338 Federal

Loaded up H322 with 200gr SST in a T3 I worked with this past spring. Around 2500 fps and shot fairly decent

Years ago I had a Sako 85 Grey Wolf and it did well with 210gr TSX over H4895, a little over 2600 fps. And in a Ruger 77 Hawkeye SS, 185gr TTSX & IMR 8208xbr for 2750, and 210gr Scirocco.. Must be getting old I can't remember what powder!
 
I don't own one, but I've read on an african hunt forum that touts the 160GR Barnes 338 FED loads. That would be where I would start personally. I think they were using it Zebra with great results.
 
225 gr accubond with a max charge of Leverevolution 2500-2550 in my rifles
215 Sierra game king, same powder, 2740 I use those for ringing steel 5/8- 3/4 moa
CFE 223 is good too, just a bit slower and not as accurate in my rifles. I used RL 15 in the past but those days are gone, loads are on Hogdens website or pm me.
 
I had a tikka. With the 160 TTSX they were screaming over 3000 with Ramshot tac. I think load was max listed.... if interested I could dig up data. It shot into tiny groups. The load was very compressed and I had to seat the bullet about 1/4 of the way, then tap it good a couple times to settle the powder, then fully seat.

I also used sierra 215 grain with H4895. It also shot quitter well but they dropped pretty quickly past 300 yards.

It's an underrated chambering. Wish I kept that one.
 
vpsalin said:
I don't own one, but I've read on an african hunt forum that touts the 160GR Barnes 338 FED loads. That would be where I would start personally. I think they were using it Zebra with great results.
Click to expand...

Im Loading Barnes 160 gr TTSX ers right now with AA2230 powder to 2930 fps ! They shoot cloverleaf groups out of my Tikka . Just wondering what others are using ? RJ
 
ForealBoreal said:
Can you post the quickload data? I’m curious how the cfe223 does.

185gr TTSX
210 partition
Click to expand...
\

Code: 
Cartridge          : .338 Federal
Bullet             : .338, 185, Barnes 'TTSX' BT 30426
Useable Case Capaci: 45.444 grain H2O = 2.951 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.820 inch = 71.63 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

4 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
IMR 3031                           109.6     42.9     2.78    2603   100.0    62000    7079   0.974  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon CFE223                     102.5     47.8     3.10    2586    96.2    62000    7572   0.974  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748                     100.6     45.4     2.94    2582    98.2    62000    7325   0.977  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant AR-Comp                    104.4     42.3     2.74    2581   100.0    62000    6479   0.976  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot BigGame                    108.4     48.4     3.14    2575    95.4    62000    7506   0.975  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2                      103.0     47.1     3.05    2574    97.2    62000    7497   0.983  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                           107.9     45.2     2.93    2573    96.0    62000    7579   0.986  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL15                       108.7     45.5     2.95    2556    95.2    62000    7464   0.989  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4895                      104.8     43.9     2.84    2551    96.6    62000    7353   0.992  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H322                       101.2     41.1     2.67    2545    99.7    62000    6814   0.988  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H335                        95.3     43.6     2.82    2544    99.2    62000    7002   0.991  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                           110.0     45.3     2.94    2530    95.3    61232    7145   0.985  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                       109.6     46.9     3.04    2526    93.1    62000    7350   0.994  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 8208xbr                        103.1     43.2     2.80    2521    97.3    62000    7004   0.996  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL17                       110.0     48.3     3.13    2517    93.9    54673    7796   1.011
Alliant RL10x                       98.4     38.9     2.52    2515   100.0    62000    6379   1.006  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Varget                     110.0     44.6     2.89    2497    94.6    60572    7058   1.000  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot X-Terminator                99.8     44.6     2.89    2494    95.7    62000    6940   1.004  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot TAC                        102.1     46.1     2.99    2494    92.4    62000    7098   1.001  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Benchmark                  102.0     42.1     2.73    2487    98.0    62000    6709   1.006  ! Near Maximum !

Code: 
Cartridge          : .338 Federal
Bullet             : .338, 210, Nosler PART SP 16337
Useable Case Capaci: 48.541 grain H2O = 3.152 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.820 inch = 71.63 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

5 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant RL17                       108.9     51.1     3.31    2539    98.4    62000    8613   1.006  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon CFE223                      97.2     48.5     3.14    2482    98.4    62000    8007   1.025  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                       107.8     51.0     3.31    2476    93.2    62000    8296   1.022  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                     107.8     51.0     3.31    2476    93.2    62000    8296   1.022  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot BigGame                    103.0     49.1     3.18    2476    97.8    62000    7973   1.025  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 3031                           103.1     43.1     2.79    2468   100.0    62000    7222   1.034  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748                      95.1     45.8     2.97    2466    99.5    62000    7638   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                           102.2     45.7     2.96    2465    98.1    62000    8000   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2                       97.4     47.6     3.08    2460    98.9    62000    7870   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL15                       103.0     46.1     2.99    2452    97.5    62000    7911   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4895                       99.4     44.5     2.88    2444    98.6    62000    7746   1.045  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                           105.1     46.3     3.00    2443    97.9    62000    7625   1.029  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant AR-Comp                     98.1     42.5     2.75    2438   100.0    62000    6635   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                       104.1     47.6     3.09    2430    96.0    62000    7864   1.045  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H335                        90.3     44.1     2.86    2427   100.0    62000    7252   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H322                        95.7     41.6     2.69    2422   100.0    62000    7001   1.045  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 8208xbr                         97.9     43.8     2.84    2415    99.0    62000    7365   1.048  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Varget                     105.3     45.6     2.95    2414    97.3    62000    7562   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
 
Now that I have aquired a 338 Federal, im hoping to get 185ttsx and a stiff charge of 8208xbr. I think that will be a great all around bullet for the Federal. I also have a pile of 210g NP’s I will try too!
 
Last edited:
remington jim said:
Great to see some postings and interest on a GREAT cartridge - A few people Do realize what a GEM it is ! Too BAD more don't ! jmo RJ
Click to expand...

I just wanted one for a few thick areas I hunt... Figured a 338 Fed super light weight would be the ticket... Better than packing my much heavier custom 35 Whelen.... Mabey just an excuse to get another rifle!!!! I have a feeling it will be used alot next season!!
 
I'll own one someday, Probably a Kimber, the 160ttsx in the federal excites me, just wonder where all the smart people are to let you know how underwhelming it is, shouldn't be long,,
 
I've got 4 338 federal's
Tikka t3 stainless
Sako 85 hunter
Ruger hawkeye
Thompson center prohunter

I don't reload but of the 4, the ruger is the most accurate and less fussy about bullet weights in the factory configs. It really likes the 185 TSX from federal and absolute deadly on game. The sako is my go to when we sit in the blinds over wolf baits. It smashes wolves.
 
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