The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Which 338 bullet do you.use on deer ?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I have used my Winchester 338 win mag for deer the last 32 years using Winchester 200 grain power points. They work good but I am looking for a good long bullet .I tried 225 grain nosler accubonds my gun didn't like them at all shot four inch groups with them .It also didn't like hornady 200 grain or 225 grain bullets .It did shoot Speer 225 grain grand slam bullets good and the 200-grain Speer .The 225 grain Speer Were awesome but they quit making them and the 200-grain Speer is not a good long range bullet .I shot clover leaf groups with the Winchester power point 200 grain .I didn't get to try the 225 grain power points they got discontinued too .I.tried Barnes x bullets the bore bad . | ||
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it's unusual that all three of these bullets shoot bad. What kind of load development did you use? Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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I’m not sure why the OP considers the Speer 200 is not a good “long range bullet” but the Winchester 200 is. The Speer has a BC of 0.448, I seriously doubt that the Winchester is any better. I’ve used the Speer 200 in both my .338-06 and my .338 WM. It always killed deer and caribou well although I never took a shot past 200 yards. . | |||
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That's not bullet failure, its your gun..When a rifle shoots bad with a number of bullets especially the ones listed you need a new barrel IMO..You apparently have a "picky" barrel and is leaning towards light bullets, not a good thing with a 338 or its ilk I would suggest you look elsewhere for the problem such as inletting, barrel crown, whatever, glass bed it would be the first fix I would try..Good luck. The Accubond and Partitions are the most accurate bullets I have used in more than a few .338 Win. But first of all try the 250 gr. Accubond, snd the 250 gr. Sierra BTSP (great bullet on game) these two round shoot as flat or flatter than any other bullet Ive tried and retain their velocity better and both are a hammer at long or short range... My present gun shoots them best, but it shoot the 225s as well..worth a try anyway. the only way you can determine what your gun can do is try as many options as you can afford until you hit pay dirt... As for myself, I dump picky guns and buy or trade for another..A hunting rifle should shoot all bullets well, and all to the same POI..Note: such rifles are not easy to find, but they are out there..its taken me years to get all mine to that point, but I like to buy,sell and trade most of all, and Im an accuracy freak, its just my thing.. Consider sticking a Lothar Walthar barrel on it and guarantee it will shoot under an inch, A Douglas will also normally shoot very well.. that will run you about $400 to $500..or a rebore by High Plains will run you about $225 to $250. and all he has done for me so far have shot sub MOA... Anyway this is how Ive handled such problems for myself over the years. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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dgr416, My wife uses the same bullet for all game in her .338 WM. A 225 grain TTSX @ 2950 fps. It’s worked on everything from Antelope (Pronghorn), thru elk and moose. You do not get a massive wound channel on deer and antelope if shot behind the shoulder. If you need the animal to take an immediate “dirt nap”... perhaps, shoot thru the shoulder. Her last antelope, hit low and behind the shoulder, went 40 to 50 yards, with “little” blood trail. Can’t testify as to the retained bullet weight, as we’ve never recovered one from a kill.....or from a live animal!  Using the same bullet, and zero, minimizes rezeroing and memorizing 2 or 3 drop/wind tables! Simplifies the process! memtb You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel | |||
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Does your rifle still shoot the power points well? If not, the first thing I would look to would be the scope and mounts. Only then would I tackle potential problems with the rifle. | |||
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210 grain Nosler Partition. Lee | |||
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Were the Barnes bullets that you tried the older X or the newer TSX / TTSX ? | |||
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My .338 Win Mag really likes the 225 grain Sierra Pro hunter, BC of 455 and excellent accuracy and works great on game up through Kudu, Wildebeest and zebra. I've only recovered 1 bullet and that weighed 204 grains after traversing shoulder to hip on a Wildebeest. 70.5 grains IMR4350 does the trick and under 1" groups. | |||
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For general use settled on the 265gr Nosler AB LR at 2600 fps muzzle speed and sub MOA accuracy. 0.732 b.c.    | |||
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I'm with Ray, I think your rifle may have other problems. 225 TTSX fueled by 67.5 grains IMR 4350 has shot submoa for me in five of five 338 WMs. I don't think they foul any more than any other bullets and if they did, it wouldn't matter. I clean my rifles after every range session and fire a three shot group to verify my zero just before hunting season. If you don't handload, try the Barnes Vor-TX factory loads with these same bullets. Good luck. | |||
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160 Ttsx in 338-06! DRT ON big whitetail | |||
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Yup!! Speaking of Vortex, I tried the 270 130TTSX in my rifle that I load the same 130 TTSX for and they shot identical to the max H4350 load. I would imagine the 338 would do very much the same. | |||
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250 grain Sierra Gameking. I slow it down a bit to 2400fps as my longest shots are less than 150 yards. | |||
