.338 cal 300 gr Accubond expansion question

[Greg Nolan]

Last season I loaded up some 300 gr Accubonds in my 338 RUM. I figured with a BC of .720 and a velocity of 2825 fps I'd have a deadly long range machine. 6-24 Vortex scope and I was ready. My shot came at a cow elk toping a ridge straight away at about 340 yds. ( I missed the first two shots as she was heading up the hill) At the shot I heard the plop of a hit at what had to be the rear of the stomach headed straight for the heart lung area. I expected to find blood and hopefully a dead elk. I found neither and looked for many hours over a two day period. I finally stumbled on to her under some brush 3 days later, too bloated and too late. The blood spot on the ground I could have covered with my hand Question: Did the bullet pass through with out expanding at that velocity? Are the 300gr bullets in .338 built a little tougher for thick skinned animals?
I'd appreciate your opinions on what went wrong.
Thanks
Greg

 

[Oldtrader3]

With that BC at that velocity, the bullet would still have been over 2000 fps at that range. The water in the paunch would have expanded the bullet and blown up the liver? You maybe only hit one lung and missed the heart?

The Accubonds are supposed to expand over 1800 fps velocity?

 

[JD338]

Greg,

I shot the 300 gr AB out of my 338 RUM at 2700 fps and got plenty of expansion on crop damage WT deer out to 440 yds. I have since gone back to the 250 gr AB at 3000 fps and its flatter trajectory.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Greg your title says .375, and then you're talking .338... Confuses this ol' Marine. :grin:

First bear I shot with a .375 AccuBond (260 gr) was at a tad over 300 yds, and the bullet obviously expanded well, but penetrated right on through, dropping that bear right away. Velocity at impact was likely a bit above 2,000 fps with my rifle's mv of 2620 fps.

Sorry you had a problem with the elk, doggone it.

Guy

 

[Oldtrader3]

Confused me too, but I didn't want to say anything.

 

[FOTIS]

Greg your title says .375, and then you're talking .338... Confuses this ol' Marine. :grin:



Guy

fixed it I noticed it too! :mrgreen:

 

[Greg Nolan]

Being older has it's moments of humility, this is one of them. I did mean 338
I did drop back to the 225 gr AccuBond which I've had great results with at 3200 fps.
Oldtrader3 probably hit on the problem. I must have hit to one side and took out one lung or something similar.
JD338 says the expansion is good so that eliminates that issue. I will try the 300 gr again at some point since I have them and good load but not this year.
Guy & Oldtrader3 Sorry for the confusion.

Greg

 

[JD338]

Greg,

Here are a couple crop damage WT deer kills with the 338 RUM and the 300 gr AB.
First recorded kill with the new 300 gr AB at 90 yds.

Second Recorded kill at 300 yds.

This scrub buck was shot at 439 yds, DRT.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Jim, I'm glad you had enough gun for those huge critters... :mrgreen:

Guy

 

[JD338]

Jim, I'm glad you had enough gun for those huge critters... :mrgreen:

Guy

Guy,

There is no replacement for displacement.

JD338