The most efficient hunting cartridges

[Twisted Sprocket]

This is incorrect. The most expensive component of our ammunition is the brass case followed by the bullet. Since the same bullet can be used on any .30 caliber cartridge, the cost there is equal, and the price difference between commercial the offerings of .308, .30/06, and .300 Winchester brass is fairly minor. The largest difference in the loads is the powder charge, which ranges between 45 and 80 grs, when we load for a 180 gr bullet yet the cost of powder doesn't compare to the cost of the bullet or the brass case.

As an example it costs about $55 for 100 180 gr Nosler ABs, or about .55 ea.
.308 brass cartridge cases cost $46/50 or .92 ea
.300 Winchester cartridge cases cost $78/50 or $1.56 ea
100 LR primers cost $6/100 or .06 ea
powder prices average $40/lb so cost $40/155 rds of .308 or .28 ea.
and $40/87 rounds of .300 or .46/ea

Total cost per round of .308 is $1.81
Total cost per round of .300 Winchester is $2.63 so the difference is closer to 45% than it is 100%.

Whether or not the difference in performance can be appreciated by an individual depends upon the individual, and the prowess you bestow upon the .308 can also be said of the .30/30, which has also taken moose, grizzlies and bison. The terminal performance of the .300 is greater, but the hunter must be able to shoot competently in order to exploit the advantage. Sometimes though a 6 pound .308 carbine is nicer to carry than an 8 pound .300, and that is where the .308 really shines, not in the fact that it burns less powder.

I was thinking of factory ammo off the top of my head at the time of posting and recalling Weatherby ammo specifically. Cartridges like the 308, 7mm-08, 6.5 CM and the likes shine because of the relation of velocity and energy attained with the amount powder used compared to other cartridges and, in the context of this the thread the low recoil particularly.

 

[Dake21]

This is incorrect. The most expensive component of our ammunition is the brass case followed by the bullet. Since the same bullet can be used on any .30 caliber cartridge, the cost there is equal, and the price difference between commercial the offerings of .308, .30/06, and .300 Winchester brass is fairly minor. The largest difference in the loads is the powder charge, which ranges between 45 and 80 grs, when we load for a 180 gr bullet yet the cost of powder doesn't compare to the cost of the bullet or the brass case.

As an example it costs about $55 for 100 180 gr Nosler ABs, or about .55 ea.
.308 brass cartridge cases cost $46/50 or .92 ea
.300 Winchester cartridge cases cost $78/50 or $1.56 ea
100 LR primers cost $6/100 or .06 ea
powder prices average $40/lb so cost $40/155 rds of .308 or .28 ea.
and $40/87 rounds of .300 or .46/ea

Total cost per round of .308 is $1.81
Total cost per round of .300 Winchester is $2.63 so the difference is closer to 45% than it is 100%.

Whether or not the difference in performance can be appreciated by an individual depends upon the individual, and the prowess you bestow upon the .308 can also be said of the .30/30, which has also taken moose, grizzlies and bison. The terminal performance of the .300 is greater, but the hunter must be able to shoot competently in order to exploit the advantage. Sometimes though a 6 pound .308 carbine is nicer to carry than an 8 pound .300, and that is where the .308 really shines, not in the fact that it burns less powder.

You are not wrong but this thread is about internal ballistic efficiency, not terminal ballistic efficiency. Here we are concerned about what happens inside the barrel until the bullet leaves the muzzle.

Take a 6.5 creedmoor vs a 6.5x55. Both can shoot 140gr at 2800 FPS (more or less) so their terminal performance are the same. However the swede uses about 5gr more of powder, so that makes the CM more efficient from an internal ballistic stand point.

 

[todbartell]

But in this discussion, what matters concerning "Efficiency" is the quantity of powder used and the MV it produces.

Using downrange energy factors in a) bullet weight b) bullet velocity c) velocity retention

Quantity of powder charge plays into recoil energy.

 

[todbartell]

I personally get more enjoyment from shooting a .300 magnum than I do a .300 Savage.

Boomer is a cooler CGN user name than "Pipsqueek"

BTW where are you buying Accubonds for .55cents? I'll take their contact info!

 

[JEC]

My vote for the most efficient cartridge is the 30BR. 33.8 gr of H4198 behind a 115gr bullet leaves the muzzle of a 22” barrel at 3050 FPS. Shot this morning from an 8.4 lb (scoped) rig at 100M...left is cold bore followed by five in the center. Not much recoil and capable of stinging that big buck in the eye. Energy/Shmenergy

 

[Buckmastr]

My vote for the most efficient cartridge is the 30BR. 33.8 gr of H4198 behind a 115gr bullet leaves the muzzle of a 22” barrel at 3050 FPS. Shot this morning from an 8.4 lb (scoped) rig at 100M...left is cold bore followed by five in the center

Nice shooting! What kind of velocity would you get from a 30br and a 155 gr bullet?