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200 grain Speer is used a lot in Australia for deer, pigs. Woodleighs on the big deer Sambar. | |||
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I have shot mule deer and whitetails with my .338 WM; Hornady 225 SPs worked perfectly (killed a leopard in June with that bullet as well). While I have killed larger game like elk and moose with that bullet, I have since switched to 250 AFs. | |||
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I have used bullet weights in the 338 ranging from 200 to 300 grains. I find that I am most comfortable using 250 grain, primarily because I am acquainted with the trajectory as it is quite similar to several other rifles that I shoot, so gauging bullet drop over different ranges is similar. I have found that several 250 gr bullets perform quite well and similarly in my 338. Win SilverTips are a favorite, but Nosler Partition and Speer Grand Slam work well. I do have a hoard of BBCs in 200 grain, but shooting these is so painful (losing them) that they tend to remain on the shelf as a reminder of a friend that has passed on. If I am hunting smaller game that doesn't need a 250 grain bullet, I'm probably going to go with a smaller cartridge. No sense using a 338 if a 270 or 30-06 will do the job just as well. Same with heavier. Need a bullet bigger than 338 250 gr? Go with a 375 or 404. | |||
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I've shot a few Javelina and whitetail deer with the 200gr Ballistic Silvertips (.338 Win Mag). Works great and no tracking necessary. "Let me start off with two words: Made in America" | |||
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I don't. Deer don't need to be overgunned. I use a .25-06 and at most a .30-06 Guns and hunting | |||
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You already are....a properly placed .22 LR, will do the job! You merely need to be a superior hunter to perform the act....or hunt at night! memtbYou should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel | |||
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It still shoots the 200-grain power points into 1/2 ,inch groups at 100 and a little above an inch at 200 yards .The Winchester power points are just not flat shooters but they do expand good on deer at further range .I tried reloader 15,17,19,22 with the accubonds .I think it's the long throat in this Ruger that is the problem with the polymer tipped and copper x bullets .The Speer 225 grain grand slam shot awesome in the older Remington loads but they quit making them .I would shoot 250 grain Serria bt but the recoil is just too much for me on prone shots with the 250 grain .The Speer 200 grain shoots awesome not quite as good as the Winchester power points but they hold promise .I have 150 of the 225 grain Speer grand slam bullets that shot awesome but that is it.I think 200-225 grain is about the range I want to use for deer . Where I hunt you could have a deer straight under a tree or one 450 yards on a powerlines.I usually practice at 100,200 and further when possible . | |||
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I use 250gr hornaday inter locks for every thing. | |||
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I've used the 225 gr. Swift for everything. It shoots well in my Ruger #1. Tell me again what over gunned and overkill is. Seems you can shoot what ever you want to hunt with. Big or small, if you shoot accurately. Dead is dead isn't it? | |||
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Three years ago I traded in my 338 WM Ruger M77, and get hold of a Kimber 8400 with a Lothar Walter barrel in 338-06 A-Square. Since then I have shot five moose and a couple of red deer here in The Viking Kingdom of Norway. The bullet in use is the splendid Woodleigh 225 grs PP. An exellent combo, good accuracy and hit like Thors hammer with next to nothing in regard of bloodshot meat. Woodleigh has become my "Go to" hunting bullet in my rifles. Arild Iversen. | |||
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The Barnes bullets I used were the original x bullets .The hornady I used were the 200 and 225 grain both shot terrible .The 210 nosler partition shot good but zipped through deer up close did the same thing when I used partitions in my 300 win mag .I will try a few more different bullets .I have shot deer out to 400 yards with the Winchester power points 200 grain but that was on small deer .It really hits them hard at 200 yards and further but drops really quick past 250 yards .I don't shoot long range as much as I use to because powerlines are about the only place left for long range shooting unless I hunt a clear cut .I will try to load the 150 of the 225 grain Speer grand slam bullets I have left just not enough for lots of practice .I hope to use those 200 grain Speer bullets just hope they open up at long range they shot pretty good .Yes its a picky gun but I.Have hunted with it 32 years so it's hard to change . | |||
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I believe that you will find the new Barnes Bullets are light years ahead of the original X Bullet. The LRX version is likely the best on lighter game. It is my understanding that they are annealed as to open at a lower velocity,expanding earlier and more violently. The new Barnes (TSX, TTSX, & LRX), have virtually eliminated fouling, and are generally extremely accurate. Try it....You’ll like lt! memtbYou should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel | |||
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Just a note intended for those who hunt deer with shots though the lungs and heart area: Berger makes a hunting bullet that, as said by a lot of hunters, stops deer from running. The Berger Hunting bullet is designed to penetrate just a short distance and then expand rapidly. On deer-size game, I would try one of the light .338 bullets. That said, please take my words of advice with a grain of salt, because I only hunt moose and these animals are quite big, so my favorite all around bullet these days is the 225-grain TTSX. | |||
