Berger 30 cal 245 gr Terminal Performance Thread

[Broz]

Got it done! First elk down with the 245 Berger. My load is averaging 3236 fps for muzzle velocity. Cow elk was pretty much broadside slightly quartering to us. Bullet entered rear side of the crease behind near shoulder. Entrance in hide was .308" Bullet slightly clipped a rib going in and already was dime sized in the rib meat. Bullet never exited vitals were destroyed. The Whack of the impact was among the loudest I have heard. The cow puffed up and hunched her back stood a few seconds turned took a couple steps and rolled a couple time regaining her footing and stood a few seconds before tipping over and was done.

Shot Distance ...... 510 yards
Impact Velocity...... 2730 fps
Impact Energy ...... 4032 lbs
TOF ..................... .50 Second

Entrance into vitals.

 

[EdgeFan]

I bet the internal organs were mush! Thanks for the info....last day of hunting here tomorrow......

 

[jmden]

That'll work!

 

[Rich]

So first impressions seem to be favorable in regards to terminal ballistics. The velocity is a bit more than I was expecting as well. Is the 245 a keeper? Are you going to be able to take anymore cows this year?

 

[Broz]

I took my cow today with the 245 Berger. I hit here a little low. I suspect my dope was off a bit from lack of testing on my part. But the end result was a dead elk. Large exit from the low hit that sucked some parts out. Tons of bleeding from the bottom of the heart taking a hit from fragments. Here is the data.

Shot Distance ....... 840 yards
Impact velocity ...... 2378 fps
Impact Energy ...... 3076 lbs
TOF ..................... .90 second

 

[matthew]

Looks like they work. Have you noticed any difference in how bulls react to a similar hit on a cow?

 

[Broz]

Looks like they work. Have you noticed any difference in how bulls react to a similar hit on a cow?

Not really, I think the cows can be just as tough as bulls. They both need to have damaged vitals to go down.

Jeff

 

[Rich]

Not really, I think the cows can be just as tough as bulls. They both need to have damaged vitals to go down.

Jeff

Agreed. Just curious, do you notice a difference in recoil between the 230 and 245?

 

[Broz]

Agreed. Just curious, do you notice a difference in recoil between the 230 and 245?

I am running the Terminator T3 brake. The recoil reduction is the best and these are very comfortable to shoot. So the short answer is no.

 

[eyeman]

Nice report. What rifle and caliber?

 

[Broz]

Nice report. What rifle and caliber?

Full custom 300 Terminator by Defensive Edge. .308 caliber.

 

[Rich]

I'm guessing you haven't taken another animal with the 245? Did you get enough data to decide on your bullet of choice for the 300 Terminator?

 

[Broz]

I'm guessing you haven't taken another animal with the 245? Did you get enough data to decide on your bullet of choice for the 300 Terminator?

Only the two elk. I think I want more data and since the Petersen Brass failed I need to work up a new load in Lapua brass. So I want to see how that goes too. But..... If I had to choose a bullet today, for killing elk at all distances, between the 230 A Tip and 245 Berger, I would likely go with the Berger.

Jeff

 

[Quicksilver]

Anybody data for this hunting season?

 

[caleb]

Any more kills with this 245 combo jeff?

 

[StanleyBasin]

Had 2 customers take cows with the 245 EH Bergers this fall out of a 30 Sherman Magnum. Both were in the 565 to 580 yard mark. Both entrance holes looked like Jeffs'. The exit holes were around the size of a golf ball and the blow through in the snow was pretty impressive. MV out of both rifles are approx 2970 fps. Velocity at impact Approx. 2470fps, energy at impact 3318 ft lbs. Personally I have never seen elk drop like that with any bullet. Neither one took a step. They both just dropped. I have had Bergers really destroy more meat than I care for in the past but these bullets did not blood shoot an entire side of an animal. Both shots were behind the shoulder and well placed. Very little meat loss on the opposite shoulder. Just my observations when I accompanied them on the hunt.

 

[Livetohunt]

Has anyone used this bullet in the 300 Norma mag improved? Wondering what FPS I am looking at with the 33 degree shoulder and a 27” barrel.

also if anyone has a headspace gage for this or info on using a standard headspace gage for a 33 degree shoulder, I will owe you!!

 

[Rhovee]

With N570 around 88-89 grains is the node around 2980-3000. Just use a piece of standard Norma brass. You want a slight crush on closing the bolt. For Lapua brass you will be about .009 short of a go guage instead of the normal .004

 

[Quicksilver]

Norma Improved with 33 degree shoulder and Lapua brass, cci 250 primer and N570 powder I have a wide node around 2975fps. Going to continue development around there and see how it goes. Had a smaller node around 2930fps as well but this one looks to be over half a grain wide.

