I've been trying to piece together inofrmation from the web on the difference between Hunter and H4831SC in a hot climate, say 100F.
I am trying to choose a powder that will work
in 338WM for 250 grain TSX (2650fps), and
185 grain TTSX (3100fps),
and wouldn't be upset if it was great in
416 Rigby with 350 TSX at 2650fps.

Half a dozen of one, six of the other?
('cepting that H4831 would probably need a few more grains or would run at lower pressure.)

Work your load up in the temps you plan on hunting in and forget the powder companies claims. Both are supposed to be temp tolerant although I`ve never used the Ramshot powder.

Of course we'll work the loads up in hot climes, I just need to commit to the powder before doing that.

Imagine someone living where powder could not be purchased but ammo could be imported and the person could visit a countyr with powder available. What to do?

Load up a particular lot of what should be a great load, then import the loaded rounds, then
test and re-load in hot climes. A lot of work but allows some bullet and load choice.

QL syas Hunter is a better choice as to the velocity goals. However even with a 26" barrel you are pushing 65,000 at 70deg to reach your 338wmag goals.

Neither would push a 350 in a Rigby to that velocity at std 47137psi. However Hunter gets there at a lower pressure than 4831 still below 55,000

Thanks Ramrod and others for the input.

On Quickload,
Back in the 60's and 70's factory ammo claimed 2700fps for 250 gr 338WM, and there are still rifles that will do that safely (<65psi).

More to the point, the 47k psi for a modern CZ 550 in 416 Rigby is squandering its potential. Even 2650fps with 350 grains is a 'cool' load.

Back to the thread, we chose H4350 74.3 grains this year for the 338WM 185gr TTSX. I won't get to chrono the loads until September at the earliest and will do some test firings at 70-74 grains first, of course. Knowing the rifle's pedigree, (moderately tight chambered, it likes 69 gr of Rel-17 with 225 TTSX for 2840fps) we might end up loading down to 73.0-73.5, but we need the powder available in any case. The 250 grainers only have 67.0 gr of H4350 and should be good to go for 2650fps, but first with lower testloads, too.

In October I hope to test some Reloader 17 in another 338WM, especially with the lighter bullets like 185 TTSX, maybe even the 160 TTSX for small mulies/blacktail at 400 yards.

250 grainers at 2650 fps out of a 338 mag is not a real feat, even for hot weather...

I get that MV out of a 338/06... that has been fired in 100 degree heat with no problems...

my powder choice for that is H 380...

however instead I pick plain old 4064 for most of my uses in either cartridges...

with the light TTSX's in a 338 Mag, deer at 300 to 400 yds should present little problem, as long as a shooter can place the bullet where it needs to go..

quote:

250 grainers at 2650 fps out of a 338 mag is not a real feat, even for hot weather...

You are correct. We are loading 'down' to avoid the timing node of 2700 fps with this powder in our barrel length. This relates to the lengthwise pressure wave that goes up and down the barrel and causes wider groups and fliers when its peak is at the muzzle when the bullet leaves the barrel.

I used Hunter with 225gr Partitions in Namibia in May. Temps never got above low 80s so temp really was not an issue.

I like Hunter in the 338WM because it is extremely accurate in my rifle and fills the case without being compressed.

405wcf