just need a lot of powder and barrel to get them moving.

The 250gr Scenar is the next best thing. Very accurate and fly superbly. BC not as high but then, you can launch them using smaller cases like the Lapua or 338 RUM.

Read some very good results from LR shooters using 225gr Accubonds. Then there is the 225gr SST which should also work very well.

The 250gr MK is rarely heard of so not sure if it is good or bad.

Personally, I will be starting with the SST, then moving to the 300gr MK. From there, I will try the Scenar and any Hornady product - Amax prefered.

Eventually, I will go Hornady simply because this brand has a great distribution system in Canada and shouldn't be insanely expensive. Quality is certainly equal to the other match brands.

Sierra is not always available and QC is best described as variable.

I expect a whole bunch of new bullets from Berger, Nosler, and others in the next year or two. The 338 lapua is catching on big time and that will bring actions, brass, and components readily and less expensively.

If Rem is threatening to make a 700 in a 338 Lapua, I expect them to come out with brass too. If priced around the RUM, the Lapua is going to really take off in popularity.

Savage will certainly jump on board as they already have components designed from previous ventures. Their new Single shot right bolt, left port with a Rigby bolt face (any bolt head actually) would sell by the truckload.

Jerry
 
Yeah Jerry I'm thrilled as well.
My 338LM only has a 26" barrel so I think I could push the 275 A-max a bit faster than the 300SMK and see better performance. Not to mention all the sorting and meplat trimming I won't have to do anymore. The alternative is to rebarrel a bit longer. I'm hearing a lot of significantly higher velocities for the 300SMK with just a bit more barrel length. I don't know though, because I really like the weight and balance that it has now (T-wolf).
 
There is certainly an increase in velocity as barrel length increases. 15 to 20fps per inch seems normal. Not a big deal untill you start adding 10 to 14" to the barrel length. An extra 150 to 200fps by going long barrel. That's significant. It's like going to the next bigger case.

Some rifles have 42" barrels and longer. Not sure how well you could control that long of a barrel but they get built. How about a 70lbs carry rifle?????

The big reason for these monster rifles is retaining velocity at extreme distance for hunting. For just plinking or rock busting, an extra 200fps doesn't do much. A standard 338 RUM or 338 Mystic or Lapua would be more then adequate out to a mile.

But then, why go through the cost and hassle of a big case 338 if a 6.5 or 7mm would do just the same? if going to build a cannon, you may as well go big...

I am also concerned about the need to sort Sierra bullets. For what they cost, culling 20 to 50% just seems silly to me especially when they are called
'match'. Plus the time involved. Can't wait for Hornady Amax.

I am using 220gr MK out of the box in my 300RUM and so far, the rocks are hurting big time. I had a lot of trouble with the 240grMK. I hope the 300gr MK don't give me grief.

Will be interesting to see how the Amax and Scenar compare - cost and performance.

Jerry
 
For extreme hunting, you need to move the largest bore, heaviest projectile with the highest BC as fast as possible. right now that boils down to the 338 300gr MK (Wildcats seem to having trouble with their bullet dies).

Some are experimenting with the 225gr Accubond and seems very promising. The 250gr Scenar have not been expanding well at distance. however, more testing is required.

A large case 30cal will also work. The RUM or larger will get the job done. Pretty much need a 210 to 240gr VLD bullet to be effective.

Although I shoot a number of 7mm, I think out that far, even the 180gr 7mm is not as much gun as I would like. A 200gr would be very interesting when launched at or over 3000fps.

How fast do you need to go? 3000fps muzzle velocity is a min. many strive for more depending on what the bullet will tolerate. As much as 3400fps has been done with the 300gr MK. That is a lot of horsepower.

To get that much velocity without resorting to a necked down BMG case, you need a long barrel. The longest that you can get and control. I consider30" a min with most going 36" to 42". These rifles are very heavy and not designed to be carried around.

Large custom actions, Enfield P series and/or barrel blocks are used to control these very heavy barrels.

Of course, there are some who build more portable rifles. The sky is the limit but barrel quality, length and weight are quite limited in Canada. 30" match barrels of #7 contour is readily available but longer is not so easy. Fluting could be used to reduce weight but recoil would get horrendous in a big hurry.

consistent 1/2 MOA at distance is a nice min. If you are really thinking about a mile, then 1/4MOA would be better. You need a rig that will deliver alot of horsepower into a milk jug size target EVERY TIME. That defines your max range regardless of how big a gun you have.

www.longrangehunting.com, http://www.precisionlongrangehunter.com/ will provide lots of info so have a visit and read lots.

There is a rifle that is running an improved 338 RUM with a moderately long barrel that has been launching 225gr Accubonds around 3200fps. Pressures are toasty I am sure but accuracy out a very long ways has been very promising.

When embarking on this type of hunting, support optics and rangefinders become critical. You can't hit what you can't see, range or adjust for. The optics cost as much or more then the rifle itself. This is not a low budget adventure.

This is not spray and pray either...

Jerry
 
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I didn't have very much luck with 225 gr Accubonds out of my TRG 42 in 338 Lapua. I tried various powder, charge and primer combinations but couldn't find any combo that would group well at any distance. I have used Accubonds in some of my other rifles in .300 Win and Wby Mags and they work great, but only the 180 gr, the 200 gr ABs didn't fly too well. Wierd!

As far as .338 bullets go I have had the best luck with 250 Lapua Scenars by far. I consistently get about 5/8"-3/4" groups at 300 yards and very long range proved that these bullets fly.

My next favorite bullet for my TRG 42 is the 215 gr Sierra Gameking. I get velocities of around 3100 fps with relatively mild loads and the accuracy is slightly less than what I get with the 250 gr Scenars. Not bad for a $25/box hunting bullet.

I hope your right about those Hornadys Jerry because is they fly as good as the Amaxs out of my .300 Win Mag they will be a hell of a bullet.

Ivo
 
ivo, I was most certainly impressed with the 250gr Scenar in your rifle. Your rifle wasn't bad either :) That load was predictable and repeated so well, taking to you the mile was a breeze.

That is the type of LR consistency needed for extreme range plinking.

I will try and launch some 200gr Accubonds in my RUM. Curious to see how they fare against the 220gr MK.

If you can, send a email to Hornady to bug them about making heavy 30 and 338 Amax. I and a number of other shooters have been bugging them for years. They may budge now in the 338 with such a strong interest in this cal now.

Given that they can produce Amax with BC over 0.6 approaching 0.7, I see no problem that they can produce a heavy 338 over 0.7 maybe even 0.8. If they can keep their price point similar to where they are now, they will really get alot of shooters into the 338 magnum cannons.

Fun, fun, fun....Been doing any shooting lately?

There is a fun shoot in Osoyoos June 3, 4th. I will post details on the LR comp board.

Jerry
 
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