Rifle :

Sako 85 LSS 22.5" tube
Leupold medium rings
Leupold VXI 2-7x33

185 grain Barnes Triple Shock X

2.87" OAL
Federal brass
Winchester WLR primer
H4895 - 46.5 grains

2700 fps average for 5 shots and 1.16" 3 shot @ 100y

200 grain

Hornady Interlock @ 2.91" OAL
Federal brass
Winchester WLR primer
H4895 - 46.0 grains

2560 fps & .8" & 1.1" 3 shot groups @ 100y

200 grain Federal Fusion factory load

2670 fps average for 6 shots

215 gr Sierra GameKing BTSP

2.87" OAL
Federal brass
Winchester WLR primer
H4895 : 46 grs 2588 fps, 46.5 grs 2607 fps, 47.0 grs 2642 fps

Hodgdon Benchmark : 43.5 grs 2500 fps, 44.5 grs 2550 fps

Didn't shoot for groups, just firing single loads over the chrony to establish velocity of different charge weights

I only got the rifle last week, and have only gotten a chance to put about 45 rounds through it. My plan is to find a good load with the 215 grain Sierra BTSP for practice, and then switch to a 210 grain Barnes TSX for hunting (elk, moose, bear). Judging by the data, and my chrony results so far, 2600 fps is realistic. Basically the same speed a 308 shoots a 180

I also want to play around with the Hornady 250 grain round nose, just because! I havent seen any data for a bullet over 225 grains, but I think if I could get 2300 fps, a round nosed 250 would give some great thump inside 150 yards. A good load to use when hunting in the timber for elk, or when hunting bear. Haven't gotten my hands on any yet so I cant begin testing. No rush, I wont hunt until end of May with this rifle (grizzly hunt! )

the Sako has a bit longer magazine than most short actions, and I can seat out to 2.92" and still fit in the mag. Throat is cut so some bullets will hit the lands @ 2.92", and OAL for them is around 2.87" or so. This frees up some space inside the case, so I think I can slightly increase max loads around a grain safely.

I also have necked up 308 Winchester brass made by Winchester. I necked it up in my Redding FL die and it works fine, chambers good too, even though it is once fired range pickups. This stuff is 15 grains lighter than a Federal 338 casing. Weighed them, then filled them to the top with water and weighed them again. The necked up W-W 308 brass will hold 2.3 grains more volume compared to a factory 338 Federal case. I may be able to squeek even more power out of this little round!

quote:

Originally posted by todbartell:
210 grain Barnes TSX

Now that would be my dream load in the 338Fed.
I look forward to hearing how those 210gr TSX's gel in the Fed. If you can get 2600 with this combo I dare say I'll be up for one. Keep us posted!
Your doing all the hard work for us friend. I like your style

Thanks for the research. I'm considering a 338 Fed. or 338-06 for elk myself.

Tod,

I have the 338fed in the T3 Lite and yours seems to chrono around the same speeds as I've achieved in the limited load testing I've done thus far. I was getting 2675fps with the 200 Factory Fusion loads. I haven't found the exact powder I want yet, but I have found this rifle seems to do much better with slightly faster powders such as AA2015BR. I've been getting submoa and ~2550fps with the HDY 200s and near max charges of 2015. 2600 with 200s should be easily attainable with 2015 under 200s. I can't get enough 4895 or Varget in the case to give much over 2500 with 200s. The faster powders allow for a better use of the case capacity of this round. I intend on trying a few more powders in the 2015-4895 burn range next. The short mag length of the tikka doesn't help matters either.

Reloader

Tod, thanks for the intel. That real world data makes the 338-08 more interesting than I originally might have thought. I still wish there was properly headstamped 338-06 brass.....

I love Sako's, sounds like a good excuse to get another one!

After doing a bunch of testing this summer, I settled on the exact same load with the 185gr TSX. Best accuracy and gentle shooter.

Dan

My load so far is 43.5grs of RL7, Federal match primers, Lapua 308 cases for a MV of 2750fps with a 24" Lilja barrel. This is a sub moa load in my rifle.

I'll try more combinations this summer as well, preferably the ballistic tip 200's but I haven't had much luck yet with the accubonds.

berretta96,

What bullet are you pushing with that load?

Thanks,

Reloader

Sorry about that, blond moment.

