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338 Fed and E-tip
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I just got a Ruger in 338 Federal and I picked up a box of 200 grain nosler E-tip bullets to load. According to the note that was in the box of bullets it said to use the median charge load as the maximum for these bullets. I'm guessing it's because of the bearing surface being a bit more than the lead core bullets. I've used 43.5 grains of RL 15 and gotten good accuracy with that. Is this a good bullet to use on moose/elk, or is the bullet not going to be moving fast enough to get good expansion? I've already loaded all 50 so I hope I chose a good bullet for this new gun.
 
Posts: 129 | Registered: 13 July 2008Reply With Quote
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It is a combination of both bearing surface and expecially in a short action cartridge bullet length that easts up case capacity and increases pressure also.


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10169 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Put a bunch of wet paper on 200y or the longest distance you will use them on and shoot at it.

338f is probably better with cup&core bullets.
 
Posts: 3611 | Location: Sweden | Registered: 02 May 2009Reply With Quote
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I know it's all the fad, these no-lead bullets and, unfortunately, the law in some muddle-minded states, but I could not imagine why such a bullet should be paired with such a cartridge. You are NOT getting better performance. Lead is the superior material in that application. I know what they're saying, "You'd be CRAZY not to use the SUPER MAG-METAL Z-TIPS!" Well, THOSE people probably would have told you the same thing about real estate in Florida or Nevada in 2007. No need, man. In fact, you'd do best with (my preference) a Sierra Pro-hunter or whatever BTSP they have. You'd get the same bullet mass with more case capacity left over and very possibly better accuracy plus fine performance on game.


If you exercised your freedom and aren't in jail, thank a liberal.
 
Posts: 40 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: 04 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Well said FF--AND-- you get to smile knowing you have NOT succumbed to the pc bullshit that started this no-lead non-sense!
Buy some 210 partitions, grin at the lead tip and know that whatever you shoot at is dead.
 
Posts: 1135 | Location: corpus, TX | Registered: 02 June 2009Reply With Quote
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The E-Tip is not the best advancement in technology concerning mono-metal and would be equal to the Barnes X with pressure problems and excessive fouling.

I would return those bullets and buy the Barnes TTSX 160 gr. in the 338 Federal
 
Posts: 1274 | Location: Saskatchewan, Canada.  | Registered: 22 August 2006Reply With Quote
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I have a 338 Federal out being re-stocked so I haven't worked up any loads yet. I have some 160 TTSX to try for driving a fast load. I also bought some 200 SST for a standard bullet. It's loaded in the 338 RCM should expand well but still hold together...plus is has a .455 ballistic coefficient. I'm hoping it shoots well. I can't seem to get SST's to shoot out of my 257R or my 308. If I can't get them to shoot out of my 338 Federal, I give up on them. I'm also interested in the Woodleigh 200 bullets that are coming out. The are a little shorter than other 200s so I can probably drive a little faster.



 
Posts: 1941 | Location: Texas | Registered: 19 July 2009Reply With Quote
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I unfortunately already loaded all 50 bullets. Even though there are better bullets for this gun, would I be crazy to take them on an elk hunt this year? I guess I could buy more brass and load a different bullet, but...
If I was to load another bullet, what about the 210 grain swift scirroco?
 
Posts: 129 | Registered: 13 July 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Ckemp:
I unfortunately already loaded all 50 bullets. Even though there are better bullets for this gun, would I be crazy to take them on an elk hunt this year? I guess I could buy more brass and load a different bullet, but...
If I was to load another bullet, what about the 210 grain swift scirroco?


I think you'll be fine with E-Tips. I'm sure they will expand enough and they will surely penetrate. According to Nosler they expand down to 1800 FPS. http://nosler.com/etip.htm



 
Posts: 1941 | Location: Texas | Registered: 19 July 2009Reply With Quote
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That's good to hear. I'm not sure how fast the bullets are traveling with the 43.5 grains of RL15, but I'm guessing about 2400 fps? I definitely wont take a shot over 200 yards. I wonder if the bullets are moving faster that 1800 fps at 200 yards?
 
Posts: 129 | Registered: 13 July 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Ckemp:
That's good to hear. I'm not sure how fast the bullets are traveling with the 43.5 grains of RL15, but I'm guessing about 2400 fps? I definitely wont take a shot over 200 yards. I wonder if the bullets are moving faster that 1800 fps at 200 yards?


According to Hornady's ballistic calculation, you are still getting 1800 at 300 yards. Site in 2.8 inches high at 100 yards and you are on at 200 and 11.4 inches low at 300.

Ballistics Calculation

Input Variables
Firearm type Rifle Sight Height 1.5
Bullet Weight (grains) 200 Ballistic Coefficient .425
Muzzle Velocity (fps) 2400 Temperature 59
Barometric Pressure (hg) 29.53 Relative Humidity 78%
Zero Range (yards) 200 Wind Speed (mph) 0


Ballistics Table in Yards
200 gr., .425 B.C. www.hornady.com
Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2400 2302 2205 2020 1844 1679 1526
Energy (ft.-lb.) 2558 2352 2160 1811 1510 1251 1034
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 1.5 2.8 0.0 -11.4 -33.0 -67.0



 
Posts: 1941 | Location: Texas | Registered: 19 July 2009Reply With Quote
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Thanks a lot for the info, Scott. Smiler
 
Posts: 129 | Registered: 13 July 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Ckemp:
I unfortunately already loaded all 50 bullets. Even though there are better bullets for this gun, would I be crazy to take them on an elk hunt this year? I guess I could buy more brass and load a different bullet, but...
If I was to load another bullet, what about the 210 grain swift scirroco?


Depending how they shoot. If they shoot good use them. You should be fine out to 300 yards. Nosler wouldn't sell a dud bullet especially after Barnes went through the problems with the X bullet and failed expansion.

Another option is to use them to break in the barrel. Very expensive way compared to using a box of cheap bullets yet still an option.

Shoot, clean, shoot, clean etc. for all 50 rounds. That is a lot of cleaning and work but will certainly break in the barrel nicely.
 
Posts: 1274 | Location: Saskatchewan, Canada.  | Registered: 22 August 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by ar corey:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ckemp:
I unfortunately already loaded all 50 bullets. Even though there are better bullets for this gun, would I be crazy to take them on an elk hunt this year? I guess I could buy more brass and load a different bullet, but...
If I was to load another bullet, what about the 210 grain swift scirroco?


Depending how they shoot. If they shoot good use them. You should be fine out to 300 yards. Nosler wouldn't sell a dud bullet especially after Barnes went through the problems with the X bullet and failed expansion.
 
Posts: 1274 | Location: Saskatchewan, Canada.  | Registered: 22 August 2006Reply With Quote
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How fast do your bullets go out of that 338 Federal?
 
Posts: 2209 | Location: Delaware | Registered: 20 December 2002Reply With Quote
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I don't know how fast these bullets are traveling. I don't have a chronograph. I'm using 43.5 grain of RL 15 and the gun has a 22 inch barrel. Maybe 2400 fps?
 
Posts: 129 | Registered: 13 July 2008Reply With Quote
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