.338 Win Mag and the 230gr ELD-X

338" 230gr ELDx after punching through the scapula of an elk @ 2150 fps impact (approx 450y from a 338wm). Penetration about 8", plucked it from the rib cage when peeling the front leg off.

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I put one through a small bear in between the shoulder blades, out center chest making a 3” hole. 20 yds, launched at 2700 FPS out of a 20” Weatherby Vangaurd. IIRC, shot about 1 1/4”@100M for 3 shots. Reloader 19 I think. Rifle is sold.
 
If you want penetration with a 338 look at the barnes tipped bullets. You can use lighter bullets like 210s snd 225 and they have a long range bullet as well. I've been shooting moose with them(210) and never had an issue. My buddy took a shot straight through the front of a cow's chest and the barnes(7mm) traveled through the length of the cow and settled in the opposite rear hind quarter. Performance is definitely there
 
hometownhero said:
Animal does quickly so not sure what you are looking for.

Unless you are one to like posting pretty pictures of bullets that could go in a magazine advert.
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Well Hero, I hope your pretty because throwing a jab at me over that definitely means you are not smart.

I saw an moose killed by a rock pitched off a water truck tire once but that does not mean I am going to spend time using a water truck or a rock on my next moose hunt.

If I wanted to shoot bullets that shed jackets at 410yds, let alone any range, and gain only 8" of peneration I would load a bunch of Sierra Game Kings in an STW and go shooting. But you see I am going to use a .338 and heavy bullets. To clarify, it is normative of a person choosing a .338 WM and 225gr+ bullets to be chasing a thing called penetration. You see, some of us that have killed a few animals larger than prairie deer know that breaking down big animals in mountian or foothill terrain requires reaching vitals from off angles and through bone. 8" won't do that. In fact my chest is deeper than that, and I think its sad performance for a 230gr bullet travelling at a mundane 2100fps. And I don't photograph bullets.

Feel free to move along if you like or keep talking. I have patience. Ask the children.
 
Had a few Hornady bullets of various types separate on good hits. Animals did go down but it's does raise concern. Contacted Hornady about it. The response was that "some do separate", that was it.
 
rem338win said:
Well Hero, I hope your pretty because throwing a jab at me over that definitely means you are not smart.

I saw an moose killed by a rock pitched off a water truck tire once but that does not mean I am going to spend time using a water truck or a rock on my next moose hunt.

If I wanted to shoot bullets that shed jackets at 410yds, let alone any range, and gain only 8" of peneration I would load a bunch of Sierra Game Kings in an STW and go shooting. But you see I am going to use a .338 and heavy bullets. To clarify, it is normative of a person choosing a .338 WM and 225gr+ bullets to be chasing a thing called penetration. You see, some of us that have killed a few animals larger than prairie deer know that breaking down big animals in mountian or foothill terrain requires reaching vitals from off angles and through bone. 8" won't do that. In fact my chest is deeper than that, and I think its sad performance for a 230gr bullet travelling at a mundane 2100fps. And I don't photograph bullets.

Feel free to move along if you like or keep talking. I have patience. Ask the children.
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Then don't use such a soft bullet if you want penetration.
 
I would have hoped for better penetration from a 230 gr 338 cal bullet...but it does look like it expanded pretty well at the lower velocity.

My main question is, did it impact the heavy shoulder bone, causing shallower penetration?

If so, it may just add credence to the test results performed years ago by the gunwriters that showed that the only reliable penetration of the heavy elk shoulder bone, is a 338 caliber 250 gr bullet. Elk bone is the densest bone of any animal in north america. Ifyou are going to use less bullet weight, and/or smaller calibers, it is best to stay away from that heavy shoulder bone.
This does not mean that elk cannot be killed with less, just do not expect them to reliably penetrate that heavy shoulder bone and make it into the vitals every single time.

I have had great success on elk, grizzly bear, moose and bison with the 210gr Partition in the 338 Win Mag, and on caribou with the 210 gr Partition in the 338 Federal.
But I must admit that my favourite hunting bullet to date, is the AccuBond! Almost always twice the original diameter expansion, 90-95% weigt retention and great penetration, on game ranging from antelope to bison, in calibers from 6.5 to 375.

As an aside, the SGK in the STW is a great elk load, and is perfectly capable of good penetration. I have taken elk with this combination several times (12+) over the years, from 80 yards to 475 yards, on center chest hits, with penetration from 18" to 30" on broadside and angling shots and/or complete pass throughs. Plus many other big game animals from deer, mountain goat, big horn sheep, to moose. I have taken a black bear with the 215 gr SGK in the 338-06 and am looking forward to taking other big game with it.
 
BlackRam said:
I would have hoped for better penetration from a 230 gr 338 cal bullet...but it does look like it expanded pretty well at the lower velocity.

My main question is, did it impact the heavy shoulder bone, causing shallower penetration?
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it didn't hit the humerus bone, just the scapula/blade. Previously the elk was hit with a 300wm 180gr Accubond which hit the greater tubercle of humerus (had to google that one lol) aka the big joint of the shoulder. Nuked that bullet, almost nothing made it into the vitals. Elk dropped and was down for a while before it got back up and I shot it three times with the 338 230eldx
 
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