The long and short of it...

Or the heavy and light of it...

I think it's interesting to see how things evolve. Not too long ago velocity was the ticket. Everyone was going with lighter weight bullets pushed faster and faster and flatter and flatter. Ballistic coefficients were something many didn't even consider let alone understand.

Now it seems everyone wants heavy for caliber, long bullets with high BCs, shot from looooong barrels for long range shooting. The thought of a subsequent rainbow trajectory seems counter intuitive to me but I understand the stability factor etc.

I haven't been bitten by the long range bug (yet) and am still praying to the Velocity God. Bad part for me is that this long range thing is encouraging the bullet manufacturers to cater to that market so the more traditional weight hunting bullets may not keep up in either manufacturing capacity or in new developments. Still plenty of good hunting bullets to use. But it is an interesting phenom to watch.

No doubt it all depends on what perspective or stigma you subscribe to.

I would like to see a few more 284 hunting bullets available in the 120-130 grain category for my 7mm-08. Just sayin...




[font color="blue"]I don't make the soup, I just stir it.[/font]

Yeah, Good Post!

Those longer-Heavier bullets, IMO, don't really shine over the velocity group until you get out there past 4-500 yards. I myself, don't care to shoot that far at game even though i practice farther than that and may well be capable.

I really like the Accubond line of bullets but i think 140gr is as light as they go in .284, no? Even 140's though would be a pretty good combination of flying well, down range retained energy, and solid bullet performance.

There has been a lot of talk here lately of the 120gr Barnes products down the tubes of 7mm-o8's. I don't own a 7mm-08 yet but i have my eye on a really nice one in a Rem Mountain rifle that a buddy had for sale then decided to keep. He very well may let it go at some point and i want it. I covet thy neighbors rifle. lol

If and when i get one or that rifle, i'll probably try loading the 120 gr Barnes TTSX first and heck with the low BC.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

I shoot alot, a 7mm rem mag, with
180 berger bullets, 2820 fps, my
barrel life should be great! High
speed will cut barrel life down
considerably.

Actually it's the amount of powder you burn behind the bullet that erodes barrels not the friction of the bullet. a hot load in an overbore cartrige will have the same effect in any bullet weight. not that your 7 mag is badly overbore.


I would guess all the manufacturers are going to the high BC bullets because they have the standard bullet market covered. there is a great bullet for about any need if you're not into ultra long range .














Stay thirsty my friends

First of all I shoot Barnes bullets. But they are longer for weight than other bullets since they have no lead.

In Barnes I shoot what many would consider light for caliber, at least in my .338. Example 210 grs in .338 mag. With RL-22 it's already a compressed load. That's why I haven't gone to the 225s. Now if I was shooting a Partition or Accubond, I'd probably go to 225s. And have thought about it.

In the 7mm/08 I shoot 140 gr Barnes which, IMO, isn't light for caliber. But I can load them with room to spare in the case with either RL-19 or IMR-4350. They are long, just barely off of the lands. But in that caliber the length of the bullet does not limit powder capacity.

In the .280 Rem I shoot 150 gr Barnes and once again the length of the bullet doesn't limit powder capacity.

Funny thing is that all 3 of these loads have stoned many elk for my family. The bulls both my wife and son have taken don't seem to know they weren't shot with the .338. I just feel (maybe a macho thing) that I can take almost any shot presented with the .338 whereas their kills have been mostly broadside, slightly quartering shots.

laser range finders have changed the game..It too awhile for folks to connect the dots and conjoin them with turrets, but I think we are there..Not that its a good thing, its just what it is.

I think with all the publicity and hype for LR, the average guy pays way more attention to BC than need be. I see a lot of guys in our LGS checking out the latest bullets, and by talking with them, some don't even understand what ballistic coefficient is. mtmuley

I'm with min Muley , I use a 200gr lapua with a coefficient of 0.344 pushing it 3009 ft ps Mv , the average shooters will never wear out a barrel in there life time .I shoot average long range 500 plus yards with a 30 378 to me it is all about practice, practice , practice and finding a bullet and load your rifle likes

I should have read this before I made my own post. I can't find the 140 accubonds anymore for my 7mm-08. It's like all they produce now is the 160's.I've noticed the same thing.

I handload the .284 139 Hornady SSTs and they're plenty solid for hutning deer size game. Your 7-08 should have a twist that can handle the lighter projectiles tho.