I am currently in possession of a custom rifle in .30-338 Caliber. The gun is my friends, but he wants me to sell it for him. He has been out of the shooting/hunting life for about ten years and is liquidating. He bought the gun just prior to this walk in the desert so he has only shot enough cartridges to sight it in. He can't remember anything about loading for it so I am at square one. I told him it would be a tough sell as it is a custom gun and we have no data on it, or targets to show us what it can or can't do. I told him I would work with it enough to obtain some data for potential buyers.

Here is my question: Assuming the use of 180 grain bullets, and assuming that I have IMR 4831, IMR 7828, IMR 4350, H1000, RL19, RL22, and RL25 on hand, where should I start? Do I have optimum powders for this cartridge on hand, or do I need to look at other options?

Any special quirks about loading for this cartridge? I have loaded for the .300 Winchester Magnum for years, and I assume it will be very similar, but if there is someone out there that has experience I would love to hear it.

Thanks.

300

The 30-338 is one of the premier long range target cartridges from the olden days of the 20th Century. It is still one of the best but, unfortunately, doesn't have the glamour and chic of the new magnums and ultra magnums, and short magnums, and super short magnums.

I shoot 1000 yard Benchrest and I shoot a 30 Short Ackley Magnum which is a ballistic twin of the 30-338. I use H4831 with the heavier bullets (210 gr) and H4350 with the lighter ones. Any of the powders in that burning rate range will work.

Since you are experienced with the 300 Win Mag it should be easy for you. If it was me I would determine the water capacity of the 30-338 brass you will be using and compare it with the water capacity of the 300 Win Mag brass that you shoot and interpolate loads from there.

A little searching on different shooting Forums should yield some loads that other guys use and there may even be a manual or two that have it listed.

It is virtually identical to the 308 Norma Magnum and load data should be very close.

Good Luck

Ray

30-338 data.....this should help

150 Hornady Spire Point boat-tail IMR IMR-4350 71.9 3,259

150 Remington Cor-Lokt softpoint Hodgdon H-4831 76.0 3,093

150 Speer boat-tail IMR IMR-4831 73.9 3,177

150 Sierra boat-tail Accurate Arms XMR-3100 75.0 3,161

165 Hornady Spire Point boat-tail IMR IMR-4831 68.5 2,934

165 Sierra spitzer boat-tail Hodgdon H-4831 70.6 2,840

165 Speer spitzer boat-tail Norma MRP 69.3 2,773

165 Winchester Fail Safe IMR IMR-4350 68.0 2,994

168 Nosler boat-tail Accurate Arms XMR-3100 72.5 3,004

180 Nosler boat-tail Hodgdon H-4831 71.3 2,844

180 Remington softpoint Norma MRP 71.2 2,796

180 Speer Grand Slam softpoint IMR IMR-4831 69.3 2,934

190 Hornady boat-tail hollowpoint IMR IMR-4350 65.8 2,909

190 Sierra hollowpoint boat-tail IMR IMR-4350 64.6 2,844

190 Speer Match Accurate Arms AAC-8700 79.5 2,431

200 Sierra hollowpoint Hodgdon H-4831 69.7 2,749

200 Speer spitzer IMR IMR-4831 68.0 2,820

220 Sierra Match Hodgdon H-4831 67.3 2,609

I can add one other to vapos list that is not there.

240 Woodleigh PP Alliant RL-19 64.7 2,576

Thanks guys. I was leaning toward the IMR 4831 and it looks like it gives decent velocity. I think I will start there.

I think that if you go to standard loading manuals that have loads for the 308 Norma magnum, the 30-338 is essentially equal to that and you could use the same data for loading it.

300 winne, What kind of rifle is that, Mauser , m70, remington?

Any picture and details?

Thought id like a 30-338 someday

use the data for the 308 Norma mag

quote:

Thought id like a 30-338 someday

find your favorite .30-06 and have your smith do a rechamber, boltface and abit of the rails and shoot.

The 308 Norma and 30-338 came about prior to introduction of the 300 Win mag. If I was of a mind to pick up a 308 or 30-338 I'd run a win mag chamber reamer in it immediately to make it a standard round and I suspect dramatically increase the market value.

All three are nearly identical in performance and the Win Mag is off the shelf.....

But some of us love our wildcats so have at it....

These come with easy fixes!