Reloading for a .338 WIn Mag

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rocksteady

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Cranbrook, B.C.
No experience with this caliber.....Experienced with reloading....

Any suggestions as to an appropriate bullet weight, starting load suitable for moose/elk and maybe bears...Looking for longer range accuracy.....

Thanks in advance....
 
Well there's lots of good bullets available, the most common are 210 - 250 grains, but there are lighter and heavier ones available. That's one nice thing about the 338, just about any bullet will work well for elk, moose, and bears. I like to use Partitions in my rifle, but haven't experimented with TSXs in it or Accubonds.

I use Reloader 19 powder in my 338 because it's flexible with a lot of different bullet weights.
 
the best bullet ever made for the 338 was the 275 grain semi-spitzer from speer- unfortunately it's not made anymore- hasn't been for some time and i got one precious box of 50 left- these are real barn burners with lots of grizzly power killing to them- same powder charge as the 250, but only 15 fps slower, but what a diff as far as sectional density and b/c are concerned- oh and i use imr 7828
 
I really like the Sierra 250 gr gameking. Very good BC, very accurate, reasonable price. I've used it for years in my 338 win mag, also in 375 H&H, always a solid performer, whether you just blow through ribs or hit big bone. My Model 70 will put them into 3/4" all day with max pressure loads.
 
I use the 200 grain nosler hunting balitic tip with 69 grains of H4350
works very well in both my rifle and my hunting partners (he shoots better than me, 3/4 groups on a bad day) This combo have proven very effective on deer and elk Good Luck
 
The great thing about the 338 it will shoot 200-250 grain bullets pretty well.

I myself picked the 250 to try and stuck with it as it shoots very accurate at long range.

H-4831 seems to work well in many 338s I have reloaded for.

Speer Grand Slams are my bullet of choice along with a Hdy sp but I have some intrest to try that TSX bullet that has worked well for me in other cartridges.
 
I got a box of 180 gr Interbonds, a box of 225 gr Barnes X, a box of 225 gr Hornady interlocks, and a box of 250 gr sierra prohunters. Out of all those, I have to rate accuracy as (1) prohunters (2) interlocks (3) Barnes X (4) interbonds.
This was after working up loads of H414, Reloader 19, and Reloader 22.
I won't bother with the particular grain loads as they are written down out in the garage, and every rifle is gonna be different. I used the Lee manual and all loads max accuracy was at least 1.5 grains of powder or more lower than max from the book data. The 250 grainers were shooting 0.77 inch three shot groups at 100. The interlocks were 0.98 inch. The Barnes X had 1.19" groups average, and the interbonds were 1.55"
Maybe by substituting some components such as different brass/primers etc I may have gotten better groups, but lets face it: the .338 isn't a bench rest gun. (at least my Tikka T3 lite isnt !!! at 6.38 pounds its a sledgehammer on my shoulder) Any groups close to an inch or so are more than enough for hunting, and that was my only concern when doing workups.
 
Nosler 250's. I found the best accuracy with 72.0 grains of IMR 4831 and Federal Mag Rifle Primers. While a great load, there was too much pressure when the temp exceeded 10 degrees C. The velocity was 50 fps above book and energy was over 2 ton at the muzzle and around one ton at 400 yds.
 
Nosler 250's. I found the best accuracy with 72.0 grains of IMR 4831 and Federal Mag Rifle Primers. While a great load, there was too much pressure when the temp exceeded 10 degrees C. The velocity was 50 fps above book and energy was over 2 ton at the muzzle and around one ton at 400 yds.
 
Delete

Nosler 250's. I found the best accuracy with 72.0 grains of IMR 4831 and Federal Mag Rifle Primers. While a great load, there was too much pressure when the temp exceeded 10 degrees C. The velocity was 50 fps above book and energy was over 2 ton at the muzzle and around one ton at 400 yds.
 
I have great success with Barnes 225 TSX with 76gr. of H4831SC=(short cut)
I use the short cut version to ease up on crushing the powder while seating the bullet. Very accurate and deadly @ 2850 fps!

Also reloading some 180 Nosler Ballistic Boattail backed up with 75gr of
IMR 4350, these guys fly @ 3300 fps! It is my pest control/deer load!LOL!
 
Long range shooting 338 Win Mag.:sniper:

Try Barnes Tipped TSX in 225 gr. BC .514

TSX 225 gr.have BC of ONLY .386!!!
Fed Mag Match Primer, over RL19 for 2820 ft/sec at muzzle set 3" high at 100 will get you 2.5" at 200, 4" low at300, and 18" low at 400.

I've shot Elk at 550 y, 400Y and bull moose at 251 which happens to be point blank for this round.

Andrew
 
.338 WM and best bullets

I have a venerable post 64 M70 in .338WM and when I bought it,I acquired a goodly supply of Hornaday 225 gr. bullets ( and some 300 gr. for us ass shots).

The same year that I got the M70 .338 WM, I boufgt a got a R77 in 7mm.Mag. That rifle is long gone. :)()

I established using computer programs that the 225 Horm. gave the best "point blank" range of anything then available. Thus, I sold the M77 and conecentrated on the .338. I bought a mold and the cast bullets shot as well as jacketed, slower of course, more deer rounds than moose.

So in my advanced years and no longer hunting, my desire is to continue shooting the .338 and try for the the grail. (Along with a W85, .38-55 Shutzen etc.).

In summation, IMHO, the, 338 is the best calibre for N.A. from deer to grizzlie.

Hopefully, this will help some of our longer hunters in caliber choice.

God Bless And Pray for our 3 dead of today.:confused:

SOF ( I am looking at the bottle, pray for me)
 
.338 WM and best bullets

I have a venerable post 64 M70 in .338WM and when I bought it,I acquired a goodly supply of Hornaday 225 gr. bullets ( and some 300 gr. for us ass shots).

The same year that I got the M70 .338 WM, I bought a got a R77 in 7mm.Mag. That rifle is long gone. :)()

I established, using computer programs that the 225 Horm. gave the best "point blank" range of anything then available. Thus, I sold the M77 and conecentrated on the .338. I bought a mold and the cast bullets shot as well as jacketed, slower of course, more deer rounds than moose.

So in my advanced years and no longer hunting, my desire is to continue shooting the .338 and try for the the grail. (Along with a W85, .38-55 Shutzen etc.).

In summation, IMHO, the, 338 is the best calibre for N.A. from deer to grizzlie.

Hopefully, this will help some of our longer hunters in caliber choice.

God Bless And Pray for our 3 dead of today.:confused:

SOF ( I am looking at the bottle, pray for me)
 
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