What is your favorite "do all" load for the .338WM? I'm talking big deer, black bear, elk amd hogs.

A max load of IMR 4831 and a 250 gr hornday sp for about 2600 kills them all dead.

72.2 grains reloader 19, fed. 215 primers, and sierra 250 gr spbt bullets, chrono 2700fps. shot 2 deer plum dead last year with this load will and antelope and possibly elk this year to the list. This load shoots better than i do, capable of sub moa groups ( the load, occassionaly me.)

A 225 gr. Nosler Partition at 2800 fps. is very tough to beat as an all-around load.

AD

75 gr RL19 210 Nosler Partition, CCI 250 magnum primer - one ragged hole
4 elk and a few deer. Also have great groups with 76 gr RL19 and 180 NBT. No animals with this load - yet. Chrono should arrive today and will have velocity data on Monday. Ruger M77 MKI.

I've had good luck with the 225gr Barnes XLC and a compressed load of Reloader 22. I've used that load on deer, elk, and lots of wild hogs. I don't recall ever recovering one either, but then again I've never recovered a 225gr Nosler either.

JMeier

Choosing between the 210 Nosler and the 225 Nosler is a win-win in the .338. I happened to come across a quantity of 210's cheap, so that's what I'm shooting. My powder is original surplus 4831, but H4831 should also work nicely.

Do everything? 225 Nosler. Mine work well with RL22, about 75-76g but one particularly likes N160, about 74-75g.

Reloader 19 with either the 210 or 225 grain Nosler Partitions.

My own favorite loads are 73gr of Rel 22 and a Hornady 250gr. RN, and second a 225gr. A-Frame ahead of 68.5gr. of H4350.

I use a enough RL-19 to push a 230 gr failsafe to 2,850 fps. I use Norma brass(Wby. headstamp)and Winchester magnum primers. I'm ready for anything in N.A. with this load.

225's with H4350 or RL22.

Brad

Nosler 250 PRT
Rem. Brass
68.5gr. H4350---2650fps
Fed .215
For everthing.

Paul K

Mine's about the same as Paul K's, except for the powder:

RP nickel PL cases
Fed 215
73.0 gr H4831 SC
Nosler 250 gr Partition
MV = 2,650 (chronographed)

Before I had my own chronograph, I loaded to what I thought was 2,600 fps. There were really only doing 2,450 fps. Here are images of several recovered bullets. Bullets 3, 4 & 5 in the attached image are recovered Nosler 250 gr Partitions.



It's better to have the bigger bullet and not need it, than to have the smaller bullet and wish you have the bigger. 250 Partitions are the one do-all load for the 338 Win!!!

Questions!

Bullets 1 & 2 are?
What happen to the back end of bullet 3?
Bullets were recovered from what mammal at what range?

Nice pictures - appreciate the effort.

Bullet 1 is a .30 cal 200 gr partition out of a .30-06. Stem to stern on a doe. She was unhill facing straight at me. I shot for the white patch on her neck and found the bullet my her tail. Range about 30 yds.

Bullet 2 is a .30 cal 200 gr barnes original from a 300 Win. Recovered from the biggest Sitka Blacktail buck I've ever taken. About 75-80 yds dead on broadside across a blowdown. Went right thru the heart. Thought I had missed as it jumped straight up.

Bullet 3 is a 250 gr partition from a 338 Win. Range about 15 yds. I was sitting eating my lunch in a saddle on top of the ridge. I notice this nice buck (3x3) heading towards me thru the alder. Front quartering shot thru the brisket and shattering the far "elbow" joint. At some point the bullet tumbled and the rear core was sliced by bone.

Bullet 4 was from a doe shot stem to stern. Pretty much a head-on sho at 25-30 yds. This one exited behind the shoulder but entered one of the rear quarters. Gotta learn to aim right under the chin.

Bullet 5 was a raking shot on another large buck. More than quartering away. Aimed like I wanted it to go thru the far shoulder. Bullet ended up on the far shoulder.

Just started loading this last weekend in anticipation of an Oct moose hunt in Quebec.

Hornady 250 gr. Spitzer (for practice)
(will be 250 Nosler Partition)
64 gr. IMR 4350
Fed 215

I don't have access to a chronograph at this time.

quote:

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Originally posted by NBHunter:
What is your favorite "do all" load for the .338WM? I'm talking big deer, black bear, elk amd hogs.

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Unless you're happy with that load, almost any .338 WM will handle more juice. With the 250gr. hornady RN and 67gr. of 4350 I got 2520 fps. With this powder I load to 68gr. witch is not excessive. One lot of H4350 I had didn't max out till 70gr. But if your not shooting any longish range the velocity you have will help the bullet (the Hornady) hold together well.

