Light bullets in the .338win
- Thread starter skhunter
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I used some accubonds in 180 grain for a couple of years in my kimber, I got moa or a little over at 100 yards when I did my part. I took one spring bear and a moose in the fall with the NAB's. My 338 likes the light for caliber bullets and shoots the 210 ttsx better than the accubonds. My best group with the ttsx was two touching and one round 3/8ths of an inch away with a cold barrel. I have taken one moose and one elk with the ttsx with great bullet performance, I'm gonna keep shooting them. Accuracy will depend on your gun, my gun won't group well with all factory 225's . It shoots around 2 moa at best with 250 partitions.
The only problem with the light bullets in 338 is they tend to bleed off speed quickly. That being said I use 210 Partitions handloaded to go 2850 fps out of my 24" barrel and get about 1.5" groups which is good enough for knocking down big fuzzy critters. I used 200 gr SSTs and got slightly better groups, but shyed away from using them for hunting big game.
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I worked up a load for 200gr Nosler BT bullets once and used them on two mule deer. Very poor terminal performance with limited penetration with excessive shot damage to the meat.
For the last few years I've stuck to 250sgk bullets in my 338win. They shoot flat enough with a muzzle velocity of around 2750 and they work perfectly on deer, no excessive shot damage and dead deer. I haven't used them on moose yet. Last moose I shot was with a 230gr black talon, great moose bullet but no expansion on deer.
For the last few years I've stuck to 250sgk bullets in my 338win. They shoot flat enough with a muzzle velocity of around 2750 and they work perfectly on deer, no excessive shot damage and dead deer. I haven't used them on moose yet. Last moose I shot was with a 230gr black talon, great moose bullet but no expansion on deer.
Didn't you read his first post ??? He is only trying them so that he might not need to buy a 30 cal. rifle, he didn't say he would use them exclusively did he...
I am shooting a 7mm STW with 140gr bullets now. I have the .338 and would like to use it more. Looking at the reloading tables it looks like the 180gr bullet in the 300 and 338 are close to the same velocity. I know BC. is different but i am talking about hunting ranges. I thought I would give 338 a try first. When I get drawn for moose it will be back to shooting 225gr.
Thought I would post to see if others had tried and what they thought about they're results. Didn't expect to be scolded for trying something different.
I was thinking the same thing.
I'd take a look at the 215 gr Sierra boat-tail. My sometimes partner has killed so many animals with those that it isn't even funny. Sheep, goats, moose,caribou, 4 grizzlies, a Namibian safari, things like that.
All I can say from my own experience is that it kills moose and absolutely crushes coyotes. I get 2900 fps out of my Kimber with a load that is 2 grains under max in most books. It just shot better backed off a bit.
All I can say from my own experience is that it kills moose and absolutely crushes coyotes. I get 2900 fps out of my Kimber with a load that is 2 grains under max in most books. It just shot better backed off a bit.
The 200 grain Nosler BT is one hell of a stout bullet. I too have shot a few mule deer with the 200 BT at ranges as close as 50 yards and as far away as 250. All had entry and exit holes about the size of a loonie and NO blood shot meat to speak of. In fact the deer looked like they were shot with hard-cast bullets in that you could literally eat right up to the hole.
This is why I use 210 in my 338. Just to shoot out further with less drop. Being the the 338 is plenty of oumph for moose and elk. I'm not too worried about the loss in terminal performance. I was interested in the tsx/ttsx. I'm loading some up in my 270 right now and if I'm happy with them I may try the 185 or 210 in my 338. If you are using them for deer you could try the 160gr TSX as long as you don't get in too much trouble for it
Maybe they have changed them since I used them but one shot was a mule deer at about 60m broadside, hit a rib on the way in and exploded. No exit and I could put my fist in through the entrance.
Second mule deer also failed on contact and didn't exit, was about a 100m shot. It did spine the deer so second shot to the head was required due to bad shot placement on the first shot.
I've been very happy with the 250gr SGK bullets and I think they would likely be good for moose as well as deer. I've considered the 215gr SGK bullets but haven't tried them yet, i thought them might be too lightly built but from another post on here they sound good. The best part of the SGK bullets is that they are cheap enough to shoot lots for practice
i have used 180 accubonds they will shoot flatter. never shot anything with it but bc and sd are a little better than 150 gr 30 cal so it will be faster and flatter. normallt a 338 is a heavier bullet so 180 gr sounds light but really its not check sd equivilency to other cals
Maybe they have changed them since I used them but one shot was a mule deer at about 60m broadside, hit a rib on the way in and exploded. No exit and I could put my fist in through the entrance.
Second mule deer also failed on contact and didn't exit, was about a 100m shot. It did spine the deer so second shot to the head was required due to bad shot placement on the first shot.
I've been very happy with the 250gr SGK bullets and I think they would likely be good for moose as well as deer. I've considered the 215gr SGK bullets but haven't tried them yet, i thought them might be too lightly built but from another post on here they sound good. The best part of the SGK bullets is that they are cheap enough to shoot lots for practice
The 215 and 250 gr Sierras use the same jackets. There is a point in the building process where the 215 jacket is trimmed a bit more, but up to that point they are identical. Mind you, they are going a little faster.
Northman999
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The 338 win mag with ligher bullets is actually a bit of a barn burner.
I am generally a fan of heavier bullets, but if the OP is looking to not buy a 300 win mag, and use his 338 instead, he will be fine.
Nosler lists their 180 grain accubond at a very respectful 3163 fps over a maximum load of H414.
Thats faster than most fellows push their 300 win mags with handloads, and about 150+ fps faster than factory 300 win mag 180's.
Yes, the BC of the .338 bullet is a bit less; whatever. I challenge anybody to shoot a moose at 500 yards with this load and then say they would have been better off with a 180 grain 300 win mag load.
I am generally a fan of heavier bullets, but if the OP is looking to not buy a 300 win mag, and use his 338 instead, he will be fine.
Nosler lists their 180 grain accubond at a very respectful 3163 fps over a maximum load of H414.
Thats faster than most fellows push their 300 win mags with handloads, and about 150+ fps faster than factory 300 win mag 180's.
Yes, the BC of the .338 bullet is a bit less; whatever. I challenge anybody to shoot a moose at 500 yards with this load and then say they would have been better off with a 180 grain 300 win mag load.
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