Walking through a local boxmart,the sporting section revealed a older style Ruger synthetic 338 Win on closeout with an additional 20 bucks off. Could I resist not at 349.00. Now the question what are some of your favorite loads for 338. Not so interested in max fps as I have never seen an animal impressed by how fast a bullet whizzes by, I would rather know where the bullet is going than how fast it got there. Thanks

My Ruger stainless shoots the Federal 210gr Nosler partition load extremely well. I also like the 250gr roundnose Hornady although I don't remember the exact load anymore.

My Ruger SS/Synthetic .338 WM. likes the Hornady 225gr. SST's. I use 70.2gr of RL-22/ Winchester brass/ CCI Magnum primers, and very light crimp, and it yields 2613 fps, and .5 moa @ 100 yds.

mike

I shoot woodleigh 225 gr protected points infront of 68 gr of AR2209 (imr 4350) in a win case and fed 215m primer, 3 shots into 1"just at 100 yards from my ruger laminate stainless.

Congrats on your new rifle!! You got a great deal for $349!

It's been a few years since I've loaded for the .338 Win Mag. I have a new .338 Win Mag rifle in the works but my gunsmith hasn't finished with it yet. (It happens to be a stainless Ruger M77 MkII also. It's going into a walnut stock.) Back in 2000, I loaded up some .338 WM loads for my friend Kate as we were going to South Africa for plains game. Here's the results from her rifle.

Date: 4/22/2000
Cartridge: .338 Win Mag
Firearm: Ruger M77 Mk II
Scope: Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8x
Barrel Length: 24"
Bullet: Nosler Partition
Bullet Weight: 250 grs
Powder: IMR-4831
Powder Weight: 69.0 grs
Case Make: W-W
Primer: WLR (standard primer, not magnum)
C.O.L.: 3.30"

Chrono Summary - 10 shots
Average Velocity: 2,651 fps
Average Energy: 3,902 ft lbs
High Velocity: 2,664 fps
Low Velocity: 2,633 fps
Extreme Spread: 31 fps
Standard Deviation: 8 fps

This load basically duplicates the factory spec of 2660 fps with a 250 gr bullet. Groups hovered right around one inch at 100 yards. This will be the first load I try in my new rifle when it's finished.


Kate with her Zebra taken with the load listed above.

-Bob F.

a 160 gr x flat base on top of 4831 sc and low recoil at about 2900 great deer round

i shoot a 210 nosler with 73.0 grains of imr 4350 or 75.5 grains of imr 4831. both very accurate from my ruger m77

My Ruger 77 MKII seem's to like the Hornady 225gr. with 72gr. of H-4350, or the 250gr. with 69gr. of the same powder.

I bought a 116 Savage about 3mo ago best reload to date has been the Hornady 225gr using RL-19 or H-4831 with WW brass and Federal MM primers about 1" @ 100 the Federal Safari stuff with 210gr Nosler Part. thought will shoot consistent 3/4" and under 3 shot groups,I have some 210gr NP on the way to me right now can't wait to reload give them a try.

I am also considering a 338 win mag. Would appreciate any thoughts on the choice between 225 and 250 grain bullets?

Since the difference is so slight I am thinking it might be better to just use the 250s on everything?

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
I am also considering a 338 win mag. Would appreciate any thoughts on the choice between 225 and 250 grain bullets?

Since the difference is so slight I am thinking it might be better to just use the 250s on everything?

I kind of like the idea of the 225 gr bullet in the .338 winnie so I chose to load the woodleigh 225 gr Protected point.