I have been using Rel 22 for my heavier loads in my .338 WM at the advice of several people. It works fine but I'v noticed that it seems to be sensetive to temperature. After about 5 shots when the barrel starts to warm up with my 250gr load the cases start sticking slightly. Of course hunting would never require that many shots but practice does. Would H4831 be a better choice.

Yea RL-22 is noted for being heat sensitive - hodgdon use to have a chart on their web site that showed the impact of pressure vs temperature vs their powder and RL powders. Yesterday I tried some reloads using my 338 and 210 gr nosler partitions and 75 gr of RL-19 (first time with this powder). Nosler manual #5 stated they thought this was the best powder for the 338. Sure enough three shots were basically just one ragged hole. Same results with 76 gr and 180 Nosler Ballistic Tip. Outside temperature was 90 - here in Alabama - pressure signs were O.K in my rifle - but I store the loaded rounds in the house until I go to the range - and I keep the suckers out of the sun while shooting.

"Would H4831 be a better choice."

I use only H4831 in my .338 (except with the 180 grain Noslers) and find it extremely consistent. RL-22 will usually give you a bit more average velocity, but at the expense of possible pressure excursions and potential lot-to-lot variations.

Checked out my new Nosler #5 manual - and for the 250 partition the most accurate load and the highest velocity producing load was H4831. Go for it - sounds like a marriage.

What did Nosler give for info on the 200 gr. BT. I have come to like this bullet and was wondering how much powder they called for with H4350 and H4831.

Oddly enough, the Nosler Manual #5 does not list any loads for the 338 Win Mag shooting the 200 grain Ballistic Tip with either H 4350 or H 4831.
In their defence, I guess there are just a lot of powders out there to test these days.

However, I will list for you what they suggest for H 4831 using the 180 BT and the 225 Partition; you should get a good idea of where to start from that data.

338 Win Mag with 180 grain BT:

starting load H 4831SC 74 grains for 2891 fps
maximum load H 4831SC 78 grains for 3048 fps

338 Win Mag with 225 Partition:

starting load H 4831SC 71 grains for 2693 fps
maximum load H 4831SC 75 grains for 2810 fps

I have had real good luck with the 200 grain Ballistic Tip loaded with 74.5 grains of IMR 4831.
In my rifle this give just over 3000 fps. The Nosler manual lists 75 grains of IMR 4831 as MAX and list a velocity of 2872 fps. I would suggest you start with their lowest listing of 71 grains.

Those 200 Ballistic Tips sure put wild hogs on the ground, I can tell you.

R F

I have not tested them on game yet, do they typically exit the animal? At the range I recovered some frome the dirt backstop and they retained more weight than the 250 gr Hornady RN, but dirt is going to be a lot more hard than a bears chest ( not by much though).

Hey'
In addition to 4831,try Accurate 3100,VV 160.I have had success with all three powders,with different bullet weights.
1geejay
www.shooting-hunting.com

I have shot several hogs with the 200 grain Ballistic Tip using my .338 Win Mag. This at ranges from 50 yards to "too darned far" actually.

I have never recovered one from an animal to date, they all gave complete penetration. The exit holes in all cases would indicate that the bullet held together well, no large cavities in evidence. There was plenty of evidence of damage inside the animals, however.

That is not to say they cannot be driven too fast, though. You could never do it with a .338 Win Mag, but a friend over stressed them when he shot them at 3500 fps in a 338-378 Weatherby. He shot a big old boar in the shoulder with that load and the bullet blew up on the surface, never penetrating into the body cavity. My dad finished the hog with his 340 Weatherby using 225 Nosler Partitions.

I have not shot any deer with this load as of yet, the deer just have not cooperated. But, I will likely take it deer and black bear hunting again this fall.

R F

One thing to note is be careful if you are using RL-22 lot 25083. Pressures are definitely a bit higher than normal with this lot and Alliant has a warning pop up on their web page about it.

-Lou

H4350 is my prefered powder in the 338 WM. I get identical velocities to RL22 plus I get temperature stability that I've not found in RL22 (as you mention). H4350 handles bullets over 200 gr's better than H4831. H4350 is my "go to" powder for the 338 WM after trying RL19, RL22, H4831, IMR4350 and H414.

Brad

So far I've used 3 pounds of H4350 in my lighter 338WM loads and it is my go-to powder as well. I just thought I might try somthing different cause, "ya never know till ya try"

i ust RL22 in my 300 ultra mag.150 gr sierra and 96 grs.with a standard ,not magnum primer.the other day at 90 degrees they clocked 3630 fps.last fall at 50 degrees they were going 3611.
seems pretty stable in that load.I think they advise against magnum primers.