I was wondering if anyone has loaded up any barnes 160 grain bullet out of there 338-06. I was looking at the manual and it says it will push that bullet 3095 to 3241 FPS. I thought this would be a great deer round. I just just wondering, if going with this light bullet if it would shot well; when the rifle was intended for a 200 to a 250 grain bullet.

Check out the 338 bullet test down a couple of threads. Scott has done some work with the 160gr. Should be a fine deer bullet maybe even Caribou since it penetrated just short of the Nosler 210 part.

BSA of England did the same thing about seventy years ago...called the .33 BSA. Using a belted case not too dissimilar to the modern 338 Winchester.

According to Cartridges of the World it launched at 160 grain bullet at 3,100fps.

COTW says that the problem was poor sectional density so that the bullet shed velocity very quickly and after about 100 yards had slowed down rather a lot.

I would imagine that (like a 150 grain bullet in an 8mm) a 160 grain bullet in a 338 is about the ballistic equivalent of a jelly bean!

What I would see a problem would be having enough bullet body to be able to get much of a length of bullet inside the case neck without the OAL of the loaded round being very short.

Enfield, The modern day mono metals are much longer for their weight the a cup/core bullets so seating is not to much of a problem. The 160 gr at 3200/3300 carries enough fp for kills out to 350-400 yds on deer size game and shoots very flat.For example I measured a 210 TSX against a 225 Hornady SST w/o the plastic tip the 210 TSX is actually longer. Place a plastic tip on both and a 210 TTSX is the longer of the two.Retained weight of the 160 is about 155-159gr and a 225 SST with 70% of its weight retained is 157gr. Scott did a phone book test the 160 TTSX penetrated 2.5" less than a Nosler 210 Part. which many have used for Elk and African Plains game.JMO but I think the 160 gr is plenty of bullet for deer.

I won't drop below the 185 gr TSX in my 338-06. Load them both up and shoot to 300 or 400 yards or look at the tables. I think the 185 gr is the realistic minimum and makes a fine deer bullet.

Boxhead. Here is the data
185 TTSX 2950 MV 300yds 2306fps 2184 ft lbs
400yds 2111 1831

160 TTSX 3241 MV 300yds 2457fps 2145 FT lbs
400yds 2222 1754

bullet drop for the 185 at 400 16.4
160 at 400 14.00

The 160 load is from the Barnes website.
The 185 load is from my chrono'd load.
I've never shot the 160 but deer are not that tough of a animal.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
I won't drop below the 185 gr TSX in my 338-06. Load them both up and shoot to 300 or 400 yards or look at the tables. I think the 185 gr is the realistic minimum and makes a fine deer bullet.

I'm in the same camp. I like 200gr as the bottom line in my 338-06, killed a bunch of stuff w/ the 210grNP @ 2750fps, but there is some merit in the Barnes 185gr. The SD during penetration is what counts & the Barnes has always been a sound bullet.

SD is moot,in regards to an X...though BC is not.

Tough to whoop the 210X,even if forced to slum one in a 338-'06.

Guys we are talking about 150-200 lb deer here not 700 lb elk or 1800 lb moose. Check out scottfromdallas thread below and boxhead's answer of dropping a bull elk with one shot w/ 185 TSX. I have dropped bull elk with a 200 gr Accubond and Barnes does recommend the 160 for deer.

Weight/SD is moot in this discussion. I've a marked preference in the 210's ballistic behavior and mannerisms,which makes it a slam dunk for me.

I'd greedily take the 210's utility for everything AK.

Here is what I figured. When I go to MN or ND deer hunting I would shoot 160 our of my 338-06 and then when Im in AK I would use 225 grain bullets. I wouldnt be shooting over 300 yards with the 160 bullets. I have been only reloading for a year or so. I have used a 30-06 for year in MN and ND with no problem shooting 150 grains bullets. The 160 barnes out of my 338-06 is going faster and should hit harder. I also thought is might make a goos heep round.

210's will kill Deer nicely.

I'm no fan of the .338" 225X. Too much more ass and not enough more BC to offset same. Much akin to the .224" 70TSX being way overshadowed by the excellent 62TSX.

Killing is easy. It gets easier when you know your rifle/load,under all conditions and I'm loathe to be swapping projectiles as flavors of the month.

Gimme a low ES,nice BC,LRF and turrets...and get outta the way.

quote:

Originally posted by woodelf:
I was wondering if anyone has loaded up any barnes 160 grain bullet out of there 338-06. I was looking at the manual and it says it will push that bullet 3095 to 3241 FPS. I thought this would be a great deer round. I just just wondering, if going with this light bullet if it would shot well; when the rifle was intended for a 200 to a 250 grain bullet.

It would be a great deer bullet, no doubt about it. The BC is not as horrible as some say, it's .341 so it's not like you are shooting a musket. Another good cheap DEER bullet would be the 180 NBT. Shooters Pro shop has them for $10 a bag.

Fielding less than 1/2 the BC of that which is available in the given bore size,assuredly constitutes "horrible" and then some.

You girls crack me up!

quote:

Originally posted by Busheler:
Fielding less than 1/2 the BC of that which is available in the given bore size,assuredly constitutes "horrible" and then some.

You girls crack me up!

I guess you are right. We should have asked the OP how far he is proficient shooting and what the typical distance where he hunts. If he shooting 500 yards, you may have a point. Inside 300, BC don't mean crap when you push a bullet over 3,000 fps.

Of course I'm right,that's why I said.

I'll leave the guessing to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Busheler:
Of course I'm right,that's why I said.

I'll leave the guessing to you.

Alright, now you are getting cocky. Us girls are going back to our needlepoint.

Never thunk for a second,that'd you'd left it.

Nothing less than a 275gr in a 338 RUM at 2800 fps for me on deer. Awful tough critters to kill.

I think the 160gr will do the job. My great uncle hunted deer succesfully his whole life with a 25-20.

Barstooler

I much prefer the 210XLC at 3400fps in my 338Ultra. Does a fine job on Venison.

The 223AI is easily one of my All Time favorite Venison Roasters.

larrys been drinking again...

Mebbe if 'shooter launched 250's,the recoil would straighten her lazy eye?!!?

Let's contribute bullets,for that most deserving of Medical causes. As well as more Depends,to save her more of THAT embarrassment.

My gracious nature is boundless.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob1SG:
Boxhead. Here is the data
185 TTSX 2950 MV 300yds 2306fps 2184 ft lbs
400yds 2111 1831

160 TTSX 3241 MV 300yds 2457fps 2145 FT lbs
400yds 2222 1754

bullet drop for the 185 at 400 16.4
160 at 400 14.00

The 160 load is from the Barnes website.
The 185 load is from my chrono'd load.
I've never shot the 160 but deer are not that tough of a animal.

Just as I suggested and probably skewed some by Barnes's data I would suggest. At least IME. Hpw's 400 yards look?

Oops, just realized you are talking the little deer here. I would not and don't bother with a premium bullet on those critters. The suggestion above with the Nosler blems is a good one.

I see that most people think they need a rifle w/2000 foot pounds of energy @400yds What is the ****REAL**** averaage that deer are shot at? How about 75 or 80 yrds.