 

[JEC]

Not chambered for 155’s. Seated that deep with zero freebore, the only room left would be taken by the primer...and then there’s that 1:17 twist.

 

[Buckmastr]

Not chambered for 155’s. Seated that deep with zero freebore, the only room left would be taken by the primer...and then there’s that 1:17 twist.

I see. Pretty specific purpose...
And it seems to work wonderfully!

 

[JEC]

I see. Pretty specific purpose...
And it seems to work wonderfully!

Does everything I ask of it ... for deer I use 110 gr Barnes TTSX with MV of about 3100 FPS. I recovered one from a WT buck taken at 190M that Barnes could have used in their promotional material...4 petals with OD of 0.577.
The brass used to shoot the group this AM was on its 31’st reload...never annealed. Talk about efficient
Top notch performance with 125 gr bullets as well.

 

[Buckmastr]

Great! Just like a 30-30!

 

[Boomer]

Boomer is a cooler CGN user name than "Pipsqueek"

BTW where are you buying Accubonds for .55cents? I'll take their contact info!

That was the price I got from X Reload, $55/100.

From the standpoint of efficiency, the midsize 6.5s do very well, but if we consider any cartridge that has a powder charge of about a third of its standard bullet weight, efficiency is the result. An example is the 150 gr .308 load backed with usually less than 50 grs of powder.

 

[North of 7]

That was the price I got from X Reload, $55/100.

From the standpoint of efficiency, the midsize 6.5s do very well, but if we consider any cartridge that has a powder charge of about a third of its standard bullet weight, efficiency is the result. An example is the 150 gr .308 load backed with usually less than 50 grs of powder.

You sure they aren't in boxes of 50? Some are 50, some 100.

North

 

[Markus]

That was the price I got from X Reload, $55/100.

From the standpoint of efficiency, the midsize 6.5s do very well, but if we consider any cartridge that has a powder charge of about a third of its standard bullet weight, efficiency is the result. An example is the 150 gr .308 load backed with usually less than 50 grs of powder.

Nosler accubonds come by the box of 50 for around $60/50. Accubond long range come in boxes of 100 but run closer to $85/100

 

[Andy]

Nosler accubonds come by the box of 50 for around $60/50. Accubond long range come in boxes of 100 but run closer to $85/100

$53.49 + tax + shipping from X-Reload Box of 50.

https://x-reload.com/nosler-30-308-180gr-spitzr-bullet-accubond-50-bx.html

 

[hoytcanon]

Nosler accubonds come by the box of 50 for around $60/50. Accubond long range come in boxes of 100 but run closer to $85/100

6.5mm 129 ABLR @ $72/100

 

[Boomer]

You sure they aren't in boxes of 50? Some are 50, some 100.

North

Yup just checked and you're right, 50 per box, so my cost per bullet was pretty low.

 

[todbartell]

you're skewing the facts again Boomer to try and make your points!

 

[Dogleg]

Most of my .300 Wins send a 180 along at 550 fps higher velocity than my .308s do. To do that they burn 17 cents more powder; (One is only 450 faster, but is only 13 cents more) or 3 cents per 100. That's efficency; and should be noted as among the best 3 cents ever spent. The whole 17 cents is the deal of the century.

 

[North of 7]

Most of my .300 Wins send a 180 along at 550 fps higher velocity than my .308s do. To do that they burn 17 cents more powder; (One is only 450 faster, but is only 13 cents more) or 3 cents per 100. That's efficency; and should be noted as among the best 3 cents ever spent. The whole 17 cents is the deal of the century.

Is it really worth it all things considered? Cost of brass/powder, belted cartridge, higher felt recoil. Seems like unless you are shooting further distances it's not worth it. I haven't loaded 300 win so I can't speak from personal experience.

North

 

[hoytcanon]

Is it really worth it all things considered? Cost of brass/powder, belted cartridge, higher felt recoil. Seems like unless you are shooting further distances it's not worth it. I haven't loaded 300 win so I can't speak from personal experience.

North

If you are a 100 yard deer hunter it is not worth it... if you hunt multiple species and/or and long ranges or in grizzly country, then as Dogleg says "17 cents per round" is a steal... and is most definitely worth it.