A-Square and Woodleigh 250 gr in .338"

Kevin375

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I had the opportunity to buy 120 Woodleigh, and 52 A-Square 250 gr, both in .338".

494961184_2809599419247204_2582684810791801084_n.jpg

Their previous owner stopped to hunt in Africa because of his age, and I paid them a small price.
He told me at the end of his carrer, he only used Barnes TSX bullet with his .340 Weatherby magnum, and here is why these bullets came into Barnes boxes. But unfortunately, I don't know his own exprerience with these Woodleigh and A² ?

First of all, I planned to use them with my .338 Lapua magnum, but after a little checking, I prefer to keep them for a future rifle in .338 Winchester magnum. This rifle will be shorter, and more handy as well, for walk & stalk hunting, because my Lapua is like a fishing rode.

The Woodleigh Weldcore bullets have a "good" consistency with their weight, because they range from 249.7 to 250.3 gr !
However, on the website, the recommended impact velocity ranges from 2000 up to 2500 f/s. I'm surprised the maximum velocity recommended is pretty "low". Here is why I gave up to use them with my .338 Lapua magnum.
But with the .338 Winchester magnum, It will be easier to make a sedate recipe for close range hunting in the thick bush. But if pushed too fast, how do they behave on game ?
494930062_2809599329247213_6323715387275989594_n.jpg


I was told the A-square bullets were the Dead Tough, so a bonded bullet too. They are probably from 2 or 3 different batches, because there is a much bigger difference about their weight spread : 249.4 gr up to 253.5 gr and on some, the cannelure is not exactly at the same place.
Do they handle higher velocities better than the woodleigh in theory ?
494973372_2809599259247220_6916400097556745245_n.jpg





They have never been common in my country, and many have never tried them, or just heard about them ! So difficult to get a real feedback.
494168912_2809599375913875_8362242131993419442_n.jpg


Does anyone have a real experience with these bullets in the various .338 calibers ?

Thanks in advance.
 
I had the opportunity to buy 120 Woodleigh, and 52 A-Square 250 gr, both in .338".

View attachment 682157
Their previous owner stopped to hunt in Africa because of his age, and I paid them a small price.
He told me at the end of his carrer, he only used Barnes TSX bullet with his .340 Weatherby magnum, and here is why these bullets came into Barnes boxes. But unfortunately, I don't know his own exprerience with these Woodleigh and A² ?

First of all, I planned to use them with my .338 Lapua magnum, but after a little checking, I prefer to keep them for a future rifle in .338 Winchester magnum. This rifle will be shorter, and more handy as well, for walk & stalk hunting, because my Lapua is like a fishing rode.

The Woodleigh Weldcore bullets have a "good" consistency with their weight, because they range from 249.7 to 250.3 gr !
However, on the website, the recommended impact velocity ranges from 2000 up to 2500 f/s. I'm surprised the maximum velocity recommended is pretty "low". Here is why I gave up to use them with my .338 Lapua magnum.
But with the .338 Winchester magnum, It will be easier to make a sedate recipe for close range hunting in the thick bush. But if pushed too fast, how do they behave on game ?
View attachment 682158

I was told the A-square bullets were the Dead Tough, so a bonded bullet too. They are probably from 2 or 3 different batches, because there is a much bigger difference about their weight spread : 249.4 gr up to 253.5 gr and on some, the cannelure is not exactly at the same place.
Do they handle higher velocities better than the woodleigh in theory ? View attachment 682159




They have never been common in my country, and many have never tried them, or just heard about them ! So difficult to get a real feedback.
View attachment 682160

Does anyone have a real experience with these bullets in the various .338 calibers ?

Thanks in advance.
That batch of bullets would be very popular in Alaska. And likely profitable.
 
Woodleigh's recommended impact velocity's are for a certain weight retention but they can and are driven much harder and perform well as per davidg8480's post. Also remember that by the time the bullet gets to the animal it has slowed a bit, unless close.

I have had Woodleigh 250 grain 358 bullets hit a Sambar hind at well above quoted max figures and it held together. Sorry I lost those phots a few computer changes ago.

 
I had the opportunity to buy 120 Woodleigh, and 52 A-Square 250 gr, both in .338".

View attachment 682157
Their previous owner stopped to hunt in Africa because of his age, and I paid them a small price.
He told me at the end of his carrer, he only used Barnes TSX bullet with his .340 Weatherby magnum, and here is why these bullets came into Barnes boxes. But unfortunately, I don't know his own exprerience with these Woodleigh and A² ?

First of all, I planned to use them with my .338 Lapua magnum, but after a little checking, I prefer to keep them for a future rifle in .338 Winchester magnum. This rifle will be shorter, and more handy as well, for walk & stalk hunting, because my Lapua is like a fishing rode.

