Gentlemen, reloading at this stage in my life is not an option, so I am limited to factory fodder. Picked up an M77 last year and have just started playing with it. Shoots really well and appears to be a tack driver. Will be used mainly for hog hunting, and maybe some plains game next year. In your collective experience, who makes the best factory loaded ammo (I tend to like heavy for caliber bullets). Thanks in advance.

I have only tried the Federal 225gr. I think they're Hornady Interlocks but I'm not certain. They shot well, and mushroomed well in water/phonebooks but I didn't take any game with them.
The 250gr Sierra GameKing shoots into less than an inch in mine with IMR4350. If you can find out who loads which bullets, thats where I'd start. Nate

P.S. Mine is also an M77

I like Federal's 338 Win. Mag. ammo the best, as a rule. The 210 gr. and 250 gr. Nosler Partition loads are excellent, and the 225 gr. Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullet load is just possibly the best 338 Win. Mag. ammo you can buy off the shelf. Accuracy with the 225 gr. TSX load is incredible, and, at least out of the 24" barrel of my rifle, I get right at 2850 fps.

If I have one criticism of any of the Federal loads, it's that the 250 gr. Nosler Partition load is a bit on the slow side, and most rifles I've run this stuff through deliver about 2550 fps.

The 210 Nosler load is right up there, where it should be at 2900 fps......

AD

The premium bullet load that shoots best in your rifle. Ammo brands are not very important. Nosler paritions, Swift A-Frames, Trophy Bonded, Barnes X and more should be available in factory ammo.

Mark

If your just hunting pigs...

I've had outstanding accuracy with Remington's 250 grain Core-Lokts.

Federals Premium line always shoot well for me, and their standard "Classic" 225 grain offerings is also very accurate in my rifles.

I've also shot Hornady's "Light Magnum" 225 gr. loads, but the recoil was more than I care to deal with. Also wasn't very accurate in my gun.

The 210 fed. load goes a full 2900 out of my gun too. I only shoot 250 Noslers out of mine but 210s should be plenty for you purpose.

I like the Winchester stuff with 230 gr. FailSafes and Remingtons premier stuff with the Swift A-Frames.

Used Federal 210 Nosler Partitions in mine since 1988, never had a bad result. Never reloaded cause these were the first load I tried and groups were about 1/2" in my Ruger.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
Gentlemen, reloading at this stage in my life is not an option, so I am limited to factory fodder. Picked up an M77 last year and have just started playing with it. Shoots really well and appears to be a tack driver. Will be used mainly for hog hunting, and maybe some plains game next year. In your collective experience, who makes the best factory loaded ammo (I tend to like heavy for caliber bullets). Thanks in advance.

Hi Whitworth:
Are you in Croatia and what factory ammo is at your disposal?

If you are finnicky and looking for choices of
Barnes, CT Fail Safe, Swift, Trophy Bonded, Speer, Woodleigh, Nosler, Sierra, Hornady and Hawk bullets, then try Superior Ammunition.

http://www.superiorammo.com/ammo.html

.366torque -- yes indeed I am in Croatia, but all of my firearms are in the States. Very strict firearms laws here and still trying to figure out how to legally bring at least my .338 over. But heading Stateside for the holidays and will finish sighting in my rifle, and who knows, maybe go on a hunt....... Thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen.

Marko

.366torque -- I've used Superior's loads in the past for some of my bigger hammers (.416 and .458 Lott), and have been very happy -- great suggestion particularly for those who don't handload.