I will be taking delivery of a custom 338/06 A-Square in a short time. I will be trying the 250 NP first and was wondering if anyone had first hand experience with this loading. I know that there is published data available but the experience of other rifle nuts is often very valuable.

Any comments on preformance etc. will be appreciated along with any load info.

My data is obtained from a 24" barrel at 4300' elevation. ALL data is with 250 Nosler Partitions.

56.5 IMR-4350, WLR primer @ 3.355" OCL, FC cases.
Averaged 2469 fps, very accurate.

57.5 grains averaged 2498 fps

58.0 grains averaged 2564 fps

LOW velocity but talk about accurate; 60.0 grains of Hodgons H4831SC, FC210 primer, 2290 fps with 7 fps deviation for 6 shots. ACCURATE and easy on the shoulder but SLOW. A great short range woods load.

Following data is with HODGON 4350 "extreme"

56.5 grains H4350, FC210 primer, 3.35" OCL, FC case, 2444 fps with 5 fps deviation. VERY accurate in my rifle.

I have tried Reloader 15 as well as 19 but my most accurate loads with the least deviation seem to be with either of the 4350 powders. All loads with Federral Gold Medal .30-06 cases, fireformed in my rifle, necks reamed if needed, then neck sized ONLY.

FN in MT

Thanks Frank this is just the kind of info.I was looking for.

I failed to add a few "performance" stories.

Mine is a current M70 one of the Classic Sporter LT's. I rebarreled with a same contour 24" Lilja barrel, added sights and a front barrel band swivel attachment. It was all bedded into the original stock. I used Talley bases and removeable rings. I have both a 1.5-5X and a 2.5-8X Leupold that I switch back and forth.

Took the rifle with 250 Swifts at 2440 fps to RSA two years ago. Took an impala, blue wildebeest,red hartebeest, a big waterbuck and a large livingston eland. All were heart/lung shoulder shots that resulted in quick kills. I was VERY impressed with its performance.

Last year I shot a mature bull elk at over 300 yds with a 225 partition at 2650 fps. Entered in the left shoulder, broke the shoulder, smacked both lungs and found the bullet on the off shoulder under the hide. The bull went maybe 40 yds and piled up.

Everyone who has shot my rifle has commented on how mild it shoots and how minimal the recoil feels. The great David Miller stock on the M70 SURELY helps. Very straight and well designed.

I have found this to be a very easy ctg to load for. About the only wrinkle is that my rifle appears to like brass that is first fireformed, then neck sized for its best accuracy and lowest deviation between shots. Brass is very long lived with minimal trimming required.

A great ctg. I truly hope one of the major gun makers would start chambering it in every day rifles. I know the Weatherby ULW is out there but a bit pricey. I have tried the Weatherby .338-06 ammo, the 210 partitions. I got mediocre accuracy but 2850 fps velocity. Same goes for the ammo; I'd like to see Federal,etc start loading it too.

Let me know how your load development goes.

FN in MT

I shoot the 210gr NP from my 22 1/2" bbl. Ruger M77. It seems to really like this bullet so I haven't played much w/ the bigger bullets. The one venture I had was w/ the 250gr NP & 61gr RL19. This is a compressed load, but turned in sub 1" groups @ 2450fps. Frank is right, I think powders in the 4350, RL19 burn range are right for this bullet. Welcome to the .338-06 club, it's a grand cartridge!

IMR-4350 From 52.5 grains to 59.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer