.338 Win Mag Questions

mmattockx

mmattockx

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I am about to start reloading for the .338 Win Mag in the next few weeks. Loads will be for moose and elk next fall. I will be starting with 225gr SST's and 250gr Accubonds. From searching here, I plan to start with H4350 and IMR 4831 powders. The rifle is a Ruger 77 if that matters to anyone, 24" barrel.

1) Anything unusual or specific to the 338 that I should know about or be aware of? Tips, tricks?

2) What primers should I be shopping for? I am currently using CCI 200's for all my rifle calibre reloading (22-250, 6.5x55 and 30-06) and wouldn't mind sticking to them if they will work. I see loads with both magnum and standard primers, so that is why I ask.

3) How suddenly do pressure signs come on? Some cartridges seem to go from fine to Holy Cow! in about 1.0gr, where others very gradually and predictably show signs.

Any pet loads for the above bullet weights and powders are appreciated, along with other powder recommendations.

Thanks,
Mark
 
My XCR enjoys 225gr IL with 69gr H4350. Still working on loads for 210tsx, 225tsx and 225 IB...
 
I don't currently own a 338 but I found it a pretty forgiving round. I use magnum primers whenever the powder charge approaches 60 gr or when I expect to use the load in cold weather. Many reloaders recommend magnum primers for ball powders in even moderate cases but since I only use stick powders I have no experience with with that use.
 
mmattockx said:
I am about to start reloading for the .338 Win Mag in the next few weeks. Loads will be for moose and elk next fall. I will be starting with 225gr SST's and 250gr Accubonds. From searching here, I plan to start with H4350 and IMR 4831 powders. The rifle is a Ruger 77 if that matters to anyone, 24" barrel.

1) Anything unusual or specific to the 338 that I should know about or be aware of? Tips, tricks?

2) What primers should I be shopping for? I am currently using CCI 200's for all my rifle calibre reloading (22-250, 6.5x55 and 30-06) and wouldn't mind sticking to them if they will work. I see loads with both magnum and standard primers, so that is why I ask.

3) How suddenly do pressure signs come on? Some cartridges seem to go from fine to Holy Cow! in about 1.0gr, where others very gradually and predictably show signs.

Any pet loads for the above bullet weights and powders are appreciated, along with other powder recommendations.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

for IMR-4831 and 225's try working your way up to 73 gr. and look for pressure signs . Should give an Honest 2850 fps.

I no longer have one but I was going to try RL-22 for 225's next and work up to 75 gr.

good luck. With that size of a case I work up 1 gr. at a time and then .5 as I get closer into max territory. I then tweak the load .3 or .5 at a time.

As for Primers I had always used magnum primers, winchester in my case.
 
I had great luck with 225 gr 3X bullets from Barnes and Reloader 22. I alternated between Reloader 22 for 210/225 grain bullets and reloader 25 for the 250 gr bullets.
I found it an easy round to load for, and could get consistent super groups (more often than not .88"-1.15" groups from my Tikka using a lead sled with a reasonably cool barrel. )
I sold the .338 out of necessity, now I may have to go get another that the finances are better. I still kept a bunch of the loaded rounds JIC.
I only used the .338 wm on one animal (850lb moose) and it left a devastating wound channel on the poor guy. That X bullet is sure a meat drill.
As for pressure signs, I never noticed ANY during the time I reloaded for it. Primers always looked good, etc. You do have to check the area ahead of the belt as thats the spot where the most significant thinning of brass occurs. You need to take a paper clip and rub it up and down to feel for a thin spot. Other than that, keep loads sensible and its a hammer.
 
Thanks for the info and tips, gentlemen. I also have RL-22 in my powder stock as I use it for the 6.5x55. I will have to give it a try for the 225gr bullets to compare to the others.

Mark
 
Everyone I talked with said that 68-69gr. of H4350 was the magic.

Im still working up my loads with the 225gr. Hornady Interbonds.

Im currently on hold with my reloading until I get my replacement RCBS Chargemaster.
 
I've just started playing with it myself. Trying 225 Barnes ### over H4350. Got some initial groupings at 65 and 67.5grains. Will report more when I get more.

Quick question - those who are running ###: are you crimping or not? Those groves cut into the bullets make me wonder about the uniformity of a crimp.
 
My first post dissapeared...

