I've used 185 XLC in 338WM and 210xbt in .340W. I layer used the 180 NAB in a 338 RUM. Less recoil, flat trajectory, cut a big hole all the way through...I like the lighter weights in Medium calibers for the lighter game (even zebra and big cow elk) It always "gave me a good excuse" to work up another load, use my elk rifle on deer, etc. I also liked the 200X in the 35 Whelen AI. But then, I really like the Nosler 200 PT in 30-06 and the Woodleigh 310sn/35WAI on hogs, ha. Got to love the Medium bores! Merry Christmas dudes & dudettes!

The Accubond is a Balistic Tip with a bonded core that works very well indeed, and they shoot like a ballistic on targets, and perform on game like a Nosler partition, and that's no light praise.

I used my 338 WM for deer hunting a lot although I never considered it a "deer rifle" and only carried such a powerful rifle/cartridge because the Sitka Blacktail deer I hunted lived in the same domain as the Alaska brown bear. Another was the 9.3x62. Neither are "deer rifles" IMO, but they served the greater purpose, in case needed for bear protection.

So, for the 338 WM I always used a 250 gr bullet. It worked great for the deer. If the shots were close I always took the neck or head shots, to minimize the meat damage. It's not all about killing the deer, but about how good they taste and how much fun it is to be out there hunting them. I shot one buck at about 350 yds, at least, with that rifle, and several 200+ yds, but the conditions were right and I had a good rest. Those were not a head shots.

I sold that rifle, and the 9.3x62 after I quit hunting deer in the domain of the brown bears. And I graduated to a "real" deer rifle - or several.

My favorite is a 6.5 Grendel built on a Ruger 77 MKII action that started out as a 6mm PPC. Accuracy is there for long range, but I'm not so sure about the retained energy. If I'm hunting where a long shot may present itself, I've got a 6.5x55 for that. Sometimes, I don't need that excuse, and take it anyway. Great deer cartridges, both.

So, there's a good excuse for you to buy two new rifles, one for close to moderate range, and another for long range. It worked for me. Sometimes it's satisfying to move on from something old, thing or ways, to something new.

At the time I had my 6.5 Grendel built, bolt action rifles so chambered were not available. Now there are several available by different mfgs, at very reasonable prices. Just search gunbroker for 6.5 Grendel bolt action. Of course there are several other 6.5mm cartridges that basically clone the 6.5x55 performance.

quote:

Originally posted by dgr416:
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 .

If the 210gr Nosler partition shoots good in your rifle that is what I would use. They are designed to penetrate. The front expands and the base behind the partition drives on through. The Accubonds are a premium bonded bullet and it will do the same thing and drive through a deer.
The accubonds like a lot of jump and I shoot them in my Ruger M77 Hawkeye and I jump them .100" to the lands. RL17 and 4350 class powders work great in the 338 Win mag. I sight in 3" high at 100 and make consistent hits on a 12" gong at 400yds shooting off my pack using 210gr Pratitions.
My Hawkeye wouldn't shoot when I first got it and like to drive me crazy till I put it in a good stable stock like a H&S precision or a B&C Medalist. If it's a wood stock have it glass and pillar bedded. The 338 needs a good solid foundation to shoot good.

The 160 TTSX.

I have never had Nosler partitions zip through deer, the open on contact fairly well, but they are a compromise, you can't have it both ways, good expansion tears up meat and blood shoots meat as does high velocity..A 250 gr. bullet normally kills well with some short runs, but hit bone and you have a shit sandwitch..

For a one all around shoot everything with the 338 id opt for the 250 gr. nosler Accubond or perhaps the Woodleigh..Not perfect but you won't lose an animal..The other problem is you can't make a silk purse out of a hogs ear, and the .338 was never intended for deer size game, so you have to make it do the best you can.