This was my starting load, off to the range this morning to see how it performs. How do you tell when you "max out," watch for pressure signs like flattened primers, etc.? -Fred

quote:

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Originally posted by NBHunter:
Unless you're happy with that load, almost any .338 WM will handle more juice. With the 250gr. hornady RN and 67gr. of 4350 I got 2520 fps. With this powder I load to 68gr. witch is not excessive. One lot of H4350 I had didn't max out till 70gr. But if your not shooting any longish range the velocity you have will help the bullet (the Hornady) hold together well.

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The flattened primer is an iffy way to tell, but when combined with other signs it is pretty much a sure thing. Pay attention to how hard the bolt lifts on a "normal" load and if it becomes more stiff, and if the case sticks even slightly in the chamber, back down. Also watch for marks on the head. Whatever manual you use should show actual pictures of what to watch for. Be safe have fun!

Pretty basic actually:

Winchester cases
Federal 215M primers
72.5 grains of H 4350
Nosler 225 Partition

This shoots groups well under and inch and give 2880 fps in my Remington 700 Classic rifle.

R F

76 gr RL 19 over a 210 gr Nosler Partition. Remington brass and Remington Magnum primer. 2900 fps out of a 24" barreled Ruger 77. - Dan

Has anyone done any good with a 180gr?

Matter of fact

180 gr NBT
76 RL19
CCI 250
24" Ruger 77
3086 fps - chrono
superb accuracy - have some IMR 4350 loads to see if I can up the velocity a little - would like at least 3150 fps - Nosler manual show 3200 plus - will know this weekend.
With the thicker jacket than other BT's this should be a true big game thumper.

75 RL19 - 210 NP = 2846 fps = one ragged hole = want closer to 2950 fps and have some loads to test this weekend also. I use to get this velocity with 77 gr of IMR 4831 in another 338 years ago. As usual - take standard handloading precautions.

To Rifleman1: Try 66.0 grains of Re15 and a Fed 210 Match primer with your Nosler 180 Ballistic Tips. This load gives 1" groups at 200 meters in 2 of my 338 rifles. My velocity is 2990 fps in my 24 and 26" barrels. The recoil is a lot more pleasant than your load also!! Good luck, Steve

Thanks Rifleman...reloader 19 is what i was about to try. How is the recoil with that load? Please let me know how the IMR4350 works out please

I have found RL19, Rl22 and IMR4831 to all be excellent powders in the 338 Win....

I have used extensively the 210,250 Noslers, 225 Swift, and 300 gr. Woodleighs...My favorite bullets are the 210 Nosler and the 300 gr. Woodleigh..I have shot most NA and African game with these two bullets and Cape Buffalo with the Woodleighs..I believe the 210 Nosler an exceptional bullet and it penitrates as well as the 250 Nosler...I didn't care much for the Swift in the 225 weight...

Thanks to everyone and Steve B esp! My 300WSM went back to the builder so I need a gun to shoot 400 to 500 yards in high winds and I just happened to have a 338 so I figured I would try it out with 180 Nosler BT. The best "light" load is 66gr RL 15. Steve B listed this load earlier. He used FED 210 Match primers but I used CCI Mag as I had already primed all my cases. I shot this along with 5 other loads today. This is the most accurate. With this RL 15 I put two in one hole and another about 1/2" off that I suspect was my error. The recoil was minimal for the 338. Very easy to shoot. He said this thing pushes it at 2990fps. The load I think I will be using came in the "quick data" from Nosler. 73 gr H414 same primer. Less then 1" group and Nosler reports 3189fps. I must warn this load kicks much more like a 338 is expected to. I hit a 12 inch gong at 442 yards 4 out of 4 times. I have a new found love for a gun I have had and avoided for the last 12 years. Thanks guys for the help.

Did not get to the range this past weekend to try the IMR 4350 loads - but we will this weekend - as soon as this hurricane swamp making mess goes away. Talk to you Monday. As far as the recoil goes - its a 338. I'll tell you what though - I have never fired anything heavier than a 225 in either of my 338's. - so to me, 180's, 200's, 210's, 225's are all the same.

If I could only have one bullet I would pick the 250 Nosler Partition. However the bullet I shoot the most of by far is the 200 Ballistic Tip. 66.0grs of IMR4064 runs it just over 3000fps in my rifle with super accuracy. I would be happy with this load for anything short of the big bears or some African game.

Results from Friday's session at the range: 3 shot groups and 3 shot average velocity.
Ruger 77 Mk1 24" barrel - 70 degree day (how nice).

