.338 Win Mag Questions

MTM said:
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.
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Yep, first year with the 338. Last fall was my first hunting season ever and I shot two deer with a 6.5x55. This year I have a trip planned to northern Alberta for elk and/or moose (depending on draws) and didn't want to be undergunned for the elk. Everything I have read/heard/seen says the 338 is a superb big game cartridge. Hopefully, I will have firsthand knowledge this November.

blargon said:
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.
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I wasn't expecting it to be the same, just that a 3" shift seemed like a lot at 100yds. Once I find a load or two the rifle likes, I will be sticking to them and not changing things, so it really isn't a big deal.

X-fan said:
Another vote for RL-19.

Best of luck with your toy!
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I will be picking up a pound of RL-19 to try out with the 225gr bullets, it has been recommended a number of times.

Mark
 
mmattockx said:
I wasn't expecting it to be the same, just that a 3" shift seemed like a lot at 100yds. Once I find a load or two the rifle likes, I will be sticking to them and not changing things, so it really isn't a big deal.
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Different velocity makes the bullet leave the barrel at a different vibration point. Sometimes the faster bullet will shoot higher, sometimes its lower. Completely normal. Good luck with your loads!
 
My pet load with the 210 Partition was always 79.0 grains of RL 19, For the 225 76.5 grains. The 250, I went to 75 grains of Norma MRP. For bullets under 250 grains, it seemed to me that RL 19 was a perfect choice in a number of 338's I had contact with. That being said, the 4350's should work fine. Regards, Eagleye.
 
i'm same as Blargon.....69g IMR 4350 with CCI 250 mag primers...225 gr bullet
Start at lowest suggested and slowly move up a grain at a time.
Really need magnum primers for that much powder in my opinion
 
I was out a couple weeks ago doing some load development with my 338wm as well. Seemed to start out good but the shots started stringing with all my loads.

Not sure if it was my cruddy temporary scope or the action flopping around in the new B&C stock.

Did my first bedding job over the weekend (used Devcon) and I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out. Action is now really snug in the stock and the barrel is nicely floated so just another factor to take out of the equation.

I should probably look at a decent scope before I spend too much more time working up my loads. Dont think my Leupold Rifleman 3x9 is holding up too well. :) (seems to be leaking something out of the objective end - again )

The 68-69gr of H4350 seems to be showing promise so far for the 225gr. Interbonds.
 
My Ruger M77 likes 69.5 grains of IMR 4350/fed 215 primers and .010 off the lands with 225 Nosler Accubonds. Had a bedded stock and tried a cheap ramline and nothing changed in accuracy, still 1.5 inch groups at 100yrds. Shoot it lots and have fun.
 
Eagleye said:
My pet load with the 210 Partition was always 79.0 grains of RL 19, For the 225 76.5 grains. The 250, I went to 75 grains of Norma MRP. For bullets under 250 grains, it seemed to me that RL 19 was a perfect choice in a number of 338's I had contact with. That being said, the 4350's should work fine. Regards, Eagleye.
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79.0 grains seems like it would be a very compressed load for the 338 Win Mag? I just finished developing a handload for a kimber montana and 185 TSX, settling on 74.3 grains of RL19 at 3067 fps, and even that charge was compressed. What am I missing ?
 
I own 2 x 338 WM - a Tikka T3 Lite and a custom rifle built on a Husqvarna action with Douglas premium barrel. Both love a combination of Accubond 225grs seated at about .010" from the lands over 72.3 grs of H4350 and CCI 250. The T3 lite also likes Barnes TSX 210 grs seated at OAL 3.34" over 72 grs of H4350 and CCI 250.
 
I am shooting 338 Win Mag for couple of years now and did not have much time to develop my own load so somebody suggested RL 19 and 75.3 grain for 225 gr bullet.
I've checked with some reloading manuals, same suggested 78 gr as max, so tried 75.3 and it shoots in my gun about 1" groups at 100 from hunting position.
I am shooting Barnes TTSX 225, and Hornady SST in the same weight as they have almost identical BC 0.514 which is very good.

Shot elk above 500 y, another at 400, moose at 251 which is 0 for my gun set 3" high at100.

I like my 338 and performance on game.

Andrew
 
dpopl8r said:
79.0 grains seems like it would be a very compressed load for the 338 Win Mag? I just finished developing a handload for a kimber montana and 185 TSX, settling on 74.3 grains of RL19 at 3067 fps, and even that charge was compressed. What am I missing ?
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Nothing, I think. I went up to 75.0gr of RL-22 under a 225gr SST and those were compressed from around 72.0gr on up. The 75.0gr load was up into the neck a bit before seating the bullet, if RL-19 is around the same density as 22, the case would be full before seating the bullet.

Andrzej said:
I am shooting Barnes TTSX 225, and Hornady SST in the same weight as they have almost identical BC 0.514 which is very good.
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Well, the TTSX and SST are similar, but according to Bryan Litz's date the SST has a G7 BC of 0.266 (G1 BC 0.520) and the TTSX was G7 BC of 0.253 (G1 BC 0.495). Close enough for practice purposes, anyway. Which bullet does your rifle prefer?