I'm pushing the 185gr TSX bullet. I was skeptic about that bullet's accuracy at first, but I'm a believer now. Those things are just as accurate as match bullets.

This summer I want to try the tipped TSX bullets. If they prove to be just as accurate, that may be the go to bullet. It would solve the plugged HP problem and ease my suspicions.

I felt the 210 grain Barnes TSX would be pretty tough to beat as a hunting bullet, so I began looking for a cheaper alternative for off season practice. The 215 grain Sierra Gameking boat tail looked liked the best candidate.

I began load testing with two powders that looked most likely to give me top speeds, Hodgdon Benchmark & H4895. Initial velocity tests showed Benchmark to fall short of expected speeds, and H4895 impressed, so I loaded up some ammo to test for groups. 47.0 grains gave me good speed (2610 fps) and accuracy seems to be decent.

I plugged a 210 grain Triple Shock over the same powder charge and fired a couple groups. Velocity is basically the same (2625 fps) and point of impact at 100 yards is virtually the same as the practice load.

Now all I got to do is load up more ammo and find a furry target

Ballistic program figures the trajectory for the 210 TSX @ 2625 fps to be like this :
100y +2" 2735 ft lbs energy
200y -.5" 2315 ft lbs
250y -4.5" 2125 ft lbs
300y -10" 1950 ft lbs

Fish,

quote:

I still wish there was properly headstamped 338-06 brass.....

You can buy some from Huntington's.
FYI

for sale

Todd, your thinking on the 'ww brass has more room' is my kind of thinking also, will repeat in 7/08. Found often WW holds more than RP and unfortunately often FC holds less than RP.....

If you have not, go to 24hourcampfire forums, great data there for 338 F, guy posts there by 338federal user name. Do some searches but I think you have found the ceiling with the round, and it is not bad at all, and probably surprises many 'nay sayer's" who bought into thinking reloaders cannot match factory loads.

Any difference would ONLY show by chrono, NOT by any animal being reasonably hit IMHO!

I might add back pre-260 and pre-338F, I built a 6.5/308, 338/06, and 6mmBR when few used them or heard of them.

I also stuffed a 200 Btip into a 308 case. And it miked .338. Not many people knew of it either. Back around 95-96. Glad it got approved......

BTW, those Sako's are sweet aren't they!

Todd what does your rifle weight full up? A 185 at 2700fps is very interesting for what I shoot! I doubt I would ever need a 210 at 2600 but looks like its available! I know where there is a Kimber montana in 338fed that has been sitting on the shelf fo a long time and might be bought for less than full retail. Then I have probably 6-700 empty 308 cases just sitting around and doing nothing..anyone know what kimbers short action mag length is?

I did my load load development for my 338Fed last spring. Rifle is REM 600 with a 21" barrel. All brass is resized RP 308WIN with CCI LR primers. It was shot at 100yds on a cool 50degF day with less than 5kt wind (at my back) in GA.

RL-15/185gr TSX (All loads grouped 1.5 to 1.75")
46.0gr: 2584, 2551, 2573
46.5gr: 2659, 2631, 2632
47.0gr: 2687, 2680, 2697

RL-15/200gr Hornady SP (All loads right at 1")
46.0gr: 2474, 2519, 2510
46.5gr: 2541, 2551, 2514

RL-15/210gr NP
44.5gr: 2412, 2372, 2366 (3" group)
45.0gr: 2409, 2385, 2399 (1.5" group)

WIN748/200gr Hornady SP
49.0gr: 2505, 2524, 2506 (1.0"group)
49.5gr: 2515, 2494, 2500 (1.5" group)
50.0gr: 2532, 2538, 2535 (2.5" group)

WIN748/210gr NP
45.2gr: 2430, 2425, 2411 (0.8" group)
45.7gr: 2485, 2459, 2485 (1.0" group)

IMR4895/200gr Hornady SP (All loads less than 1")
46.0gr: 2491, 2493, 2501
46.5gr: 2528, 2508, 2521
47.0gr: 2553, 2546, 2555 (The winner!)

I also tried the 185gr TSX with WIN748 and IMR4895. The results are not worth posting. Very inconsistant MVs and groups. I was torn between the 210NP/WIN748 load or the 200SP/IMR4895 load. In the end I went with the latter since I use the 200SP for practice in my 338WM and IMR4895 in my 7mm-08 and 223. Commonality of components helps especially with the prices lately. I hope this helps...

