.338 Fed hunting handload

[keith mokry]

I can see cast bullets causing issues with gas ports but not spire pointed lead tipped. Maybe better Accracy with poly tip would be my guess

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

Yes, I must agree, the thing with TSX bullets is they need to move to maximize performance.

I will always be a huge fan of (quality)bonded bullets , they open at a very wide range of speeds and hold together.

 

[Prairie Plinker]

At the speeds u will be getting I don't think you will have the Barnes open/expand properly and will get pencil throughs. I see this with short brl 308 with low velocity. Makes for a lot of tracking. I would look at the nosler 210 part or 200g acrabond or even the 200 g hornady interlock

I have a 338-06 and so far my go-to bullet is a 210gr Partition. Now I know GGG said no exposed lead, but I'm pretty sure Nosler does make a Protected Point Partition, I'm just not sure if they're available in .338cal.

At the speeds achievable with the .338Fed, and requiring a tipped or HP bullet, I'd probably try some 200gr Ballistic Tips or 180gr Accubonds.

 

[Slamfire]

The Hornady 250gr BTHP Match bullet (0.67 bc ) should work in your Modern Hunter for target shooting (not recommended by the manufacturer for hunting). Not bad accuracy in my Hawkeye (1:10 twist) but not as accurate as the SP-RP bullet. Check out the groups at 200 meters off the bench rest -

 

[Suther]

Appreciate your input. I don't know much about hunting bullets anymore....

The fed runs slow-ish, so maybe I'm better with the 185 running faster for better expansion??

If you are running a 338fed, you already made the choice to go with a heavier slower bullet. If you wanted more speed, should have gone 308. IMO, 200 grains should be the minimum used in a 338 cal.

Have you actually TRIED soft points or other options(or at least know someone who has), or are you just going off what the manufacturer said to use? A lot of the time, the manufacturer will recommend something that'll work in every gun, whereas your specific gun might function just fine with SP/round nose ammo.

Swift makes a 210 grain scirocco if you can find it. I hear they make some of the better bullets for weight retention.

 

[Gunneegoogoo]

The ATRS boys have had no shortage of feeding issues with soft points in all Caliber's. I suppose I could make up 25 and prove it myself.....pulling bullets isn't my idea of fun though.

I fully accept a slower bullet, no issues there. I have my .260 upper for fast and flat. Just wanted to hear thoughts on going fatter but still 185, or fatter and heavier in the 210+.