75 IMR 4350 - 180 NBT - CCI 250 = 3082 fps = 0.50" group = best accuracy load yet for the 180 NBT. This will be my load of choice for this bullet.

75.5 IMR 4350 - 180 NBT - CCI 250 = 3115 = opened up a little bit

76 RL-19 - 180 NBT - WLR = 3028 = 0.75"

75.5 RL-19 - 210 NP - CCI 250 = 2878 = 0.75 " = 90 degree day - earlier load
75.0 RL-19 - 210 NP - WLR = 2893 = 0.40" group - 70 degree day - go figure - primer difference or temp ?

75.5 IMR 4350 - 210 NP - CCI 250 = 3009 fps (thats scootin) - 1.0" - this is max for my rifle but will back off to try 74.0 - 75.0 gr next time out - thought I had tried these load earlier - but nope - didn't have the chrono then but 73.5 gr of IMR 4350 - WLR = 0.25" group

75 to 76 gr of either 4350 or RL-19 pretty much fills up the case (2/3 up the neck). All loads are compressed. IMO IMR 4350 seems to combine best case density for velocity trade - both can provide outstanding accuracy.

180 NBT hits about 2.5" higher and 1" left of 210 NP - wish they were a little close - may try 200 NBT to see if I can tighten up the spread.

Again - safe loads in my rifle - may not be in yours

I've been using the Sierra 250 SPBT for about 20 years now. I use 4064 powder, and get my best accuracy at about four grains below max. I use this on everything from antelope to elk. The best thing I see about using the heavier bullet, you don't blow the smaller stuff all to hell. You have a nice clean hole about silver dolar size, with no blood shot meat. And they have what it takes to penetrate on an elk in a bad position. The lighter bullets can cause way too much destruction. I recommend staying away from them if you actually like to eat what you shoot.

Posting again because I made a mistake in the data

One Of Us
Member # 9006

posted 09-30-2002 17:44

Results from Friday's session at the range: 3 shot groups and 3 shot average velocity.
Ruger 77 Mk1 24" barrel - 70 degree day (how nice).

75 IMR 4350 - 180 NBT - CCI 250 = 3082 fps = 0.50" group = best accuracy load yet for the 180 NBT. This will be my load of choice for this bullet.

75.5 IMR 4350 - 180 NBT - CCI 250 = 3115 = opened up a little bit

76 RL-19 - 180 NBT - WLR = 3028 = 0.75"

75.5 RL-19 - 210 NP - CCI 250 = 2878 = 0.75 " = 70 degree day
75.0 RL-19 - 210 NP - WLR = 2893 = 0.40" = 90 degree day - go figure (less powder but more velocity) - primer difference or temp ?

75.5 IMR 4350 - 210 NP - CCI 250 = 3009 fps (thats scootin) - 1.0" - this is max for my rifle but will back off to try 74.0 - 75.0 gr next time out - thought I had tried these load earlier - but nope - didn't have the chrono then but 73.5 gr of IMR 4350 - WLR = 0.25" group

75 to 76 gr of either 4350 or RL-19 pretty much fills up the case (2/3 up the neck). All loads are compressed. IMO IMR 4350 seems to combine best case density for velocity trade - both can provide outstanding accuracy. Even with a stuffed case I don't see any reason to use magnum primers vs the WLR's.

180 NBT hits about 2.5" higher and 1" left of 210 NP - wish they were a little close - may try 200 NBT to see if I can tighten up the spread.

Again - safe loads in my rifle - may not be in yours

The 180's may cause some meat damage but the four elk I shot with another 338 with 210 NP from 40 to 400 yds showed very little if any meat damage. I shot a few deer with the 225 Hornady's and same results. Now my 25-284 with 100 gr bullets - thats meat damage.

74 grains of IMR 4350, Remington brass, Federal 215 primers and a Nosler 210 partition. This chronos at 3047 fps in my Browning Composite Stalker and groups .75" !!! It literally slammed to the ground ( with a lung shot) a 7x6 330 bull elk that my guyide estimated at over 1000 lbs !!! He said it was the largest bodied elk he had ever seen. You can't go wrong with any good premium bullet except maybe a Barnes X. These shot like crap in my gun, and I've heard bad things about lack of expansion under some circumstances.

Just got back from a sheep hunt. This is for those that were talking the 180's before in the thread. I shot a ram at 257 yards with a Nosler BT180 in front of 73gr H414. Hold was dead on and hit the spot. Animal dropped like a rock. Entry was the size of a silver dollar and made a mess in and outside of the animal. No exit and no bullet found. This is an outstanding round if you want to make sure a small but tough animal stays put...not a round for the meat hunter...unless you are making head shots.