Hi everyone,

How fast can you really (safely; sanely) drive 250 gr bullets from a .338-378? What about 225 gr bullets?

In looking at some online loading data, it appears that the .338-378 is only about 150 fps faster than the .340, which hardly makes the cartridge seem worth the effort and expense. Any personal experience with the cartridge?

Thanks

a local friend uses one..

shoots 250 grain Hornadys out of his..

his load is an even 100 grains of H1000...

he is going out of state and taking elk at about 500 plus yards with it every year....

he even takes someone along to video tape the shots...

Myself, I'd go with the 340 if I needed that much more horsepower..over a standard 338 Mag..

quote:

Originally posted by seafire2:
a local friend uses one..

shoots 250 grain Hornadys out of his..

his load is an even 100 grains of H1000...

he is going out of state and taking elk at about 500 plus yards with it every year....

he even takes someone along to video tape the shots...

Myself, I'd go with the 340 if I needed that much more horsepower..over a standard 338 Mag..

I agree 100%.

The 338-378's potential is relative to the quality of brass that's available.

I have a bone stock factory Accumark in 338-378 and it shoots very well and I would say the FPS advantage over the 340wby is more in the 200fps range.

The 338-378 has the ability to be more but the quality of brass is its limiting factor. Compared to a 338 Lapua Ackley Improved the 338-378 has a pretty decent case capacity advantage but it can't compete because the brass won't hold up to the pressure when you want to start pushing it to the upper limits.

If the WBY. or Norma brass was as good as the Lapua stuff, we would be having a whole different discussion.

My rifle sports a 28" shilen ssmg, 116gns of retumbo w/ a225 accubond will do 3360 fps without being hard on the brass, its very accurate, and is double tough on the critters i've hit w/ it....Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by seafire2:
a local friend uses one...

he is going out of state and taking elk at about 500 plus yards with it every year...

Is your pal a hunter or mostly a shooter?