Author Topic: .338 Rem Ultra Mag shoots 180gr bullets (Read 1064 times)

jro45 · « **on:** June 28, 2005, 01:06:27 PM »

What is the best 180 gr bullet to shoot at high velocity. Right now the only 180 gr bullet I have on hand is the Nosler Ballistic Tip. When I bought this rifle this 180 gr bullet was the only one made for my rifle. I have heard that Barnes makes one 180 gr bullet. I there any other made for the RUM?
Thanks

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2005, 06:59:31 AM »

Why shoot a 180 grain bullet from any 338? The heavier bullets will give you a much better trajectory profile, especially at longer ranges, even though they start slower.

I definitely would not hunt anything with a 180 Ballistic Tip out of a 338 RUM, unless it was a varmint. I believe Barnes does make a 180 X bullet, but I would still move up in weight.

jro45 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2005, 11:52:20 AM »

I have loaded 250gr bullets, 225 gr bullets, 200 gr bullets and am ???ing the 180 round for the 338 RUM. Also the 300 gr bullet are loaded. All these are for the 338 RUM. I would prefir not to use Barnes bullets If I can get around it.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2005, 01:18:04 PM »

That's a good enough reason to do it, I reckon. I don't know if anyone is making a 160 grain other than those two.

If you are gonna shoot these at game, I'd definitely not try it with anything but a monolithic type bullet, such as the Barnes. I don't think anything else is going to hold together at the velocities you will be pushing them.

Might see if Groove Bullets is making a light .338" bullet or Lost River Ballistics.

jro45 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2005, 03:06:25 AM »

Thanks Yukon Jack, I'll check them out.

JD338 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2005, 12:09:05 PM »

jro45,

I am cutious, why are you considering a 180 gr bullet for the 338 RUM? If for hunting deer, the 200 gr bullets have a higher BC and will hit harder then the 180 gr bullets.
Nosler is comming out with a 180 gr AB bonded bullet. You will be driving that weight bullet from a RUM in the 3500 fps range. This will create a termendous amount of trama in a deer size animal at almost any range.

I have taken 2 Mule Deer with my 338 RUM and the 210 gr PT, 140 yds and 30 yds, with massive trama. I also shot an Elk with the same load at 350 yds and the wound was still very impressive.

I have also shot a WT deer (200 Lbs) at 40 yds using the 250 gr PT. One of the most spectactular kills I have ever seen without excessive meat damage.

The 338 RUM is my favorite hunting caliber. It hammers game and puts them down now with 1 shot.

Regards,

JD338

jro45 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2005, 02:14:55 AM »

JD338
I don't load the 180gr bullets to 3500 fps. I did once and found that they
shot a large group at 100 yds. So I only shoot them at 3200fps with a different powder and my group is about 4 or 5" at 100 yds. [Thats all the bullets no fliers] So anyway I'm tring to find a 180gr bullet that won't come apart for my RUM and maybe its not Barns. I wrote Nosler a letter about their 180gr SP ballist tip and asked about the FPS for it. Is there any more 180gr bullets for the 338.

Sounds like you're doing good with the 210 gr bullet. I'm going Black Bear hunting in Aug with my 338 RUM down loaded with the 250gr R.N. bullet at 2730 fps.