 

[Livetohunt]

Barrel length?

 

[Quicksilver]

26” proof 1:9

 

[Quicksilver]

Anybody running a 8 twist with these bullets? I’m running a 1:9 but always wondering about the grass on the other side.

 

[tumbleweed]

Anybody running a 8 twist with these bullets? I’m running a 1:9 but always wondering about the grass on the other side.

I am. It's actually a 300 RUM bartlein 5r 400MODD with a transitional 1/9 to 1/8. I do run the 245. Muzzle velocity with 34" barrel and plus+ is 3160fps. Barrel is still new and has not sped up yet. The b/c matches advertised out to 2000 yards. I haven't seen an increase of b/c with the 8 twist


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[Quicksilver]

Got a wild idea of a 8 twist and +p throat in my Norma improved next round. Currently running the 245’s in my 9 twist at 2970fps but wouldn’t mind going all in for them on an 8 twist and play with some heavier monolithic bullets for hunting on the side. You’re pushing them pretty fast so I’m confident they’ll work fine if I’m 3100+fps.

 

[tumbleweed]

Got a wild idea of a 8 twist and +p throat in my Norma improved next round. Currently running the 245’s in my 9 twist at 2970fps but wouldn’t mind going all in for them on an 8 twist and play with some heavier monolithic bullets for hunting on the side. You’re pushing them pretty fast so I’m confident they’ll work fine if I’m 3100+fps.

Just depends on how long your barrel will be. I'd expect with 28" you probably wouldn't have any trouble getting 3100 plus. I'm running RL33. N570 might give you a smidge more


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[Quicksilver]

Running n570 in a 26”, it’s a hunting rifle so 26” is probably where it will stay.

 

[DRUSS]

Here is a couple pics from my blacktail taken at 571yds using the 245gr Berger Muzzle velocity is 3040fps

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[DRUSS]

Sorry guys, the other pics that actually show the bullet results are to large. I am trying to shrink then to fit

 

[DRUSS]

Added link to original post

 

[Quicksilver]

Here is a couple pics from my blacktail taken at 571yds using the 245gr Berger Muzzle velocity is 3040fps View attachment 8820

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Is that bone or part of the jacket on the edge of the exit hole picture? How’s the wound channel look through the body? Congrats on a nice blacktail!

 

[DRUSS]

Thanks Quicksilver
Only found 2 small pcs of copper and a few lead fragments around exit hole. Wound channel was roughly 3-6". Hit low side of spine. Blew spine fragments down through lungs, then just clipped shoulder blade on exit. Wish I could have found the bullet in the dirt but no luck.

 

[Quicksilver]

Back at it again this fall! It’s been a grind with the heat and smoke in the PNW. Took this sow this morning at 576yds and watch it impact behind the shoulder. Made it 20yds before piling up on a log. Now I used to trim the meplats on my 300gr hybrids and have had explosive results, huge wound channels and exit holes. I figured for this season I would try that on the 245’s in my Norma improved. Let’s just say the results mimic the 300 bergers! The heart was liquified, I found a few copper jacket pieces on the leg meat near the exit wound. I’m going to keep using them this way and see how it goes. I trim them flush only .005-.007”, then clean and uniform the inside of the tips. Basically just touching them up and making sure there’s a nice clear opening.

 

[Quicksilver]

Well trimming meplats may only be a long range benefit. Filled my second bear tag last week at 200yds and we scratched our heads for awhile to confirm the bear was facing the direction we thought it did when I pulled the trigger. It appears as if the jacket blue up on impact and the lead core penciled out the other side. Large opening on the entrance, small exit hole. The bear died quickly. After bullet impact it rolled, regained it feet and lost all strength and tumbled about 100yds down the hill dead. The bullet did it’s job and there was a lot of damage internally, but I wouldn’t say the internals were blown up like previous ones. It could be a result of thinner hunting jackets on the bullets, but I think next season I’m going back to cleaning tips and leaving the bullet be. Thankfully I hit ribs, if it had been a shoulder impact that bear would probably still be limping around somewhere. Verdict is still out, this is my long range rifle and have a closer range rifle build in the works. I have areas where it typically is either stalk close and shoot, or perch up high and send one long. Luckily neither trimmed or not affect my dope at the ranges I hunt, so it can be a last minute change. Pictured is the entrance, don’t have any other pictures of the performance.

Impact velocity was 2760fps

 

[Lancetkenyon]

I shot a buddy's. 30-338LMI today at the range. A 245 @ 3140fps will BANG steel at 1400! Being a suppressed fairly lightweight rifle, its recoil is no slouch either. 3 shots and I could feel it.

 

[Quicksilver]

Dang that’s moving…I’m at 2960 but like always want more haha. My recoil is hardly felt in a 10.5lb rifle.