Con, pm sent re: that 250 gr load.

quote:

Originally posted by himmelrr:

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)

I hope this helps...

RH

Outstanding! Thank you.

BTW, your 49.0 gr load of 748 returns 2400fps out of a 16" BBL Ruger Frontier, with MOA accuracy.

Dave,
I didn't get a PM?? If I can find your email address I'll post you some info.
Cheers...
Con

160 gr Barnes TTSX
51 grs Hodgdon Benchmark
CCI 200
2.935" OAL
~
2970 fps

trajectory results :
165y +1.8"
240y -1"
330y -8"


That should work pretty well on most game out to 400 yards!

Hi TB, nice meeting you at the gunshow.
You guys are getting some real inventory at NTF.
The service is second to none, that'll make this a "one horse town"!!

I'd bet the 338 Fed is much like the 8 x 57 Mauser for a handloader..

In working up loads for the 8 x 57 using 170 and 175 grain bullets, I found that most accurate were behind powders in the RL 7, 4198 range...

I also worked up loads using those powders until I got pressure signs, then backed them off a little to where pressure signs ceased...

when I found loads below those pressure signs with those powders, the last thing I did was chronograph them to see what I had...

the velocities were much higher than indicated in any load manual for that cartridge...of course you don't see loads for it with those powders..

based on that I'd recommend experimenting with those powders in the 338 Federal...

I have also worked with them in my 338/06 ( the reason I don't need a 338 Federal)... and I got some pretty kickass velocities with the 180 and 200/210/215 grain bullets with them...

and accuracy was AMAZING, even for an accurate 338/06....

Beautiful mountains there!

quote:

Originally posted by todbartell:
Rifle :

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

I just bought one of those rifles and I got a Ziess 4x32 to go on it. I haven't had a chance to take it to the range, but I looking forward to shooting it this weekend.

I am planning on trying Reloader 10x when I reload mine. I'll let you know how it does with R-10. I heard from someone else that W748 is one of the better choices for the .338 Fed as well.

Barnes 160gr TTSX bullets. The following test used LC brass, CCI BR2 primers, Savage 10FLP with an 18" PacNor 338 Federal barrel. Seated at 2.919" for .06" jump.

Powders used for the test AA2230, Hodgdon H335, Reloder 7, Reloder 10X (previously tested Varget, IMR4895 and RL15)

Results from April 28&29, 2009, Max loads tested from the different reloading manuals. I did work up in 0.5 gr increments, and at max load, saw NO pressure signs with any of the 4 powders. I had estimated that my 18" barrel would give 150fps less than the 24" barrel used in the reloading manuals.

AA2230, 53.0gr estimated 2939 fps, actual 2942 fps, SD 17fps, 1/2" group at 100 yards-- Barnes reloading manual was right on.
Reloder 7, 44.0gr estimated 2773 fps, actual 2766 fps, SD 12 fps.
Reloder 10X, 46.0gr, actual 2760 fps, SD 15 fps
H335, 51.5gr, actual 2863 fps, SD 9 fps -- second best powder to AA2230


200 gr Speer HotCore SP flatbase bullets. No pressure signs in any loads.

AA2230 powder, max at 49.5gr, actual 2661 fps, SD 23 fps -- 100 to 150 fps more than obtained with RL15, Varget or IMR4895
H335 powder, max at 49.4 gr, actual 2624 fps, SD 5 fps -- very good and also far above RL15, IMR4895 and Varget
Reloder 10X powder, max at 44.1gr, actual 2586 fps, SD 14 fps.

Summary: AA2230 powder provides superior velocity in the 338 Federal using 160gr to 200 gr bullets. H335 also did well and is something I will use.