i am getting ready to get some bullets to use in a 338WM and I have a question about tip durability.

i have loaded several Hornady SST bullets in a 7x57 Mauser and found them to have deformed in the magazine under recoil. since the recoil from a 338 WM is way more than the 7x57, i am wondering if i should stay away from the polymer tipped bullets. my intention was to get some Nosler Ballistic Tips or get Hornady Spire Points. the Noslers are more expensive, but that is not my real concern. my concern is whether the Ballistic Tip will get smashed in the magazine while undergoing recoil.

any comments...???? thanks for the help.

If anything, the plastic points will deform less. For hunting, I wouldn't worry about tip deformation, 1st shot will be fine, 2nd shot will have a bit of deformation & 3rd shot the tip will be flattened, just use two shots?!

I can fire a magazine load on BTs and the tips stay true but the Hornadys are blunt by the second shot. Both were 200gr. with identical load data. Also from shooting small to medium small game with each the BT seems to look like it holds together beter. The 200gr. Hornady would blow a 30 lb porcupine into hamburger while the BT would only bore a softball size hole through them.

Hope this helps.

I have used the 225 grain Hornady Spire Points on large game and are very happy with them, the bottem round takes some hammering but that have not caused me any problems

Cheers

Flip

I have used the .338 Win with 225 grain Spire Points to shoot caribou, moose, gemsbok, zebra, hartebeeste, elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, warthog, kudu, and god knows what else.

It works.

The Nosler Tips have proven to be tougher for me. The SST tips usually break or bend.

Good Luck!

Reloader