I recently bought an AR30 and have been going through the Barnes 225 gr. bullets that came with the gun. I am ready to buy 500 Sierra bullets and would like to know opinions on 250 grain or 300 grain. I have looked at the data on both and have not concluded which to buy. I am still learning to shoot this gun and would eventually like to leg it out to 1200 yards. I am not ready to shoot this distance yet but want to train to that level. I am willing to give up "tack diving" at 100 yards in order to get where I want to go. I am leaning toward the 300 gr. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
- Thread starter DaveV
- Start date
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
Either 250 or the 300 will get you out to 1200 yards easily. The wind drifts and such is not going to be beneficial until you get out to around a mile.
If you use the 338LM for trainning, then I would suggest be prepared to cough up some serious money for ammo, even with reload. You can train a 308 to 1000 yards for much cheaper.
Either 250 or the 300 will get you out to 1200 yards easily. The wind drifts and such is not going to be beneficial until you get out to around a mile.
If you use the 338LM for trainning, then I would suggest be prepared to cough up some serious money for ammo, even with reload. You can train a 308 to 1000 yards for much cheaper.
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
If your barrel stabilizes the 300's there is no reason not to use them.
CJG
If your barrel stabilizes the 300's there is no reason not to use them.
CJG
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
Honestly, unless you're shooting in a windy area, get the 250s. They're cheaper, they offer less recoil and you don't have to worry about jamming them into the case to meet mag length specs.
1000-1200 yds is nothing and a 250 at 2950-3000 fps vs. a 300 at 2800 or so, isn't going to make a huge difference.
300s thump pretty good, even with a decent brake.
Chris
Honestly, unless you're shooting in a windy area, get the 250s. They're cheaper, they offer less recoil and you don't have to worry about jamming them into the case to meet mag length specs.
1000-1200 yds is nothing and a 250 at 2950-3000 fps vs. a 300 at 2800 or so, isn't going to make a huge difference.
300s thump pretty good, even with a decent brake.
Chris
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
unless over 1200 stick with the 250's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Either 250 or the 300 will get you out to 1200 yards easily. The wind drifts and such is not going to be beneficial until you get out to around a mile.
If you use the 338LM for trainning, then I would suggest be prepared to cough up some serious money for ammo, even with reload. You can train a 308 to 1000 yards for much cheaper. </div></div>
unless over 1200 stick with the 250's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Either 250 or the 300 will get you out to 1200 yards easily. The wind drifts and such is not going to be beneficial until you get out to around a mile.
If you use the 338LM for trainning, then I would suggest be prepared to cough up some serious money for ammo, even with reload. You can train a 308 to 1000 yards for much cheaper. </div></div>
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
The only thing I would add to the above is look at the 250 Scenars. I have had pretty good results with them.
The only thing I would add to the above is look at the 250 Scenars. I have had pretty good results with them.
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
This thread has some good comparisons of the ballistics between the two bullets, if you haven't read over the last couple pages it is probably worth while.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=599667&page=4
This thread has some good comparisons of the ballistics between the two bullets, if you haven't read over the last couple pages it is probably worth while.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=599667&page=4
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
Thanks JFF for the great thread! I think the guys from Finland carry a lot of weight in this discussion. My take-away from everybody is:
-250's are less expensive
-250's deliver less recoil
-250's fly flatter out to 1500m, 300's flatter beyond
-300's deliver more energy downrange (good for ELR hard targets)
-300's handle high winds better
Given all this, I think the 250's make more sense for my goals. Thanks all for the great input!!
Thanks JFF for the great thread! I think the guys from Finland carry a lot of weight in this discussion. My take-away from everybody is:
-250's are less expensive
-250's deliver less recoil
-250's fly flatter out to 1500m, 300's flatter beyond
-300's deliver more energy downrange (good for ELR hard targets)
-300's handle high winds better
Given all this, I think the 250's make more sense for my goals. Thanks all for the great input!!
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
I only have one range session with my new AR-30, next one tomorrow. My AR-30 useing 300g. SMK seems to have less recoil than my M-14. As for cost, the extra cost of the 300g. over the 250g. is off-set by the savings in powder, less powder with the heavier bullet. I did a calculation a while back and it was a wash.
myerfire
I only have one range session with my new AR-30, next one tomorrow. My AR-30 useing 300g. SMK seems to have less recoil than my M-14. As for cost, the extra cost of the 300g. over the 250g. is off-set by the savings in powder, less powder with the heavier bullet. I did a calculation a while back and it was a wash.
myerfire
Re: 338 LM - 250gr or 300 gr SMK?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DaveV</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks all. Once again, how do the 300's perform at shorter distance compared to the 250's? </div></div>
If you land either one of these on any living entity in North America inside of 1000 yards that thing will cease to be amoung the living.
Windage aside; the 300s really come into their own beyond 1300 yards out to their maximum potential of 1700 yards, whereas the 250s only run out to 1600 yards.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DaveV</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks all. Once again, how do the 300's perform at shorter distance compared to the 250's? </div></div>
If you land either one of these on any living entity in North America inside of 1000 yards that thing will cease to be amoung the living.
Windage aside; the 300s really come into their own beyond 1300 yards out to their maximum potential of 1700 yards, whereas the 250s only run out to 1600 yards.