I've been shooting 250gr Gamekings over IMR 4350 in my 338 (Win Model 70) for over 20 years. With 250's, you should be able to work up to about 70 gr of powder, no problems. This combo will also generate over 4000 ft/lbs at the muzzle and carry over 2000 ft/lbs past 500 yards.

I also shoot 225gr SST's in my newer 338 (Browning BAR) also using IMR 4350. You should be able to work up to around 72 gr of powder with these bullets. You'll have a harder time getting 4000 ft/lbs at the muzzle and carrying 2000 ft/lbs to 500 yards with this load, but it may be possible. You'll be close anyways.

I work up my loads for this caliber in 0.5gr increments. Pressure signs do not seem to jump up real sudden in my experience.

You will find the 250 grainers carry their energy a bit better than the 225's, but the 225's shoot a bit flatter. The moose will likely not be able to tell the difference, really.
 
Try 225gr accubonds, I have a semi custom hawkeye and it eats these bullets up. I have shot 2 elk 300-350 yrds and plenty of deer none of these animals moved after being hit.
 
GSoD said:
I've just started playing with it myself. Trying 225 Barnes ### over H4350. Got some initial groupings at 65 and 67.5grains. Will report more when I get more.

Quick question - those who are running ###: are you crimping or not? Those groves cut into the bullets make me wonder about the uniformity of a crimp.
Click to expand...

No crimping. My MAX load with 225TSX is 66.5gr H4350.
 
338 win mag

first of all I would use a magnum primer for a magnum powder charge since it will burn more evenly that way, probably the reason magnum primers were invented, hence the name

as for working up loads from scratch, a full grain atta time is probably too much, I usually work 0.3 grain or at most 0.5 grain up atta time, so you're not spiking a full grain at once, less chance of too much pressure that way.
better chance on finding your rifles accuracy load that way too
 
Just bringing this thread back to the top. I finally got a chance to get out with the rifle and sight it in along with running some handloads through it to find pressure limits.

1) Are factory loads soft? I sighted in with Remington 250gr commercial ammo and then shot my loads with 225gr. SST's in front of varying charge weights of RL-22 and IMR4831. The POI moved about 3" higher at 100yds with my handloads compared to the Remington stuff. Is that normal?

2) I got up to 74.0gr of 4831 and 75.0gr of RL-22 with no pressure signs. Primers all look the same from the starting loads to the max and bolt lift and extraction were all normal with no stickyness at all. These are heavy loads, should I not be seeing some pressure signs at this point? Regardless, I do not plan to go any hotter than these loads today. Ambient temp was about 24C, so I am comfortable with these for hunting in the fall with no issues. Now I just need to find the accuracy node and load for that.

3) Recoil was not bad at all. Stout, but I was expecting that. More of a heavy shove than a sharp whack. I was concerned about this and it turns out to be no problem. It's not a gun I want to shoot 100 rounds off a rest in one day with, but it won't be a problem for hunting.

Mark
 
You're pretty much at the top now. Just find out what shoots best. If you're just starting with the 338 you're in for a great season. They just plain kill stuff. No tracking/follow ups involved.
 
i use one powder - imr 7828- FOR BOTH MY 275'S AND THE 250'S- 70 grains - that gives 2650 in the 250 and 2615 in the 275.s which is THE bullet for the 338- that weight will do everything- but it's also hard on the shoulder- swift a-frame makes a 275 that's pretty close to my old speer, but it's just slightly less in sectional, but got a better b/c- i use a 250 on elk, and a 275 for the really dangerous stuff
 
mmattockx said:
Are factory loads soft? I sighted in with Remington 250gr commercial ammo and then shot my loads with 225gr. SST's in front of varying charge weights of RL-22 and IMR4831. The POI moved about 3" higher at 100yds with my handloads compared to the Remington stuff. Is that normal?
Click to expand...

Different bullets and different weights. Both will cause varying POI's. Not likely to have two different bullets impact at the same point, unless they have identical BC's, like an Interbond and SST, or Accubond and BT's.

My 338wm throws 225TSX 14" higher than 225 Interbonds, with the same powder. Barrel harmonics are different for both bullets...
 
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Very forgiving.
Do your load development closer to the temperatures you will be working at.
One of my best loads was 250 grain Nosler and 1 grain over the HornaDy MaX. but shooting if the temp exceeded 10 degrees C. was noticable. Use MAG RIFLE PRIMERS
and slower burning powders. I neveer went below 4350.
 
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