.338 Win. Mag. & 265gr AB LR

[Slamfire]

Developed loads using Re19 and Re22 with this bullet which has an impressive b.c. of 0.732. Followed Speer No.12 as a reference for their 275gr bullet. Results as shown with near maximum powder charges. Bullet can be seated out to 91mm OAL to be almost touching the rifling but limited to 87mm to fit the short magazine.

Re22 is the powder of choice with this bullet in my rifle.

.338 Win. Mag. Ruger Hawkeye with Nikon Monarch3 4-16x42mm

 

[todbartell]

not very accurate for a LR bullet

 

[mikeelliot]

not very accurate for a LR bullet

Are the target squares 1”?

 

[Cummins]

Looks good too me for a heavy recoil light hunting rifle.

 

[todbartell]

Not sure if 10lbs is classed as light. Slamfire, will you be able to retest at a longer range?

 

[Suther]

Are the target squares 1”?

I would assume they are. Thats usually pretty standard for targets unless hes printing his own.

 

[Slamfire]

1" squares on the targets shown above. Rifle is 9.5 lbs as shown with the brake removed and with the nylon sling. Re22 load is preferred because I get higher muzzle speed. Could tweak the powder charge a bit either way to see if I can get it to shoot tighter.

Cases were full length re-sized. Groups should tighten up if cases are neck sized so I will go find a neck sizing die and re-try. Could also try seating the bullets out to 91mm COAL to minimize the distance the bullet jumps to engage the rifling and single load.

Got the reticle calibrated with the Spot On app. Using the 236 yard dot on target center, impact at 200 meters off the bench is as shown and agrees with the app. Today wasn't the best for target shooting because of wind gusts, nor was yesterday. The app has the b.c. as 0.778 but has since been reduced to 0.732 by Nosler so I put muzzle speed as 2650 fps in the app to compensate.

Note energy is about 3700 ft-lbs at 200 yards.

 

[kman300]

Chronograph that rl22 load when it's cold out, ie at the temp you will be hunting with it. I don't need use rl22 anymore because it's not temp stable.

 

[Slamfire]

No doubt POI will be different at temperature extremes for any load for which it was zeroed at a certain median temperature.

 

[Slamfire]

Thought I would try seating the bullet out further to reduce jump distance to engage the rifling using Hornady 250gr BTHP's. Because of the Hawkeye's short length magazine the rounds had to be single fed. Not in possession of my neck sizing die yet so brass was full length resized which doesn't help accuracy.

Results as shown. Today is breezy again. After a few fouling shots from a clean barrel group size settled down to about 1" at 100 meters off the bench. Also took a couple of shots off hand at 200 meters aiming dead center on the target. Way more of a challenge than shooting off a rest. A better measure of field marksmanship.

Next step is to try the 265gr AB LR's with neck sized brass to see if groups tighten up.

 

[Slamfire]

Although 1 MOA accuracy is sufficient. Aimed as shown the shot should be well within the kill zone out to 500m or so. High impact energies with the LR bullet.