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That is a very interesting observation. I just read your response after posting about the Berger bullet, and if the LRX is designed to be as you said, that would be an excellent choice of bullet, too. Great technological advances in bullet-making have been made in recent years. | |||
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I shoot 210gr Partitions for everthing. That's what came with the rifle when I got it and I just bought more Nosler Seconds. I get 3008fps with Norma MRP. Very accurate. | |||
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I use the 210 Swift Scirocco in my 338 Rum. Even at 3300 FPS they hold together well and shoot beautifully. | |||
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I seldom use my .338 on deer, preferring lighter rifles, but I used it in the past, and found I needed to use tougher bullets to cut down on bloodshot deer and lighter plainsgame..but all that said my favorite white tail combo is the 200 gr. Accubond at 2600-2650 FPS in my mod. 70 fwt 30-06..Found this out by accident and been using them every since, kill real quick with short runs and very little meat wasted. My favorite 338 bullets for anything are the 225 Nosler Accubond, 250 gr. Sierra BTSP, 250 Nosler partition, woodleighs..well any bullet in 225 or 250 gr. suits me..It just kills no matter what... Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Since 1976 been shooting a 340 Weatherby with Sierra 250 SPBT. They eject out of the 26 inch tube at 2850 FPS. At the time I was wanting something I could use worldwide and I could only have one rifle with the funds I had. BTW a new in the box Mark V was only $407.00. NRA Benefactor Member | |||
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210gr Nosler Partition, its the only 338 bullets I have. | |||
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My 338-06 Hammered deer with 200 BTs at 2910. 1/2 MOA accurate. Otherwise I would run a 225 Nosler of choice. | |||
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We have all mentioned our favorite loads, but in reality none of them or perhaps all of them will work in your gun, the ONLY way you will ever know the truth is to shoot them in YOUR gun...All guns are an inity unto themselves.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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I had excellent performance with the 200gr Nosler Ballistic tips. Now you can get them as the combined technologies or use the accubonds Shoot straight, shoot often. Matt | |||
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Ive always question the thinking of using light bullets in big guns like the 180 and 200 gr. bullets in a .338..I would prefer my 30-06 or 300 H&H for 200 gr. bullets.. The .338 starts with the 210 Nosler, and my favorite bullet weights are 225 and 250 gr. for anything..and they hold their velocity at long range better than light short bullets, and definatly hit with more authority.. The 250 gr. bullet kills even small deer quite well btw and you can almost eat to the bullet hole if you stay off bone. Try the Sierra. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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The Winchester 200 grain power points work awesome to 300 yards but they drop alot. I like the 225 grain Speer grand slam best but they quit making them .My rifle shot them 3/4 inch at 200 yards .I still have about 200 of them and 400 of the Winchester200-grain power points . My rifle shot terrible with accubonds and nosler partitions zipped through deer up close .I hunt thickets and power lines so I never know if I have a long shot or not .I changed to a bigger scope which helped the 3x9 ,x40 ,just didn't work past 200-yards with my 56 year old eyes .The 4x16 x50 Nikon worked way better . Hopefully I.find a good short and long range bullet that works all around . | |||
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338-06...200 & 225 Horn SP's into 5 shot groups covered by a quarter...nothing else shoots this good...BOTH excellent on deer/prairie goats, varmints. Partitions 210 to 250 give ≈2-2.5" and Hawk 275 slightly less...not accurate enough for my taste but have used Partitions in other cals with excellent results, one go to bullet as far as I'm concerned. Nosler BT's always present in most of my rifles/calibers, weight depending on...but haven't shot Accubonds much, I'm too cheap, and see only limited use for both for my activities...Nosler isn't far away so I buy seconds at about the same price as cup'n'core cheapies. 338 Lapua 250-300 gr mostly VLD's/ELD's, mostly Berger, Horn and and Sierra...nice tiny groups.  Horn 285 BTHP and Nosler 300 Accubond's produce nice small groups(again depending)...only sage rats so far and one unlucky 'yote...VERY pricey varmint bullets.    I doubt there is an "all around bullet" but there are bullets that will work "good enough". Bullets for "long range" are constructed differently than "close range" bullets so keep a few of both close at hand for whatever shot happens to present itself...doesn't take long to load either. The "Hunting" long range bullets available from some makers do fairly well close up, but if you want that "perfect" mushroom you have to match range to construction. Many bullets, no matter what the construction, work for many applications if the hunter does his part, so I buy cheap and go long. Good Hunting and Happy happy   | |||
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I used 200 ballistic tips, but don’t think they are made anymore. NRA Patron member | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Which 338 bullet do you.use on deer ?
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