The Woodleigh Weldcore bullets have a "good" consistency with their weight, because they range from 249.7 to 250.3 gr !
However, on the website, the recommended impact velocity ranges from 2000 up to 2500 f/s. I'm surprised the maximum velocity recommended is pretty "low". Here is why I gave up to use them with my .338 Lapua magnum.
But with the .338 Winchester magnum, It will be easier to make a sedate recipe for close range hunting in the thick bush. But if pushed too fast, how do they behave on game ?
View attachment 682158

I was told the A-square bullets were the Dead Tough, so a bonded bullet too. They are probably from 2 or 3 different batches, because there is a much bigger difference about their weight spread : 249.4 gr up to 253.5 gr and on some, the cannelure is not exactly at the same place.
Do they handle higher velocities better than the woodleigh in theory ? View attachment 682159




They have never been common in my country, and many have never tried them, or just heard about them ! So difficult to get a real feedback.
View attachment 682160

Does anyone have a real experience with these bullets in the various .338 calibers ?

Thanks in advance.
@Kevin375
I've pushed the 35 cal 225gn PPSP Woodleigh 2950fps as opposed to 2700fps, 200 plus fps faster than Geoff recommended but his recommendation is for impact velocity
I hit a big zebra stallion broadside at 120 yds and that bullet was still travelling 100 plus fps faster than recommended impact velocity when it hit
That bullet broke both shoulders and destroyed the chest cavity and was found lodged under the off side skin. It still retained 174 gn or 74% of its weight so pretty good performance in my book.
So yes you can drive them faster, it's the impact velocity that matters not the start velocity.
To say Geoff was happy with the picture of his bullet is an understatement.
Bob
 
I have had great success with the Woodley 250s in my 338 rum. Moving at an estimate 2700 FPS. Stoned a crock at 35 yards, big monster kudu 150 yd, dropped a Gemsbuck buck at 275
@davidg8480
I thought you would have been able to push them a lot harder out of the RUM.
Bob
 
Woodleigh's recommended impact velocity's are for a certain weight retention but they can and are driven much harder and perform well as per davidg8480's post. Also remember that by the time the bullet gets to the animal it has slowed a bit, unless close.

I have had Woodleigh 250 grain 358 bullets hit a Sambar hind at well above quoted max figures and it held together. Sorry I lost those phots a few computer changes ago.

@Rule 303
That's been my experience with the 225 PPSP as well
Bob
20200409_085843.jpg
20200409_085629.jpg
 
@davidg8480
I thought you would have been able to push them a lot harder out of the RUM.
Bob
Absolutely Bob, I have had it cranked up to apx.2950 fps, but this particular situation I was looking for best possible accuracy with the Woodleighs sub moa, the 2700 fps gave me that and it paid off.
 
Absolutely Bob, I have had it cranked up to apx.2950 fps, but this particular situation I was looking for best possible accuracy with the Woodleighs sub moa, the 2700 fps gave me that and it paid off.
@davidg8480
So you have all that case capacity that you can't utilise and basically have a good loaded 35 Whelen.
My Whelen will cut clover leafs with the 250 RNSP and three quarters of an inch with other 250s
I think I will just stick with my Whelen and 250s @2,700fps
Bob
 
Absolutely Bob, I have had it cranked up to apx.2950 fps, but this particular situation I was looking for best possible accuracy with the Woodleighs sub moa, the 2700 fps gave me that and it paid off.
In my 358/338RUM I have these coming out just over 3000fps with good accuracy. Could go a bit faster but why bother when you hit the accuracy node.
 
@davidg8480
So you have all that case capacity that you can't utilise and basically have a good loaded 35 Whelen.
My Whelen will cut clover leafs with the 250 RNSP and three quarters of an inch with other 250s
I think I will just stick with my Whelen and 250s @2,700fps
Bob
Ge Bob, that's quite an impressive speed for a 35 Whelen. I'd like to give it a try. Please share your load data, and do you have chamber pressure data?
David
 
Ge Bob, that's quite an impressive speed for a 35 Whelen. I'd like to give it a try. Please share your load data, and do you have chamber pressure data?
David

FWIW, Speer is showing a load at 2709 fps with a 250 gr bullet. A couple other of 2600+ fps loads. See the pdf file link below. I haven't tried them.

Cheers! Bob F. :)



Source: https://www.speer.com/reloading/rifle-data.html
 

Attachments

wrong Bob.

I know that you were asking Bob Nelson. I was just trying to point out some load data from Speer that shows a 250 gr bullet at 2700 fps.

Bob F.
 
Last edited:
Thank you guys for all informations about Woodleigh bullets ;) It's very interesting.


I'm surprised nobody have any experience with A-Square bullets ?
 
wrong Bob.
@davidg8480
I use the same data from Speer
64.5 gn CFE223 behind a 250gn Speer got core.
This is a max load but was safe in my rifle.
With a225gn Sierra btgk and 70 gn of the same powder I get 2,900fps out of my Whelen.
310s I get 2,455fps.
The other Bob
 

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