RH

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy P Coaltrain:
Todd what does your rifle weight full up?

I think around 8.25 lbs w/ VXI 2-7x33 in Leupold medium rings. The synthetic/stainless 85 Sako will weigh almost a full pound less than the 85 Laminate SS

thanks!

I had a 338 fed built on a BSA it was a 243 some body had stored away with water in the barrel for 15+ years. I fed it 48 grns A2208 (4064) for 2570fps under a hornady 200grn interlock put 5 rounds under a inch 8 in to1.5 inches fired 1 shot in anger filled the feezer with a spike Sambar.I changed scopes on it after that which then promptly died i am waiting for a replacement to arrive so i can continue with it.

just for the pure hell of it I emailed Federal and asked if I could buy 500 brass for the 338 Federal. I received a snobish "we do not sell brass to the great unwashed masses" reply. This attitude puts cold water on my casual interest in this round. I keep thinking the 180 at 2700 would slap a small deer pretty soundly, yet....

Jimmy, you might be back to forming again to do so, but you know a 338/06 is a nice round, had one.....and there is always a 358 Winchester. Both are great mid bores for much hunting in NA.

338/06- a 200 ballistic tip FLATTENED a few deer for me.....at 2909 mv.....225 did 2670.

Did somebody use Vihtavuori (unfortunately we don't have another powder) to load .338 Federal?

250 gr Hornady Interlock Round Nosed Soft Point

2.862" OAL
Federal brass
CCI 200 LR primer
H4895 : 40.5 grs 2117 fps, 41.5 grs 2166 fps, 42.5 grs 2197 fps, 43.5 grs 2267 fps

I am just testing for speeds right now, I have some more loaded up @ 44.0 & 44.5 grs H4895. No high pressure signs @ 43.5 grs...we'll see what the speeds look like once I can find some time to get back to the range with the 338F

250 gr @ 2300ish f/s would be a great thumper load for hunting elk in the timber!

Recently published in Australia was a load that took the 250gr Woodleigh RN through 2300fps and into the 2400fps range. Powder was a compressed charge of AR2208 (Varget). Can dig up the article if your interested.
Cheers...
Con

Con - that'd be great if you could find the powder charges they were using


I tested the 250 grain tonight over 44.5 & 45.0 grs H4895. 3 shots of each, the results :

44.5 grs ~ 2320 f/s avg

45.0 grs - 2310 f/s avg

Both groups landed 3" below point of aim at 100 yards, I am sighted +2" @ 100y with 200/210 gr @ 2650 fps. Accuracy seemed to be around 1.5", didn't bother measuring them

I think I will load them @ 44.5 grs and call load development DONE

Con

I would also be interested in those loads.


Tod

How are the 250s grouping in your rifle when compared to the lighter bullets?

hey con,

I'd be interested in that article as well!

250gr bullet at 2300! that would be an awesome black bear round!

do you guys think a 1:10 twist would still stabilize those bullets?

quote:

Originally posted by beretta96:

250gr bullet at 2300! that would be an awesome black bear round!

That's what I was thinking.

Dogface/beretta96,
PM me an email address. There's just one typo in the article ... the table of loads claimed 2481fps with 250gr, should probably have been 2408fps or 2418fps as it states in writing they just broke 2400fps with 250gr Woodleigh RN.
Cheers...
Con

pm sent.

Thanks Con, pm sent.

quote:

Originally posted by beretta96:
250gr bullet at 2300! that would be an awesome black bear round!

do you guys think a 1:10 twist would still stabilize those bullets?

My sako 85 has a 1:10 twist, and the 250s shoot about 1.5" 3 shot groups with H4895. good enough for me

quote:

My sako 85 has a 1:10 twist, and the 250s shoot about 1.5" 3 shot groups with H4895. good enough for me

1.5" would make me happy. I hope to try them next week.

160 gr Barnes TTSX @ 2.935" OAL
48.5 grs Hodgdon Benchmark
F-C 338F brass
CCI 200 primer
~
2880 fps


160 gr Barnes TTSX @ 2.935" OAL
51.0 grs Hodgdon Benchmark
F-C 338F brass
CCI 200 primer
~
2980 fps





Accurate too

Tod, that group at 25 yds?

Don't you know a 338 is not a bench gun!

Good shooting