Mark
 
dpopl8r said:
79.0 grains seems like it would be a very compressed load for the 338 Win Mag? I just finished developing a handload for a kimber montana and 185 TSX, settling on 74.3 grains of RL19 at 3067 fps, and even that charge was compressed. What am I missing ?
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It is. I use the same load with the 210 bullet. Good bullet, fast and accurate load in my rifle. - dan
 
Another Bump.

Got out with some RL-19 yesterday and did a series of optimal charge weight tests for both the RL-19 and IMR-4831 and the 225gr. SST's.

1) Alliant gives a max load of 78.0gr of RL-19 under a 225gr bullet. I worked right up to that with no pressure signs at all and I think I will try up to 79.0gr just to see if there is an accuracy node up there. There is definitely a node around 76.5gr and things looked like the groups might tighten up again above 78.0gr. Next time, I will find out. Alliant lists the 78.0gr load with a velocity of 2944fps, if I am anywhere around 2900fps with a 225gr bullet I will be extremely happy. Should be good moose medicine with an accubond.

2) For those wondering about how compressed this load is, at 78.0gr the powder was just up to the bottom of the neck if I tapped the case while filling it. 79.0gr will easily fit and just be a bit more compressed.

3) I found one node around 72.5gr of IMR-4831 and will do one more refinement pass to narrow down the load, then call it a day with this combination.

4) For all those recommending magnum primers, I have been using CCI 250's and will continue with them.

5) Next up will be 250gr bullets and RL-22 and H4350 (if I can ever find some).

6) Wow, does powder go fast when you are burning 70+gr with every shot. Good thing this isn't a benchrest rifle that I would shoot a lot.

7) Turns out I am enjoying the big booms and recoil. Is something wrong with me? Makes me think that a 458 Win Mag is a good idea as a cast bullet special. That should reset all my recoil sensors quite nicely.:D

Mark
 
What kind of groups are you getting?

2900fps with a 225! I'd like that very much as well with my Barnes ###. So far my 67.5grains of IMR4350 (max recommended for that powder) is running in the high 2700s. They are grouping just under 1.5" at 100 yards through my BAR.

I've been playing with the idea of switching to one of the RL powders but don't think I'll have the development time before season.

I have 275grain Swift A-Frames on order that I'm going to try to play with instead.
 
GSoD said:
What kind of groups are you getting?

2900fps with a 225! I'd like that very much as well with my Barnes ###.
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I was just shooting 2 shot groups to locate the node, I will shoot 5 round groups once I have the node nailed down. The best pair was 0.75" at 200yds with 76.5gr, second best was 1.9" with 77.5gr. My next round of testing will use 3 shot groups as I refine the node position, then I will use 5 round groups to confirm the final load.

I'm taking that 2900fps thing with a grain of salt until I get my own chrony and confirm it independently. If I can get 225gr. Accubonds up to 2900fps, I will never bother shooting anything else.

Mark
 
My main load for my old Ruger M77 tang safety 338win is 69gr of IMR4350 with a 250gr SGK. This does about 2750fps and groups just under an inch. I'll be revisiting this though as I've just bought a nice used Ruger M77 mk2 stainless in 338win and this will need a load.
 
Well, the TTSX and SST are similar, but according to Bryan Litz's date the SST has a G7 BC of 0.266 (G1 BC 0.520) and the TTSX was G7 BC of 0.253 (G1 BC 0.495). Close enough for practice purposes, anyway. Which bullet does your rifle prefer?

Mark[/QUOTE]

My gun likes both, those animals were shot with TTSX which I use as primary hunting bullet for most calibers I hunt with. As to BC value I have to admit I commented on published data by Barnes .515 and Hornady .514.

Andrew
 
Just redid my 338 load to use the 225 TTSX. My gun is long throated and normaly only likes 250 gr. bullets. Settled on 70 grs. IMR 4350. 3.59 O.A.L. It's only going 2800 fps but shooting under an inch. Just going to shoot a bunch of groups before the season.
 
MTM said:
Just redid my 338 load to use the 225 TTSX. My gun is long throated and normaly only likes 250 gr. bullets. Settled on 70 grs. IMR 4350. 3.59 O.A.L. It's only going 2800 fps but shooting under an inch. Just going to shoot a bunch of groups before the season.
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I wish I could load to 3.59" COL, my mag will only take the basic 3.340" length and not a bit more.

rem338win said:
Brian Pearce has some wicked load data in Handloader. RL19 and RL22 are your friend. He has 250gr Partitions moving 2850fps out of his Ruger M77.
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Where would I find that info? I would be happy with a 250gr Accubond at 2750fps myself.

blargon said:
I'm also interested to see that chrony reading. Have a look at nosler's data for the .340WBY

http://www.nosler.com/Reloading-Data/340-Weatherby-Magnum-225-Grains.aspx
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Well, the RL-19 load is using 78.0gr of powder, which is getting up towards the Weatherby charges. It is possible that the Win Mag is more efficient and getting close to the 340 that way, but I have my doubts about anything much over 2900fps.

If you use a 250gr bullet at 2750fps as your benchmark and keep the muzzle energy constant (which equates to a constant average pressure), a 225gr should go 2899fps. This means it is not unreasonable to think it can be done, but reality does not always correspond 100% to theory.

Mark
 
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